The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-05-07
The HIstrIonic Society.

Thisis the name OF a society formed
in our town by a number of ladies and
gentlemen, married and unmarried,
Last Friday night they gave an enter
tainment in one of the elegant rooms of
the Athen8um. Friends were invited,
but only few were present, as the
night was stormy and rainy. The play
selected was "Old Pills Birthday" 1t
is pretty story, and was creditably
and acceptably rendered. We will give
a SYNOPSIS Of it: Old Phil is a faithful
old servant in the great house of Har-
dress d Co, England, and having been
there so long, is great fsvorite with the
Hardness family. On each of his birth
DAYS he dimes with the Hardness family.
His son is educated and taken into the
store as a clerk. He falls desperately in
love with Hardness daughter, Marian,
and being unable to conquer it, resolves
to leave and go to London. Just at
this time Lionel, Hardness son,
gets into bad company, loses heavily,
and robs his fathers safe. He goes to
Frank Stspleton, cOnfesses all, and Dor
rows money from him to replace it.
Frank demands the false key from Lilo
mel, and after getting it, Old Phil finds
it in his sons pocket. This throws sus-
picicn on Frank, and all believe him
guilty except Marian, who loves him.
Rather than betray his friend, Lionel,
Frank bravely bears up under the sus-
picion of his father and his best friends.
The interviews between Frank and Ma,
ran are very fine. Marion has a young
cousin, Blanche, who seems to be in
rove with Lionel, In the play last Fri
dav night, Geo. C.. Miner represented
''OId Pbil;" Miss Ride Z0llicoffer,
"Marian;" DIR. Robert Pillow, Frank
| Walter Amis, Hardness" Miss Julia
| Baird, "Blanche;" Ed. SAMSON, Lilo
! MI e DE.tIsy
marian" we're especially we'll render
! ed. MIR. Miner and Miss Il. have fine
! dramatic power, and constant practice
| in that line would make them pOpulsI
! actors. George is hsppiest and clever.
est when he comes to a place where fur
and wit predominant. He acted "OlC
| Phil" well, but he ia so youthful anC
full of life, that he did not look as old al
! Methusslah. Miss 4. has fine command
of her voice, and it is very winning ant
pleasing to the ear. so that it gives he
! at once full possession of the attention
| and sympathy OF the audience. Whel
she was pleading with Frank and 70
| him. her beautiful ideas and lofty enthu
siasm were very captivating. Her onl,
drawback was want of spOntaDeity AM
tervOr OF action, suitable to the CLOWNS
words which she delivered with mucl
effect. DIR. Pillow is young and hand
some. full of youth and passion, an
has fine Voice. He carried himsel
we'll through the trying scenes. Mis-
Blanche was pretty and bewitching
and said many saucy things to Maria
with keen relish. The scene in whic
] she came in and frightened them nearl
to death, was so naturally done that W
thought the house was really on fire, Q
something else dreadful had haI
1 pened, Lionel and Hardness were nc
3 prominent characters, but Messrs. Ami
and SAMSON represented them accepts
D bly,. Everybody acknowledged GeOrg
Milner as the "star" of the evening. W
\ presume we will again hear OF the His
3 trionic Society.