The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-30
-AUCTIONEERr AGAIN
GREAT FLAX WAS. A DRAMATIC
 TREAT.
David Warzields on His Return to Montgomery Was Greeted by a Large and Enthusiastic
 Audience.

ssThe Auctioueer." now in its third sea- nen. with David warfieid in the title role rave a large audience at the Montgom- cry Theatre a dramatic treat last night
 The piece is filled with smiles and sighs from the first to the last curtain, and there are fewer smiles than sighs. The drama is woven together, warp and wool, n comedy and pathos, but the pathos pre- dominates. It rings true and sincere, this seller. sordid and crafty apparently. but Eersnous end tender hearted, who can complacentiy cheat customer. but who treasures for years the memory of a favor received to repay it with service and kindness throughout the years. It seems almost a paradox that the second hand clothes dealer can descend to methods nothing short of sMinaling gsn,Ients snd snes te sacrifices and deeds of kindness tor his loved onen i.
 It Is the sentiment, the humanity of of David Warfield which has made the production one of the notable stage pieces of recent years. There's hardly line in 1t without . throb of heart interest m one moment the play Is bubbling with the spirit of fun. the next brings sudden shock of sadness, pathos that is not to De denied 1t sends home to the audience the force of sentiment the sgnmanity
 The fortunate authors or the pay wrought out their work in a rare insight into the human heart ard with ripe understanding of ths dsd pest Se l%eolssT msn and women before the footlights saw ana recognized the genuineness of the goio in sSrhe Auctioneer." one of the great character parts or the modern stage. It is to be spoken oI aiI n the same breath with Joe Jeffe, sons nip Van winkle,,. or ,o Msnsne,s ss Succeeded that in later years men may boast that they saw Dave Warfieid play simon Levi as some men now recall with pride that they sav Edwin Booth play Hamlet, ~
 If was a remarkable transition, this massage of David warfield from the vau- deville portrayal of an East Side HeOrews to one of the great character pisyss piyaS,,ia I the day. In the days of his vaudeVhis gtruggfes Warfield was beyond douot thinker and a student. His art, the pow CT he has over his audience. is not the re- together in a single gift of talent. Its fruition came of perseverance, intehisehce and thoroughness- -
 In his thoroughness as to stage oetans. his close and artistic observance Of the nicefies of stage business, Warneid sug- gests the methods which have maoe Mansfield famous.
 The play was replete with subtle, artis- lie work by Warfleld, delicate stage hiisi. ness which sent home to the hearts Of his audience the full meaning of the pathos. the sentiment of the play. One is not likely to forget the farewell of Simon Lew to his old shop on the eye of his so,,,c re- He has just sold his old store, the scenes of his years of work. the narrow com fines in which his life had been spent.
 The picture of the old man, when the noisy crowd had trooped out and he had barred the door for the last time. Is not soon to be forgotten. The few moments before the curtain went down after the closing of the store was illuminated oy some of the most effective stage business ever witnessed on inc local stage. Al- most without a word Warfield mastered his audience. sitting heavy-hearted. in the fading light amid his sordid surround, ings.
 The star was most ably supported. The company remains practically unchanged from the beginning of It's New York suc- cess. There is hardly a part in the play that iB not made strong character study.
 The Mrs. Levi of Maria Davis and the Mrs Egan of Mary Bates were splendid pieces. characters to go with Warheld's Simon Levi.
 saThe Prince of Pilsen'' will he the ate traction at the Theatre tonight.