The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-01

The scenes from "Old Curiosity Shop
were both well planned and delivered, and
the effect upon the audience was similar tC
the one described by Holmes, in the
"Height Of the Ridiculous" Smiles broad
ened into grins, and grins to downright ha,
ha, has Dick Swiveller's recovery pro,
duCed the grins, and Mrs. Quilp's Tea
Party reached the climax, All the young
ladies did SO well that 1t Is hardly fair to
particularize; still, the characters OF "Quilp''
and his mother-in.law being the most diff.
cult to personate, suppose Miss Susie Sit.
greaves and Miss Mamie 0't'rien deserve
10 DO especially mentioned US having rep
resented these characters most successfully.
The amusement caused by these scenes
from the inimitable Dickens was still at its
height when the curtain once more arose,
displaying, in place OF the grey walls OF
Qullp's establishment, the elegance and
luxury OF palace, On throne to the
right the royal pair awaited tho moment
which was TO make their little one u 'Child
OF Heaven" through the saCred waters of
baptism, On one side stood the nurse, in
whose arms reposed the sleeping infant,
while from tho other the reverend prelate
marched forward to perform the ceremony,
when band Of fairies arrested his steps,
and he retreated in dismayed silence.
Tltania, whose long, fur hair flowed below
her waist, reaching the hem OF her robe,
the latter one mass OF shimmering silver,
stood before tho court surrounded by spir-
Its fur and bright, bearing in their slender
wands virtues inestimable, which, at the
bidding Of 'Titania, they bestowed on the
happy babe, Scarcely WINS the last gift
presented when, from tho opposite side,
FREELY, the wicked fairy, sprGng upon the
stage, and in bitter revenge that no was
unlimited to this marvellous christening,
doomed the innocent princess to untimely
death, which cruel destiny should be
accomplished on her eighteenth birthday,
by the prick OF poisoned distaif.
Titania, indignant Mt this insult to her
power yet unable entirely to set aside the
mandate Of another, modified the woful
sentence by Commuting.it to one OF gentle
which, however, must lust till
virtue, greater than the vice which caused
1t, should offer its affections ut the shrine
of sleeping Beauty" The scene closed
with very pretty tableau. FREELY, clothed
in scarlet and glittering with gold, covered
under the fathers curse, hurled upon him
from the throne, while beyond the bright
and lleeCy robes OF his fairer sisters formed
a rainbow Of hope, promising ultimate vic.
tory over his malicious spell,
The second scene displayed n social even.
Ing in the royal apartments, In which the
king descended to game Of chess, at the
foot Of the throne, while queen, knights
and ladies were grouped around with care
less grace. The heroine, then n maid o.
eighteen years, glided among the assent
bled guests, the petted child Of rank and
fortune, displaying in her fur exterior the
bewitching effects of fairy gifts After some
moments passed in conversation (Which
limited space prevents our giving Marjory
ran oil to see her old nurse, but on her
way discovered what she called thew.
found treasure; something old and quaint"
u diSgB. We strongly suspect the spirit Of
FREELY must have left 1t in her way; for 1t
was Of gold; and no sooner had she priCked
her finger, and all had fallen into the cen.
tennial slumber, than FREELY once more
appeared, rejoicing over the accom-.
plishment OF his threat, waving his wand
over the sleeping forms Of Ills victims, and
weaving his spell more closely round
them. lie seemed, indeed, nh cnClanter,
for, rising and spreading his circling waves,
there passed over all a vivid light Of un-
earthly green, till the whole seemed bathed
in fairy brightness, and the scarlet hue Of
the wicked FREELY remained the ono bright
and living spot IN all that sleeping palace.
One OF Rubinstein's favorite melodies de.
lighted the audience, as the third scene
displayed second time the enchanted
palace.
Our readers are sufficiently acquainted
with the old fairy tale toallow Of our omit
inga description OF the denouement Suffice
it 10 say, the Prince arrived, yielded his
affections to the Sleeping Beauty, and with
n kiss on her hand broke the fell charm,
which still held the court in fatal slumber.
The curtain descended on n tableau beat.
tiiul us the last, but over 1t was thrown n
different light, leaving all things us they
should be, ''couleur dc rose" Amongt the
actors Of this little druma We must notice
especially for their graceful and effective
acting, TitAnia and FREELY, and regret TINT
time and spaCe prevent our dwelling on
each In particular l.. u. X.