The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-03-15

presented by n capable company at the
Empire theatre last night could not do
otherwise than please the large audience
which had gathered to see it's initial
performance I'm this city. There are
number Of intensely theatrical situations
that are cleverly led up 10 by the dramat-
ist and they show how the mind Of
clergyman is brought TO believe ill OF his
pure and loving wife through a letter
penned by schemer and by the glib
lies OF a lawyer who had designs both
upon the woman and the fortune which
she possesses.
This letter falling into the parsons
hand Is sufficient 20 irlplant a doubt In
the mind Of the husband, Of the wife's
fidelity and when she would cling TO him
he casts her of and sends her with her
child out into the world.
A tough character is murdered by the
scapegrace brother OF the lawyer in front
OF the parsonage and by contriving 70
help brothers to escape and causing the
belief TO go abroad that the murdered
man was his brother, the lawyer nearly
fastens that crime upon the unfortunate
clergyman. who escapes arrest by the
loyalty OF a hired man. and goes TO New
Orleans. where. under an assumed name,
he manages TO exc out a precarious liV-
ing by teaching music
The wife with her blind baby also goes
to New Orleans and secures situation
as singer i'm a concert hall When she is
subjected to the insults of the lawyer and
narrowly escapes being kidnapped on one
occasion. Just as the saddened and inn
bittered minister is about TO end his
misery by suicide he is saved by the in
terposition OF his little one. through
whom reconciliation is affected and all
ends happily at last
William A. Norton has the title role,
H..
IL easily the star. for he handles the
strong scenes with great skill, develop
ing strength AT the critical moments and
carefully avoiding the many opportuni-
ties given him TO overact
The villainous lawyer is portrayed by
Pickering Brown. who is fairly accept
able. though not winning that sure sign
of the gallerys approval hisses. at any
time. The assistant villain, so To speak
the brother Of the lawyer, was accept
ably played by Harold Vosburgh. who
won the applause Of the house at several
climaXes
Frankie Francis handled the part Of
the victimized wife aCceptably 10 the au-
dience as its applause demonstrated and
Baby Oleva appeared as the little blind
girl after the first act.
Tho comedy element which was fur
nIshed in abundance was provided by a
voune German girl who had considerable
difficulty with the English language and
a country youth who loved hcr The
girl. Gretchen. was a capital part and II
vas very well presented by Grace VIII
motte. who handled the tangled task
easily. her presentation being one of the
brightest things In the performance. The
country youth Andy was IN he hands "f
Harry NJ. Smith. whose .antics lndcr the
influence OF carnival lax were very
amusing
The balance of the company was ac-
ceptable and during the course OF the
performance there Is sope excellent sing
ing. on stage.
The Village PPrson' viii be seen here
the balance OF the week with the usual
poatinees and next week the manage
ment announces Augustus Thomas state
play. Arizona"