Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-09-28
INTERESTING FACTS OF
"SINS OF THE father"
Thomas Dixon's New Play Based on
Contemporary Race Problem

.
Tue Sins of the Father" which
will be presented under the direc-
ton of George II. Brennan at the
Ly Theatre, Lexington, on Thurs
dav, Sept. 10Th. Ia many respects
this drama is even more remarkable
than The Clansman, marking an
epoch in the dramatic treatment OF
the race problem.
The Clansman" was historical
The Sins Of the Father" is con.
temporary. The Clansman" set
forth the achievements of the Ku
X TX Khan. The Sins of the Faith
err shows the threat of negro domi-
nation within the home. The Clans
man" justified the attitude of the
South forty years ago. The SINS
of the Father"-in Mr.. Dixon's own
burning words-calls upon the South
of 1910 to be true to her best tradi-
tions and save American civiliza-
tionl''
Any fear Of the celebrated authors
repeating his previous work has
proved groundless. He has taken
new material, new characters, new
situations, and has welded them into
a dramatic structure which carries
anovel story of the most exciting in
terest and drives a powerful mes
sage home to the heart and brain OF
every bearer. That, at any rate, is
the verdict OF those who have seen
The Sins of the Father" Our
play goers will see and Judge it for
themselves next Thursday, Sept. %,
when the local playhouse will be
filed tothe utmost capacity with the
eager crowds.
In The Sins CT the Father
Thomas Dixon presents the ruin
that threatened to overw helm a
Southern household from the l-,ix-
ture of races. A beautiful young
girl, ward of Major Daniel Norton,
fiancee OF his son Harry, is suspected
OF beinga sixteenth blood negreSs.
Upon the boy and girl lovers the i'm.
lutation falls as n crushing blow
The girls soul revolts at the awful
disclosure, but when the Major sets
the case plainly before her she sacri
fees her own happiness to save her
lovers.
But the boy refuses to believe the
story despite the strong evidence
that supports il. He defes hi:
father and prepares to marry Helen
The Majors position is a terribl,
one. AS the leader of the white
forces, he has won a strenuous Stat,
campaign for negro disfranchise
ment. He returns to find negroiC
mongrelism triumphant in his OWL
home. Major Norton is a sort O
modern Virginius. He loves BIZ
son, has always cared for and pro
tected his ward, but there seems t.
be no outcome of the awful situation
except in a tragedy.
Out of the interplay of these tire
characters-father, son and naples
girl-Mr. Dixon has fashioned
tremendous dramatic struggle, a
vital and elemental as those of tn
Greeks or of the masters Pinero an
Ibsen. The denouement is as ur
expected as the complications ar
startling. A logical, satisfying solr
ton of the riddle is found And
relieving the pathos and tragedy
are delightful pictures of the lighte
side of Southern life, the fun an
love affairs of the humber folk. til
thieving, capering Andy and tn
joyful, overwhelming Minerva.
The Sins OF the Father" will
played here by company of actors
all of whom are metropolitan favor
ties and including Mrs. Charles
Craig, John j. Pierson Arthur .
Pickens, Ethel Wright, Robert Ba
ton and Lydia Knott.