The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-02
FULL OF PATRIOT1sM.
Nathan Hale Teens With Whole
some Patriotic Sentiment

Those who saw Nathan Isale'' at the
Crawford last night, and there We're not
many OF them, can no longer wonder ar
the stories OF brave deeds and the tales
of fOrttude that came from the fields of
Cuba and the Philippines They We're
done by Americans, who came from the
same stock. maybe, as the valorous
SchOOlnnaSter hero Hale. And they were
not only full of patriotism in those days,
either. for there was sentiment and love
and Alice Adams wanted string OF
soldier buttons just as bad as a young
miss Of today.
The part Of Nathan Hale is well taken
by Howard Kyle. So well taken that
Mr.. Kyle seems to be Nathan of the
stage or Nathan seems to be Kyle on
the stage. The heroic lines he speaks
as the young hero are given with a
spirit and vehemence that seem per-
fectly natural and never at all stacy.
His conception of the character of the
young SchOOlnaSter with his exalted
idea of patriotism and bravery is superb
for the reason that the part in his hands
IS made that of a. young man, a GOOD
fellow Just out of college who can teach
his school and love his pupils, or rather
one of them, see the huTnor of all things
and give his life for his country without
once rolling MS eyes to the gallery or
STOPPING to any of the artful little tricks
of the average stage hero. Mr. Kyle
has been seen here before with Ward
and James and Modjeska, and he ere
ated the part of David, the lover, IN
Way Down East" which was here not
long ago.
The writer of the play, Clyde Fitch,
deserves no little praise for his work.
He has made Nathan Hale and all the
surroundings of the character as true
as study and pains can make them He
has SO imbued every utterance OF Alice
and Nathan with love and patriotism
that no one can see the play without
feeling just a little bit prOuder, at least,
that they live in the same country and
under the same flag as they did.
f,1+e- all 7sQf "a n
be desired, but the last two scenes are
50 sad. so dismal, that they spread a
sort of pail over the audience No doubt
B7r Fitch could not help it, for it is GER
rainly sad for man to be in prison
adenned to be executed and to be led
to the gallOWs, but nevertheless 1t IS too
bad that the audience could not have
been spared some of the sorrow or the
tragedy in order to remember Hale's
patriotism and Alice'S love without the
sorrow of the end.
Alice Adams. so sweet and simple, yet
so tactful and brave. is a character as
worthy as that of Hale. almost. It is
doubtful if there was one in the audi
enca who did not feel a sort of extra
throbbing in their breasts during the
recitation of Hale's brave speeches or who
did not have a lump in their threats
during his agonizing scenes with Alice.
1t does seem SO sad that after all Ma
than had to die for his country instead
of living for Alice. OF course the play
could not be the true and thrilling rO-
nance of the Revolution that it is I'M
less Nathan goes to his execution, but
as the women in the audience murmur,
ITS too bad"
There is humor, too. in the play. and
good, wholesome humor it is, too When
Angelica runs away and maITies Leb-
anon the audience is moved to laughter
as much as to tears in the following
acts. When the runaway couple returns
for Mother KnOWltOn'S blessing and she
scolds the couple, Angelica saws: "He
said he wouldn't go to war and fight
unless I married him. and you know we
are so in need of soldiers that I did it
a little bit for the sake of nv country"
Then the bridegroom hero of the elope-
ment tries to pacify the mother-in-law
by saying: BE q mother to me for just
a little while. I must go to fight tonight,
and I said 1 would try you first I"
Nathan Hale is a play founded upon
good principles, a play well written and
well acted, and that teaches a good
lesson. No one can help but be a better
American for having seen it