The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-30
MERCER COUNTY coRREsPoN-
ENCE.
The Milan Dramatic Troupe--ths New
Railroad Other Items of News.

The entertainment given in the hall at
this place last Friday evening, by the
Milan dramatic troupe, drew together a
very fine audience, Notwithstanding the
adverse circumstances of time and weather
as a drawback to full house. Like all
companies Of the kind there was much to
be criticised we're l intending to pass any
criticisms, but the few comments shall
make are designed more in spirit Of
friendly advice than with view Of passing
Judgment upon the merits and dement's Of
the particular members of the troupe and
of the company as whole.
The Ticket of Leave Man" was quite
we'll rendered. One thing in particular
especially worthy of a commendatory
notice, every individual member of the
troupe knew his or her part, so as not to
need the services of prompter from be-
hind the scenes, and thus boring the
audience. Of the three young lady mem
bers of the company have nothing to say
but words of highest praise While each
might have infused more spirit into their
respective parts, and thus have given more
intensity to the characters they assumed,
they all did so remarkably we'll as to both
please and astonish. Miss Caddie Johns
ton, as Emily st. Evremond merits the
warmest praise. OF very prepossessing
appearance, an almost faultless figure and
clear and distinct voice, she enacted her
part almost as it should be. Miss 'Becca
Honeus as Mrs Willoughby," had very
difficult part to sustain, and she did it so
well Gs TO elicit warmest encomiums. Added
to the charms of a very comely person,
she possesses a rich musical voice of great
hexibility, and there Is sparkling
piquiancy in her acting that is quite re-
freshing. This refers more especially to
the after piece wherein she personated
Gertrude" in a very charming manner.
Of Miss Mary McMichael in the character
Of May Edwards" / can only wonder
that one Of her years (onlv fourteenl could
sustain so well leading role. While her
personation Of this character would bear
much improvement, by giving more
dramatic effect to the many pathetic
passages of this part, it was nevertheless
excellently done.
OF the male members of the troupe, {
majority OF them spoke their parts pretty
much IN the same manner as school boy
who has committed something to memory
and is anxious to rid himself of an irksom,
task. Under such circumstances, of cours
it is impossible to act, and therefore Their
il no effect.
W. Harry Smith is absolutely dis
qualified, not alone for the part of ''Rober
Briefly, but in any part wherein speed
is required He has no voice; his speec
was nervous, jerky, and almost Inarticulate
and with no more meditation than has
braying donkey. His gestculation was Q
the automatic order. To have the leadin
character of the drama thus mutilated ha
very bad effect on the whole. ". j
Hayford as Meter Moss was UNIVERSAL
admitted to be well sustained part. |
the farce which followed, he enacted tn
part Of Peter Spyke,' in a way to provok
unbounded laughter, and proving himse
comedian of no mean order.
The entertainment gave very gener;
satisfaction, and the company can rest al
sured that, should they visit Hamlet agai
they will have all their old audience, wit
their favorable influence, as guarante
of being greeted with full house. Coul
try people are inclined to look with disfi
vor upon travelling theatrical companie
aud in this instance many OF our poop
coniounded the Milan Dramatic trour
with the itinerant companies that folio
the theatrical business as vocation, an
hence did not give encouragement by the
presence.
On Thursday evening, next, we are
have "A Great Moral Show" somethir
like with that with which Artemas War
originally started in the show business.
The latest information in regard to Il
new railroad, is, that the route will be Il
one originally chosen, and therefore all OF
bright expectations in regard to having
depot near here have been dispelled
Mrs. Shriver, wife of Philip Shrive
among the earliest settlers of this regiol
was buried yesterday in the cemetery ne;
here. The funeral was largely attende,
A few days more of fair weather an
the farmers will get through plantir
corn. The prospect for good fruit Gre
is favorable.
Although dull time for business int
ests, inasmuch as the farmers are all ver
busy putting in thir crops,yet the bushes
Of this town has been good and shows
steadily increasing trade. With such
magnificent country surrounding, there
no possible doubt that Hamlet will b
become a point of considerable trad
Quite number of new buildings are bein
erected in this neighborhood. The hot
at this point is doing thriving bushes
and during the past week was taxed b
yond its power of accommodation.
In shipment of three cars of hogs la
week, the Candor Brothers lost 5000
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