Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-12-11
AMUSEM ENTS.

When Rev. Thomas Dixon was inter
viewed after the Clansman, of which
he is the author, was first introduced
he declared that it had been his pur-
pose to place the racial question of
the South before the world in such
striking form as would COMPEL atten-
ton and force a final verdict from the
nation in favor of white chiyalry of
the Southland That he succeeded no
one in Bisbee who Witnessed the pro
duction at the Orpheum Theatre last
night has |he least doubt.
The scene of the play is laid in
South Carolina and is timed TO coin
eide with the stirring period of recon
struction. With Lincoln dead and his
policy of reconstruction, as attempted
by johnson, repudiated by extreme
Northern radicaIism, the South was
made the prey of northern political
scalawags. They preached equality,
disfranchised the whites and put form
er ignorant slaves in charge of the
government. The result constitutes
the blacklist page in our country's his
tory The South defeated, helpless
and bleeding was ransacked and
plundered and the issue became no
longer political but racial. DiXoa's
play dramatically portrays the events
that led TO the reassertion of white Sill
premacy in the South. 1t is the an
tithesis of Uncle Toms Cabin. 1t is
based on fact and experience rather
than long distance, fanatical fancy that
. inspired the former.
Ben Cameron, young confederate
officer was wounded and taken pris-
oner. He falls In love with Elsie
Stoneman, daughter of an extreme
abolitionist. After the war Stoneman
becomes head of the Freemen's
Bureau of South Carolina and under
his direction the negroes are secretly
organized and armed. They control
the state, they became insolvent, they
are taught social and racial equality.
The negro lieutenant governor Lynch
designs TO marry Elsie Stoneman.
Ben Cameron becomes leader of the
Ku Klux Khan, the white secret or.
ganization which opposed the Freed
! mems Bureau. Lynch nearly succeeds
in having Cameron hanged as traitor
but in the denouement he is fFustrat-
ed. The abolitionist. facing the naked
situation which he has brought about
in which the negro asks for his own
daughters hand in marriage, gives the
lie to bis pretentions and himself
Acknowledges the innate supremacy of
the white race. The evil designs of
the negro are defeated by timely
action OF the Ku Klux Khan.
After the first act the attention of
the immense audience was tense and
strained and the dramatic points were
I
was filed and standing room was at
premium. it Is one of those kind of
plays which stirs the deepest currents
of the human heart In a way that
! leaves an impression that will last a
( lifetime. From such a standpoint it
is doubtful If its equal has ever been
produced.
Manager King is to be congratulated
for securing such a high class attrae-
ton for Bisbee. He promises other
head liners this season among
which are Stubborn Cinderella, .
.The Merry Widow 'Follies of 1907, -
Paid In Fur and The Gentleman
From Mississippi"
The Bell Boy, that vehicle of laugh
ter and side-splittine mfrth OF the
Ccianesque persuasion, is the attrac-
ton at the Orpheum ON Sunday next,
and with those bright and clever com
edians, Johnny and Ella Calvin, to-
! gether with the chorus of Irish daisies.
and a carload of special scenery, a
performance is promised that will
eclipse anything that has yet appear
ed IN the local play house. The cleo
trIcaI effects. costumes and the entire
ensemble is not to be excelled by any
organization in the west today, ano
I for those that care to laugh and for
get It. the Bell Boy Is a sure cure for
| the blues. The seat sale is announc-
ed for today at O'Clock.