The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-12-21
STORY OF BELAsc0's ROSE
OF THE RANCHO -sHuRERT

At the shubert or Empire Theatre Mon
day evening next David Belasco will pre-
sent for one week, with Wednesday and
saturday matinees, Miss Frances Starr and
a company of distinction and prominence
in the play by David Belasco and Richard
Walton Tully, entitled The Rose of the
Rancho" 1t will be played by the same
company that appeared in Boston a year
ago, when Mr. Belasco made the first pro-
duction of the piece. Immediately after
this initial engagement, which was the only
one on the road the company returned to
New York, where, at the Belasco Theatre
1t has been playing ever since, excepting
for the last three or four weeks. 1t was
very well liked in both Boston and New
YORK, and Miss Starr made a decidedly
and deservedly favorable impression.
The scene of "The Rose of the Rancho
is laid amid the sleepy, picturesque Spanish
missions of Southern California. The
action takes place in the late fifteS, when
the American occupation was being accom-
plished. The plot deals with the great
tragedy that underlies California history
the taking of the Spanish Inhabitants
homes by land jumping Americans ''The
Rose of the Rancho is Juanita, the young
est daughter of the Castro family--a family
that owns splendid property at San
JUAN near Monterey Through pride and
Incidence the Castros have neglected to
make their property secure to them by
filing an entry with the American land
agent as required. AT the beginning of the
play things have come to a serious pass
with them. One of the most notorious
land jumpers is Kinkaid, of Beaver, Neb.,
who has come to San Juan with his outfit
to take the whole valley. At the same time
another American has appeared on the
scene, Mr., Kearney, of Washngton-a
government agent sent to investigate the
land disputes.
Prior TO the rising of the curtain upon
the beautiful Mission Garden the latter has
met and fallen in love with the fascinating
Juanita Because of the enmity toward
all ,Gringos she refuses to treat him
civilly but still meets him by accident
every day. unknown to her mother, who
arranges (accordng to Spanish custom)
that Juanta shall marry young Spanish
spark from Monterey. But the girls
/ father was an American, and there begins
q struggle-she is torn between her loyalty
to her mother, her Spanish relatives and
| friends on the one side, and the young
| American who comes TO her with the offer
of his love and aid on the other. The
blow falls. and Juanita, given her first
kiss, let's the blood of her father direct
i her actions. She gives the data necessary
for registration TO Kearney. who has nc
authority to interfere with Kinkaid, but
who sends his friend, Lieutenant LarlSin
TO Monterey TO make the necessary entry
for the Castros first Kearney remains
behind to delay Kinkaid by trickery al
long as he can. Larl-in agrees to bring
back the State militia for Kearney's pro
lection.
Meanwhile the mother has learned that
her daughter has tossed red gerunium 70
a Gringo (sgnifyinG Il love you'l. and
when Juanita returns home she is beaten
and locked IN her room. The second aci
takes place at the home of the CastrCs, II
| the patio court of the abode ranch-house
In spite of the danger that threatens. thu
mother is giving the engagement party sh'
lhad planned. Jnanita's friends are all pres
| ent There are Spanish dances and ths
throwing OF cascarones, and the observancs
lof other picturesque customs, and DoI
I.ris appears to claim lis bride. Juanita &
defiant and when they are about to be
ltroth her She blows oIt her Engagement