The times., 1899-12-05
At THE THEATRES.
NntionaI-"Thc Song of The >,,o-

Captain BcvaIlau ..-...... N..r4r.sr. t..rri,.-s
Ideutenant I@porte. -.......... Rowland Buck,toug
Sergeant R'-Jibcuois- Daniel IarreI-
corporal barsac. ...-.-.. Iinuas R7iirr
General EgudplItc. ......... norman par
btffhltJ .. q thlrlps Martin
I"Pt'lh MsfIH'I,l ....-iaru T. Collins
Captain Eliiott........ fl I.,r.-
tllnce ptto leuS--.-.--. -... Morton S-t,u
lar9n hutsiein. ............- Ernest TgrIetau
Hetf ON walden. .....C. T.. IIcuiy
tSlie IIi M'i]-'. IT. =. NHrtbTup
i7theJ fietro..... .,.... Arthur r. Lawrence
Huii' .B5Ndou EriyUur
'Ius'fti' Edward Fowler
hAhueic- owen FaWuett
i,SPtlsta. .......C. il. FlOgktou
francesca Di MoEza st. Angelo. Virginia Harmed
tilNpiha- Adele Block
epPln' Eoua Phillips
Anunzatl kate Plttjsou- -Scltcu
ElicHhttioiic. E,.l Crawford
During the past five years or so-a
period marked by certain revival Of in
terest in Napoleon, contemporary English
literature and antique furniturc-few
youths can have graduated from college
without having debated. at some time or
other the character OF the little Cor
porol," First classes in history have de-
Cided positively that the Corsican was q
model of propriety. and first classes in
history have determined, with equal as
surauce that the same Corsican was g
monster of immortality. IL is not likely,
( however. that either faction ever imagined
the officer or the emperor as being
possessed of such doubtful qualities as
( eventually might turn him into the heavy
villain of a romantic melodrama. Leo
Ditrchstein. 9 German. saw the traditional
foe of his country in this light and the re-
suit was The Song of the Sword" which
z. II. SOthern and Virginia Harmed pre-
Q e-rr faI nv a,F~a af,fYY OF hn
Theatre. To the credit of Mr.. Ditrich-
STEMS vision be it remarked that Napol-
con makes a very good villain, his poses
and appearance leaving him only in want
of a silk hat and a cigarette for full ad-
| equacy.
Seriously, this rather inhumau treatment
of General Bonaparte's memory constitutes
the most discussable phase Of The Song
of the Sword" The play itself is just the
sort of play in which one would expect to
find Mr.. Sothern; precisely like the re-
mainder OF those which the star has been
exploiting for these many seasons. 1t is
an interesting sort of structure, which IS
well calculated TO show the actor and his
scenery to advantage. There are scores
of pretty speeches that really merit place
in the minds of ambitious suitOrs; there
are any number Of blcod-stirriug episodes
in which Mr.. Sothern has q heroic part,
and at the end of the third scene there is 4
climax that hardly could be surpassed for
effectiveness Mr.. DitriChstein has not
displayed his customary ingenuity in turn
ing and twisting his plot his devices being
altogether too transparent, but Tor this
lack he has atoned with a deal OF con-
vincing sentiment and gallantry- Briefly
The Song of the Sword" is an entertain
ing work that is quite sure TO fully satisfy
the most ardent among the admirers Of
| Daniel F'TOhman'S chief luminary.
| The story of the drama is typical. Cap
! tain Egalte, q former nObleman and an
| officer of the French army, is sent TO
! Italy with that body which, in 1895,
! found itself with all Europe morally
| against it, while the Austrians were max
| ing desperate efforts to lend real assist
/ ance to the soldiers of the invaded land.
| During the days in which nations are
| struggling and in the struggle receiving
mortal wounds, the ex-aristocrat discovers
| himself in love with the ComteSse Fran
| cesca Di Monza, whom he has saved from
! insult at the hands OF his command.
| Francesca already is betrOthed to CesaTe
| Di Monza, of her own house. but casts OF
| her lover when he cOnfesses himself afraid
| to carry into the camp OF the allies Iapers
| with which he has been entrusted. While
| attempting, through the medium OF vari-
| Gus intrgues and disguises to accomplish
! the task assigned this coward, the
| Comtesse is taken prisoner by the French.
/ General BOnaparte sees the young woman
! and looks upon her with cOvetOus eyes.
] Learning of this, the sacrificing captain
/ permits her to escape and himself be-
! comes the most conspicuous figure at a
/ court martial. before which the baftied
! Napoleon appears as q sort Of prosecuting
| attorney. Captain Egalite is sentenced to
/ dcaeh but, a convenient band of Austrians
! attacking the house Immediately after, be
I is permitted to die in battle. while the
/ Corstcau runs away. Declining to take
full advantage OF this permission, the hero
! eventually wins the heart Of the COmtesse
and all ends as it should in we'll regulated
/ plays,
As may be seen, The Song Of the
/ Sword" gives great chances only to Mr.
/ Suthern and Miss Harmed. The gentleman
/ takes advantage of these in his usual dash
/ ing style. He shows earnestuess and in
/ telligence I'm his portrayal Of Captain Egal-
/ ite his lines at the end of the third scene
/ aforementioned winning him perfect ova-
/ ton. Miss Harmed perhaps, is more an
| artist, and her work in the opposite role
/ brings forth various OF her many sympa-
/ thetic traits OF the supporting company,
/ Rowland Blackstone undoubtedly is best,
/ Norman Parr the NapoIeOn II. :. North
rup, Norman Conniers, Roydon ErIynne,
I Owen Fawcett. Kate PattisOn- -Selten, Ar
I thur Z. Lawrence, Daniel Jarrett. Thomas
Bailey Morton SelJen, Edward Fowler,
/ Adele Block, Edna Crawford, and Edna
/ Phillips following much in the order
! named The settings and costumes used
are elaborate.