Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-22

army. His fiancee, Alice Adams, en-
deavors to dissuade him, but he is OBJ
durate,
Act three ocurs two days later and
is in two scenes. The first is the in
terror of the tavern of the Widow
Chichester, in Long Island, and the
second is the outside of the same build
ing early the next morning. The SOL
diers and officers of the British army
are drinking and carousing together in
the most indiscriminate manner, the
privates bandying words with the Off
GERS just as though they were not their
superiors.
Nathan Hale enters and states that
he is sympathizer with the British
cause, and for that reason has been
obliged to leave New York. The Brit
ish major, who is also in love with
Alice Adams, suspects him and is
finally convinced that he is the Nathan
Hale whom he had previously met at
the little schoolhouse in New London.
He taxes him with it, but Nathan de-
MES that he is the person in question.
The major, nothing daunted, sends for
@AAASO 1AdolIOs Win LhCoodSC lDaG
Nathan is seriously i'll at the tavern.
Her presence is requested Immediately.
The major then informs Nathan of
what he has done, hoping to induce
him to betray himself. In this he is
unsuccessful. Nathan gets the Widow
Chichester to go out on the road at
the approach of Miss Adams, attract
her attention and put her finger to her
lips in an attitude of caution. This is
done, and when Alice arrives upon the
scene and asks for her lover Nathan
is pointed out to her by the wicked
major. She, however, asserts that he
is not Nathan Hale, and asks that he
conducted to him at once.
The majors ruse appears to be doom
ed to ignominious failure, when sud
denly all are startled by the sound of
horse approaching at dead run. 1t
is the faithful old negro servant, who,
missing his mistress, has set out in
search of her. The order is given to
permit him to pass and as he enters he
calls Alice by name and also expresses
surprise at seeing Nathan Hale, whose
identity is thereby disclosed. Nathan
manages to make his escape with Alice,
but is Immediately retaken.
In the fourth act there are also two
scenes. The first is the tent of the
British officer on the night following
and the second is the orchard on Colon
ell Rutgers farm. Nathan is seen writ
ing his last letter to his mother, while
a sentry patrols up and down outside.
Alice arrives, and there is a fearful
leave taking. In the next scene is seen
a moose dangling from limb of the
stoutest tree in the orchard. The sound
of muffled drums is heard, and Nathan
is marched in between two files of sol
diers. He walks resolutely up to his
place under the fatal rope and is then
asked by the officer in charge of the
squad if he desires to make a last
statement. To this he gives the well
known patriotic reply with reference to
regretting that he has but one life to
give to his country. Upon this the cur
tain falls slowly, and the play is ended.
During the last act and in cOnsid-
cradle portion of the third there is so
little said by either Alice Adams or
Nathan Hale that their parts are al
most pantomime, and it is this highly
artistic phase of Mr.. Fitchs' play which
consider as the greatest evidence of
his ability as dramatist. Mr.. Good
wins work is excellent. The repres-
sion of emotion is called for by the part
rather than its demonstration. The
same may be said of the role assigned
to Miss Elliott. In the lighter phases
of the character she is really excellent,
as was to be expected. but she proved a
veritable surprise in the heavier scenes
to even her most ardent admirers. 1t
would be folly to assert from the fact
that Mr. Goodwin gives satisfactory
performance of the title role that he is
able to do heavy work. To a thought
full observer Nathan Hale rather serves
to mark in the most positive manner
the limitations of Mr.. Goodwin's art,
and while, as has been said, his per-
Torrance is really excellent one cannot
help rejecting how greatly the effect
iveness of the role would be increased
were it intrusted to Richard Mansfield.
OF Miss Elliott practically the same
may be said In Alice Adams she
proves conclusively that she is an act
ress of rare ability, but that her forte
10 uOC TIE NSly AodNy pAs'S1S VI III d
matte Interpretation.
Mr.. Fitch, having written Nathan
Hale especially for Mr.. Goodwin and
Miss Elliott, naturally had these linn
itations in view, and. the highest COM
pliment that can be paid him is that he
fitted both of his principals to a nicely.
Perhaps the best piece of acting in
Nathan Hale is that of Cunningham,
a British subaltern, interpreted by Mr.
Neil O'Brien. Cunningham is double
dyed and contemplate rascal, and it is.
therefore, not a grateful role. but Mr..
OBrien appears to have exactly caught
the spirit Of the part, and the shading
is put on so delicately as to make it a
veritable work of art.
The cable brings the news that Ellen
Terry has fina y left Henry Irving for