Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-05-05

the Broadway theater from the McCourts,
who are bound up with the syndicate. IL
Is hardly likely that the fashionable theater
Of the city will be turned over TO vaude-
vile, so the Orpheum may escape the COM
petition there But In Kansas City the
Orpheum will have to compete with the
Klaw g. Erlanger continuous at the shu-
bert theater. In Omaha and Minneapolis
the Sullivan & Considine houses will d.
vide patronage with the Orpheum theaters,
and this may make Martin Beck wonder II
he really did right when he closed his
theaters to the Independents two years ago.
At all events, it may induce him to recon-
slider that action. and thus make It possible
fer the Belasco and Fiske stars to get into
several Of the larger cities Of the west
without playing in barns. Much pretty
speculation might be INDUCED in, but we
can AFFORD to await developments.
-
let US for a moment forget the managers
and their troubles in contemplation OF the
intellectual delights Of the drama accord
ing to Henri Lavedan as exemplihed by
Otis Skinner. When Mr.. Skinner gave
us "The Harvester he seemed to have all
but reached his top note. In that play
he was the embodiment Of freedom OF
action and thought ana his soul revolted
at the restrictions Of convention. Liberty,
such as can only be had with vagabondage,
was his desire. He could not bring himself
to abide by the rules and regulations that
must needs restrict those who live in
houses made by hand. The communal life
was not for him. And how the heart Of
the city worn man and woman did go out to
1.-The Harvester" Some of us had tasted
the delight in which he reveled, and our
minds went back with Joyous bounds to
those days when we too, roamed as I'M
fettered as did he. The cares and re-
probabilities of real life had left no mark
on us; no callous places appeared as the
result Of tugging at the load of life. Oh,
those were the days! And, then, with sober
thought and eager resignation we went
with the same glad Harvester to join him
as he, too, took up his load and prepared
to settle down to a life of domestic duty.
He learned his lesson. No man can live
his life who does not give service to his
fellow man, and this cannot be done by idly
fitting from place to place, seeking only
for selfish enjoyment Life means abne-
cation and sacrifice, the giving up of
things that others may enjoy them. And
this brings its recompenses and they are
not few nor small. This the Harvester
learned, just as we all have learned it.
.
The Able Daniel also has a lesson to
learn. He, like The Harvester is full of
the strength of his young manhood, with
the zeal of confident conviction, and SUI
preme faith in himself. In the Duchess de
Chailes he sees only a soul to be saved.
No matter what sacrifice is required, no
soul must be saved. His combat with the
adversary in the form Of his atheistic and
scientific brother is intense and poignant
In its reality. He is bafled by the natural
impulses of the man and woman who love
each other, but he triumphs at the end.
Lavedan is too sensible to avoid the newt
able and he is too prudent to undertake
refutation OF the abbe's contention so a
tour de force is adopted, and the obstacle
to marriage is providentially removed. The
enthusiasm of the priest is resolved into a
fine speech OF resignation. He realizes the
need of love for the complete fullness OF
the woman's love- and tells her. THE ten
pink fingers OF a little babe are the rosary
/ would have you count" And he has thus
learned his lesson, Illuminated by the
words Of the dear old bishop. He will be
the stronger" cries the priest in his agony
at having to leave the duchess to the doc
tor "she will be the more patient" an
swers the bishop. And the conclusion is
that laid down by Paul in his first epistle
TO the Corinthians, wherein he said: 'The
unbelieving husband is sanctihed by the
wife"
The character is one of the finest Mr.
Skinner has yet given us. 1t is strongly
drawn, indeed all the characters are
strongly drawn, although the doctor and
the duchess might have been more WILDLY
portrayed. The play itself Is a splendid
example of modern dramatic writing Con-
troversial throughout, a debate on high
ethical grounds running through 1t con-
tinually, 1t holds the interest firmly from
the first, until It finally fairly absorbs the
attention. Discussing the relations of the
sexes throughout, It never descends to
banality, and, devoid equally OF triteness
and platitude, It avoids the commonplace
and is always kept on plane that challenges
admiration. It's thought is clear, its rea-
soning strong, and its logic irresistible, a
combination that makes 1t one of the
strongest Of plays and a most excellent
type Of the modern school.
Some OF the thoughts offered by Lavedan
in the course Of 1.-The Duel" are;
Love is not a profane word It is a word
which has been profaned.
None of US is ever 50 happy or so un-
happy as he imagines; the patient always
eNaggerates.
The woman herself fashions the sort OF
love she inspires.
The weakness OF those we protect Is often
our surest safeguard.
Life owes you life, that is to say, love.
1t will pay its debt
one can always do what he chooses
especially when it's impossible.
There Is no Joy without suffering. But
there are sufrerings without joys. God keep
you from them.
who can escape suffering? ct will not
suffer''-you might as well say, Il will not
breathe"-and die OF suffOcaton.
The cloister Is not the nlace where the
cells and gratings are. Where then? In
the prisons Of sacrifice and under the locks
of duty.
In this strange life Of ours there are un-
expected and decisive moments, supreme
without our knowing how OF why; we feel
it-that is all. Flashing moments
which throw CLEAN Of lightning on our
destinies.
When happiness Is offered at the same
instant 20 two people; when they are sure II
Is happiness, knocking at their doors, they
have always the right TO Join hands and
throw the doors wide open, even if they
know happiness is only going 10 glance IN,
stop for moment and then pass on.
II is easy enough 10 say we shall all die
TO speak OF death In general terms. But
DO you think OF yours?-the death Of Marie
ThPrese AntOinettn. Duchess de Chaflps "a