him at the time, felled him with a blow that broke his neck. Oakley was acquitted by the Vigilance Committee. He urged the girl to return to her home, offering to escort her in safety, but she feared to meet her father, who had publicly cast her off. Oakley at once married her, and they have a daughter of sixteen in a convent in San Francisco. The grandfather of the latter bequeathed to her his entire fortune in trust to the parents. The parents have not learned of this action, but the companion, Hardy, reads of it in a newspaper, and resolves upon a double murder. Two pistol-shots are fired from the half-open window of the express office across the road from the hotel. The guests find Mabel dead and John with both arms shattered and speechless. Jonas Hardy pronounces Mabel his unfaithful wife and John her paramour, and gives his own name as Alfred Armitage. A month later John is held as a prisoner. He has always been speechless from a species of paralysis of the tongue. Meantime Peter Grimes, the express agent, is urging on a mob to lynch John for murdering the woman. The timely arrival of the sheriff of the county prevents the lynching. The sheriff quickly recognizes John as an old companion who had saved his life years before. Circumstan'ial evidence now points so strongly toward Grimes that the mob turns on him, when he tells the true story of the murder. From a San Francisco newspaper is here read an article, in the presence of Armitage, referring to the fact of Alfred Armitage having recently arrived in the city, with letters and correspondence establishing his identity, taking possession of his daughter and her fortune, and stating that he is about to leave the country. The shock of this terrible revelation restores John's speech, and he takes an oath of vengeance. The third act takes us to Venice. Jonas Hardy, under the assumed name of Harwood, is a guest at the grand hotel with Mabel. To his own confusion, Jonas has fallen desperately in love with the girl who calls him father. The other principal characters introduced in the preceding acts have just arrived some as companions to Armitage, who is in search of his daughter and his wife's assassin, and others are upon a wedding tour. The father and daughter meet, and the father draws from the girl a confession that her name is not Harwood. She is upon the point of proclaiming her true name and rushing to her father's embrace, when the latter is denounced by Jonas as a lunatic and made prisoner. The sheriff of Yuba, who is John's companion and also a United States officer, with full authority to apprehend Hardy under the extradition laws, has temporarily lost his papers, through the miscarriage of one of his pieces of luggage. The last act takes place in an apartment in the tower of an old castle on the Rhine. Jonas, after his temporary triumph in securing the arrest of Armitage, flies in the night with his supposed daughter. His passion for the girl has completely mastered him. He first offers marriage, which Mabel spurns, and he then informs her of his deliberate purpose to subject her to a fate worse than death. At the critical moment the father reaches the balcony by the old ivy vines, and the other characters, who have joined in the pursuit, quickly fill the room. 29. Production of "One Against Many," drama in three acts, by A. C. Gunter, at the Union Square Theatre, New York; with the following cast: Baron Dimitri Menchikoff, Francis D. Reinau; Prince Michaelovitch, Dan Leeson; Herr Issakoff Zamaroff, Alfred Klein; Cuthbert Cholmondely, Albert Roberts; Herman Muller, George de Vere; Henri la Rogue, Redfield Clarke; Feodor, Frederick Goldthwaite; Countess Olga Lapuschkin, Katie Gilbert; Vassalissa Turgeneff, Carrie Jackson; Neira, Effie Germon; Pierre de Montalambert, John L. Burleigh. A young Russian countess who has just come of age is plighted to Baron Menchikoff, head of the secret police, but loves an attaché of the French Legation at Petersburg named Pierre de Montalambert. The Countess O'ga has been drawn into the ranks of the Nihilists by her guardian, Prince Michaelovitch and his wife Neira, for the purpose of sending her to Siberia and securing her valuable estates. These three, together with Muller, a Socialist steward, Zamaroff, a Jewish usurer, and one other, form a Nihilist circle of six. By the use of some napkins and sympathetic ink (which play a part in the machinations of the enemies to despotism) the circle is convened. Montalambert discovers that Olga is in danger, that he is to be selected as the instrument to destroy