The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-09-24
THE SCANDAL on THE STAGE.
PASSIONS Perils Brought Out in the Bowery
Thester.

PASSIONS Perils Brought Out in the Bowery
Theater.
From the New York SUM-
Mr.. Stnison's drama, PASSIONS Per.
lis; or, Siints and Sinners" which was cup
pre- sed in Boston, was produced in the Bow.
cry Theaier las, night before very large
assemblsge. 1t was understood that the
play was to be synopsis Of the Beecher-
Til,on scandal, but the prologue was 80 dif-
fe,ent from anything appertaining to the
real life drama in the City of Churches, that
some disappointment was manifested. As
the play went on, however, it became sppa-
rent that the author had been true 10 his
text, the points or departure being simply
that something had been added 10 the be-
ginning, and good deal 10 the end.
The prologue elbows the Rev. Joel James
Bayham in love with Eveleen Stusrt, who,
while cherishing the utmost respect for her
pastor, has bestowed her affections upon
Frederick Thcrnton, a young msn with
great expectation, which are never realized.
His unc.e, dying, leaves all his property to
Eseleen, who asks the minister to advise her
a, to the disposal of it. He disinterestedly
recommends her to give the money 10 Thorn.
ton, and bss.ow her "hea-t and hand" on
him. At length she elected TO marry Thorn
ton, and the preacher perform, the ceremo-
ny.
The acc nd act consists OF di-sensious and
nisurd erst .ndings between men and wife,
and the latter again seeks the advice of her
pastor. The latter assures her that the case
admits of po;hing short Of divorce, and the
husband overhearing the conversation insists
On separation. Two chilCren have been
born, 10y and girl, and he takes the lat
ter, leaving the former with his wife. The
clergyman then obtains from Ereleen a let
ter declaring that in his bearing toward her
he hiss not be guilty of any improprietv.
TIE principal feature of this act i, tie
reading by Eyeleen of a letter from the min
lister, of correct copy Of the famous docu-
ment written by Mr.. Beecher, in which the
latter humble, himself Def re Mr.. Tilton NJ
he would before his God, and wishss that he
were dead. This letter is committed TO the
keeping Of Edward Gray, mutual friend,
and by him given to Eveleen. The minister
again sees Eyelesn, and oh. aiming the letter,
kisses her AID leaves her. They do not
meet again until, in tie third act, he ia sum-
moned t, the chamber in which she lies dy-
ing. Her husband and the mutual friend
are present, "a are also the two children.
All Misunderstanding are then cleared away,
and the character of the minister is vindi.
Gated amid the unbounded applause OF the
audience.
The pla,itudes Of the minister, Thornton,
and tie mutual friend" Gray would be
were the plsy not in some
acters, jerry Fi.zitem. a reporter, who re-
L cd II
the New York Herald, and "the Colonel"
gentleman, whose dis
feature is that he is
the husband OF a wcman's right |
champion known as Mr.. Severity. Jerry
is a young man Of rather unprepossess:ng |
appearance, and clerically atlired. He is |
addicted to ''interuiewing" unnecessarily |
AMI borrowing SO cent s.amps, and is alto !
,ether nbou, "A much unlike any reporter that
ever lived "a can we'll be imagined. He
and the Colonel lay sr,less schemes for OBJ
tanning small sums for Mrs. Severity and
investing them in cocktails.
Throughout the play a curious kind of
likeness is preserved or manufactured by the
,os.umer's art. Beecher, TiltoD, Mou!ton,
md even Mrs. Til,on, may be recognized,
md if the play hiss any success, at all, much
If it must depend upon this.
The other characters ere Leorine Lau.i.,
! dangerous woman Of 'free-love propensi-
les, who in some measure entangled Thorn
on in her snarfs. and causes much Of the
with which the pl,y is filed;
Maud and Arthur, children Of the Thorn.
ons, and Nellie, maid 10 Mn. thornton,
With whom Jerry Fi'zi.em fsll, in love and
'orrow. a dollar.
Parts of the play are very laughable. but
he main features are coarse, stupid and OBJ
Gene, and Whatever interest attaches itself
0 them is due solely TO the miserable parO-
y which they present of the other drama
q progress in Brooklyn.