The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-11-21
THE SOUTHENEK.
story Of Play Adapted from Judge
Norman kittrcIIs book.


The Southerner. play adapted
from a book written by Judge Nor
man G.. Kittrell of Houston, was re
Gently given It's premier performance
in Houston. In review of the play
the Houston Chronicle says
An experience that usually only
comes to New Workers was vouch-
safed to Houstonians on Wednesday
night at the Prince theatre, and the
splendid audience that greeted The
Southerner' had an opportunity to
taste all the thrill of expectancy and
subtle charm of mental epicureanism
that belongs to "fire-fighters
1t was like plucking the grapes
virgin from the vine with the dew
of the morning still beaded upon
them, like seed pearls. 1t was wit
Messing the blush of the peach at
dawn, and gathering the blossoms
of wit fresh from the parent tree.
Others who see the charming play
that Herbert Hall Winslow has made
out OF Judge Norman G. Kittrells
book will see a performance some
thing smoother as to action and more
elaborate as to stage business with
the first night nervousness neatly
sand papered off by repetition, but
they will not have the thrill that
came to both actor and audience at
seeing this play of the southland for
the first time staged under southern
skies and in the presence of the au-
thor Of the story and the dramatist
of the play.
The aristocracy of the Old South,
4 ftcI L. 49,
benevolent feudalism. was the most
patrician blossom that ever lowered
on the sturdy tree of human society.
The storms of civil war tore off
the branch, and crafty meanness and
brutal ignorance trampled upon the
Dough. but the shattered petals of
the flower shed the dust of the
earth, and perhaps never seemed fair
err than after the storm when they
smiled from the mire to which they
had been crushed, but which could
not assimilate them.
The dignity of southern tradi-
tons, the sanctity of the home, the
sacred purity of girlhood, and the
proud valor of manhood that resent
ed with death any stigma of dishon-
or that the tongues of the vile might
attempt to paint on the good name of
a woman, are fit themes for the dram
atist who will reverently treat the
lofty traditions of proud people
So often the dramatists have carl
catured the men and women of the
old regime that men and women of
southern blood almost shrink from
seeing anybody essay task in which
the wisest might err and the most
talented might be inadequate to por-
tray, but Mr.. Winslow has caught
the spirit of Judge Kittrell's book
and the atmosphere of the south, and
has given a picture that is as historic
as it is dramatic.
The Southerner," as a play, has
charm. an impress of the visible
spirit of southern fields, and woods,
and homes, folk tinge, accented by
the correctly represented atmosphere,
the songs, and the scenes of the land
portrayed.
The artist who painted the seem
cry and the electrician who shed the
lights seemed to have caught the
spirit of the play, and the actor were
given advantage of correct
adventurous aids in playing their
parts.
Through the whole play the gentle
philosophy of Ned, Niger and
Gent man" and his beliefs, were vim
dicated. Percy Plunkett was an ideal
Ned, In makeup, in intonation and
accent. he was Ned, come to life,
and the realization of that fact was
reflected on the face of the creator
of Ned who watched the noble negro
of his imagination dignity service
with loyalty. In the scene where the
whip is used on Ned by the overseers
son there is some strong acting.
Because the play, with no touch
| of coarseness of vulgarity, with no
salacious line. faithfully portrays
the past OF great people. 1t will
| live and receive as much admiration
in the north as it will in the south,
for folks are folks, and the heart of
humanity beats everywhere the same