THE COURIER.
!
i-
15
'')
W
THE THEATRES
I have Been "Faust" until J have
sometimes longed for tho Damnation of
Faust, tho musical one by Borleo of
course. It is not tho model play of tho
world to start on. It deals with prob
lems too abstract, ton remote. Tho day
has gono by when wo delighted in
dramas dealing withtbo strifo between
Gods and men. In days when there
was a stronger belief in tho supernatural
tho play was very well. As for its
literary value, any English version
produced in this country is bo utterly
unlike Goethe's original that it is all
lost. Then there is that spoonful gar
den scene and that restive Fourth of
July on the Brocken. Two such acts
would slaughter any play. And there
is Marguerite. I never yet saw a
Marguerite whom I did not long and
yearn to shake. I always want to
lengthen her dresses and teach her to
do her hair up on her head. It has
always seem e J to me that there was
not enough of her to make a re:pectable
tragedy. There is in the play one great
character, a character unique and
apart, Mephistopheles, the spirit that
denies. A character as strange as
Hamlet and as little understood,
always shrouded in mystery and doubt.
The great difficulty in the enacting
of such a character is that Mephisto is
not mortal. Something must be done
to convey tho idea of supreme evil
of more than moital hate. This can
not bo done directly. It must be
accomplished indirectly and by in
ference. It a man starts to swearing
and reelB off his whole repertoire, curses
until he is black in the face, then you
know just how much he can swear. But
if he mutters only an oath or two and
looks the rest you are in doubt. You
wonder what ho could do in that lino if
he laid himself out and the chances are
you will greatly exaggerate his powers.
" The actor who plays Mephisto never
shows his haud. He should awe his
listeners rather than excite them. His
power is in his inscrutable mystery.
The only fault that I have to find
with John Griffith's Mephisto is that it
lacks dignity, a.vfulness. I should not
be afraid of that kind of a devil. His
Mephisto is a thoroughly jolly fellow
with occasional bursts of very bad tem
per. He is so jolly that ho is humorous
even when he is angry. I do not object
to the comedy which Mr. Griffith intro
duces, but to the kind of comedy. Its
too good natured, too undignified, the
kind of fun one hears among good fel
lows who are cjnieal but bear no malice
It Ehould be, I think, a deeper comedy
than that, a humor that takes in all the
great jests of this world and the next,
the whole gigantic joke of tho creation.
It should be a humor that would made
one's blood run cold. Mr. Griffith has
6uch a peculiarlyly fortunate face for
the part that he might leave unsaid
mucn more than he dees. If he knew
how much his eyes tell, I think he
would not strain his voice so. He has
intensity enough, but he lets it out too
much; as some one has said, like most
young artists he wastes that which is
most dear. That which, like sentiment,
when sparingly used is beyond price,
when expended lavishly, vulgir and
maudlin.
The Spooners will tonight bring their
tenth appearance in the city to a close.
These performances have been so often
noted and criticized in Lincoln that any
further comment really seems superflu
ous. Cecil has improved, however,
since her last appearance here. In fact
she has made a considerable advance
within the last year or two. No one
will deny that this littlo soubretto has a
measure of ability, though I firmly bo
lieve that her talents lie principally in
her toes. She can dance, danco with a
natural grace and case which can never
be taught or acquired by practice, which
must be born into one, and is born with
very few. Cecil's dances are good to
look upon, and I see no reason why in
tho coming years she may not throw
Queenie Vassar quite in the suado. Her
acting is, as Rudyard Kipling would say,
another story. She is sometimes clever,
though I cannot see any indications of
a great comedienne. Cecil is not and
will not bo a bad actress, and when one
can danco and is graceful one does not
have to bo a great actress. The Spooner
company, if lacking in acting abil
ity, have the faculty of amusing their
audiences, and that after all is the desi
deratum, Luckily the Spooners, exclu
sive of Cecil make no claims, and their
modesty disarms criticism. If Cecil
could get away from euch plays as the
"Hidden Hand" and be permitted to ap
pear with a more brilliant stago setting
than is possible with tho Spooner com
pany, her achievement of famo would be
moro rapid. Such capabilities as hers
want a spectacular envoirment rather
than low comedy surroundings.
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Thursday Sept. J0,"The Suwanee River"
at the Lansing.
Friday'Sejyt. 20, "Tho Derby Winner"
at the Lansing.
Thursday the 10th tho new three act
Afro-American musical comedy "Dawn
on tho Suwanee River' will be present
ed at the Lansing theatre. It may be
well to state that this attraction is en
tirely different from tho production
given hero last year under tho same
name. This company carries a band of
fifty colored people. The first act is
laid in Africa and tho succeeding ones
in America. There are forty five color
ed singers and dancers and a full brass
bund. All kinds of new novelties and
specialties and catchy music embellish
the performance.
