The Washington herald., 1910-11-08
AT IIIiIIlz TE2IIzzS

kisses on her cheek. From every one in
the audience this player won the tribute
OF genuine tears
There are many parts in this play that
are worthily played. but outside OF Miss
Donnelly's performance IL Is only neces-
saFy 10 recall the virile and pathetic
work of William Elliott as the son. His
portrayal OF pathos in the last act, mis-
imprisoned and fearful and-thank
eaven-successful appeal TO the jury
We're examples of fine acting not soon
TO be forgotten. Poor boyl he has come
TO the court TO win fame for himself,
but he filings his little Sambitions and
selhshnesses aside and speaks from the
heart He says:
Gentlemen Of the Jury will not Try 10 conceal the
very real emotion which feel My wish Is 70 oe cool
and 10 keep calm, but my eyes hied with teas IN
SPITE Of all my efforts My heart is beating more
quickly than is its wont; my voice is trembling. and
It Is all | can do 10 keep from hTcaking down and
crying like child instead Of pleading tor my
client here before you. crave your indulgence Tor
this weakness. but it does Dot make me blush. IL Is
the first time in my life that have come into close
contact with the bitterness Of a Womsns misery
and grief and my heart is torn by the fear that
shall prove unequal 10 the noble task that I have
undertaken. ] can think Of none of the arguments
I had prepared for the purpose Of moving and con-
ished from my brain. dispersed BY glance at
the suffering and distress Of this poor woman. Look
AZ her, gentlemen. No words Of mine viii be OF
such effect in moving you 10 mercy as must be her
tears.
He rehearses the evidence. and then.
by some strange providence, he hits
upon the reason for her stubborn silence:
The police have moved heaven and earth TO tiIt
out her identity, and they have failed. This ~
itself Is sufficient proof that this cTm0 h her irst
for had she ever been convicted the police would
that a originally the Of this woman =
downfall When a woman falls and rolls into the
gutter It Is not with her that should feel indig
nant. II Is not at her breast We should throw the
stone. has done this thing-a man who has
seduceG or fl-tTea;ed her. lie is a lover without
scruple, or a husband with too little nobility aud
too much PRIDE The laws Of man cannot punish
snCh husband. but God secs him and judges him.
Some lc>n has made this what you see her
to-day. - alone is responsible He. doubt
lives happily his respected aud his conscience
calm: but ia the ewes Of Eternal Justice that man
stands by this womsns side, OF even lower. In the
name Of natural honesty. in the name Of your moth
and your sisters l call upon you 10 do justice
tempered with mercy, to this poor woman.
And II is his own father whom he con-
demns-not in the courts OF law, but IN
the sanctuary of his own heart and con-
science.
II is a grim and powerful playa
tragedy. at least considered on the sur
face. But it is a sermon. too. and a
moral lessons and 1t reminds us all that
there are heights 10 which even the
meanest can rise If the motive be God
inspired-divinely planted in the human
heart. There is a line Of James Whit
comb Riley's that contains the same
philosophy:
Remember that no human being yet
MAY fan 20 low but love may lift his head
That is the moral and the lesson OF
this play-that God is love. and love still
reigns supreme.
HECTOR FILLER.