The times., 1899-01-24
AT THE THEATRES.
columbia-"Thc Dawn of -'reedo,

CoIuI bin-..Thc Dawn OF -'reedon:-'
Enthusiasm, the Stars and Stripes, en-
thusiasm, red uniforms, enthusiasm, heroic
gentlemen, enthusiasm, eowardIy scoun-
drels, aud more enthusiasm were mixed
together in ccnglomerate mass last night
at the Columbia Theatre. out CT it all
came the knowledge that Paul Gilmore
was presenting his new war play, The
Dawn of Freedom" for the first time in
Washington and with that the house was
fa:n to be content no one doubted for
an instant that the aforesaid emblem or
liberty was always where it ought TO be,
that the scarlet trousers held legs that
were ever ready TO retreat. that the brave
fellows either bad been born in this coun-
try or possessed naturalization papers. ana
that the villains were without exception
subjects of his Spanish majesty. The time
has not yet arrived when manager brave
enough to produce any other sort OF COM
bative drama could be found.
For the rest-well, the Offering is enter
tanning enough If hardly suitable for such
a house as Messrs. Luckett &; Dwyer con-
duct or for the people 10 whom they cater.
There is a plot sufficiently aged 10 nave
been exempt from active service and at
least dozen situations in which the SEN
timent conveyed makes the gallery deities
forget the lack of constructive under
standing the author has exhibited. This
genius-the programme does not give his
name-has also provided number oil
really bright lines. has given his hero
suitably belligerent disposition and has
otherwise arranged for plenty OF that sort
of blatant heroism with which the average
person never seems to be satiated Ihe
piece is a good one in its line and the play
wright cannot be blamed that the line is
not broader.
The story of the Offering need hardly be
told-it varies in no way from those that
have preceded it. Antonio Lopez Is n nice
young Cuban. whose sister has been ruined
by a Spanish officer, Manuel Guzman by
name. This soldier is anxious TO marry
the daughter of native planter, and with
the idea of so doing murders the old gen.
tieman in order to obtain certain docd-
ments that stand between him and h2ppi-
ness. This accomplished, he fixes the
| crime on his rival Ruy Nimenes, ana at
the same time accuses the poor chap of
having betrayed the girl in question For
n time the sweetheart believes this, bur
finally the confession of the oItcast per-
suades her that the man she loves IS IN
nocent. Some time is given to different ef-
forts to get the duo of natures I OBJ e.
men in trouble, the American flag is in
suited an davenged by a sort of bravadic
General Lee Schley's fleet meets tnat CT
| Cervera in a spectacular battle, everyone
worthy of matrimony is married to his
particular preference, the villains are
punished and the orchestra ays the
Star Spangled Banner as the cIo"d
| leaves.
The cast employed in interpreting this
hair raiser is surprisingly notable. Paul
| Gilmore has not lost his taste for artificial
| heroics, but he is nevertheless inteiligen INT
and earnest in his ende2yor 10 correctly
portray a thankless character His work
deserves commendation. II is SONS times
| difficult to tell whether Edwin Wa ter,
one of the aforesaid ''nob:emen, is nat-r-
al or only lacking in fire, but he, too,
merits credit, while II. Rees Davies is not
| half bad as the consul, and ]. B. Coop
er could hardly be improved upon. Jonn
| D. Germon, the wealthy planter is so bad
| that one did not have to do much guess
| ing in order 10 make out that he was TO
| be killed in the first act, Carroll Da!y ;
villainies are villaiuous enough to tickle
| ones hair at the roots and Macy Har am
| contributes a very adequate impersona-
ton of worthless spendthrift OF the
women, Ida Glenn furnishes the usual
reasonless portrayal of a neNsp-per
woman. Helen McGregor is unusua u
good as the wronged girl, and Etael Bar
| rington is Indifferent in the roe Of the
heroine. The scenery is excellent and the
battle scene notably intricate-tho Ugh
stolen from similar device invented by
| Thomas Z. Shea.