The _dramatic_ victory was not won, however, by either the pageantry or the play. Mr. Potter’s variant version of “Under Two Flags” is hackneyed in expedients, abrupt in movement, drastic in method, coarse in character, shady in morals, florid in style, and it was made silly, in some of the colloquies, by the infusion of contemporary slang and reference. The listener heard of “rot” and also of “the Klondike,”--unknown in the period of the story. But the old novel had been made to yield telling situations, and the strong and splendid acting of Miss Bates vitalized them, brilliantly animated the whole structure, and vindicated Belasco’s faith in the ability of the actress. The revelation of jealousy working in an unsophisticated, half-savage nature, the elemental passion expressed in the fantastic dance, the prayer of the breaking heart for her lover’s fidelity, the supplication for his pardon, the agony when repulsed, the ecstasy when triumphant, the tremendous conflict of emotions in the wild ride for rescue,--they were all displayed with more of human nature and more of a competent artist’s power to control feelings and to shape the effect of situation than had been seen on our Stage for many a long day.--This was the original cast of “Under Two Flags” at the Garden Theatre: _Bertie Cecil_ Francis Carlyle. _John_ Maclyn Arbuckle. _Rake_ Edward S. Abeles. _Countess of Westminster_ Rose Snyder. _Venetia Lyonnesse_ Margaret Robinson. _Marquis of Chateauroy_ Campbell Gollan. _Lord Constantia_ Arthur Bruce. _Pierre Baroni_ Albert Bruning. _Renée Baroni_ Grace Elliston. _General Lamoricière_ Matt. Snyder. _Paul Lamoricière_ Madge West. _Captain de Chanrellon_ Beresford Webb. _En-ta-Maboull_ Frank Leyden. _Beau Bruno_ Tefft Johnson. _Amineh_ Mrs. F. M. Bates. _Cigarette_ Blanche Bates. BELASCO AND DAVID WARFIELD:--THEIR FIRST MEETING. “Under Two Flags” was acted at the Garden Theatre until June 3, 1901, when that house was closed for the season and Belasco turned his attention to preparations for the appearance of Mrs. Carter in a new play and for the bringing forward of David Warfield as a star in the legitimate [Illustration: Photograph by Byron. Author’s Collection. A SCENE IN BELASCO’S “UNDER TWO FLAGS”]