The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-02-05
"LITTLEST REBEL"
CApTIVATES
CITY
DUSTIN FARNUM AND HIS SUPERB
COMPANY GIVEN HIGHEST
PRAISE BY AUDIENCE.

Danish the thought that Hattiesburg
was captured by the "Littlest Rebel
last night at the Auditorium merely
because it was Civil War story filled
with touching sentiment, tributes to
Robert ID. Lee, battle and some Of
the basic theories of Southern thought.
It won the unstinted praise Of every
member of the audience, not because
of the sentiment and Southern ideas
That permeated it, nor because 1t was
a melodrama depicting thrilling scenes
or battle, and giving an abundance of
SHOTS and shells and smoke and fire,
but because the company supporting
Dustin Farnum is one of the best that
has ever played here. Individual stars
OF greater ability probably have graced
the Auditorium BEFORE New Orleans,
Memphis, Birmingham may enjoy the
performances Of better companies
that is doubtful-but seldom before has
a company played here in which each
member was so admirably suited for
the part and in which there was not
a moment when the interest Jagged
or the players failed to fulfill every
announcement Of the advance agent.
From Dustin Farnum, Lieutenant Col
onel Morrison, U. S. Cavalry" to the
insignificant part of Joseph Truman,
the orderly" each character was un-
questionably superbly portrayed.
Dustin Farnum, himself, in the lead
ing role, good as he was, did not sur
pass the dear little Mary Miles Minter
the little Louisiana girl who played
the part Of THE Littlest Rebel" Her
acting places her first among the child
actresses of America As the bright.
rosy faced little girl living in COM
parative luxury in a beautiful South
ern home during the early years of
the war or as the tired hungry, rag
ged waif bravely encouraging her ia
Their in trying circumstances at the
close of the conflict she had the au-
dience with her either in waves OF
laughter and applause or in silent mo-
ments Of moistened eyes.
Mr.. Farnum's Interpretation of a sol |
der who placed humanity above the |
cruel demands of war and was willing
to stand before the death squad for
his failure to capture a spy, but re-
fused to weaken in his pride at having
permitted father to protect a child,
was perfect and demonstrated his
matchless dramatic ability.
MRS. Herbert Cary" (Zenaide Will
liams), the wife of the Confederate
spy, had but one act in which to please
the people, but in that one act she so
impersonated a noble
woman fighting the great
waiting battle and tenderly urging and
inspiring her husband to the greatest
efforts of manhood in the struggle for
his country, that she completely cap
-ivated all who heard her.
Morris Burr had but a brief oppor-
unity to admirably represent General
Grant, the war machine, but the man
If even-balanced justice. George
rhatcher's character work as Uncle
Billy. the old negro slave, was true to
life, both in makeup and acting Each
member of the company is deserving
# special tribute.
The story of the play is of that
nature that reveals the
higher character of both the ID
Yankees" as the littlest rebel called
hem,' and the REBELS" as General
rant called the Confederates, while
hey were engaged in the heartless and
business of war. It
hould be factor in destroying the
reach between the North and the
outh and making patriots of the peo-
lie Of all sections.