The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-07

fond OF attentions, and, in order TO secure them,
permits herself to be thought widow, assuring
herself that Jack, her husband, will think IL is
all right "Sir Solomon Frazer, X. G. b. (Mr.
Iiemple) home-returnng diplomat is constant
in his display of devotion, as is also "Mr. Cole
Pepper" (Mr Mackay), late of the East India
civil service, whose homeward journey is en-
bittered somewhat by the loss during the Sepoy
revolt of certain vouchers, the absence of which
places him in an equivocal position towards the
Government. Then there is "Mrs. Lovibond"
(Mrs. Maeder) who has heard from her "Augus-
tus' but once in ten years, and then only to be
assured that he was about to do away with him
self to escape her jealons tyranny. Major
MacTurk' (Mr. Ralton) a clustering braggart,
has been assiduous to his attentions 10 the
latter and Captain Clavering" (Mr. stoddart)'
genteel but tricky gambler III
disguise, is the unweleome suitor of miss Cole
pepper Miss Annie Frman), the daughter OF
the unfortunate ex-attache of the civil service
While these personages are passing OIL ana Oh
the stage, ''Tom Dexter (Mr. CathcarU appears.
rowing genius is he, skilled in physic and all
the arts of genteel life; but roughly used by the
world, and at last, after perils and adventures
unnumbered, on his way to England as steerage
passenger. Some wonderful cures effected by
him bring him into the notice of captain
Smart" (Mr. James,, the first officer OF the
Simeon, who, on hearing his story, appoints
him surgeon of the ship, and allots him caon
quarters. He is at once developed into one OF
those rare characters who perform prodgies az
IL by instinct, so seldom encountered except
upon the stage He knows all about the
"Sebrights," the "Colepeppers, "Sir Solomon
and Captain Clavering," and at once becomes
the central figure of the play. Mrs. Sebright'
IL hrpp hNy hfrn tn
captain Clavering" is forced into civility
by disreputablo reminiscence of the card-table,
and "Miss Colepepper' is awakened to love by
a recounting of the heroic part which he took
in rescuing her and her father from the murder
GUS Sepoys And then, just as ''Maior MacTurk'
has proposed to Mrs. Lovibond," up turns
"Lovibond" (Air. Craig) in the very next state
room to her, thin, emaciated, msanthropic
wretch, who, attired in a cotton night-cap and
white flannel gown, and presenting the very
picture of the consummatiOn of misery, emerges
from his den in search of the steward and is
taken into custody by detective as a notorious
fugitive from justice, whose name he has tenn
porarily assumed for the sake of securing his
deserted cabin quarters.
The scene in the second act is transferred to
the quarter deck of the Simeon, which is almost
as effective in its appointments as the saloon
cabin. The intrigues and counter intrgues of
"Sir Solomon" and ''Mr Colepepper" for the
favor of Mrs. Sebright" are here renewed, tax
ing tom DeXter's' skill to the utmost in his en-
deavor to watch over the wife of his friend
"Jack;" while "Lovibond, brought upon deck
for an airing by his custodian, reveals himself
to his "Clorinda," as a last desperate resort to
prove that he is not the villain "Downey,"
whose nane and baggage he has assumed. With
the poor consolation of knowing that he will
have an opportunity OF establishing an Gli6i
when arraigned in Bow street. he attempts
cheerful countenance and joins with the other
passengers in a turn on the light fantastc but
when the may whirl is at its height, the good
ship Simeon strikes upon a coral reef in the
Red Sea, scene of wild dismay ensues the
mast careens, the bulwarks are stove in, and
the curtain descends upon sensational effect
which almost throws Boucicaults house on fire
into the background, and elicits tumults of ap-
plause from gallery and pit
The closing act reveals the encampment of
the passengers upon the coral reef, the accom-
paniments of this scene being fairly in keeping
with the requirements of nature. Captain
Smart" is laid up with a splintered arm, and
tom Dexter" falls naturally into his shoes,
directing all the movements of the crew and
passengers with that wonderful skill which he
alone possesses. A spirit of cheerfulness reigns
in every heart save that of Major MacTurk,"
the stoppage of whose daily bitters makes
perfect wreck of that chivalrous soldier his
humiliation being complete when he is brought
to his knees by "Lovibond,' by whom he is de-
tected in the act of stealing bottle of beer and
that of "Sir Solomon" whose teeth have been
SWALLOWED up in the jaws of the deep" But the
action of this last act is altogether too brisk
to be sketched in our limited space at length.
and it must suffice to say that ''Dexter" dives
down into the wreck and rescues from twenty
fathoms of water mysterious black box, which
contains the missing vouchers of ''Mr. Cole
pepper" whereby that worthy gentleman is set
upon his legs once more, and interposes no
obstacle to the happiness of his daughter and
the prodigious ''Tom;" that villain "Downey"
turns up in proprid persona among the steerage
passengers in the hospital tent, and Augustus"
throws himself into ''Clarinda's" arms, without
a spot. upon his reputation or cloud upon his
brow; while the melancholy "Sir Solomon"
RECEIVERS his teeth justi time tolnnounce theap-
pearance of a ship in the ofling. SO long-suf-
fering virtue is fully rewarded, and what little
vice there was on board the Simeon is brought
to grief.
The Overland Route is q genuine comedy, des-
pite the successful attempts at scenic display
which accompany it. The plot is not very intri-
cate it is almost lost sight of in the whir of in
cidents by which it is obscured; but the dialogue
is brisk and rattling, and many of the hits are
brimfull off humor and productive of excessive
laughter. Each Of the parts was well sustained
asst evening, but the most characteristic person
ations were those of Messrs. Craig and Hemple.
The makp-un of the former both on shin board