The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-25
lit De Cbedter9

inson's Widows and ."Teo Much John
SON. had already made his name distin-
guished. yet in Secret Service he has
leaped far ahead Of the reputation which
his other plays gave him.
Like 'Held by the Enemy" the first of
Mr. Gillettes works which showed any
serious purpose. Secret Service is writ
ten around several very interesting Incl
dents in the late Civil war. 1t Is prob
ably the first war play which~dees not
rely on battle effects or the sensational
elements of clashing arms and rafting
musketry. The breath and spirit Of war
is In air its scenes and briStling bayonets
and brave soldier boys are in evidence
everywhere, but all the same the fra
GRANGE of love fills the nostrils, not the
fumes of gunpewder and 1t Is; a battle
between hearts, and not between armies,
that Mr.. Gillette presents SO cleverly.
Those who have sought for the secret of
this plays wonderful popularity claim
to have discovered 1t in the fact that the
author placed Cupid In command during
the siege of Richmond, linking In an art
full and happy way the. tenderest and
crue1est of human passions-leve, and
hate. Mr.. Gillette almost succeeds in
I giving historical Importance totthe. love
affairs which fill his story, SO closely
does he interWeave the fictitious with
mond crisis.
The action of the piece centers about
one Louis Dumont, of the United States
secret service, who, under the alias of
Capt. Thorne, of the Confederate army,
is in Richmond on most desperate de-
tail At this time the federal forces were
intrenched before the city endeavorins
by every possible means to break down
the defense and capture the Confederate
oil q
daring men should act as spies to enter
| Richmond, and by some means secure an
| appointment in the Confederate telegraph
service, that a false message might be
| sent 70 the rebel troops on a certain line
| of the defense, to move their position,
thus greatly weakening the defense at
! the vital point.
An assault of the federal forces at this
point would undoubtedly prove success
! full. This dangerous and delicate, duty
was intrusted to Louis and Henry Du-
mont, brothers, two Of the most daring
| men in the secret service, men who were
| always ready to undertake the most haZ-
ardous enterprise and willing to throw
away their lives for their country. While
| in Richmond Louis Dumont falls in love
with Edith Varney, the daughter of a
| Confederate general, who reciprocates the
affection. Capt. Thornes identity Is sus-
|
federate secret service His brother hav-
ing been captured, was caught sending a
message by an old negro to the Varney
home, supposedly for Capt. Thorne. The
| house is surrounded with troops and Du-
mont's brother, a prisoner, under pre-
text of escaping, is allowed to run
through the parlor, Arrelsford trusting
| that If Thorne were really Dumont he
would assist his brother to escape. The
! former suspects the plot at once. He
orders his brother to halt The latter re-
fuses, and then follows the great scene
! of the play. In the end love triumphs in
| very pretty and effective way.
The producing cast of Secret Service
will be almost identically the same as
the one seen at the Metropolitan season
before last. In the cast this season a
number Of well known players. will be
seen. William B. Smith. who created the
role of the telegraph operator, is now
| playing the leading part, and, according
to the press of other cities, is well liked.
Frances Ring, charming young actress
and capable leading lady, has been
given the role Of Edith: dainty Marion
I Childers, for the past two seasons VAL
| liable acquisition to the Frohman forces,
looks after the part played by Hope Ross.
The balance Of the company includes in it's
makeup Kingsley Benedict, Frank Raw
| lison, Ethel Douglas, Lille Hall, H. A.