The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-06
AN OVATION TO DIXON.
His Strong Play Took Hold of The
Great Audience That Wildly
Cheered the Author.

Cheered the Author.
That 1.-The Clansman" is q strong
| play one that appeals to elemental
| emotions, was demonstrated at the
second performance here last night
| At both matinee and night the au
diences were great ones, standing
room with chairs in the aisles being
! the rule.
The first token of appreciation at
night was in the laughter that came
when the negro, later made the Sher-
| if, explained that the picture of the
rat on the ballot of the negroes was
| intended show the ratification" of the
| constitution, the first applause COM
| ing in Voleys when the faithful old
negro Nelse declined to join the negro
secret societies saying I'D rather steal
| by myself this being emphasized
when he declined the title of gentle
man saying I'm just an ole fashioned,
wool and a yard-wide niger, who
| loves his master. This applause
| sWelled to volumes of approval as ell
max after climax was approached.
There are crudities in the play, but
| it is strong in spite of these, and
won general praise for its excellence
! as a drama, even though some of the
| performers We're weak at times.
Whether it is play that will live IS
| a problem that is yet to be proved,
! for while 1t is a stupendous sue
cess in it's initial tour it must
take it's second, a third and other
seasons to 'tryl it out" on the
public. 1t gets a grip on you before
| the first act is we'll under way, and it
grips you tight and fast till the final
curtain.
Tumultous calls for Dixon" Dix
on" brought the author before the cur
tain at the end of the third act. AS
I The appeared the applause increased
and the audience gazed with interest
at the tall figure in gray clothes, with
white vest and boutonniere at coat
| lapel which came to the front of the
stage. MlA Dixon's voice rang clear as
| bell, and in part he said:
81 wish once more to express my
| heartfelt thanks for the magnificent
reception the people of North Caro-
| lima have given to this play. and L
wish to assure you that in it's prep
aration to which | have devoted siN-
teen years l have endeavored to do
the most serious work of my life.
Il thank you for the stamp Of your
approval, and / believe that God AL
mighty appointed the Southern white
man to be the leader of the white
! race. [ have drawn in this play the
picture of the darkest hour of your
/ life, and one l believe that our chill
dren should know and not forget a
past of which no honest man should
+, be ashamed. l have drawn it with
out one ignoble fear or pusilamin-
Gus thought.
There is one thing that l desire
my boy to remember, and that is
that he comes from stock that
counts it an honor to die
! for priEc ipleS. / have only the
kindest feeling for the black man and
hope that good will come to him in his
| association with the men of the South
who in their lives are doing the most
for the Aryan race.
81 wish once more to express to you
as q North Carolina boy my heartfelt
! appreciation of the magnificent recep-
ton which you have given my play,
and | wish to say to you that wherever
| | am, and whatever success may come
to me. or how many friends | may
make, there is one thing that / will
never forget and Will allow no other
to forget, and that is that | am son
of old North Carolina"
The audience which witnessed the
triumph of Mr.. Dixon was one repre-
sentative of the best thought and Gull
ture in North Carolina. and if applause
| marks approval and appreciation
they were won last night In the au-
dience were Governor Glenn and 9TH
ern State officers while in one box was
1.-The Dixon party'the members being
Mrs Thos. Dixon. Jr., and Miss Louise
Dixon wife and daughter of the au
thor, DR.. Norwood G. Carroll and his
Wife, DR.. Della Dixon Carroll, sister
of Mr. Dixon, Mrs. o. j. Carroll, Mr..
and Mrs. w. P Whitaker. Miss Pat
tie Carroll end Mr.. Herbert Carroll.
The two splendid audiences which
enjoyed 1.-THE Clansman" in Raleigh
paid for this pleasure something
over $1,400, and the capacity of the
Academy of Music was taxed to its
utmost The patronage from the
city was augmented, excursion parties
coming from Louisburg, Wake
Forest Youngsvile. while large
delegations were here from WILSON,
| Kittrell and other points
1t is understood that some
parties who endeavOred to sell their
tickets at advanced rates were caught
with these on hand, and that some
/ sold tickets as low as SO cents each
in their rush for cover. while some
had a few tickets left on their hands.
The "ClansEau is really great in
parts. and it tells a story that is no
strange one to the South. though 1T
I drives this home in some wonderful
stage pictures that leave one gasring
as he gazes. Measured by its effect
on the people who heard and looked
II is play of force and inter
, est and Mr.. Dixon has cause to be
nroud of the reception given this pro-
duct of his brain in Raleigh.