Menchikoff, thereby placing herself within the power of the authorities, and resolves to save her. Montalambert visits Olga when the head of the police is expected. He avows himself the originator of the plan of assassination; then offers to renounce Olga for the price of a free passport, and finally, as the Baron is about to put a pair of handcuffs on the young lady (who happens to be his cousin as well as his affianced), asks permission to do the handcuffing himself. A struggle ensues between the three, and when they rise it is found that the "bracelets" adorn the wrists of the police instead of his prisoner. In the final act, three of the napkins, saturated with chloroform, reappear to suppress the Baron and give Olga's unerring lover a chance to set everything straight. Production of "The Pointsman," a melodrama in a prologue and three acts, by R. C. Carton and Cecil Raleigh, at the Olympic Theatre, London, England; with the following cast: Richard Dugdale, E. S. Willard; Tom Lidstone, J. G. Grahame; Fred Fordyce, Bernard Gould; Charles Franklin, F. G. Darbyshire; Samuel Bastick, J. P. Burnett; Matt Collins, F. Motley Wood; "Black" George, Frank Wright; Mr. Hanway, H. Gordon; Dr. Raeburn, W. E. Blatchley; Clerk, Gresham; Long Johnson, Philip Cuningham; Sailor, S. Pennett; Railway Guard, C. Martin; Porter, A. Leigh; Cabman, Ives; Sergeant, W. Mirfield; Ginger, E. Waller; Potboy, G. Gamble; Job Foster, E. Norbury; Detective, H. Harvey; Ephraim Hathernut, Stephen Caffrey; Lizzie, Maud Milton; Esther, Agnes Hewitt; Geraldine Fordyce, Helen Ferrers. The story is full of melodramatic incidents. The majority of the characters are more or less connected with the Southeastern Railway, and the chief situation arises out of the smash-up of an express train on that line. The accident is brought about by drugging the pointsman, who, in consequence, is unable to pull the lever in the signal-box. Production of "Charlotte Russe," society comedy, by Robert Griffin Morris, at the Grand Opera House, Providence, R. I., with Augusta van Doren in the title rôle. The story shows how a certain Baron von Dinkelspiel is engaged to Miss Hostetter, a wealthy young lady of New York. In the meantime, finding that the stock he had bought for Miss Charlotte Russe is rising in value, he transfers it to Miss Hostetter; when it takes a downward turn, he retransfers it to Charlotte. He is exposed by Ernest Vanderbeck. The latter finally plucks up sufficient courage to propose to Charlotte, who has been in love with him from the start. "A Soldier's Trust," a new version of "The Exile's Daughter," by C. L. Graves, was presented at Poole's Theatre, New York; with the following cast: Mariotte, Bessie Clark; Mme. Tavernay, Elsie Graham; Genevieve De Lysle, Emma Fossette; Peter Frochard, S. J. Forhan; Ambrose Tavernay, F. E. Cooke; Lucien de Lysle, J. S. Madero; Jean Potichon, George H. Whitman; Monsieur Germond, H. A. Walton; The Curate of Laurent, G. S. White; Gaspard Picard, D. J. Sayre: Young Picard, A. Walsh; Corporal Antoine, F. A. Tannehill. Partial destruction by fire of Chapin's tent theatre, Jersey City, N. J -The new Grand Opera House at Lexington, Ky., was inaugurated by Lizzie Evans in "Our Angel.". -Crawford's Opera House, in process of completion, at Wichita, Kas., fell to the ground, carrying with it forty feet of the north and south walls, and leaving the building a wreck. 30. Production of "The Still Alarm," melodrama in three acts, by Joseph Arthur and A. C. Wheeler, at the Fourteenth Street Theatre, New York; with the following cast: Jack Manley, Harry Lacy; John Bird, Nelson Wheatcroft; Willie Manley, Charles Dickson; Doc Wilbur, Jacques Kruger; Franklin Fordham, E. A. Eberle : Joseph Jones, M. J. Gallagher; Jenkins, Thomas W. Ford; Elinore Fordham, Blanche Thorne; Cad Wilbur, Blanche Vaughn; Mrs. Manley, Mrs. Selden Irwin. Jack Man ley is the trusted clerk of Franklin Fordham. He is engaged to the latter's daughter, Elinore. One John Bird has acquired a rascally hold on Fordham, and he uses it to demand the band and fortune of Elinore. The latter, to save the father from ruin consents to sacrifice herself and her lover and wed Bird. Jack is discharged from his position of trust, and lapses into poverty and melancholy. The heart-broken Elinore visits him, there to explain the cause of her conduct. Jack demands the name of the man in whose power her father is. She refuses to divulge it. Bird comes knocking at the door. Manley tries to get at him, but Elinore bars the door. He smashes the window with a chair, and rushes