The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-05

Mr. Fayersham Makes strong Ina
preston ina ''The Sauaw Man"
THE Squaw Man" which William
Faversham brings to the National Thea
ter this week, is a play of English and
American life, by Edwin Milton Royle.
fun OF stirring action. consistent charae-
ter, and human feeling. having above all
that necessary element of the successful
play, the power of sustained interest. 1t
is the story Of an expatriated English
man. strongly reminiscent In the first
act of Ouida's Under Two Flags" Capt.
James Wyngate, cousin to the Earl Of
Kerhill. takes upon himself the crime OF
the head of the family, who has tam
pered with the funds OF the famous regl-
ment to which they both belonged, and
disappear from English society. He had
been the Idol Of the family, and had been
suspected and accused by his cousin Of
improper feelings toward Diana, the lat
ter's wife. He next appears In the play
as Jim Carstcn. the owner Of cattle
ranch In Utah, where, in a difficulty with
Cash Hawkins. the leader of a gang Of
sudden demise is prevented by Nat-U-
Rich, a young Ute woman, who shoots
the bad man at the critical moment. She
further endears herself TO the young
Britisher by rescuing him from peril In
the mountains aud nursing him through
a fever. He married her, becoming what
is popularity known ia the West as a
of he Frnfo
is Hal. Il promising boy, who is the idol
Of his father and the rough ranchmen.
Malcolm Petrie, the family solicitor, ap-
pears upon the scene and informs him
that, by virtue Of his near kinship 20 the
earl, who has lately died. he has become
the Earl of KerhiIl and urges him to re-
turn to England. Failing in the plea.
he reminds him that HIS duty to his son
should prompt him at least to send the
boy home. that he might receive the
training due his birth. This plea is sue
cessful, but the difficulty lay In the sepa-
ration Of the child from his mother. who
is simply a primitive savage. The squaW,
however in accordance with Indian usage.
obeys the mandate of her lord and mas
ter, and disappears into the hills just at
the time when the sheriff Of the county
arrives 20 arrest her for the murder Of
Cash Hawkins. The boy Is sent off with
the lawyer and Diana. who also had cone
to Utah. but all are brought back in time
20 witness the clearance Of the atmos-
phere by the suicide OF Nat-U- Rich, which
presumably leaves no obstacle in the 'Say
- D. a. 1av,
The play throughout is Of constant and
absorbing interest. The second act is
notable in this respect, being. perhaps.
the most stirring and characteristic eX-
position Of border life extant II de
picts the interior Of rum emporium
in Maverick, WyO. upon the occasion Of
d clash between a crowd Of cowboys and
their enemies, the cattle rustleTs. The
strength of the episode is powerfully aug
mented by the splendid acting Of Mr.,
W. 5. Hart. as Cash Hawkins. the dare
devil leader. The situation In the third
act. when the Earl introduces his half
breed son 20 Diana. Is also very striking,
while the parting In the last scene. with
the death Of the devoted mother, Is full
OF emotional quality
AS James Wynegate. alias Jim Csrston,
Mr. Faversham has a part which Is per-
fectly fitted 10 his temperament for he
is entirely a romantic actor. and this
character is eminently romantic in the
heroic moods Of the baTroom episode. he
is entirely az home while in the emo
tiOnsl scene at the close he is able 10
stir the pathetic feelings 10 their utter
most depths. Taken all ia all. his de-
lineation must be designated as the most
effective Of his career
Next TO Mir. Faversham's impersona-
ton, the greatest interest is evoked by
Mr.. Hart as Cash Hawkins. While only
present or the stage during a single
short scene he creates an impression
which Is stamped indelibly on the whole
play Seldom has the reckless spirit OF
the border ruffisu been so faithfully de-
picted as by him.
Miss julie OPP. as Diana the "daugh-
ter 81 a hundred earls.' lends a person
alIty OF charming power, q wealth Of
physical beauty. and voice OF extraoTdi-
nary quality, which, all combined with
emotional temperament. makes her inter-
probation very powerful and pleasing An
other interesting character was that Of
little Hal. as played By Jerome Fernan-
dez, very clever child. who appeared
perfectly at cast and spoke his lines with
Wiusomc nstuTalncss.
In the supporting cast are numerous
finished actors, notably Mr.. Morton Sell
ton well remembered as once the support
OF Sothern. who appears as Sir John APP
plegate, and Harold Russell, as Big
Jim the faithful ranch foreman.
The staging and other accessories are
perfectly in keeping. Especially effective
is the scene on the edge Of the alkaU
desert. The large audience Of last night
seemed unequiyocably pleased with the