The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-10-22
''The Traitor" Pleases.
Thomas Dixon's New Play
Greeted by Big Audience
Last Thursday Night
Special Train Brings Good
Crowd From Oxford.

Thomas Dixon's new play, 1.-The
Traitor" was greeted by IA large
and enthusiastic audience at the
Grand Theatre last Thursday night.
A special train brought over quite a
number of persons from Oxford and
both visitors and local play goers
enjoyed the performance and put the
stamp of approval upon this latest
dramatic effort OF Mr.. Dixon in even
more pronounced manner than they
did upon its forerunner, 1.-The Clans
man." of which "The Traitor" is the
sequel.
Being out of town at the time we
did not witness the play and must
rely upon other sources for II criti-
cism of it, The concensus of opinion
is that in 1.-The Traitor" Mr.. Dix
on has produced i'm stronger and a
better play than ''The Clansman."
1t is the more finished product of the
dramutist and there is less that is
Objectionable in the intensity of feel
ing and passion and prejudice engen-
dered. From all we have seen apd
heard perhaps We could not give a
truer estimate of the play and the
players than the following from the
Raleigh Evening Times OF Saturday
eigh where they played to immense
audiences matinee and night Friday.
The Times says:
Two vast audiences sat under the
mighty power and spell of Thomas
Dixon's great play. 1.-The Traitor in
Raleigh yesterday. The play is one that
will live. for it tells of days when the
dear old Southland was passing through
deep waters and how she stood firm and
steadfast through it all, coming out tri-
umphant in her truth and purity. As
the dramatic sequel of 1.-THE Clansman"
the two plays form one mighty drama,
one that has moved and stirred thou
sands of people all through this great
country. 1t is startling in its brilliancy,
and scathing denunciation of scalawag
and carpet-bagger. and all that was
treacherous to the South 1t is charged
with the genius and mighty personality
of the author and there is a dynamic
drawing power about it that holds and
fascinates great audiences as was shown
in Raleigh at both matinee and night
performances yesterday.
As scene after scene passed on the
stage one feels that it is no fancifuI
and imaginary story they are listening
to, the truth of the play impresses itself
upon the audience and n sob comes in
the throat, and a tear to the eye as the
curtain is drawn from the past and we
stand appalled, at the awful realization
of what our people had to suffer
There is not the same strain and in
tensitv of emotion in THE Traitor that
charaterizes 1.-The Clansman." In the
first play the South is shown in it's dark
est days, when the great Ku klux Khan
was saving the white women of the
South from the awful fate that threaten
ed them. In '"rhe Traitor" their work is
done and the end is almost in sight. Mr..
Dixon has scored an artistic triumph in
''The Traitor" that places it above 1.-THE
Clansman."
The whole company as seen here yes
terday is a strong one. The parts are
well played A prettier love story could
not be desired than that Of Stella Butler
and JOHN Graham true woman in
| every sense, she finds fitting mate in
John Graham, a strong, true Southerner.
| Added to the tender love passages in tn
second scene is the beautiful scenery of tn
old ruin and the brilliant electrical effects
and changing lights. Miss Catherine
| Tower as ''SeIla Butler is real artist,
| charming and natural and found great
favor with the audience. Mr. Frank
| Patton, as John Graham" chief Of the
Khan, is the central figure of the play,
| strong and steadfast in his truth and
honor Mr.. John Maurice Sullivan as
Steve Hoyle' did fine work in his part
| OF the traitor. His treachery was greeted
by frequent Kisses. Mr.. John C.. Doyle
as dan Wiley" Mr.. Guy q. Oliver as
alexander Larkin," the carpet Dagger.
Mr.. David Davies as 'Keverdy Johnson,
and Mr. Frank Leo. as Judge Butler
all deserve the highests praise for their
excellent work. Not least among the
characters are Miss Adele Barker as
aunt Julie Ann" and Mr.. Arthur Pick
ems as Isaac" and MIR. Harrison Croft
ford as "Alfred," her two husbands.
They furnish the comedy of the play,
playing their parts like real old time
Southern darkies and keeping the aud
fence in an uproar.
That The Traitor" found favor in
Raleigh cannot be questioned. A large
audience greeted the matinee and last
night every available seat and inch OF
standing room was sold. Frequent
cheers added to the applause last night