Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 230, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1918 — GREAT PLAY NEVER PRODUCED. [ARTICLE]

GREAT PLAY NEVER PRODUCED.

Gen. Lew Wallace wrote a tragedy entitled "Coinmodus,” which was founded on the story of Maternus, an escaped slave, who rebelled against his country, placed himself at the head of a band of outlaws, planned the capture of Rome and his own elevation to the throne, but was finally betrayed and killed. It was never produced, but Lawrence Barrett, to whom it was submitted, wrote General Wallace that it was the best play since “Richelieu,” and that "both as a poem and as an acting play ‘Commodus’ is the best English drama.” It was printed, but hever staged.—Boston Globe.