New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-09

The scene is laid in the Shenandoah val
ley. and the time is the spring Of 1867. The
opening scene discloses an Irish sentinel Of
the Union army. on the banks Of tho Black
adder. It 10 night. and ho sings an old
country refrain, "Why Did Leave the
County Clare:' A Confederate picket sings
in the distance. my Maryland" The
painting. the moonlight effects and the
music make q fine opening :or the piece.
Philip BHghis naturally drawn character.
He is Of the regular army. and before the
war had married y Southern lady. At the
breaking out If the rebellion his wife de-
serts him, returns TO her home, ge,s
divorced and takes her maiden name. She
is Belle Lamar. and first appears in the
opening sceno as q Confederate spy. She
has infatuated Aars.on Pike, meets him
according to signals. has promised to marry
him, and learning OF expected dispatches.
gives information 70 Confederate Gficers
and has them intercepted. BIgk arrives to
command the post, and as an old friend
relates to Pike the story OF his domestic
misfortunes. mentioning the name VI the
woman he had married. During this rcoitai
aids arrive and announce the capture Of the
dispatches, and finally report the arrest OF
the Coniederates engaged. and with them
woman. Pike is made to write an order for
courtmartial. The scene here is intensely
dramatic: It is . husband debating th-
death warrant Of lady to her lover. both
unconscious Of the identity of the offender.
until she staggers in. with dishsveled hair
and torn dress. under guard. to confront
them both. This 10 the climax Of the irst
act. which is most artistic and strong.
Subsequent scenes show the husbands
struggle between love and duty. He de-
cides to go on with the trial, and the court
refuses to render q verdict. Blgh gives
the lady pass through .he lines. " hich she
transfers to Pike. row prisoner for trea.
son. and remains. herself, to be.accused OF
working upon her husbands feelings to
save her lovers life. About here, the play.
which promised so much, drops to exceed
ing tameness. The character Of Belle is cpe
thoroughly disaereeabie. and gains no sym.
pathv from An audience. Deserving one
Union officer. for being such. and promising
to marry another, as reward for treason.
loses her place among noble women. and
mskes her Of as little interest a. the Belle
Boyds and Pauline Cu,bmans who figured
in the war. It is true. she declares. at the
end Of the play. she never loved othe than
Bigh. aud her acts had been to test him;
but the tteiiug j. that the story is too trans
parent. and the play. without q good sen.i.
mens At its close. ends witt, the firing Of
guns.
The Confederate officers introduced IN
the piece ase nearly for pictorial use. But
few words are pat in the mouth Of Jackson
and they are temperate and characteristic
OF the man. He appears with truce. and
asks for surrender to save life; he also r..
turns the captured dispatches with the
seals unbroken. to in'ereede for thu prison.
ers. During this interview be drinks q
glass OF clear water with Colonel Bligh, and
offers the sentiment. "a speedy end TO this
terrible war.-and an ending with honor to
both eidesv' There is nothing III the pie ce
to stir up sectional strife. /: anything i:
leans to the Union aide, giving the federal
side more prominence IN the action. The
recalls of the past do not offeDd in the play:
they come dreamlk-. the imaginary with
the real, and they again fade away, and We
wonder if they have ever been. The play
will not live long, after all have seen it
once. for it takes no hold upon human
hearts, and Yet 1t can not be called fail.
ure. The first act is immense; perhaps lis
great strength makes the others seem weak.
The author has skillfully handled difficult
subject. The play is generously put upon
the stage and we'll acted at the Varieties.
It is not those who are constantly crying
"Lord, Lord" but those who I'LL the meas