The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-03-03
GiIDOS'S PIAY. ELECTRA.
4 Description OF the Drama THAT Has Causcd
such isturbances In spain.

Rursly. indeed, has any modern drana'ls'
scored such a SuCces. as that achieved 10y
ID Rcnito percy Gald6s. the gifted C%astiliSn
radical. whose latest production. Electra,
Wa, REFORMED ON the 10Th II January Tor
tho frat time In the Teatro Espahrl Of
Madrid The theatre was packed To over
flowing, the great majority OF the audience
belonging to the rising young literary cotere
~ the spanish capital \ frenzy Of en-
tnusIasu seized the spectators a. the per
formsnce proceeded 4 Few conservative
present wrr, threatened and jostled about,
while shouts Of Death 20 N. je-uits' Down
with ecclesiust ici-ru!" and Lon live liberty"
rent the air Fourteen times the curtain Vac
raised In answer to frantic demands After
th. performance the author ives ~show"red
SltA congratulations md much q sturDauce
prevailed IN tho streets For a few uays
g'torward there were serious riots. c>pe-
uillly directed AGAINST IN" Jesnit' and the
a4ho7rur, Of cl"riculisn. quite a number Of
arIc.:- following A. a Consequence
The appearance of Electra, coming rs
II die ,.ose uppn tho agitation AMI suppressed
lI,ccutnut Of IA" whole 81 SPAIN, produced
lvtI"apYruaching marriage Of Prince Charles
iI Huurhoa. the son Of tho hated Carl.,t
.aad,. C.scrtl. to the Princess Of tstlrlas,
uai,.. nam, 10 the Intolerabln national CON
aIiun Tie drama has thus attained a celeb
riry rnd popularity beyond the widest dreams
of ih- author and his friends II "nnCen-
trsr,s. - 10 speak. in a magnificent outDurst
uI lts.Iun. the protest OF IN" spanish people
ara.n-t eAi-ting abuses and oppression
Ia, not easy for an outsider 20 understand
tho present iunsmmatory condition Of Spain
Her masses are ground dowu by oxtortionatc
taxation. cursed 10y the uu0lushinr co.rup-
lion and v.ral!tv Of nigh officials. crushed
10y "" .yaction- and privileges Of certain
pria.tIy ord'r-. and her trade and industries
ruined Is tEr mIsioitunes brought on 10y
til. late War with America Poverty and
hIugrr -taik through the land. Intensified
hy in,cssant strikes In former hives Of in
dI.try and commerce, such "a, Barcelona
The Qucrn Regent herself. Ia spite Of her
cous,cnUuu- attention 10 public duties.
hs, never won IT," hearts II VA" SpaniIrd-
Her titlr 70 the fhTu ne l. Legitimate. a. she C.r
tree" h'r decent '" the sr'd' Emperor 81
r"rnurN. ana hIng OF spain, thnrlt '
Nevertheless, ~" - 4 inr"iti'i being not a
~SpsnltId. hui an Austrian. AMI. nCc"rd.ngly
yir6 .i with s'Jspi.Inu She = now looked
nI."l vlu more disiavor than EYER. since,
f'rhugi iHn marriag" Of her daughter, ~hc
has alfred her huu-" o." iHai OF IN" pfr'"ndcr,
The Dot Il "Liac,ra. ~ civor in an ey-
Ia Lporu. may b" Y = briefly told Avuung
rir! loses lcr mother. who Ia, not led an
NA ~ nun" I'VE IN" u 'fIel log ana fll-
,ntrd uv her father. a marrow old man. aud
bV her aunt. a very pIous woman Tn"
father IN his faua'iynl zeal. wants the poor
n hi to .,pIate ~ a convent the ,ins q those
vino brought her into IN" world In this
mrunrr the bodies Of tai her. iuothcr aLd
tIvgIrcr viii r.s' ,ome day together ia the
and al The grave. and enjoy IN common
celestial Happiness The daughter. oou-e-
,rG'"d 10 God, will ho like the Ho''. offered
o. tie altar ~ -%acrihc", IA enpIH'ion % the
"EtG0,ti :. however. in love with an riec,ri-
ci engineer. n man II liberal. modern
oro4s The typ" ~ IL" legendary hero, the
trCuh5dour, Who. with the lapse ot time.
ha. laid aside Ia" sword I" manipulate n"
aIr'. htn aud tive fe'Oft.
Pdnt.r. in" father 81 Fi'c'ru, MY ~ row
s.arIyd - l.e pea sOnliCsti0u ". I'Iislp.'