The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-25
||MR.D|XON1TAL|k'.s:I
0 o. /: c |. |! | n
Says Ills Play is Absolutely
Without Obi ctio Enable, Scenes
!, or Lines.
scRlTlclsEs HIS HIS CRITICS y liz; s
Offers to8lvithdraw Playif Rich
lnond Public Find Ought
to Ccns,trc.

3:; I'M ,'.ric Clansman' company reached
Richmond on yesterday and rehcnrscd
at the Academy last night "
MIR. Dixon, tho author Of the much
talked Of sensational play that will. be
seen tonight, WIS not present at the
but remained Mt his hotel Il
a there are any scenes that leaned toward
the repuls!vc or IL there arc any lines
"A TINT border on responsiveness, The Times,
Dispatch man failed to see or hear them.
Tho play. while startling md hold, was
i ut once vigorous and convincing, and
the plot treated In a mastery manner,
} is one that is familiar TO every Southern
y man and woman. 3te
The company Is strong and the move
ment OF the acts is smooth and easy.
ish The part OF Flora y. the email South
Carollnn girl. Ia exceptionally we'll play
ed By little Violet Mcrsercau who,
4 chosen out OF one hundred children to-
fl.lithe character, is$not only n charming
Ga little actress. but Is as pretty ne she IS
B5 clever. 53 X 81 M A d
Caused a Sensation.
The Misrepresentation Of the play In Nor,
b folk last week created n. ve1i able gen
s. saton. and gave promise Of remark
able success II 5 "
rs In tho criticIsrn printed In m after
noon paper on SATURDAY,. n mistake was
made. Thc8lit,le child IN the play does
NOT become The victim 8of n negro. b''t
esca pes his clutcfcs. s8ai
i5 ,5 Forty PEOPLE are REQUIRED in The pro-l
a duction. and I'VE elaborate settinys are
I used in the fonrs nets. the third OF which
III liz In two scenes. 5s #Fl 55 8$sja5 Z
$s@Thrce torscs arc carried md q re- Used
K In thu pursuit and ca pt,res Of the negro
3E"GuB. = III ii s$$ \. VA NJ.
rho succcss that vas SO marked mt I he
II inltial performance wa re pea ted Q gain ~
Il Norfolk on SATURDAY night when w
F,pcoplca we%' turned away iron y y y g
a I hcntrc and d nc " re cord wa made Oy3
at he PLAYHOUSE. 9s ~ . !. ia
Mr. Dixon was iscen last night and
when asked IL he had any reply to make
~ Is tho criticisms or his playithat had
appeared In the play. said that tho g entire
mot was founded on a,solut G 4 fact ana
that not9one word was SPOKEN hat was
not matter ofsnot very distant history.
q In conclusion he snid e
Wrong Impression.
THE opinions expressed in an afternoon
III raper OF Richmond on Saturday by the
solemn young man who reportedathe
d production OF the Clans,nnn In NortoltK
are Intensely amusing 10 me. Among the
six thousand people. tho most cultured
and re fincd In TideRatcr Virginia who
8. we're present Friday and Saturday, there
were not Al dozen people who agreed
with him. " ifl IL . II
THE impression OF his report is utterly
II false. The formula by which the play
& was made is simply a mixture UNEQUAL
proportions OF laughter tears and
thought. Three magnificent audiences
/ declared that It was n success.
..Thc assertion that there is a single
lire hideous or icpulsire to n thoughtful
B man or woman Is childish rubbish. The
"a idea that there Is a single scene which
4 may not be witnessed by the most refined
z mother and her daughter Is utterly false.
10Y offer my learned critic this simple
I test: After tho performance In Richmond
Monday night II he can find one per
III cent. Of the audience who agree with
his opinions II VIII Immediately take
steps to Withdraw the play from the
8 boards, regardless Of any financial loss
Il to me. NJ This ought to satisfying friend
4 for tho financial results seem to distress
T HIM" "a s a.
Is True History.
/ wish to deny with emphasis the ass
Is sortion5 that nm actual assault Is more
than suggested on the stage This UNI
spoken terror of thG South, daily liv-s
3 ing reality to every Southern heart, re-
Y mains unspoken In my play. have
IS held the mirror up 10 Our history. ana!
told the truth about tho past and our
present. " ! have spoken the message,
VI Of my people, and It Is u message the
world has not yet heard and ought to-
hear. This plays success ! count the
III proudest achievement OF my, life.
i. have studied the art OF the drama with
p consuming passion for the past three.
years that might do this thing. Mt for
81 pclf or vain show, but because felt It's
/, message hot and qulverlng In my soul.
+ and TINT II must speak ut or die,
5llS I am not a pesslmist. tx l am an optl-3
$ mist, who loves laughter and sunlight.
! simply refuse to be n fool when con-,
fronted by q great race problem. II
Il this problem Is already so serious and
dangerous that n Southern white man
Il dare not discuss 1t aloud North and
South, 1t is high time somebody begins
is here Will he vanish II we keep still
No question Is ever solved until 1t Is
solved Alright The South In 1867 stood
II for some things that are eternal&in their
verify, sho stands for them to-day
= and the great North Ia bending an eager
car southwark for guidance as the black
man crowds each day closer Into their
lives.
81 Are we race OF towards that we are.
Il afraid OF our history or our principles?
I For my part, II am proud OF both
shall bequeathe them to my children q
priceless heritage. 5 VI
THERE is PERFE C 7 ORDER
IN ISLAND OF CUBA.
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