The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-11-19
AIF IIiIiIIz' I[[ibIzElA TERIIIzzS
COLUMBIA.
".sTrnII of the Lonesome Pine. :


J<"!'TraII of the Lonesome PING"
The tribal feuds ragged again in the
mountains of Kentucky or West Vir-
ginia or some other region last night at
the Columbia Theater, when THE Trail
of the Lonesome Pine" Eugene Walter
play. unfolded its story. 1t is a tale Of
untutored passions; of love and of hate
given free rein by men and women to
whom there is no higher law than that
of kin: who for generations have bid
den defiance TO legally constituted au-
thOrity; who resent as an infringement
of their natural rights the rule of order
and the behests of civilized and prop
erly governed society. Into the storm
and stress of all this strife of warning
clans there comes the gentle strain of
an untaught mountain girls affection for
one not of her kind. who by her love
is led to an appreciation of the higher
and nobler life, and who is the instru-
ment by which at last peace is restored
ard happiness brought to homes that
knew it not.
Charlotte Walker has been seen in
many roles of widely different charac-
ter, but 1t is doubtful if there is one
in which her abundant talent has a
finer opportunity for displaying itself
than that of June. The gradual change
from the rough diamond to the gem
in finer setting is carried on by her
with consummate art. In her story Of
the whispering pine that brings to her
the voice of her dead sister; in the
dawning of her love for Jack; in her
fierce denunciation of those who at
tribute base motives to the man TO
whom she has given her heart unasked;
in all the moods and trials and trou-
bles through which she is led, she i'm
presses herself with unfailing power
upon the sympathy of her audience. 1t
is difficult TO differentiate the particles
where the whole is so perfect; yet IL
there is one scene in which Miss Wal
ker is greater than in another it is
when June believes that her love
is rejected by Jack, and which ends
with her pitiful pleading to be taken
back to her fathers home.
1t is no little pleasure to see an artist
make steady progress. and surely that
pleasure must have peryaded the host
Of friends of this gifted young actress
who were present last night in such
numbers that not a seat in the house
was wit hOut its occupant. In the CXter-
nails. as well as in the finer essentials.
this constant striving for easing
power and effect is noticeable. II is espc-
Cially pleasin to be able TO say that
Miss Walker has entirely Invested her
self of that indistinCtness of enunciatiOn
which formerly frequently married her
dictiOn. From first to last she has evil
dencc of the favor with which she is re-
garded IN Washington. Her first en-
trance was the signal for a cordial greet
ing. and this was repeated whenever
throughout the evening the chance for
applause presented itself.
The support given Miss Walker by her
company could not he improved upon.
W. :. Hart gave us again a portrait true
to life Of Judd TOllivcr, JunC's father,
the fierce, law-defying mOonshincr. in
whose character. however, the trait of
fair dealing and fair play is always dis
cCrnible. And then We had again George
Woodward. as Uncle Billy, justice of the
peace. scIf-ConStitutcd guardian Of June.
everybOdys friend: and no finer pOr-
trayaI of such a personality could no
conceived than that given by Mr.. Wood
ward. Willard RobcrtsOn's delineatiOn OF
Dave TOlliver was a perfect picture of
the wild mOuntaineer. whose one redeem
ing trait is his unreQuited love for June.
George Bancroft appeared TO great ad-
vantage as John Hale. June's first in
struCtOr in the Eentler things OF life.
and her lover later on. and Warner P.
Richmond gave an excellent presentation
in the role of Bob Berkeley. Jacks friend.
Eleanor Wilson was delightful in the
small hut grateful. part of Old Hun.
Uncle Billy's domestic tyrant. and Mar
garet Prussing as LOretty TolliveT was
no less effective in her impersunation Of
the mountain girl to whom the approach
Of the refinements Of civilization is moth
ing but the merest sham. Cyrus Wood.
as Cal Heaton. Lorettys beau, completed
a cast of exceptional merit.
The scenery was unusually impressive.
Nothing better than the mountain land
sCape. presented at the first rise Of the
curtain. has been seen here, and equally
beautiful was the sunrise at the lone