Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-09-18


ResembIance 20 Real Life-mutuai
| Friend Gray.
From the New York SUM-
Mr.. Stintson's drama, Passions Per-
ils or, Saints and Sinners which was
suppressed in Boston, was produced in
the Bowery theater last night before q
very large assemblage. 1t was under
stood that the play was to be synopsis
of the Beeeher.Tilton scandal; but the
prologue was so different from anything
appeartaining to the real-life drama in
the City of Churches, that some disap-
! pointment was manifested. As the play
went on, however, it became apparent
that the author had been true to his
text, the points of departure being sim
ply that something had been added to
the beginning and good deal to the
end.
The prologue shows the Rev. Joel
James Bay ham in love with Eveleen
Stuart, who, while cherishing the utmost
respect for her pastor, bestowed her af-
feetions upon Frederick Thornton, a
young man with great expectations,
which are never realized. Her uncle,
dying, leaves all of his property to Eve
leen, who asks the minister to advise her
as to her disposal of it, He disinterest-
eddy recon nends her to give the money
to Thornton and bestGw her heart and
hand on him. At length she elects to
marry Thornton, ard the preacher per-
forms the ceremony.
The second act consists OF dissensions
and Misunderstanding between hus.
band and wife, and the latter again seeks
the advice of her pastor. The latter
assures her that the case admits OF
nothing short of divorce. aud the hus.
band overhearing the conversation in
sists on a separation. Two children
have been born, a boy and girl, and he
takes the latter leaving the former with
his wife. The clergyman then obtains
from Eveleen letter declaring that in
his bearing toward her he has not been
guilty of any improperly.
The principal feature in this act is the
reading by Eveleen of letter from the
minister of correct copy of the famous
document written by Mr.. Beecher, in
which the latter humbles himself before
Mr. Tilton as he would before his God,
and wishes that he we're dead. This
letter is committed to the keeping of
Edward Gray, mutual friend, and by
him given to Eveleen. The minister
again sees Eveleen, and, obtaining the
letter, kisses and leaves her. They do
not meet again uHtil in the third act he
she lies dying. All Misunderstanding
are then cleared away, and the character
of'the minister is vindicated, amid the
unbounded applause of the audience.
The platitudes of the minister Thorn
ton, and the mutual friend Gray,
would be uncomfortable were the play not
in some measure enlivened by two very
lively characters, Jerry Fitzitem, re-
porter, who represents himself as editor
and proprietor of the New York Herald,
and the colonel, bewhiskered gen.
tleman, whose distinguishing feature is
that he is the husband of woman's
rights champion known as Mrs Severity
Jerry is young man OF unprepossessing
appearance, clerically attired He is
addicted to interviewing" unnecessar.
ly and borrowing fifty cent stamps, and
is altogether about as much unlike any
reporter that ever lived as can well be
imagined. He and the colonel lay art
tul schemes TOR obtaining small sums
from Mrs. Severity and investing them
in cocktails.
Throughout the play curious kind Of
likeness is preserved or manufactured by
the costumer's arts. Beecher, Tilton,
Moulton and even Mrs Tilton may be
recognized, and if the play has any sue
cess at all much of it must depend upon
this
The other characters are Leonie
Lsulis, dangerous woman OF free love
propensities who in some measure en-
tangled Thornton in her snares, and
causes much of the perplexity with
which the play is filled; Maud and Ar
thur, children Of the Thorntons, and
Nellie, maid to Mrs. Thornton. with
whom Jerry Fitzitem falls in love and
borrows dollar
Parts of the play are very laughable,
but the main features are coarse, stupid
and obscene, and whatever interest at
taches itself to them is due solely to the
miserable parody which they present OF
the other drama in progress in Brook
lyn.