Americus Times Recorder

Phone No. 10.

THEATRE FILLED TO CAPACITY At Presentation of The Clansman In Americus.

Two of the largest audiences that the opera house has ever held witnessed the presentation of Rev. Thomas Dixon's great play, "The Clansman," yesterday afternoon and last night, and applauded it. The appearance of the company had been eagerly anticipated and the tendered reception at both performances was cordial and enthusiastic throughout the play

The plot of the play is taken from the two books. "The Leopard's Spots" and "The Clansman." There is more of the latter than of the former, though the plot of neither is followed exactly. The most striking incidents of each are used, and in a way that marks Mr. Dixon as one of the cleverest of American playwrights. He knows just when and how to relax his audience with a little comedy, and when the strain of the dramatic may be applied again.

That there is a basis of foundation in fact for practically every situation and scene in the dramatization of the book can probably not be questioned. There are a great many men now living who remember distinctly the riot of profligacy, fraud and crime that ran over the South during those terrible years in which bayonet rule, backed by the federal government, was the law of the land.

That the author had the sympathies of his audience at both performances was fully evidenced, and many striking features were roundly cheered. Veterans of the war and of the horrible days of reconstruction; of negro domination, were among those who saw the play in Americus. For the time they lived over again the fearful scenes reproduced.

The presentation is clean, well written, well produced and far above any play of its kind in merit.