Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-17

generations has stood for all that is
best in stage art. lie long ago proved
himself a worthy successor to his il
hlstrious father. Joseph Jefferson, and
shows plainly the teachings of that
great master.
A Secret Dispatch.
1.-THE Secret Dispatch" which plays
Sunday engagement at the Illinois,
is described as a drama of life during
the civil war. The action takes place
during the period of 1SG1-65, and
shows the domestic as well as the
military side of war times. The
story is based on the murder of an
old German, apparently committed
by his own grandson. The young
man is innocent, but the apparent
evidence is so strong against him
he joins the army in disguise to
avoid arrest, and it takes four acts
to evolve the circumstances that free
him and fix he guilt ON the real cul-
prit. The scene of the first act is in
the north. The second shows union
outpost during the war, and the last
two are i'm the north again. Strong
dramatic interest and good comedy
incidents mark all four acts and a
capable company gives a good presen-
tation of the play.
David Harum
William II. Crane, who probably
stands next to Mr.. jefferson in the
affections of the theatre-going pub
lie, is to begin a fortnight's engage
ment at Powers theatre. in Chicago.
Oct. 20. The play he is TO present is
the dramatization of Edward Noyes
Westcott's celebrated novel, David
Harum." \ year ago Mr.. Crane pre-
scented the play in Chicago. and
throughout the six weeks il was given
there it won an extraordinary amount
of success. During many years this
estimable actor has been before the
public he has known numerous sue
cesses. but none which won or was ac-
corded anything like the volume of
appreciation that has been given
David Harum." For every effect
there must be, perforce. n cause. The
cause of David Ilarum's" success il
not difficult to determine. OF all the
drama tiZationS made of popular books
of recent years. il is by long odds
the most clever. most satisfying and,
as time shows, the most enduring
Not good line or an amusing piece
of description contained in the booK
is lost in the dramatization. and Mr..
Crane makes the old fellow who held
that "a man might be straighter'n u
string i'm most things and Yet never
tell the hull truth about a hoss,'
living. breathing reality. Some of the
critics nave held that Mr.. Cranes por-
trayaI of Harum is one of the best
things seen on the stage in years. Ii
has rugged humor. il has brightness.
it is full of light and shade, there is
no eXaggeration and it has sentimen-
tai touches here and there that never
fail to hit the mark aimed at. In
making play out of the book il
was divided into three acts. and all
the scenes laid in bonneville, y. y.
The feature of the opening act is the
horse trade between Harum and Dea-
con Perkins; in the second there are
the incidents of the counterfeit bills,
the tuSsle with Bill Montaig. and. fin
ally, the appearance of the deacon
behind the baIl<y horse, in the rain
storm. The scene of the closing act
* the parIor of Aunt Polly'S home.
and i'm it Harum tells the story of his
visit to the circus as boy. and of the
whipping which followed. The play
concludes with the Christmas dinner
and the opening of the celebrated
bottle of champagne. The play will
have an exceptionally strong east and
the production will be the same as
that seen on the occasion of Mr..
Cranes previous engagement i'm Chi
cago.