#714 set the tone for some of the most scintillating writing on DS. At this point, each episode took on the tone of a well written one-act play. The theatricality and pacing of the dialogue was superior, entertaining, and extremely relevant to the story. The pacing of DS definately was outstripping the other soaps of the day, which tended to plod along at a glacial pace. Sure, this pacing was established in '68 to some degree, but the wit and intelligence of the dialogue was reaching its peak with early 1897 for sure. I remember being very impressed, even as a youngster.
Petofi