, 1880-09-12
A Few Words upon Joshua Whit.
comb, the New England
Farmer.
Local Revivals-stThe Bankers
Danghter," "Sharps and
:: Flats" and 'sHobbies."
A Curious Story About E. A.
Sothern, the Come
;~ ~. dian.
Professional Direotory-Notes Con"
cerning Plays and Players.

JOSHUA WHITCOMB.
All the circumstances attending the reap
pearance OF the sturdy, true-hea rted, eentl
New England farmer, Joshua W7tHconnb. at Nc
Vickcr's, have been Of the most pleasant chnrac
ter. The size Of the receipts has oven aston
ished his manager, and the people-the houss
has been crowded to the door every night-bavs
given abundant evidence Of the unfaiiing pop
ular Interest -tu the werk. Over the fun tht
people huyc laughed as heartily os ever, and thf
sentiment OF the piece has touched Us many
hearts.
When the newspaper commentators allude tc
tho extraordinary popularity Of this play OF
.'Joshua Whttcomb which Manager Hill and
Dcnman Thompson have built out Of q variety
hall sketch, those commentators invariably ut
tribute thur popularity the fact that no effort
has been spared In the way Of advertising. Noad-
yertisang bill posting, however, could give the
play the enduring popularity It has unless that
play had intrinsic merit OF It's own Printers ink
might crowd II theatre during one or two en-
gn4epents and create faoaItlou5 SUCCESS, but
printErs' ink utone could never crowd q theatre
during four engagements netting: some 110 per-
foruances. The secret of the plays popularity
lies In the fact that the keynote atruck is that
OF " Home, Sweet Home.". It's undertone is
sweet, and kind. aud gentle. Its domestic. It's
scenes and incidents and its characters are of
tbs pe1pie. and the peoples heaft warns to-
ward them. Its representation has beued-
cent effect upon human nature There Is no
plot worthy at the name. there is no delicate
manipulation Of incident aud situation. and the
sentiment tu~ theatricM habitue IS cheap.
This ne graut; but 1he public instantly recos-
nize the truth OF SUCH charlcters IS tho central
na Ens.an s sas Dan iss New EFaad
spinster Au!t -Aatildd, or the ancient relic nigh
or tue personation OF Joshua IFhiteomb BY Mr..
1{Yffn ha En{n ff7nf fnQ
not been already said. The character itself Is
a chip from Nature itself, nnd tho nrt OF the
that the freedom and spontanelty Of his uction
Of l;ie itself 1ie bus sdentified haself with the
pared to nothing else on the American stage to-
dny: neither can it be pur in tho same plane
With the lankee character r. familiar to ths stage
Z fss the on; eoxm eopaps
III WstooMb ' To 1sad Would be ss so'os shingle Yet
Owens 4avo ia that assumption Dfckensortau
Jos'suu is sketched with a fidelity Us truthful as
.Aa.rt frum the acting Of Thompson himself,
part Il ndeauately tiled. Tho people have
worked tt.scther for a long tine ana the per-
runi ans ss hs Ee are n q
larry rich. Miss Alice Stewart Lopan. a soprano
n 70 %hal we esee nna he on pas na
OF SUSIE .HdYtin, has made q most decided
hit Her voice Is pure. and round, and sweet,
and her Scotch lalIads art. rendered with fine
expression. Little Julia Wilson Is another sing
er "f a superior order: She is the TIT Ut the
piece. The Gu Ptin Of Mr. George Dean Is we'll
known. 1t is clever sketch. and Mr. Waller
Gato, for his unaxaggenlted English character,
Is to he commended. The other female parts
attend little opportunity for. acting. They are
M:ss Floreace Roberts, and Miss +. nogcr6-
These yss.nE ladies urc Ill beauties. aud exhibit
toilets thai might rarish the heart OF the most
1ashiona4,le drcssmnker.