The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-09

Bljou-"Janice Meredith
About three years before Paul Leicester
Ford met his tragic death at the hands of
his crazed brother in his library in New
York CITY,. 11e had placed upon the mar
ket his intensely interesting story Of CO.
lonial times Janice Meredith" This
novel at once took such a strong and
favorable hold upon the reading public
that it's sale jumped into hundreds Of
thousands Of copies Dramatists quickly
saw the great possibilities of the story.
and finally that untiring and successful
playmaker, Edward e. Rose, was chosen
by Mr. Ford to collaborate in transferring
the story from the book to the stage:
An elaborate production at Wallack's the
alter, New York, Immediately duplicated
the success it had achieved in book form.
The production ran for over 200 nights.
William Bonelli and Miss Rose Stahl
who, during the last two years, have
starred with marked success in IAN
American Gentleman, play from Mr..
Bonelli's own PEN. secured the exclusive
rights to Janice Meredith and will APP
pear in that play during their forthcom-
| ing engag cement at the Bijou next week.
commencing with a matinee tomorrow
afternoon.
| Miss Stahl has played the leading roles
| in many of the great plays of the past
! few years. She is said to be charmingly
winsome and effective and promises to
score a great personal success in the
character of Janice Mr.. Bonelli Is an
bring a temperament and fitness for the
character Of John Brereton, colonel tt
General Washington, that insures an in
spring and dramatic conception of thai
! virile hero.
While the story differs in minor details
! from that geof sthe$ .book, -sit5 has the same
/ general trend, except that Janice's love
/ for Colonel Brereton is made eviden
from the first. This, of course, gives tn,
story deep heart interest at once.
The curtain rises on the scene of Squir
f Meredith's farm, Greenwood, Nd, il
May 1775 Some British soldiers are$Vis
ting the squire who IS a tory, and it i
disclosed that Charles Fownes, bondma1
to the squire, has given aid to Washing
tons army. It Is also disclosed tina
Fownes is in love with Janice Squire Mer
edith s. daughter, and that he is reall
Charles Brereton, son of Lord Howe, tn
British commando F'ownes is &arreste
and placed under the guard of Philemo
Hennion. also a siutor, for Janice's shan6
The girl draws Hennlons attention fror
his prisoner and makes possible Fowne:
escape. but the latter does not know thu
her strategy was intentional. He join
wa oil lily UcHSN1llS IIldl OdulS
betrayed him into the hands Of the Brit
ish.
The second act shows the squre's hous
occupied by the British under Henniol
who has won Mr.. Meredith's consent fl
the hand of his daughter. Fownes, no
Colonel Brereton Of Washington's sta!
is passing a mission to General LIE
He enters the Meredith stables to secu1
a fresh mount and is discovered; he take
refuge In room where Janice harper
to be and while there learns how 81
sided his escape. The British follow hi
and Janice again saves his life, but is a.
rested.
Il The third act takes place in Trento
the headquarters Of Colonel Rail, tt
Hessian commander where Janice is III
der guard. Brereton enters disguised
a Hessian, ana while protecting JAM
F from insult his identity is discovere
he is arrested and sentenced to be sh
at once. In: the meantime Janice has col
trived to send to Washington the inform
ton brought by Brereton, and Washin
hoy yiv,cr. ,or4c TxIo -