Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-11-16
AMUSEMENT NOTES.

An altogether too brief engagement
of that great drama, Way Down
East" is announced for Harper's
Sunday evening. 1t is too brief, be-
cause if one is to believe what is said
of the success of this famous play
elsewhere, it is sure to create a sensa-
ton. 1t is q story of New England
life told by Lottie Blair Parker, intel
ligently elaborated by Joseph Z. Girls
mer and presented in this city under
the direction of William A. Brady.
who is responsible for the metropoli-
tan production of the same play. For
nearly two years it delighted New
Workers, and soon returns to the
metropolis to take up it's abode
for an entire year. Mr.. Brady
is responsible for having afforded
an avenue TO the stage of a play
wholesome, pure and Instructive in
its character and exquisitely delight
full in the lesson that it inculcates.
1t is to be given here with a superb
cast, an essential novelty in the way
of a snow storm, not the ordinary
stage paper snow, but a storm, a gem
uine, furiously driven storm, such as
W
in New England. The inventor that
produced this mechanism has GER
tainly studied nature, but the play
does not need to depend on any of it's
effects for claim as to merit. 1t has
a special appeal to any one morally
inclined who can grasp an excellent
lesson, eXquisitely and refreshingly
told. a person who has gone to see
Way Down East will want to see it
again, and will want to see another
play of the same tone.
While IL may be new here, the
notable success that it has won else
where foretells the hearty welcome it
is sure to- receive. The motive and
the atmosphere of the play evidence a
master mind in construction. 1t is
wholesome, elevating in its tone. and
the authors seem always in good
taste and at all times unobjection-
able. The rural atmosphere is said
to be cleverly maintained and the
characters convincing and interest
ing. Another charm of the play is said
to be the excellence of the dialogue and
its extreme simplicity. the pathos
effective as well as the humor. There
are q dozen or more characters. all of
contrasted types. There is
an old New England farmer. naturally
generous, but quite narrow-minded,
and there is manly, vigorous hero,
an eccentric constable, IA ridiculous
an absurd professor of bot
any. a delightfully."- sweet heroine, a
gossiPy, misunderstanding old maid, a
dainty. ingenious little miss and
other very quaint and yet life-like
characters. There is the village
church choir, and a score of other |
features that seem slight in them
selves, but all serving to make up q |
most inviting and pleasurable whole. |
At Harper's theatre next Tuesday |
evening Lorin j. Howard will present
Merry Katie Emmett and a splen-
did company of actors in this best
and most lasting of American sensa-
sionaI comedy dramas. The New
Waits of New York" The play de-
picts many scenes of both high and
low life in the most faithful and strik-
ing manner. and all special scenery
of familiar points, with wonderful
effects, ETC. In the Bow
ery concert hall scene many new,
bright and original specialties are in
troduced, and in such an artistic way
that each one in q measure aids in de-
bo Of NAV