The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-09-26

way. between Thirtieth and Thirty
first streets.
This is the kind of play that de-
serves to succeed, and its success is
great.
The readers of the Evening Journal
know, fortunately, something about
their own government, and they are
interested in that government. This
play that we recommend is q truthful
picture Of government at Washington
"a shameful, but accurate picture of
senatorial dishonesty and American
business methods" injected into poll
tics. This gentleman from Missis
SlppI' is a strange fish in the senate
for he not only comes there an honest
man, but remains honest. And in his
case, as sometimes happens on the
stage and in real life. We find that
honesty in the end triumphs and
shames the dishonest.
Langdon. the honest junior senator
from Mississippi. delights the crowds
hat go to a Gentleman from Missis-
sippi," for he reminds them that, after
II, there are honest men in the world
even in politics.
The writing Of this play and its
very fine production by William A
3rady and Joseph R GTismer reflect
'Tedit upon the American stage and
he theatregoiug public in this cOun-
Try. The play IS purely American,
the characters are all American, the
coloFed men that appear on the stage
are actually genuine negroes, not pre-
posterous limitations.
Thomas Wise. who plays the part
OF Langdon, gives a most admirable
impersOnatiOn- He is actually the
individual that he represents.
Some time ago. when Messrs. Brady
and Grismer produced The Man %
the Hour, this newspaper praised
that production and predicted great
success for it. editoTially, because il
dealt eneTgetically with real problems
of American life, making the stage
what it should be-a teacher and an
uplifter.
This play, "A Gentleman from Mis-
sissippi," should be praised for the
same reasons. It is an amusing play,
full of laughter and sentiment from
beginning to end but it is, above all,
an instructive play. It emphasizes
the power of truth and honestq, X
makes the big audiences think 1t is
not like so many unworthy plays mat
merely amuse, and, too often, actual
" appeal to base emotions.
The power of a good play, stage
with a purpose, conscientious actors
and managers, cannot possibly be ex-
aggerated. The play is seen and
heard. Men and women gather to-
together, and association increases
the strength of their emotions. The
reading of a book is an isolated pro-
cess and impresses the average mind
much less wildly than the exciting
presentation of a play, with music,
lights, motion, live people, though
emphatically, aTtistically and wildly
expressed.
Managers and actors should always
have in mind Goethe's statement that
a good stage can do more for a people
than any amount of police or law re-
strictions.
A stage with a purpose is a sign or
civilization. The great period IN
Greece was the period of the great
dramatists. The Greek stage reflect
ed national intellect and character, and
one single tragedy by EuTipides was
a great favorite on the Athenlan
stage for five hundred years. run
really worth talking about
This play, "A Gentleman from Mis-
sissippi," is welcome, and we ADVISE
YOU to see it as soon as you can, De
cause it is a play that reflects Amerl-
can thought and big American prop
lens. 1t is a play eXcellently acted,
although one that will probably not
last five hundred years-iet US nope
the conditions which call for the play
will be forgotten before five hundred
years shall pass. It is a play that
will last for many years. and 1t Will
always reflect credit upon those intel
ligent enough to write it, to appre-
ciate its meaning and produce it.
The encouraging thing in the pro-
ductiOn of a good play like "A Gentle
man from Mississippi" is the quick
response from the audience to every
honorable suggestion and to every
biting comment on official corruption