The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-07
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

on Tuesday night, but the house was q good one, and
with the aid Of an artificial breeze, called into being by
the vigorous plying of a thousand fans in az many fair
hands, we were enabled to sit through the trial, wait fol
the verdict, and pay our respects to John Jones of the
War Department. BY the way, could not the theatre be
ventilated, by means OF fans, wind-sails, or some other
ingenious invention, which would render it more com.
ftrtable and save the audience a vast amount of manual
labor that is now expended, much to the annoyance Of
those who 60 thither to enjoy the dolce far nients respite
from the tolls Of the day and cares OF life2
waiting for the Verdict is u most substantial and
affecting drama-patterned somewhat after the fashion
Of JEANNE Deanes,'' but much moro dramatic in its Incl
dents. 1t also possesses the virtue OF probability, as il
does not in the least offend against the possibility of real
life occurrences. Such characters as are presented In the
cast are to be met with in every day life, and similar in
cidents ere of frequent occurrence. A young man il
wrongly accused Of murder-is tried, condemned and
sentenced; but miraculously Ills devoted wife discovers
Just in time to save her husband, that the chief accusing
witness is u himself the murderer. The husband is saved,
and returned to vito, children and father, by the dying
| confession Of the real cuiprft, who expires, in giving life
to his victim, from the effects of a mortal wound he. re-
ceiyed at the hands Of his v1Ilainous accomplice-who 1t
is but natural to suppose, would be hanged, if the play
had six acts, instead of but i've. The audience, in fact,
would have been willing that his execution should be the
browning glory of the fifth act; but the author evident
~ had a distaste for public executions, and left his fate
to tho future and to inference. We do not doubt, how
ever, that he was hanged, for he was a monstrous villain
and to that fact everybody in the house was willing to
testify. t114l 2lfsLi
The Jonathan Rosebladc of Mr.. Oossin, was effective
acting, and increases our good opinion Of this actors
| qualities. He seems to be careful and correct, and to
thoroughly understand his business. The character
| could not have been better performed. Mrs. Meek's Mar
tina Roseblade, was the ideal perfection of a noble, de.
voted, and loving wife and mother. 1t was most feslingly
dons-and her overwhelming sorrow drew a sympathetic
response from the audience. The scene with the muir
derer in the woods, where she t%riumphs in his discomft'
ure-and the resolute purpose Of the determined wife,
nerves her arm with terrible strength, to yindicate u hus-
bands innocence-vas intensely thrilling, and stirred the
house to its deepest depths. Blinky Brown, in the hands
Of Nh. Marston, was made a very agreeable feature. We
were glad to see him form a better and more genteel con.
ception of the character than many actors. Dan. Setchell
failed completely, by making Dlinky a drunken sot In
| the trial scene. 01.a
Jerry Taylor, as Jasper Rosebade, played with the
spirit of a live actor, even il lie was condemned to die
innocent of crime, and was often grand in some of the
most passionate scenes.
But we think that Mr.. Ferris, in the part Of Jonas Hun.
die, took the palm both as to make up and acting. He
performed the character of the deep, designing villain
with such truthfulness to nature that 1t might forma study
for profitable imitation. 1t was evident from his style,
that his histrionic abilities are not to be classed as merely
ordinary. lie was q villain in word, act, look, movements,
and deed-a deyilish yillain-a Gend incarnatc-which Is
the highest compliment we can pay him.
Mrs. Marston was, as usual, exceedingly lively and en-.
tertaining as Sarah Sawyer. She was, In fact, a regular
top Sawyer, - II we may be permitted to invent a phrase
for this special occasion.
The other parties, forming the balance Of the villains
including the Court, Counsel and Jury, did well, especial
ly the attorney for the defence, Mr.. Gallagher, who sue
ceeded in inducing the jury to hang his client, about
as cleverly as counsel for the defence usually do. The
youthful prosecuting attorney broke down quite, in his
opening speech-a maiden eiiort-and was very incohe.
rent; but he got along admirably in the cross-examina