THE “STRONGHEART” DISCUSSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2145, 30 July 1907, Page 2

THE “STRONGHEART” DISCUSSION.

AAIERICAN THEATRICAL ADVERTISING.

“Stronghoart.” the “football drama with which Air. Robert Edesou, one of America’s favorite actors, opened his season in London, was effectively advertised on both sides of The “frog pond.” When it was first produced in the States, a public discussion was started as to whether the Indian (Strongheart) should marry the girl (Dorothy Nelson), and the “booming” of the play was carried on- on those novel lines. The plot of the play is, shortly, that Strongheart; a full-blooded Red Indian, who is being educated at the Columbia University, wins a game of football for his team, and also falls in love with Dorothy, the sister of the captain of the team. The girl also loves him, and, though the brother refuses to countenance the wedding on the ground of racial difference, the lovers still persist in their devotion to. each other. Just then Stronglieart’s father dies, and lie is called upon to take up the chieftainship of his tribe. Dorothy declares that she will go to the tribe with Strongheart rather than leave him, but lie jioints out to her that she could not be happy in his tribe’s mode of life, and that they would not welcome his marriage with a white woman. He is torn between two issues : one, to marry Dorothy and leave his tribe, and the other, to return to his people and leave the girl that he loves. After a splendid scene, lie decides to take the latter path, and leaves Dorothy, as one American paper complained, without “even kissing her.” A great discussion flooded the American press on the first production of the play, and, under the heading, “Should the IndianAlarry the Girl?” the decision arrived at by the Indian was argued for and against, and finally the play was presented with a “happy” ending; but not before it lia.l received a magnificent “booming-”

When the American company descended on London, the same tactics were employed, and on hoardings, ’buses, and in the papers, the legend, “Should tho Indian Marry the Girl?” wis frequently to be met with. Again the discussion was initiated, and the play once more received-an effective advertising. Letters flooded the London papers, and amongst those that appeared in tho Daily Express were tho following.:

To the Editor of the Express.” Sir, —-England is the only country where it would be possible seriously to ask such a question as should the Indian marry tho girl? which meets ono at every corner.

Any man who has ever lived among Indians or savages of any other kind can only answer it in one way, and that is with an emphatic “No.” COLONIAL. To the Editor of the Express. Sir, —One of the happiest marriages on record was that of an Englishman, or an early American and the young Indian chieftaincss Pocahontas,about 3uo years ago. If a mixed marriage could bo a success in those days, why not now, when the Indians have had tho benefit of ages of civilising influences ?

ANTI-PRE J UD ICE. To the Editor of the Express. Sir, —I think the question should be ‘Should the girl marry the Indian?

SOUTH AFRICAN Clacton-on-Sea.

. n nil probability before the season is terminated a vote will be taken, as in Chicago, where the theatregoers decided by a proportion of five to three that the hero was right in not 'narrying the heroine. The voting scheme has been foreshadowed by the Daily Express in a paragraph, published before the season commenced, which said: “Mr isdeson s announcement in the Express that he will play ‘Strongheart’ "ith a happy-ending one-half of one a " .'M 1 ha PPy ending the Shf aild «ft the public choose uhich it likes best, has roused much interest in dramatic circles, and r a Sonera l impression that the Undon playgoers will he strongly in I ■ is°Lt h +°l hal>Py , elldi »g, though : the one -tbit Mr. Edeson •ao hitheito played, or that the Amei leans generally like.” , The Americans have ever Jiad the icputation of being great advertist the scheme in refc>tronglieart” does not tar-t s :° I rx\ +1 le lc * ea a Public discussio.l on the correctness tor incorrectrnrlfi 2P Y S elld . ,n g is «ew to this onm lt y ’ Hud certainly no theatrical company in,New. Zealand has ever offered prizes for the best cssav on tile question.