The Gladiator

Robert Downing, who will appoar at the Grand opera house ou Thursday uext, siuce the death of John MeCallongh, has been the people's ideal of the gladiator. "The Gladiator" present ed by Mr. Downing is the uew gladiator. The story is muro beaiuifal aud more intense in display of feeling. There is in it less of the clash of arras and of trials of strength, and more of the passions of hurnanity and their conflict in human life. The gladiator is as mighty, and against hiin is matched the might of a woman scorned. with the power of the Roman Empire subject to her will. When he is confronted in the arena with a maiden, when his manhood rebels against taking the life of a girl, when pagan priests and Roman citizen demanded the blood of the victim, when even the qneea begs for mercy and is unheard, when he bares the throat to strike and discovers his daughter in the knceling martyr, the fmy of the popuace rises superior to the might of both gladiator ;:ndquee:i and the royal house is swept away, whüe the gladiator's dagger fnlfils the destiny of death for his daughter and hiinself. In that lase hour the quesn's mother-love rises superior to a'l other, the gladiator's love frees him f-om physicai slavery, and tho dvughtar's love yields to the spirit of Chri 51 iau nr.irtyrdom. Mr. D 'W ling is handsomely equipped for the pirt he so well takes. His graud physique fairly towers in the play. Mr. DowdiiJg has made a great feature of the Glaci itor, aud it is donbtful if auy actor has accomplishod more than has he in this particular play. H9 is most capably npported by his bcatitiful wife, known to the stage as Eugenia Blair, an actrass who stands pre-emineut before the public. She is a highly culturod vrom ui, anrl gives to the stage a supe! ïior infcr lligenee not found as often as ; it shouldjbe. The remaiuder of the pany are specially selected for the parts assigned them, and are equally competent.