The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-25

OF The Stranger" His appearance here
VIII be welcomed, as he made many friends
when this piece was tlast played here.
~
New York runs have lost their potency
as sure indications OF the success OF play
In this city. Therefore, Manager Charles
Frohman is probably not building hopes
that the enga cement OF Secret Service"
next Friday night and Saturday matinee at
Sweeney n Coombs opera house, Will be
successfully merely because OF the seven
monuhs nun OF that play in New York sea-
son before last. Nor IS IL probable that
the tremendously successful engagement OF
Secret Service" in London year ago Will
be the principal rai5on d'etre for the
crowded houses which are looked for dur
ing tho plays sta! in this city. The in
trinslo merits of the play itself are such
that 1t has come to be regarded by the CRIT
les and authorities who have seen 1t as one
OF the best American plays yet written;
and If local playlove take TO 1t Ms nu-
merously and with us much approval as did
the people OF New York, San Francisco and
London 1t will be because they agree with
this opin on regarding the play From what
Is known OF tho character of Secret Ser
, vice" here at this time. in connection Win
the Knowledge that IT. was peipned by VIM
Gillette, tho play certainly does strike one
Gs being attractive. This drama Ia bu,lt
! Ground tho bravery, the sacrifices, the IN
| genio,s subterfuges and the daring man
euvers of a man in the government secret
service during the war OF the rebellion
| The subject has newer before been exploited
dramatically. Other marGal dramas have
portrayed the fierce and bloody side of the
war with scenes on battlehelds and In
| laathsodne prisons, Secret Service" on
! tile other hand Is said TO show the tender
| side the brave suiferings Of Southern
women. and the sorrows in absent soldiers
| homes.
| Marie Wainwright comes to Sweeney
| Coomhs' opera house in the near future in
new English play called Shall Forgive
| Her" 1t was fist presented In this coun-
| try at tho Fourteenth street theater, New
| York, where 1t ram for number OF weeks
| to crowded. houses. The piece was origins
ally produced at the Adelphl theater, Lon
| don, where II ran for a year 1t is de-
seribe1 as n very pretty and interesting
| story OF English domcitlc life with enough
| intensely dramatic situations to make it
q thoroughly credltable play An Inn
| portant event In connection with this pro-
, duct!on viii be the appearance OF Miss
| Marie Wainwright In the leading role. 1t
may be said that she has gained her fame
and reputation in rolese of more artistic
| Importance but the leading part In "Shall
| | Forgive Her" Is said 10 provide her with
opportunltles which even some OF the more
legitimate roles did not At any event. 1t
may be set dowa as fact that Miss VAIN
wright WIN raise the performance OF
shall l Forgive Her" several pegs In the
estimation Of play-goers for she Is an
| actress of great emotional ability and
wide experience.
| Leon Hermann, the monarch OF all
magicians. relates an amusing incident
which occurred in Chicago after the last
engagement OF the Herrmanns Mt the
Grand opera house In that city. Hermann
was on his way to the Erie railroad depot.
Almost opposite was darkey. who kept |
mutteripg TO himself anu walking up asd |
down in q most detected manaer. Seeirg |
HERMANN approaching. the darkey stop |
pea ham ana sad: "Do you see that man |
gong down the street? Well, at my feet, |
on almost this Very spot, he picked 10 a
roll OF bills aid walked away, api for the |
Lords sske, boss. IT done broke my heart |
I'm the unost uniucky niger in this yere
town. you certainly are unlucxy,"
sad Hermann In a oommiseratlng way,
al the sian,e time s.ooping dowa and pick
ing up roll OF b.lls himself II don't see
how you could miss this roll" The darkey
glanced at Hermann and almost tainted
AZ he said Boss. that mut be my
money; done lose some" feeling his
pockets. "oh, no; you cont" said Herr
mann. II am sorry for you, OF course.
thste must be at least thousand 20 lars
in this package" and smiling, he said:
Good bye aud walked over to the ca
trace to the depot, The darksy gaspad and
leaned against building for support. The
last seen OF him he was surl oun led by a
crowd to whom he was undoubtedly re-
lat ng ha troubles The abjecl grief de-
p ed upon his face was laughable in tie
extreme Hermann had by the aid OF his
dextrous sleight Of hand completely fool
ed the Oakley ard o. the same time evil
IDENTIFY broken his heart. To see money
acquired In that manner twice In sue.
cssson was too much for him.
~
Heretofore It has been recorded Is a
pretty sure thing that q revived play. no
matter how successful It might be. during
its first run. could not possibly retain suf-
ficient popularity to be profitable In the
case Of MY Friend from india" however,