down the fire-escape to intercept his unknown enemy. This forms a startling finale to the second act. The third begins with a scene between Bird and an old inebriate, Doc Wilbur, who was the former's companion in the abduction of Fordham's younger daughter years before, and who can free the father from Bird's toils. Doc is repentant, and he manages, by a clever ruse, to abstract the documentary evidence of Bird's guilt, which he despatches to Manley by a messenger-boy. Discovering his loss, Bird pinions Doc and hurries to the enginehouse, where Manley (who is now a fireman), is employed, to secure the message. The next scene shows the interior of the engine-house. Bird comes just in time to get the message. He conceives the idea of firing the Fordham residence and destroying Doc and preventing rescue by cutting the wires of the fire signal. He carries out the plan. A "still alarm," however, comes to the hero over the telephone. He sounds the gong with a mallet. The firemen don their boots and slide down to their posts of duty; the horses leap to their places; Jack takes the driver's seat, and in a cloud of smoke the engine dashes out of the house and down a street seen in perspective. Jack saves Elinore from the flames. The eve of her marriage to Bird arrives. She again visits Jack in his home, finding him, apparently, extremely ill. His sickness is a ruse intended to entice Bird, who comes in search of his fiancée. At last Jack meets his adversary face to face. He springs from his couch, and in the struggle that ensues wrests from him the document that absolves Fordham from his power. Bird is captured by a policeman. Jack, of course, gets Elinore, and Fordham has restored to him his long missing daughter. Roland Reed appeared for the first time in "The Woman-Hater," at Fall River, Mass; the cast being as follows: Samuel Bundy, Roland Reed; Horace Mulbridge, Harry A. Smith; Dr. Lane, Frederick Hight; George Dobbins, A. C. Deltwyn; Tom Zipley, William C. Andrews; Olando Hawkins, W. W. Plum; William, C. N. Sharo; James, S. W. Gordon: Mrs. Lucy Joy, Alice Hastings; Alice Vane, Alice Lewis; Mrs. Walton, Bessie Hunter. The play was originally produced by the late John T. Raymond. 31. Début of Mme. Segond-Weber and Monsieur Leitner, prize pupils of the Conservatoire, in "Hernani," at the Comédie Française, Paris, France.Marriage of Frederick Solomon to Mamie Sutton, at New York City.Sale of the New York Academy of Music to William P. Douglass, who resold it in November to Edward G. Gilmore and Eugene Tompkins. SEPTEMBER. 1. Production of "Bewitched," farce-comedy in three acts, by Edward E. Kidder, at Muskegon, Mich.; with the following cast: Halcyon Todd, Sol Smith Russell; Colonel Chutney Chillicurry, Frederick J. Wildman; Mr. Euston, Alexander Fisher; Thomas Willis, Frank L. Davis; Toby, Samuel Erwin Ryan; Stella, Jennie Karsner; Bella Euston, Marie Dudley; Electra Twinkle, Louisa McIntosh; Porter, M. Osborn. The plot deals with the return from the Indies of an old war dog who brings with him a pretty daughter and an amulet, or charm, of wonderful power. Whoever has it is forced to do the opposite to what he otherwise would do. It performs an office similar to that of the drug in "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." The amulet turns a household, visitors and all, topsy-turvy, and a very serious and good young man, Halcyon Todd, into a howling swell. Passing the amulet around creates the fun, and also gives opportunities for the introduction of specialties. Production of "Starlight," musical farce-comedy, by Fred. G. Maeder and Robert Fraser, at Joliet, Ill.; with the following cast: Quackleton, a musical crank, R. F. Caroll; Harold Marker, an artist, W. S. Rising; Old Muddlebrain, the boss crank, H. Standish; Michael Brulligane, H. McDonell; Murizio Flametti, the red brigand, F. D. Daly; Lord Bondholder, W. F. Condit; "You Know," valet, E. H. Caroll; Lucy Raffle, Bessie Cleveland; Mrs. Highflyer, lion hunter, Anna Sutherland; Teresa, Miss E. Mortimer; Kitty O'Leary, Miss L. Elma; Carlotta, known as "Starlight," Vernona Jarbeau. Production of "Le Chevalier Timide," comic opera in one act, adapted from the novel of Desaugiers, with libretto by M. W. Busnach and music by Edmond Missa, at the Menus-Plaisirs Theatre, Paris, France.- -Production of "Is Life Worth Living?" drama in four acts, by F. A. Scudamore, at the Prince's Theatre, Bristol, England. 