The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1901-05-11

AA ia AHA NettAHNs
rsz TIE one great objection e. Ma T..
than Hale" from the view
point " the majority ~ play
koars. Is the anmberusas ht the
last ACT Most people like 8
play q end happily. and tbs
picture - Nathan standing haun 1
before the appia-trre "a Cot RutNcf S
orchard. with ths open nouae swing
ms above his head. can hardly b.
called amusing To this. Argument
see tragefllHE5 Very true. but Ma
than fIain" Is not 4 tragedy. it is 4
comedy with a tragic ending. The
FIRST tao acts are the most charming
comedy. the third drama. the fourth
tragedy AZ Fitch unquestiauahly
has life itself as a model FROM " hitch
such a uginEiing II elements could be
taken. and % vas daring In him 10
disrexard what h. knew was the
trend - public taste His play viii
never be what is known as a popular
suecess but Il il now and probably
WIN continue for many years 20 BE- 3
play which appeals strongly q peo-
pie 81 refinement ana education.
tsst Years OF Male.
Mr. Fitch has taken the three years
immediately prior 70 Nathan Haie'n
heroic death as the period for hla
play. The first act ands Hale hav-
ink heen graduated from Yale. teach d
sne the district school az New I.na-
don. Here ne loves and wops pretty
Alice Adams. enc Of his pupils. The
second act begins With a wholly
charming love scene and ends Nith
E4H.
into thu British lines The thlrd
act moves Dramatically ard ends un.
eNpecfefily. Prom constructive
point - view II il the best in the
play. Fault might reasonably o.
found With Hates throwing the wine
unseen from his muE. before drink
ing taastH wtth the British nfflearr
q SOY. no matter now lofty his seutf-
ueuta. would b. little short ~ an
idiot o. take such riHka. The inci-
deut n course r. merely a trick of
Mr.. Fiteh's IN ain additional interesf
and. sympathy for Hale. bus Il ta a
trick entirely unworthy ~ 80 clever
writer ~ pisya. To return % the
story % the play. Hale r. suspected
u being what he really g. by the
british Trek.
British soldiers. 4 note il sent e.
Alice Adams p4rportiHK "a come
from Gen. Howe. informing her that
Nathan Hale" e. DYING. and asking
her ~ come 60 him. ffaie u held IN
custody until her arrival IN the hope
hat ahe viii uuranscinuaiy hstray
him ~ her recognition. Hale gets 4
word ~ warning 90 her In time. ard
the Rirl meets him a. q stranger. Eie
~ finally betrayed On a most uneK-
pected manner The act ends with
Hale's escape with his sweetheart IN
his arms.
The nnal act T. in two scenes The
FIRST. in a British officers tent where
Hale. captured and condemned e.
die Is awaiting the coming 81 dawn
and death There 20 him comes Alice
Adams for her farewell. In the hnai
scene there are but tvHo speeches
The curtain rises on a stage wholly
dark
Then dawn begins First there l.
a faint. somher, gray iight which
grows brighter and brighter until
the dim uncertain outlines ~ trees
can b. seen. In the East two blood
red atreaks ~ sunlight break through
the clouds. the light is brighter and
the rcd Of the rising sun casts long
shadows from the trees. After thai.
dawn ceases 20 b. rosy. that brief
period Of blue light which invariably
precedes the sun comes. and then re-
spiendent rises the sun. Birds call
one to another from the tree tops.
apples drop from the trees. one can
almost fancy he hears the bees buzz
zinR. From a limb u an apple tree
hangs sinister, looped rope. Sum-