The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-03-18

was densely crowded on last Tuesday night
every available seat and every foot of standing
room being occupied; many of the invited
guests were unable to obtain admission, and
went away deeply disappointed. The attrac-
ton was the second Soiree OF the session. The
entertainments of this school have always been
deservedly popular, but the one of Tuesday
night last surpassed its predecessors Gf that
were possible) in the variety and perfection of
its various parts.
The first piece on the programme was a
French play entitled, 'sLa Lotherie de Frenc-
FORT" with the following cast:
Felicitc, NJ. P. Harris.
Rosette, Ella Yelvelton
Perine, L. w. Cross.
Mime GODDARD D'Oberstadt, L. T. Perry.
Amanda, l.. w. Hutchinson.
The scene is laid in the village of Molborn,
where Felicite, the hostess OF pleasant little
inn, together with her cousin Resette, and Pc
rine, an old nurse, exercising all the preroga-
tives and privileges which that class generally
accord themselves are to, discovered in an ami
mated discussion upon the prospective eleva-
sist the allurements Of newspaper advertise
ments and has invested her spare cash in lot
terry ticket, through which are seen the visions
of incalculable riches and regal rank. The
modest Felicite expresses lofty disdain and
philosophical contempt for those. mobile prn-
ciples which characterize our American coal
oil Jonnys, and which rise and fall with the
fluctuations of the money market, and declares
her determination to stand aloof from their
sordid influences and maintain, as heretofore,
her friendly relations with. the companions OF
her youth. The conversation is interrupted by
the arrival of Nine D'Oberstadt, accompanied
by her maid, Amanda. The fair Marchioness
rolls her eyes and lifts her hands in holy hor-
ror at the humble appearance OF the inn, and
relieves herself Of ZONE very unf1attering ex-
CARNATIONS with reference to its uncouth apart
ments. The three peasants then retire, ieav-
ing the room to the grand lady aud her femme
de chambre-the former of whom, having not
recovered from the late shock to her delicate
sensibilities, belabors the maid With those af-
fectionate caresses of which irritated females
keep an inexhaustible supply. Injured inno-
cence, in turn, servant-like, discloses some in
teresting bits of family history and traces the
genealogy and afflnence Of her ladyship to a
certain little store-room wherein the founda-
ton of her greatness had been laid ON stock
of cast-off clothing, and from the sale of which
her present fortune was attributable. After
this, Amanda informs Felicite that her ticket
has drawn the prize and that she is now called
upon to support the title Of Baroness. Imme-
tie into her arms and affections, and together
they vow lifelong friendship and undying love;
but alas Felcite discovers that she has read
her ticket upside down and that instead OF be-
coming Baroness she remains the peasant
Girl. At this disclosure no words can describe
the unutterabl disgust and self-accnsation OF
the lofty Marchioness. Sack cloth and ashes
could afford no refuge for humiliation so gall
ing and feelings so larcerated as hers: and the
fall OF the curtain shuts out all sympathy that
might have been extended by the audience.
After the play, to hush the applause, Miss
Thornburg and Prof. Rubenstein rendered
ssQui Vive-Duet INSTRUMENTAL % in splendid
manner. and were followed by an exhibition of
Calistlenics.
There is nothing so captivating, and al the same
time more difficult to perform, than calisthehic
exercises. They combine grace and elegance
of movement with quick. comprehensive ear
for music and a ready conception of attitude
and easy posture, accompanied by vim and an
absence of hesitation, tEe whole blending into
a graceful unity expressive of the word calls
thenic, which is derived from two Greek words
signifying beautiful and strength. The young
ladies acquitted themselves in q most creditabe
manner, and received rounds of applause.
Next came German play, ssThe Woman
Halter" the characters in which were
Gustav, +. NJ. Reed.
Betty, L. II. Yelverton.
Freiling, sa A. Balantlne.
Gustav and Betty have been joined together
in the holy bands Of wedlock, and their two
hearts have beat as one for whole fortnight.
At the expiration of that period welded bliss
grows monotonous and Betty recalls the days
of her single blessedness in which the gallant
Gustav showerxd upon her SO many handsome
gifts, and insists that her liege lord shall imi-
tate his former liberaNty by presenting
her with costly shawl Ut course,
he demurs, as is true husbands wont,
hut finally consents to give the shawl as phil
opena if she succeeds in making him jealous
within eight days. Confident OF her charms,
the fair spouse accepts, and upon his exit,
Frieding, the woman Halter, enters-a pale young
man with cork mrlstache and bearing next
to his heart some very good book with which he
shields that important member from the penetra-
ting points of Cupid arrows and gathers around
him his sanctimonious skirts with the air OF one
who had forever denounced the yanltles and
friyolities of this wicked world, and was wait
ing for chariot to bear him beyond
the pestiierous atmosphere OF its evil
influences. Betty opens the seige with an en-
deayor to draw him into conversation, but She
was wasting her sweetness on the desert air, :
for this modern Benedict only responded in the
monosyllabic .'ja' or 'snein'; to all her pref ty
advances and cunning questions. She next
picked up her guitar, AID in tuning, hurts her
dainty little fingers and appeals for $, mpathy
to the stoney-hearted youth, but in vain, and
SO she sings him sweet plaintiye little sonnet;
| but Friedling would have made an excellent
helnsnan to the Inflated ship Of Ulysses as this
syrens song struck no responsive note III
his unappreciative ear. Nothing daunted, she