The record-union., 1899-03-13
ADJUSTMENTS.

AT the Clunie Operahouse this even
ing the new and beautiful historical
play 1.-THE Sign of the Cross" 1t is by
Wilson Barrett and is presented by
full company from the Lyric Theater,
London, with Charles Dalton, Irene
Rookie, Maude Warrilow, and w. E.
Bonney IN the leads, the latter as Nero,
and Mr.. Dalton as Marcus Superbus,
Prefect of Rome. The play occupies
q unique position on the stage. 1t Is
enc of the few that the clergy indorse
and patroniZe. 1t is of the religious
element with all possible dramatic
color and scenic and spectacular eff
fectiveness. 1t depicts with graphic
and impressive strength the struggle
between Christianity and the cruelty of
a corrupt pagan nation. 1t has drawn
everywhere as only now and then
profound play attracts. For instance,
in Pittsburg in single week it was
played to a business of $4,000. In
New York it ran over a year and is
now in its third year in London. The
Baltimore Herald describes it as "a
massive moving canvas on which is
depicted the pathetic martyrdcm of
those who chose death for God rather
than life without Him Rev. William
Taylor Snyder of Washington says of
1t: Your play is a most acceptable an
tidote to why 1 am an agnostic-" Arch
bishop Ireland, in speaking of it, said:
Il cannot but applaud your idea of put
ting upon the boards plays the trend
of which is purifying and uplifting.
Archbishop Kahn said of it: 1t is
theatrical performance which all may
witness, not only with pleasure, but
with profit Also In short, the play,
We are assured, stands to the drama in
the same relation that Quo Vadis" does
to literature. The outline of the story
of the play may be thus sketched:
Marcus, Project of Rome, is ordered
by Nero to exter1ninate the Christian
sect. He meets in the streets of Rome
"a beautiful young girl protecting an old
man, who has been attacked by the
rabble; interferes, and sends the girl to
her home. When he finds that she is
called Mercia, and is suspected of being
a Christian, he goes to her disguised as
q boatman to warn her. News IS
brought to Mercia that Stephanus
boy, one Of their number, has been ar
rested, and tortured on the rack in
order to make him divulge the meeting
place of his companions Marcus learns
lTOul lilt dSOuiZSQ DOy lliil NiSlCld
be present at the meeting. He hurries
to the grove in time to save Mercia
from the sword of one of Nero's Off
GERS. With her companions, the girl
is taken to Marcus palace, and there,
while a drunken revel is going on in the
next room, he tries to win her for his
own evil ends. His companions, decl1ed
with garlands of flowers and flushed
win hz mo tine 0t
try to tempt her Marcus drives them
from the room and clasps the girl in
his arms. She tears herself from his
embrace, PUSHES to the door only to
find it locked. and just as he reaches
her, she is saved by what she consid-
ers a miracle. A flash of lightning and
a crash of thunder blind and deafen her
pursuer. Drawing a cross from her
breast. the girl holds it above her head,
exclaiming: 'It is the signl The
Master has spoken; you cannot harm
me nowi" Marcus crouches at her
feet. filed with superstitious fear.
Through the influence of a jealous wom-
an who has been sighted by Marcus,
Meq,cia is taken to the dungeons of the
amphftheater and condemned to be
torn by wild beasts. Marcus appeals
TO Nero for the life of the woman he
loves and obtains the consent of the
Emperor, providing the girl will pub
licly renounce her faith. He goes to