, 1872-12-27


is some distance cast Of its centre, SO OmaRa
and st. Louis say.
CONGRESS IN 1912.
It's Representation by tic Ladies' of Union
Park congregational Churcl-Oac Of the
Host Enjoyable Entertainments Of the Sen
son.
Tho ladies Of !lo Union Park Congregational
Church gago, yesterday evening, in the basement
OF their building, the first representation Of
Congress in 1872, T" 3 sketch wherein the author
hns attempted to portray the method in which
legislation will be carried on by women after
they have won from man all the rights they are
entitled to, and 4 few more, and have relegated
the inferior creature to the kitchen and the
nursery.
The dra7natis persona Of the play consist of
the President OF tho Senate, and its subordinate
ofhcers Of score OF Senators representing all
North and South America, and the Isles OF the
sea, from Greenlands icy mountains to Patago-
MAS chilly strand; OF some Ambassadors from
France, Scandinavia, ETC., and of couple OF
unhappy husbands who enter toward the close,
bearing crying infants, which refuse to be paci-
fed, even by bottles with india-rubber mouth
pieces Of the kind which are sold in drug stores
at 10 cents apieco.
The scene commences with the opening OF tho
Senate, after which one Of the Senators moves
that the calling Of the roll be dispensed with,
since she has severe headache, and is really
unable to bear the noise which it would cause.
Then. after the reading Of the roll, the order Of
"gossip" is taken up, and is prolonged in order
that each Senator may have opportunity
to state what she has learned, in
regard to the private affairs Of her neighbors.
The Ambassadors are introduced, and are af-
forded an opportunity Of displaying their mu-
sical attainments, with the exception Of the
gentleman from France, who starts in to sing:
No one to love them, none to carcss
and is hisscd off the scene by tho
indignant Senators. There are speeches,
points Of order, personal explanations,
ETC., just precisely as in masculine Senate
only tincturcd by womanism. The play itself is
q pleasant, good-natured burlcsquo, with no pre-
tensions to any great literary merit, but still
about as good as many productions Of the same
kind.
The play is by no means as acceptable as the
actresses. It is probably owing to the fact that
many Of them are orthodox church-members who
look upon theatre with horror, and never have
been within one, that they go. through their
parts with perfect ease and sef-possession, and
with the graceful simplicity Of gentlewomen.
Then they well dressed, and are confronted
by kindly audience, most of whom they know,
aud they do not for one moment lapse into stiff
ness or eclf-consciouBnegS.
The dresses, which arc designed by the ladies'
themselves, arc rich and tasteful. Some have
simply put on their best clothes since the oc-
ca5ion called for nothing moro, but tho Indian
and colored Senators are arrayed in character
costumes. Senator Peppergrass, OF Now Eng
land, is attired after the fashion of Miss Susan
B. Anthony, and succeeds in representing that
ointment lady e1cel1ently we'll.
Experience has shown that nothing is more
dangerous, when speaking OF a number of ladies',
whether they stand behind tables at fair, or on
the stage in q play, than to single out any par
ticular one as an object OF praise. It is sure to
draw down upon her the wrath OF all her 1850
cribcd as o "conceited thing" etc. Still,
since these horrid feelings may not
prevail among church-members. it may be safo
to Say that the part of Senator O1oole was sin
gularly well performed by Mrs. Dean, and that
many professional actress might do well to
initiate her bright, animated, and characteristic
acting. The President did well, and Sen
ator Peppergrass would have dono bet
ter had she been more persistently
pleasantly, and several, instead Of confning
| themselves to the words of their parts, uttered
any bright idca that occurred to them, just pre-
cieely as if they had been conversng in their
own paF4ors Inc Singing, WHICH IL chleuy
done by Mrs. Hayden, Of Milwaukee,, and A1rs.
shorwin. and Miss Locke, Of this city, is o1ccl-
lont III quantity and IN quality.
Tho laden engaged in this play, in order to
have their solemn jest upon the papers well
as the rest Of mankind, have placed table at
the end OF tho stage, at which thoy ecat q couple
| Of female reporters Of 1872. The acting of these
two young ladies' Miss L. and Miss s., is very
natural, and shows that while at loc-
| lures and other places OF amusement
they havo studied with aroctionate interest the
ways Of the male reporter Of to-day. They are
spectacled, and they have canes; they nteadily
sharpen lead pencils. which they do not use
they talk to ono another in undortones, instead
of working; and by mo.ns of the consumption
of stick Of liquorice, thoy attempt to beguilo
the audience into the belief that they are chew
| ing tobacco.
! It is the intontion OF tho ladies to give their
! play only once moro-this evening. But the
audience last night was so large, and all present
80 much pleased, that they will probably be COM
! PEELED to change their minds, aud to give it t.
morrow evening also. The room is warm, and
well lighted; and West Siders would bo much
botter entertained il, instead Of going to sono
| downtown place of amusement, they were to go
to the Union Park Church, and SEQ how natl-
rally and gracefully these ladies can act.