The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-27

waivers, and the doubt arises in heI
mind If the cause of the gray is the
rlght. 1t is with this one doubt thai
f1tch paveS the way and gives an ex-
PLANTATION for her historic act of waving
the stars and stripes as the flag of the
country.
Barbara Frietchie" is one of Clyde
Fftch'S best efforts and it is a thorough
~ good war drama. There is but one
part in it of great Importance, that of
Barbara" taken by Edythe Chapman,
who, despite the fact that she spells
her name like she does, is an actress
fully able to carry the strenuous part of
the Frederick girl. The play was writ
ten for Julia Marlowe and there are no
new stars in it. James Neill wouldn't
amount to a row of pins in the play.
Barbara has to have some one to
make her love to, some one to get
wounded so she can Secrete him in her
house and nurse him. The part as ta-
ken by John w Burton gave her these
opportunities. Neill might have been a
little more polished in his acting but he
was not missed
Edythe Chapman is an actress who
does her lines in so natural a manner
that the audience forgets everything for
her The first act is somewhat slow
but serves to show the languidneSS of
the southerners and to allow Captain
Trumbulr' to be accepted by Barbara"
and for Father Frietchie,' who hates
'Yank' as he hates poison, to order
him from the place. The southern ac-
CGnL I'll the WQkIlGH IOlk III the IlTSI dcI
drags out like run down gramaphone
but in the more exciting scenes that fol-
low they forget the drawl.
1t is in the second act where bar
bara' shoots the Confederate sharp
shooter who is aiming ate her sweet
heart that the stirring scenes commence.
In the third act when Captain Trum-
bull'' wounded to death by ''Barbara's''
brother in the fight in the streets of
Frederick, staggers into the Frietchie
home and is Smuggled by his sweetheart
to her room that the climax in the ex-
element of the play is reached. Then
Jack Negley," the man whose love for
Barbara is not returned and who
hates ''Trumbull'' for that reason and
because he wears the northern blue,
wounded and crazed with passion ano
jealousy attempts to slip to the room to
kill Trumbull. Barbara" unarmed but
cool and determined keeps him back by
her commands. Donald BowleS does
Jack Negley" in a perfect manner. His
collapse upon the stairs when he falls
several steps to the feet of Barbara
and lies there groveling in insane de-
lirium is intensely dramatic.
Nanny Lou" the old colored woman,
to suit Lillian Andrews, who dis
played the humorous and pathetic sides of
the character sufficiently well to win her
pleasing LEAST Sue Royce zee, Robert Morris as
stromg rae Hi the seeper
is carried by the company and is good.
he sTn ie 81 IN RBaHb as roo Aa
his life goes out the column of Stonewall
Frederick street Grasping the
United States flag of her grandfather
which she gave "Trumbull'' and which he
wore beneath his blouse when he was
shot, she runs to the balcony. The next
scene shows her. as the poet described
her:
'.Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag that men hauled
down;
In her attic window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet"
AS she flaunts it out Gen. jackson comes !
marching by and makes his famous order |
Close following comes Jack Negley, his
heart full of hate and craZed in mind |
Before a hand can stop him he fires at
Barbara" and the flag, and she falls limp
and lifeless against the railing of the ball |
cony. 1t is ''CoI. Negley," father of the
man who fired the shot, who commands
that Stonewan Jacksons order who |
harms hair of yon girls head, dies like
L dog" be carried out. 1t is a sad end |
ng to a play full of bravery, loyalty and |
owe.