The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-04
Both Play and Star Score De-
cisive SucCess-An Excel
lent Supporting Company.
ENTERTAINING BILLS
AT OTHER THEATRES
Several Strong Attractions at
PrOctOr's-The Hair-raisers
at Blaney's and Columbia.

N lf1E uTdildllZ6Q N6TSlOH VI DtGl
Harte's California idyl of the days
- of 1855, "Salomy Jane" which was
presented by Miss Eleanor Robson and
company at the Newark Theatre last
night, Paul Armstrong has retained all
the principal characters and has fol-
low61 the story closely, although not,
of course, in Bret Harte's words. lie
has given us a Western melodrama--
the program calls it a romantic play
of the best class, consistently drt-
matte, and we'll written, without dis
playing the threadbare articles 10
which such dramas are prone. Miss
Robson acted splendidly throughout,
giving a very effective i-mpersonation
of the title character, and she was
ably supported. The house was crowd
ed, man, society people being present.
because of the st. Rarnabas's Hospital
benefit, and the audience was rap.iy
attentive to the progress of the story.
Bret Harte always hit 'hard pan" in
his California characters. They all ring
true. He nae a large field 10 draw
from, for in those days the gold fever
nad brought an influx of call sorts and
conditions of men" from the East. Ken
lucky contributed her share of those
Who sought wealth and a new life in
the golden west. Harte epitomizes
them, in this story, in Madison Clay
and his daughter, Salomy, in Colonel
Starbottle and in Larrabee. Clay and
Larrabee brought with them a feud OF
he .blue grass country, which runs
through the story and play as a Sec
ondary incident. Colonel S%tarbottle
brought himself-and what a self
bombastic, with a delight in hearing
himself talk; boastful, till his bluff was
called; pompous, though everybody
saw through him: a duellist, whose
battles were in his own mind; a "Kain-
lucky gentleman, sub. in his own
estimation, if not in anybody else's--in
short, a WORKOUT, tobacco-spitting
graybeard at whom everybody laughed,
but who took himself and his "code of
honor very seriously, indeed.
And Salomy. Salomy was just her
self, too. Young, pretty, keen-witted,
a product of strenuous times, she was
a creature of primitive and elemental
emotions and passions. She hated
fiercely, fiercely she loved. Her whole
soul vas in both. Unlike most women
she was in search of a man, not an
idealized hero. A soft tongue, with
out deeds, did not attract her. Natur-
ally she IA loved. Rufe Waters was
one of her suitors, Jack Harbury was
another. and Yuba Bill had a sofi
spot in his big heart for her, too. She
put only one to the test, Rufe. She
asked him to kill a mar for her, a mar
named Baldwin, who had seized her in
the woods and insulted her. TO hel
death seemed the only right punish
ment for so Grass an action. So, t6
test his love she asked Waters to dc
the deed, and he failed. But Baldwin
was killed and the Man did it.
Miss Robson brought out the Gle
ments of Salomy's character consist
entity and wildly. Her d~elineation o.
the girls hate at the outset when sh'
asked Waters to show his love by Kill
ing Baldwin, was a quick revelation o
her ability. The spirit of wounde;
womanhood, of outraged dignity, wa
breathed forth in look, gesture AM
voice, not wildly, not HISTORICALLY, bu
with subdued, intense hatred, whicl
went deep down to the soul. II
Salomy's quick defense of the Man /
aiding him to escape, in the kiss sh'
gave him as he was being led away Z
be hanged for supposed comphcit'
with Red Pete in the hold-up of Yubi
Bits stage. and in her subsequent an
to him while he was again hunted D,
the %vigilantes. headed by Rufe Waters
Miss Robson's art enabled her to de
pict the girls loyal love with complet
and moving sincerity.
Miss Robson was given valuable as
sistance from the other members OF IN
company-H. B. Warner, as the Mar
George w. Wilson. as Colonel Starbol
tie; Scott Cooper, as Yuba BIZ; A. !
Lipman, as Jack Harburg. the gamble
and Earle Browne, Thomas F.. Graham
James Seeley and three of The clevere'
children, Donald Gallagher. Marjor'
Conway and Viola Savoy, on the stag
The scene in the first act, in which III
three youngsters participated. was OF
of the brightest, most amusing thinf
in the play.
Newarkers who admire the best
eontemporay pIaywrightiug ana WI