Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-09
HALL CAME As A LECTURER.
His spoken Novep--"Home, Sweet
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washington Evening Star. 5th)
lhere Is a homely Indiana maxim which
says. Get plenty while you're a-get-
'ih.' Possibly Mr.. Hall Caine has found
a celtic equivalent among the natives OF
me Isle OF Man, for the type metal which
oGiu OF ms plays splehdid triumph In TINS
enisha5 10y cold before the ais'in,
buiSheu author Is back again with an
onVer twist appeal quite irresistible In
rs halNete. NaiYete Is Mr.. Gaines saliva
Doh' HIS lecture is entitled Home,
sweet Home for the reason. no doubt,
that the immortal melody IS filtered into
~ mere ana there from parlor organ be-
hlid the scenes. The selection OF so mild
anu harmless n theme was another evil
uence on MT. Gaines eminence as man
or surprises. But the lecturer,
or his manager, realizes that it is the
man iather than the matter which he
may discourse that will attract the pub
TIC. AS picturesquely commanding per
sohailty, Mr.. Caine stands uneclipsed. Ills
position IN the world of letters Is unas-
sailably high. for he has forced unfriend-
~ commentators on his play beyond the
consideration Of its merits as a mere en-
tertainment into hot discussion of its
e'hlcal influence. The entertainment has
features which invite cynical raillery.
But Ii Is difficult TO see how anybody
could be cross with Mr.. Caine. Gentle
ana chlldlike, he seems as placid amid
an the tulmoil as a sylvan pool In a
thunder-shower. Possibly the sylvan
pool realizes that these passing storms
mean liberal downpour of what it most
needs, and that the menacing rattle and
roar nave no lasting significance.
After the lights had been turned up on
played Home Sweet Home" through,
Mr.. Game advanced to the lecturer 5
desk. He was received with a friendly
voiley or applause, and was similarly
saluted frequently during the reading OF
his novelette,. The literary habit of blend
ing seemingly incongruous material into
harmonious entities has crept into Mr..
Gaines wardrobe. He defies the cOnven-
tionalities with bland assurance which
none but man Of genius would dare as
sumo. The most original features or the
reading were the gestures The author
favOIItc attitude is a statuesque pose,
with tn; right arm resting on the desk
i'm front Of him. the let hand i'm his trou-
sers pocket, and his legs crossed at the
ankles. His gestures begin with semi
| circular motion of the head, and gradu.
| ally work down through the arms, until
| finally the feet are shifted TO make an
| entire change OF position.
The story was about a bad, Rip-Van-
! Wrinkle sort of lad named Larry, who
| had married a girl named Lucy, and who
| ran away to Greenland to escape the
| penalty of killing a man, who was trying
| TO complete the wreck of home Whlcf
|
| way. Mr. Gaines appreciation of dramatic
| requirements was SHOWN as soon as ht
| got into the dialogue, and repeated the
| line: You promised to be back by u.
| This was said by Lucy, and to indicate
| this the more wildly, Mr.. Game SAM
| his voice TO a gentle panisslmo Whicl
could not leave even the most obtus'
| listener in doubt as to the authors In
| tention. And when Larry replied: Hama
So | did," it was spoken with equally
| lucid loudpedal accessories. Then, WheI
! the wanderer far away on frozen seas
was reading a letter in his daughter
| handwriting. Mr.. Game picked up pag'
| of his manuscript and then and there
| improvised a letter. When Larry returns
| TO his native home his daughter shows
| him a locket, and in illustration Mr.
| Game gives his necktie few blythesom'
! fillips 1t is a treat to see Mr.. Game CIV
| a correct imitation Of a gold locket VIII
| a starched four-in-hand necktie VIII
| short ends The story IL not striking II
its quality; il was probably not INTENDED
to be So There was nothing TO jar tn
| symmetry of a very non-committal we
wholly unique occasion. The main attrac
ton is the authors own personality
| which impresses itself as extraordinary
no matter in what aspect he may eXhibl
| II. Mr.. Game i'm propria persona canno
be overshadowed even by Larry ant
Lucy. Ills