The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-15
At The zheaters.

For at least five successive seasons,
Wilson Barretts religio-l ibidinous melo-
drama, "The Sign of the Cross" has
visited the city of st. Paul and on each
occasion has been greeted by large audi
ences composed to a. considerable extent,
at least, of people who are seen but rare
ly within the walls of a theater. And,
strange to say, these same people-men
and women whose aim in life is to lift
their fellows to a higher plane of ex-
lstenee, and whose efforts, year in, year
out, are devoted to the betterment OF
those with whom they come in contact,
have sat and applauded scenes in this
same drama from which, in real life, they
would have turned with loathing The
paradox seems to be one that is mex
plainahle. Whether it is that the perse-
cut1ons of the early Christians, their
trials, their sublime devotion to their
new born faith, the PROSECUTING or a
noble Roman, and the ever present fear
of death overshadoW the more than
bestial orgies of the third act can only
be conJeetured. Certain it is that were
the scenes that are placed on the stage
IN that portion of the play transferred,
without changing word or a line, into
some modern drama, there would be
wall OF righteous Indignation forthwith
ana a demand for its suppression. Why
1t should be tolerated in the piece under
eonSloeratlon is not apparent. 1t is the
very aVatar of sensuality, and without
one redeeming feature. It is not even
necessary. The depravity of Marcus
Superbus and his regeneration through
the medium of his honest love for the
Christian maiden. Mereia, could have
been told in half dozen lines of Ola.
logue and made quite as emphatic
There was absolutely no excuse for the
production of a scene which must have
brought the blush of shame to the cheek
OF innocence, and given rise to feeling
OIL aversion in the mind of everyone in
the audience
It is difficult to account for the extraor-
binary popularity this work of Bar
rett's has enjoyed. 1t is a. melodrama
pure and simple, and it is filled with
nerye-racking incidents, can't and fustian
IN about equal proportions. There are
more absurdities crowded into its four
acts than obtain in "a Yenuine YentIe-
man, or Across the Pacific" Men and
women ON whose heads a price has been
set meet just outside the city's gates and
MAKE the night air vocal with song ana
exhortation. The human shambles of tbe
heartless Nero are suggested. even
though they are invisible. The blood
curdilng, ear-piercing yells of the how
Stephanus, tell of the awful torture of
the rack. 1t is dark, sinister. gloomy
depressing. And, yet, critics have praised
IL ana thousands have witnessed it. II
seems to be another instance of the plav
that wins its way without either merit
'etre. gap az
The presenting company is not wholly
satisfactory. Miss Mignon Shattenger ia
quite commendable in all she does h1It
ier Work lacks force at times and she
Is not always convincing. In form ana
bearing she is the ideal Christian maiden
ana her fine face. luminous ewes and
sweet. musical voice go far to atone for
the few defects that mar her xpork -
places Miss Agnes Scott as seran,s
played the part admirably well and
looked every inch the patrician beauty of
rome. Mr.. Charles A. MiIWard az
marcus Superbus was almost failure
from every point of view. He can neither
read nor act, and his figure and bearino
suggested the antithesis of a noble
roman Mr.. George RiddelI was satis-
iaetory as Nero. The other members of
the cast were mediocre
The play Is wei staged. the costun,,,,s
is correct, and the incidental music &c
eAcelient. The Sign of the Cross win
continue Tor the week, with the usual
matinees. 20 oa1
Inc second in series of complimentary
concerts was given last evening In tbe
1entral Presbyterian church by g. IT
rairciohgh' organist, assisted by U. s.
Kerr, basso; Mrs. Inez Won Encka GO
prano, and Master Julian Bliss. how Co
prano, and was enjoyed by over 1.5O0 peo-
pie. -''90 poo-
Never since he has been in ST. Paul
mas MI. F'airclough had better opnor-
tunlty of demonstrating his ability as an
zorganist than he had last evening IIis
programme was a varied one, ranging
from comparatively simple study in ex.
preston to composition that made an
exhaustive demand on every resource of
the organist. Every number was a finish
ed Dit of work and demonstrated the thor
ough musicianship of the player.
"A much-enjoyed number last night was
the scherzo from Claimants fifth sonata
u m1nor). It~was played with almost
feminine delicacy. A spectacular num-
Der Jacques Lemmens' Fantasia in
minor, showed 1.-THE players appreciation
oil tonal qualities and his discretion in
dynamics. THE Question and "The
Answer, by Welstenholme. were two ax-
quisite bits ofIrnelody adequately inter-
preted. Other numbers played by Mr..
Fairclough Were the overture to 'Eury-
anthe, by Weber; toccata and fugl1e
In d minor, Bach;: march and chorus
from "Tannhauser," Wagner, and the
William Tell" overture
q. 8. Kerr, former resident of st.
Paul, but who has not been heard In this
city for some time sang "a Ballad of
Trees and theai Master by Chadwick.
and king Henry to Fair Rosamund,'
Lehman. Mr.. aKerr's voice last evening
explained his long absence from the city.
1t is an unfortunate fact that st. Paul
cannot keep her best voices. An un-
usually deep voice, though tits, Mixers
basso is In no sense unwieldy and 1t is
capable of delightful and exquisite shad-
ing.
Mrs. Won Encke. who has well culti-
waited and naturally strong soprano, sang
..Wfdmung." Schumann, and Grieg's
Good Morning, responding to an encore.
Master Julian Bliss soprano has a flute