The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-24

ai 4 4
NATHANIEL BACON. by Louisa Cole
man Blair and Robert Findlater
Williams. The hermitage Press.
Richmond. Va.
This four-nct drama the joint produce
ton of two Richmond authors, hns re-
Gently made its appearances and Justified
all the high expectat lions formed coll
ccrning II and the approval passed upon
| 1t by such eminent dra,nati artists as
| Otis Skinner and Ben Greet.
| III every line OF the drama the spirl.
| Of old jamestown makes It's appeal TO
| the American spirit Of to-day, stirring
4 1t Into recognition OF the patriotism and
1 devotion CT tho men and women who led
| the Western world In the march OF pro-
\ gregs and the cnkihdlement OF the ilntne
| Of liberty.
| The scenes Of the drama are erncted Mt /
| Curlcs, Bacons home, on James River; |
4 In the state house and on the Island OF |
/ Jamestown; ut Middle Plantation and on
] York River. The action begins In May |
4 Of 1875 and ends In October OF the same
year. Historic accuracy is preserved
throughout.
4. The dominating spirit of the play Is
Frances Culpeper, Lady Berkeley. While
apparently a peace maker, she really
Keeps up the atmosphere OF dscord and
i disunion. There Is enough ambition IN
4 Nathaniel Bacons nature and enough
1 courage to command her respect and en-
1 list her sympathy, and, but for the fact
that she is pitted against him by fate,
her admiration might have ripened into
4 warmer feeling.
Az 1t Is, she Is quite nrtful enough to
4 deceive Bacon rs to her real motives
A and desires He believes genuinely in
her proffered friendship. and never
awakes to q knowledge that she has
duped and betrayed him until the last,
and then only when he Is confronted by
s positive proof.
II Bacon believes in her, however.
Elizabeth Bacon. his wife, does not.
!, Frances Berkeley is recognized by Eliza
beth as a powerful rival, threatening her
, domestic pence and happiness. But, be-
Ing as guileless ns Lady Berkeley IS
!, t>guileful, she has no arts to oppose her,
!, ana, though she has evidence in hand OF
; her eneny's perfidy, she makes no use
OF II against the belief that Nathaniel
Bacon has ceased to care for her and ls
: infatuated with Frances Berkeley.
Bacons character Is drawn with great
I skill. Brave. generous and full OF colf-s
age, his weakness is shown by his allow
!. ing Lady Berkeley's appeal to his am
lbition to Influence him into q pretended
!. submission to the Governors authority,
:. d assembling course, unworthy OF his
: manhood and his Independence HIS re-
u morse over the arrangement from his
7 wife and the burning Of jamestown By
g his forces are curiously at variance with
8 the readiness with which some impulse
& OF his nature responds to the blandish-
y ments OF Lady Berkeley.
r Governor Berkeley Is n minor consider
n alton IN the play. appearing vain, tyra \ :
k nical and capricious when he Is brought
o forward, but that Is not often. Two OF
It: the best characters are Drummond, Bay
II cons friend. and Drummond's wife.
- Sarah. both Of whom are portrayed
e |swith much strength and truth.
ell Forster another Baconite, is the vii
k lain OF the play, too slight and poor a
q |fyillain though he Is to merit or obtain
q much attention. His wife. Madame Fors-
II ter, the keeper OF the ordinary at James
town, has for him the indulgent love
Il usually felt by an old and ugly wife for
l. man whom she regards as q gay and
s. handsome young husband.
y The play Is well and smoothly put to-
a Eether. Illustrations include view OF
j. James River at Curles; a view from the
. upper end OF Jamestown Island, where
a the battle between Berkeley and Bacor
!. took place. and q photo graphic repro
"a duction OF the house In Accomac where
- Governor Berkeley took refuge wher
!, Bacon was In aBcendancy.8 Copies OF thu
~ publication may be had at the differen
!. Richmond book stores.
- large measure OF success IS 1orecas
= for the authors initial effort as drama:
: lists, and the hope liz expressed general.
: that the play will be produced during tn
II | Jam estown EXPOSITION 6y Ben Greet
II \ who has 1t under consi deratlon.
II PRISONERS OF FORTUNE. By Rue
II Perley Smith, =. c. Page Company
Il az Boston, through Miller & Rhoads
MI A tale OF the New England coast fol-
M and OF the Wild buccancering days, whe
GlFstr1S. Il, ~ ,hs5t n1 hn
IN OF ships and human life. and kept tn
II coast towns In terror OF his swoopln
III down upon them.
HI The book is very clever In It's descrip
II ton OF Cotton Mather. and the rule h
~ exercised over the New England commu
II nifty and in rendering Mercy an
M Cousin Ephraim" SO easily typical {
II their day and time.
II The description Of the capture an
Il hanging OF the pirates In Boston Pre-
III sented In several OF the first chapters (
III the book is calculated to absorb tt
i! attention to an almost painful degree.
III One Of the lrates-Jack Brandt /
Ill name-leaves a chart with little bo
Ill afterward the hero Of the book, In r.
iii gard to a quantity OF buried treasure.
III Tho huat for this treasure and all tt
Ill wild adventures attendant upon the fin'
iii Ing OF 1t, the discovery first by tho he
Ill OF the book OF the woman he loves ar
Ill makes his wife In the end, arc Wovf
III into q romance Of the sea and the Lar
III that fires the Imagination and holds Il
Ill fancy captive endurlngly.
III The book will prove specially interes
III ing to boys.
I'LL 4 AMER1Go vEsPUcc1. BY Frederick
III Ober. Harper & Bros, OF New Yor
Ill through tho Bell Book and Statione
iii Company OF Richmond.
iii Above tho door OF the house in viii
III Amerigo vespucci was born In F'orent
III italy, on March 8, 1461. has been plac
Ill the following inscription:
IN ITO America Vespuccio. noble Flc
Ill entine,
In who By the discovery OF America
q III Rendered his own and his country's mar
iii illustrous.
4 iii AS the Ampliner OF the World.
iii Upon this ancient mansion Of the W
pucci.
inhabited by 80 great a man,
III Tho holy fathers OF Saint John OF God
iii Have placed this Tablet, sacred to
iii memory.
III A. D., 1719,"
iii Because Americans have regarded h
as an nterloper, Vespucci has never !