Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-01-07

b-~COCS>N~~
Richard, the Lion Hearted" the
new romantic drama which will be
presented at Harper's theatre tonight
by Robert Downing and his company,
has received most favorable criticism
at the hands of the eastern and south
ern press. The play, although taken
partly from history, has been SO con-
structed as to open to the public
part of the life of a heret ofore
maligned king. His crusades into
the Holy Land, his courtship and be-
trothal TO the Princess Bsrengaria, of
Navarro. her timely rescue of her
roval iancee and many other stirring
events, make one of the most pleasing
dramas ever offered to the public.
OF Mr.. Downing's work little can be
said, his reputation as a romantic
actor and star being too well known
to difate upon. He has been most
successful in procuring strong sup
porting company. and especially so
in securing the services of Miss AL
berta Converse as his leading lady.
She is talented and beautiful young
woman, who is said to possess mag
netic personality not seen since the
days of Mary Anderson. Charles d.
Herman, for five years leading man
with Frederick Warde, occupies the
same position with Mr.. Downing this
season. Others in the company,
which mum bers 20 people, are Lillian
Kingsburv, William Somers, Minnie
l4indley and others.
The charming comedy drama, ''Un-
Gle josh Spruceby." will be presented
at Harper's theatre for one night
Thursday, Jan. 10. 1t has made a
very fine impression in all the New
England cities this season and no
doubt will be igdrawing card here.
A large company and carload of
special scenery and mechanical effects
are necessary and used in the produc-
ton. Many new and novel specialties
are introduced. The company carries
| it's own orchestra of IL soloists
which is one of the features. Prices
10, 20, 80 and SO cents.
A welcome announcement for our
theatregoers is that Charles Froh-
mans production of the famous play
of 1.-The Little Minister will be seen
at the Burtis for one night, Thursday
evening. Jan. 10. The engagement
will undoubtedly prove to be one of
the big events OF the season, and the
audience is sure to be extremely
large. The great success achieved by
this famous comedy is well known
and every one is DESTROYS of seeing
the play. Its presentation here, we
are promised, will be complete in
every way. The company that is to
be seen is known to be most excel
lent one, and specially selected by
Charles Frohman to present the play.
.'Miss Hobbs" comes heralded as
one of New York's greatest successes,
and those who have had the good for
tune to see this play can easily tell
why this comedy has created such q
favorable impression on the theatre
going public. Miss Hobbs is young
WON an who might be made abtrusely
"new." She is girl with mis-
| sion, that thing of masculine terror
which bears about the same relation
to modern society as the Gorgon did
in NEUROLOGICAL days. Miss Hobbs
| avowed and particular object in life is
to impress upon her women friends
the tyranny of man and the slavery OF
marriage. She disrupts the house.
hold of tie Kingsearls, newly mar
ried couple, breaks an engagement be-
tween another pair. and makes herself
altogether thoroughly hated by the
men concerned. But eventually Miss
Hobbs discovers that her opinions are
not so firmly rooted after all, and
when the right man comes along she
decides that she is goose and admits
her surrender by kissing her conquer
er before everybody. "Miss HOBBS
will hold the boards at the Burtis
opera house Wednesday evening.