The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-10-12

The Clansman, Rev. Thomas Dix
on $ new play, was spresented topack-
ed houses i'll Raleigh last week, over
81, 400 being paid to witness the two
performances. That the drama is a
powerful aid captivating one from a
dramatic standpoint is not dispu-
ted, but there is difference of opinion
as to the prOpriety of its presenta-
ton and the good purpose it will
serve
We publish below two opinions,
somewhat diverse in nature, from
the Raleigh Times and the Raleigh
| Post, both of these editorial criti-
cism sdealing with the play rather
than the players:
Raleigl. Times
1t is ever easy to be opinionated
and to say and do things that wear
not well before the gleam and glare
of calcium. There was presented in
the city yesterday afternoon and
last night a rlay-"The Clansman."
Thomas Dixon, Jr., the author of the
book OF that title, combined the parts
OF two OF his stories, placed the scenes
and the action in Piedmont, 5. e.,
and then bestowed on variant men
and women the portrayal OF those
parts. In the local story OF the play
there is no hint or mention OF the
terrbeness OF portrayal. The thing
stands out all to itself. There has
been done nothing else that in any
way approaches it. The Southern
part of the world, and after that the
entire powers OF the AnglO-Saxon
livers and movers and beings will
join in a hearty and full-sOuled trib-
ute to the Southern gentleman
man, student, observer and physic
fellow of deep research-for what he
has done and accomplished in setting
forth the truth of conditions as they
obtained in those days when the
Southland lay in blood stained ash
es, when women were more than god
desseS and men dared to be-as they
were-gOds among men and the gen
eratiOns that knew them for fealty
and for fortitude and greatness.
There will be found hundreds and
thousands of critics who will lay to
the shoulders of Mr. Dixon the lash
he figurative lash that hurts as well
as the plated thong with all its liter
al aud full free stings. In the mean-
time it is we'll to stop and to take
even more than Il second thought in
the matter In that learned man
and close observer there is more than
the depicting of fictional values
there is a condition of things and af-
fairs as if the camera -Obscura had
placed it all in reproductions stamped
with the infinite seal OF the everlast-
ing in consideration of truth.
The play bears in its passages all
that is vile and bad and bitterly un-
acceptable to the men and women OF
the Old South. 1t is perhaps IL fore
gone conclusion in the minds and
hearts of most people that they have
no desire to again witness the scenes
and parts that indicate the-nearly-
pOwerlessness of the South and the
actualities that then not only lurked
in negro hearts and minds, but be-
came the uppermost part and par
cells OF their degraded and degrading
souls.
1t was not far cry for many of US
to whom the parts of the play were
but re-enactments OF tragedies too
terrible to put in words. AS a thing
OF sociology there remains nothing
more to be said. The scOurge has in
part been removed. How much long
er the sting will be felt God alone
knows. Last night there sat and
watched men who are at all times
temperate and very careful; at the
same time the enactmentS OF the
olden rule, when Anglo-Saxonism
was to a great extent subservient to
the calls and dictates of the Afro
emancipated. were so intensely ap-
parent that there was breathlessness
and the ardent desire to go upon the
stage and throttle those who carried
out the parts of the new regime, in
passages where glorious wOmanhOOd
of the Old South was subjected to
unlearned brutality and all the things
| and parts that make up the bestial
| in mankind.
We congratulate Mr.. Dixon on this
consummation of the art of writer
and play maker combined. He has
| before him the reach after higher
things and every dear presence OF
| attainment. He has drawn and de-
| lineated as few can and will dare to
try. He has given in three hours
what the world-in its earnest part
has long wished to know. The man
| who wrote the book and the man
who planned and plotted the play
has accomplished great things. great
er things. perhaps, than he dreamed
over and builded for in the handling
of one of the most perpleAlng and
irving matters of the whole globe.
| The SerrOrs of the real situation
were presented and presented we'll.
The author has displayed real hero
ism in making such piece presenta-
BILE and acceptable unto all the peo-
pie of the Southland in time to the
people OF the North country as we'll.
The production last night was not
| only a fair and true showing OF re-
construction conditions, it was full
of the effectiveness of the real. Many
will recall the story OF the same
times in the little story that was
written some years ago by Leland in
| his "Voice from South Carolina" In
all of it there lies bitterness, and
there turks the spirit OF the unaveng'
ed, of those who experienced treach'
cry and suffering and humiliation
and the need of an expediency for the
reconstruction of crushed principles
and stunned pride and crippled man
hood and wOmanhOOd.