Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-02

The Christian"

one gathered there, last evening IN
witness the presentation of THE Chris
, tian," dramatic version of Han
| CRANES great novel of the same title
| While the play does not follow strictly
! the lines of the story. it preserves in q
wonderful degree its spirit and its
movement. 1t has caught, too its dentb
of feeling and its elevation of senti-
ment. The result is dramatic pro-
! duction of rare beauty and power Pre-
! scented as it was, last evening by an
exceptionally strong and well balanced
company, it cannot fail to arouse the
deepest interest, and appeal, with an
| preciative force to what is truest and
! best in human nature.
Against the sombre background of
I the church, with its abandonment of
the world in devoted adherence to the
! work Of the Master; in the light of a
life that has sacrificed much that mon
are wont to value, III a rigid devotion
to an exalted sense Of duty-rllns the
/ little current Of love-story of singu-
lar strength and purity. The plav of
! these passions. love and sacrifice ar
! fords the striking contrasts that lend
, to this play an element of moral gran
deur not often seen in dramatic pro-
auctions. and which constitutes at once
its charm. its power and its inspiration
| There is something out of conven-
tional lines in the plot and purpose Of
this play that imbucs it with new and
notable elements of strength. and i'm
parts TO its many intensely dramatic
situations, and its clear-Cut contrasts
of spirit and character, almost the
! force Of sermon. The character of
the Hon. John Storm. the son of an
English nobleman who incurs his
fathers bitterest resentment by turn
/ ing aside from the brilliant career in
the legal profession and in Parliament
which had been mapped out for him by
paternal pride and ambition, to as
sumo the labors, the poverty and the
self-denial of a life given over unre-
servedly to the church and its work is
one Of rare strength ana beauty.
The role is difficult one. but
it was admirably sustained. last
evening, by Henry Kolker, a young
actor whose clever work gives
promise Of a brilliant future In his
chosen profession. 1t is difficult to see
how his presentation Of the young
priest with his rigid self-dcnial and his
stern devotion to duty, as it was given
him To see it. could well have been i'm
proved upon. He brought out the
strong points Of this character with
wonderful vividness and realistic
force.
He was all he portrayed-the young
man turning aside from family and
wealth and station, to breathe thu
ascetic atmosphere Of self-deniaI and
a H.. Sprr,art in no 6IIN name IF 70
ligion. There was something stirring
in his conception Of this character with
its minglinG Of strength and tender
ness. of sincerity. simplicity and in
Vincible moral courage.
And also admirable was Lila Nane's
representation of Gloria Quayle. the old
rector's granddaughter. the playmate
If John Storm from childhood. loving
him with a devotion no less sincere
and steadfast because hidden at times
behind the mask Of worldly interests
ana associations.
He enters the church and becomes
the ascetic and the enthusiast. She
goes upon the stage to seek there a
career and & fortune. He seeks her
ont amid her gay surroundings He
warns her of the danger Of her asSo-
Citations imploring her to give up her
calling and give her life TO him in
furtherance Of nobler work. She can
not believe, however that he is cor
rect in his warnings. Strong in her
own sense of purity and motive, intox-
icated with her early successes in her
chosen profession and busy with plans
Of what it will enable her to do for
those who are near and dear to her,
She turns for yet a time to the call Of
her ambitions.
Events disilusion her. She sees the
strength and force of what h has said
to her, and recognizing the true char
lctcr Of the companions with whom
she is surrounded she goes To the lit
tie church where Storm is carrying on
his work among the poor and the out
cast determined to rcnOuncc her cali
ing. ana Civ" her life to him ana his
labors But here she meets Father
I.amplugh who implores her not to
ruin the life work Of his young friend
by coming into it. He convlnccs her
that the sacrifice of her love for storm
is duty-the highest service il IS ~
her power to perform for him. Sh"
Yields to his persuasion and when
Storm comes in and finds her she dis
sembles her love. conCealS the purpose
that brings her there, makes him br-
lieyt that her heart is still in her
chosen calling, even ridicules his sacred
offices, that her sacrifice may be the
more complete, ana forces him to for-
mally give her NJ, even while he con
| fesses the love he bears for her.
She returns to her work upon the
! stage; but the men who profess to be
| her admirers. fearful Of Storms in
nuence, plot his destruction He IS
| driven from his church, which Is the
| property Of one Of them, and is made
| 10 appear as the author Of terrible
| prophecies. His work is discredit"d.
The mob pursues him. He goes to her
apartment in a frenzy of despair, ahh
! With the feeling that heaven has com
manded him to save her from the dan
ger of her associations by killing her.
Then follows a scene Of thrilling IN
| torest and dramatic force. She pleads
with him and love conquers lie
leaves her and the men who come to
| her rooms in the hope Of hnding MN
there and thus compromising her, ma
her alone with the crucifiX.
Then follows closing scene in the