The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-19
TIE LOCAL STAGE.
Mtss Mnric wRinwIiRht Appears In
ShnII We EOrRivc Hertn

IL
'Shnii We EOrRivc Hers"
"Shall We Forgive Her?'' which was
presented last night at Sweeney & Coombs'
opera house by Jacob Lifts company, head
ed by Marie Wainwright has been referred
to as a moral play Among the pure-mind-
I'd there is no reason for It's being re.
ferred 10 in any other way. II is Il mora.
play. because II teaches moral lesson
1t shows that murder will out'-that the
wages of sin must be paid no matter what
extenuating circumstances may have exist
| cd when that sin was committed. But
| further than this. and beyond this it shows
that true repentance brinss It's own 70
ward. and that II lifc--evtn though II Mt
that of a woman--in which theie has been
enc fatal error pEed not be irretr!evably
LOST II The sinner but turns from tho sin
blots out the past and walks IN the
straight and narrow path. Aud, moreover,
II shows the truth OF belief. which, when
IL becomes general, VIII do no little
towards lessenine much of he misery aud
the desoateness wiz which this old world
Is Iilled; and that belief Is that there is
Just ms much reason why Madame Grundy
should open her arms TO the woman as we'll
as TO The man. both having committed the
same sin aud both being euinlly rerentnnt.
AS to the yaim which might be made to the
effect, tina. the play is not calculated to be
helpful TO the people who see t., nothing is
more applicable shan that famous quota
ton "honi soft qui NAL pense," u there
is evil in II let the evil-minded ind IT,
The pure have nnught 10 fear.
The story told in Shall We Forgive
Herr" is by no means an ordinary one.
The frs, sccne of the play is laid in
Queensland during an intolerablc heat and
drouth. The hut of q vagabond, Neil
Garth. Is seen. He Is lying on couch.
Al his side Is u pitcher containing the last
draught OF water. All the wells arc dry.
A comrade, burning with thirst and fever,
L. refused drink by Garth. who. thus mt
the start, proves himself u villain. Grace.
who has been deceived by Garth under
promise OF marriage enters. her clothes In
rags. dcspairing at not having been able
to find water. There Is In NIL rugged
ness and grandness al suffering such MS is
expressed In Zola's chronicles OF the wall
ing masses. Grace, revolving at the chains
that have been placed upon her destiny. |
and yearning for better life, tells Garth |
that she Will leave him. There Is storm |
and later she saves from Garth ana his |,
companions stranger who has been over |
come by the heat. After dramatic scene, |
in which Graoe braves her tyrant, she
leaves the place IN company with nlts-
sionary. Two years ppss, and Grace re-
appears az tho devoted wife Of oliver |
West. an artists epsraver, Her happiness
Is seemingly without flaw. but her past, |
like bird OF evil omen, cones back to |
torment her. Garth reappears on the |
scene. and his design to work evil is ma
tcriaily assisted by Johanna. divers |
housekeeper, who Is in love with Oliver I
herself and Is Intensely jealous; good.
pioms. notwithstanding person. against |
whom the audience immediately take a |
strong prejudice In spite Of all attempts
npon the part Of others 10 keep Oliver in |
ignorance OF his wife's past this good soul |
tells him all about II, and plays havoc with |
the household Oliver. who has a weak on |
Tic nerve. Is made blind by the shock. |
and Grace u driven from the house and |
from her child. Eventually, however Io- |