Friday, Sept. 20th Al Spink's "Derby
Winner" plays at the Lansing. The
Derby Winner claims to bo one of the
greatest race playB on the stage and is
full of tho thrilling situations of the
track. The company carries a number
of clever dancers, singers and colored
comedians, and several expert colored
athletes. A specialty is made of the
great race scone. The dramatic person
ages are many of them taken from life
as it was in the great racing days in old
St. Louis.
SOCIAL GOSSIP
M
M
)
M
Wednesday at noon occurred the mar
riage of Miss Sara, Schwab and Mr.
Maurice Deutsch at the residence of
the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.
Schwab. Miss Schwab is well-known
in this city, both as a graduate of the
state university and as teacher for four
years in the city public schools, where
she has always been a great favorite.
Mr. Deutsch is a merchant in Beatrice.
He was born in France, and at his
wedding his brother M. Jules Deutsch
was present by a special trip from Paris.
The Schwab residence was adorned
with palms, ferns and rubber trees and
with a profusion of bride and La France
roses. The ceremony was performed in
the front parlor, though both parlors
were thrown together for the small
company of the intimate family circle
who alone were present. At exactly
the stroke of twelve tho bride and
groom presented themselves under the
brilliant lights of the central chandelier
and Rabbi Leo M. Franklin of Temple
C
StSfWSif'itffSftSfSSfiSSiM
R?MlS TVBVttiES.
Disease commonly comes on with slight symptoms, which when neg
lected increase In extent and gradualy grow dangerous.
4&"tlXS! E RIPANS TABULES
If you are biliouB, constipated - DIDAMCTADIM EC
or havo a disordered liver TKE Kl "A IN O lADULCO
11 your complexion is sallow
n your complexion u saiiow -.T",.- D1DAMCTADI1I DC
or yon Buffer distress in eating. TAKE Kl 1 AlN O I A D U LCO
.rr.Vl:!'.E RIPANS TABULES
Ripans Tabules act gently but promptly upon the liver, stomach and
intestines; cleanse the system effectually; cure dyspepsia, and habitual
constipation, offensive breath and headache. One Tabuleat the first
indication of indigestion, biliousness, dizziness, distress after eating or
depression of spirits, will surely and quickly remove the whole diffi
culty. Ripans Tabules are prepared from a prescription widely approved
by modern science.
If given a fair trial Ripans Tabules are an infallible cure; they
contain nothing injurious and are an economical remedy.
ONE GIVES RELIEF
A quarter-gross box will be sent, postage paid, on receipt of SO
cents by
RPNIS CftHMCMi COMPMW
10 SPBUOE ST, NEW YORK
Local druggists everywhere will supply the
Tabules if requested to do so.
They are easy to take, quick to act and save many a doctor's bill. A
A CROWDED GRAMMAR ,rfe
SCHOOL rfeS
II
SULPHO
RVGtfX PtyOt
For a boy or girl. In overy way it is i
to be avoided Our
FrOCbcl
(Jrammap
jc2(lcm
Has specialists in ever' study
and is run on the departmental
principles which govern our
High schools.
Unique features
Industrial instruction
Limited classes
SALINE BATH HOUSE AND SANITARIUM
S:nd for circulars, or call on
Wm. e. chancellor, a. m.
President of faculty
COR 14 AND M.
All forms of baths, Turkish, Russian,
Roman and Electric.
WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION
To the application of .natural and
salt water baths for the cure Rlieu
rnatism and Sldn,
Blood and Nervous diseases. A special
department for surgical cases and
diseases peculiar to women.
DRS- M. H. AND J. O. EVERETT
Managing Physicians.
XEW LOCATIOX
Full stock woolens. Latest styles
General 'aCailor-lng
Nothing but first class workmen
employed. We can therefor
guarantee perfect satisfaction
120 SO I2TH ST.
C. M. CARPENTER
Mgr.
Israel at Omaha repeated the clear,
strong, hopeful words of the Unitarian
marriage service, which he followed
with the impressive triple blessing of
the Rabbis. Immediately after the
ceremony the wedding breakfast w?s
served, after the French custom.
Toasts were offered to all the members
of the family in succession. At the
departure of Mr. and Mrs. Deutsch for
Chicago and the great lakes, by the
afternoon train, some of the friends of
the bride rushed into the station to
follow the bridal couple with tho usual
attentions. Mr. and Mrs. Deutsch havo
already fitted for them a home in Beat
rice where they are to reside after tho
return from the wedding journey. The
wedding presents from friends were
beautiful. The bride was remembered
by all her college friends; and from
Europe the family of the groom had
forwarded many charming gif tB.
W. E. 0. -
- - wmas'S? - - j-yx-. iA ejSkamJbri' Js.7ZL. -
r.
&
Uftv
--
.-1
.4
f
A
"
1 -,Jv
"aJ