2. Production of "Blackmail," drama in four acts, by G. H. R. Dabbs, at the Literary Institute, Shanklin, I. W., England. This piece is not the one produced under the same name in the United States. Production of "Am Lindenhof," drama by Hans Neuert, at the Gaertnerplatz Theatre, Munich, Bavaria.- -First representation in England of "The Woman-Hater," farce in three acts, by David Lloyd, adapted to the English stage by Edward Terry, at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle. 3. First representation in America of "A Dark Secret," an English melodrama, by James Willing, Jr., and John Douglass, adapted for the American stage by Charles B. Jefferson, at the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, Pa.; with the following cast: Shephen Norton, Henry Walton; Jonas Norton, Joseph L. Mason; Arthur Loates, George Backus; Martin Brooke, Frank Lane; Nelly, Virginia Nelson; Mary Joyce, Dora Goldthwaite; Madame La Fontaine, Gabrielle du Sauld; Gipsy girl, May Nugent. The story, briefly told, is as follows: A young and lovely heiress is left, by the death of her father, to the guardianship of her uncle, a hypocritical old scoundrel, who is the next heir to the estate. He endeavors to unite her in marriage with his son, an uncouth, vulgar youth with sporting tendencies. Failing in this, her death is resolved upon by the old wretch, who has for his accomplice his hopeful son and a venomous French governess. In pursuance of their evil designs for grasping the fortune, the old man and his son have already committed a murder, but, although suspected, have escaped punishment on account of the popular belief that their victim died by his own hand. The heroine is subjected to many persecutions and imminent dangers, but is finally rescued by her lover and her step-sister, who, together with the father's solicitor, have proved her steadfast friends. The wicked governess dies of poison intended for her victim, the ungodly uncle dies of shock consequent upon the discovery of his misdeeds, and the old murder is morally proved against the unregenerate son. Incidental to the piece are the regatta scene at Henley and a night scene upon the Thames in the same locality. To render the scenes effective, a tank filled with water occupied the entire back of the stage, and George Hosmer, the oarsman, rowed the winning shell. Production of " Pleasure," spectacular drama in six acts, by Paul Merritt and Augustus Harris, at Drury Lane Theatre, London, England; with the following cast: Jack Lovel, Edward Gardiner; Dick Doddipods, Harry Nicholls; Prince Valvasia, Percy Lyndal; Arthur Blessington, Basil West; Tommy Stuart, Walter Uridge; Willie Barton, Frank Harrison; Sir Samuel Sloper, Napier Barry; Major Randolph Lovel, Edward Sass; Alderman Doddipods, Lionel Rignold; Francis Fairweatherley, Victor Stephens; Dion Cassidy, James O'Brien; Muxworthy, Edgar Hayes; Nickerson, Jos. St. George; Detective-Sergeant Judkins, W. Barnett; Tom Carey, George Melville; Commissionaire of Police at Nice, Charles Haverley; Jessie Newland, Alma Murray; Geraldine Vanderfeldt, Fanny Brough; Rose Bouchon, Lily Miska; Phillis Egerton, Jenny Dawson; Luretta Borghi, Millicent Mildmay. Production of Sardou's " Dolores," better known as "Patrie," at the Chestnut Street 4. Death of Mrs. James R. Vincent, the veteran actress, at Boston, Mass.- -Death of Amelia Waugh, actress, at Brooklyn, N. Y. 5. Production of " Allan Dare," melodrama founded on Admiral Porter's novel, at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York; with the following cast: The Prologue: Simon Gale, Jerome Stevens: James, Eddie Hughes; Charles, Johnny Hughes; Charles Gale, J. E. Wilson; Dick Long, Charles Forman; Agnes Gale, Agnes Proctor; Mary, Kate Burlingame; Ellen, Louise Berkley. The Play: Allan Dare, Frank Carlyle; Robert le Diable, Wilton Lackaye; Mr. Morton, J. E. Wilson; George May, F. B. Conway; Mungo Park, W. II. Thompson; Hans Hummel, Luke Martin; Chief of Police, Robert Johnson; Louise Morton, Louise Pomeroy; Agnes Gale, Agnes Proctor; Mrs. Morton, Kate Burlingame; Flossie Carrolton, Addie Cumming; Mary Sampson, Kate Maloney. The scene of the prologue is laid at Manchester-by-the-Sea in 1800. James Gale has been drowned at sea, and it is thought that a sum of money left in his care will fall into wrong hands. His twin sons, James and Charles, are spirited away by a rascally circus man, leaving the widowed mother with a small girl and no money. The period of the play begins in 1820. The twins have been separated and reappear, one as Allan Dare, a celebrated detective, the other as Robert le Diable, an equally celebrated thief. Allan has come from Paris to hunt down this same gentlemanly |