The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-02-05
THE .UNrox sPY.v
EVERYBODY DESERVES A Prrr.

B. Temple, have been playing the ''Unior
Spy" for an entire week. closed the enter
tainment At no time during the history o.
our city has the presentation Of any play
however popular in itself it may have been
or however celebrated may have been the
actors engaged, drawn together SO many o.
our citizens TO witness it a. did this one
When an amateur dramatic club can enter
tain people living in a city like Wichita
where the best theatrical talent travelling
present. itself-for an entire week, present.
Ing the same play every night, and drawing
an audience every nigh; that numbered from
800 TO 1000, no argument is needed TO con.
vince that the play was one OF more than or
binary character, and that the actors, though
amateurs. were possessed of unusual ability.
| The play itself Is founded on incidents con-
nected with our late war. commencing Mt the
time when the news was received that Sum-
ter had been fired upon. and thence down
through its history 10 the surrender Of Lee
and the return Of the boys to their homes.
II represents every phase Of the soldier life
| His enlistment: the march; the camp by
night; the evening before the great battle Of
Shiloh: the driving in of the pickets; the
battle itself: the battlefield by night; the
wounded soldiers; the prisoners in Ander-
Vile: their suferings; the return OF the sol.
diers home. and the greeting Of friends, and
ali presented true to life. As we witnessed
it night after night, never growing tired. we
cried and laughed in turn as the incidents
representing that great struggle were enact
ed before us.
To make personal mention of all the play
ers, giving to each the fattering notice to
which they are entitled. would occupy more
space than we can spare.
Judge Campbell. as Albert Morton. in the
"Cnion Spy has excited the admiration
proven beyond the doubt Of even captious
critics. that he has the right conception OF
the character. and the ability to present it
rue to nature. His refusal to allow his faith
er-who has spoken earnestly OF the pending
war-to ask the pardon OF Warren Orr. who,
By his declaration of treason and his insults
o the patriots Of the North. has severed all
ties Of friendship, and his ordering him from
II. father. home, was finely acted, and the
intcnse interest manifested ON the part OF the
audience. at this point, showed that it was
highly appreciated by them. His disguise
4, spy in the enemy's lines was complete: his
oldest friends. Or the lawyers who have prac-
Used before him Tor years. who know his
gestures: his accent: his manner: would
ave utterl, failed to recognize him. His
leading for mercy for his compani n in the
L.. l..
as so full of feeling that many she'd tears
iey looked upon the cmaciated forms Of his
,mpanions, and heard hi, plea in their be
ialt. IL carried II, back to the days of An
lersonyilc and Libby prisons; we were look
ny into those prison-pen> We saw the gaun,
orm Of the starved soldier; we saw him step
cross the dead-line; we heard the guard
ire, and the dull ihuJ of the soldier As lie
cit.
Col. Temple the author Of the play. a
manager. understands his business thorough
|; even to detail. Not the slightest mistake
In the presentation Of the play occurred duf-
ng the week. As Sergeant Orr. one OF the
hief cha ar.ers in the play. hi, acting was
ERECT an although playin, part not cai-
he an Hence, and more diiicnt FOR that rea-
on. he vet won for himself much hearty APP
plause.
johnny Alien. as Farmer Morton, the steri.
ia patriot OF the North. who 30 bitterly de-
bounced treason and traitors. and who had
.ich a yeneration for Lincoln. and who en-
couraged enlistment, by having his whole
tix ,yb n iyj. ban
the war was over, and set il up big TO the
boys when they came home, was Il complete
success. He was one OF the old fellows that
YOU couldn't keep still, he never talked with
out making speech: the old woman ana
girls might try to soothe him, but the old
mans arms were up in the air and he had his
say and he didn't what the neighbors
laid. Those gray-haircd. leather-cheeked
old fellow, during the war. that spoke their
sentiments at all times, were of invaluable
assistance to the cause of the Onion. They
we're the spirit Of &c, and you couldn't sit
lown on them, they We're always booming.
Judge Fred. Ilaanum. a, Charley Morton
who rescued the boys confined in the prison
pen, and who shoots Sergeant Orr, command
er Of the prison, has made for himself quite
a reputation rs pos .es.ing more than ordina-
nv ability as an actor.
Freddie Baldwin, as Willie Morton, the
boy whose argument that he WAS big enough
FOL a soldier, was that he could drum an
steal chickens. and who in the plison-pcn
attacked the Sergeant in command, and WAC
is afterwards killed by the sergeant. success,
ully represented the character. Every lady
n the audience felt like ki,-n, the brave lit
le soldier.
J. L. McM!len, a. Mr.. Orr. was our lie
# a chiyalrou. Southern gentleman. state
y in his manner. GENEROUS and strongly ia
love with his Southern home. aud the in-ti-
ufion> of the South. tie loves the Old nag.
,nt thinks duty calls him to fight tor the
south. He enters the army, is killed at shi-
"a, and on the battlefield dying. regret
hat he fought az inst hi Government iii
representation OF this character was very
good.
Eugene schattner. as Uncle Tom, has had
- much said of him that II would seem no
more conld be added. A, representative a
the negro character he isinmense. We hayr
cen aud heard all of the great negro define
,tors travelling and know that but few cqua.
IN aud none surpass him in presenting III
i.gro character. Advertise that Gene j. go
ng TO assist in any performance in Wichita
md you need do no more the house will be
ul., the galleries crowded. and everybody
,appy.
Bob Mcfarland. Ncighhor Joues--iather o
pus-y-skin and Bones-was good reprrsen
alton of one Of those old fellows that ,ege-
tate In oak openinss-tall and slim. long grey
beard combci only by the wind. lie made u
aughable looking picture aud per!orme
well.
A. r. Massey. as VIII Rogers. represented
he starved soldier in prison. 10 perfection
liz emaciatci form. his plea for bread for hi
,iarying companions. and his sorrow over Oh,
iealh of Willie the ,lrummcr-bpy. was wei
represented.
J. A. Ask, as Pussy Jones. and aiterwards.
when the prison fare had reduced him t. Il
,keleton. Is skin and bones. was the right
man in the right place. and for the next five
wears the present citizens OF Wichita will
never pass him without thinking of the
"Union Spy of how he drilled the awkward
squad. his inspection of arms. the gun going
Of the roll-call. and of Deacon Smith and
others who were missing after the action
VIII Holloway, as Ed. Harper. carried his
part well.