The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-16
1.-THE CLANSMAN.
NEEDS PRUNING
Two Scenes. Depicting Negro Brutality.
Will Doubtless be Eliminated Ii Play
Continues.

Continues.
The ex-Rev. Tom Dixon doubtless
will be made to eliminate from 1.-The
Clansman" W revolving scenes. which
were presented to the first-nfght audi
ence at the Liberty.
In the first scene a negro brute is
made to describe and re-enact in pan
tom1me his attack Upon a ~I3-year-old
girl. In the latter offense. another
negro, no less bestial, if possessed of
more intelligence, locks the door of
his Office as a beautiful white girl en-
ters, and proceeds to make most VIC
lent love TO his captive.
These are specimens Of the ex-Rev-
erend Toms bid for pon 10 his
patrlotism-at 81 per response.
The Clansman," to borrow literally
from the vivid description freely FUR
nished by a thoughtful press agent, is
50 drama Of the Ku-Klux-Klan, that
silent; mysterious body of gallant
horsemen who risked their lives in the
defense of the honor of the women of
the south and rescued several southern
states from the negro domination
which held them in it's grip immedi-
~NC| oiINl IhO wal vi LIT IlcDSIIloI.
This characterization, it may be not
ed, differs somewhat from other delini-
tons of the K. K. K, but, coming
from an accredited representative of
the unbiased author, the ex-Reverend
Thomas Dixon, Jr., must be accepted
as final.
SHOWN IN SOUTHERN CITIES.
The Clansman,' previous to it's de-
scent upon New York, has been seen
in a number of southern cities, whence
the news of Lees surrender has not
yet penetrated, and by the impartial
residents Of that section received with
every mark of acclaim.
The audience which gathered at. the
Liberty last night filled every seat as
no other attraction has ever been able
to do. There was not a space large
enough to stand in unoccupied back of
the orchestra seats, and of those in
the house the great majority were
plainly in sympathy with the lost cause
of the south. There were cheers at
each southern sentiment uttered,
cheers when the carpet-bagger COVER
nor was knocked down by a negro 10y
al to his old "marster," more cheers
when the dashing young hero said he
"CuAN ~ ILL., LII III DSLSA\
he would forget that he-the dashing
young hero-would forget that he was
a son of South Carolina.
The carpet-bagger governor vas the
tool of the black lieutenant governor
who committed almost every crime
in the calendar except bigamy. The
lieutenant governor loved the daughter
of his benefactor, the great abolition
list, and this love moved him to work
for the undOing Of the dashing young
hero. A lot of unpleasantness was the
result.
ORGANIZED THE K. X. K.
The d. y. h. organized the Ku klux
Khan, and himself won the love of the
daughter Of the abolitionist, who loved
TO prate equality, political and social.
The lieutenant governor was going to
have the hero shot, but the arrival of
a thousand or so Ku Kluxers disar-
ranged that plan and brought the play
to a close, leaving a bad taste in the
mouths of every gentleman and gentle
woman in the audience, but nightly
tickling the ex-Rev. Tom, who had
chosen the conclusion of the least Of
fensive of his acts as the time to make
a speech, wisely getting it in before the
~unspeakable horrors of the latter por-
tons of his american play" had dis
guSted one of the largest and the most
friendly audiences of the season.
The southern gentlemen n south
ern gentlewomen in the house had
laughed heartily at the early humOr,
applauding the spirit of he negro
mammy who usually followed her hus-
bands appearance on the stage armed
with a broom. This was harmless and
was once funny, as vas the hObble Of
the old mar servant, without which
no picture of the darky and the south
ern plantation would be complete.
But when the horrors of the play
were fully unfolded there were averted
looks and deep silence.
THE Clansman' has a clever cast,
HolbroOk Blinn is n of u o ca
pable performers, and his CHARACTERIZE
ton of Stoneman, the abolitionist, call
ed forth much favorable comment.
sydney Ayres we have accepted in ro-
mantle drama, and. as the dasning
young nero of the Dixon play, he does
very we'll. He would grow in esteem
if he would curb his propensity to dem
tai display.
SOME GOOD ACTING.
An admirable bit of humor was con-
tributed by John B. Hymer, as a negro
sheriff. Joseph Wheelock, Sr., was at
home in the part of a southern doctor,
and Austin Webb, in the thankless
role of the rascally lieutenant COVER
nor, fairly earned the Kisses that were
50 freely bestowed upon him, Bowery
fashion, by the audience.
''The Clansman" is rich in pretty
women, principal of which is Miss
Georgia Welles. She is the daughter
of the abolitionist, beloved by Ben
Cameron. and desired by the black
lieutenant governor. Grayce Scott is
fair to look upon, and her part calls
for so many absurdities as to make
it almost laughable at times. Gretchen
Dale is another personable young
woman. and her costumes of the period