The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1881-10-20

Being answered in thejAmrmative he
said, 81 never saw Q better amateur
performance in my life" A drummer
remarked, ~ have seen the Union
Spy played many . time before, but
never SO well as by your troupe"
These are words Of commentator
from outsiders" and but confirm the
belief Of our home people that ouI
home talent have "struck It rich" in
this iplay. Monday evening the au-
dience was fair, notwithstanding the
prejudice which exists against the
'first evening" On Tuesday and
last evenings the hall was crowded.
As you watch the play you are carried
back in memory, and forgetfulness Of
surroundings, to the stirring times
when all this land was in commotion
over the firing at Sumpter-when
drums were beating, flies were play
ing, flags were waving, and the long
quiet and happy peace of the
family circle was being turned into
anguish and tears by the enlistment
Of fathers, sons aud brothers. From
the happy home the gallant boys go
promptly to the recruiting officer. The
vOlunteers.sOOn become well-train ed
soldiers, and in their handsome uni
forms are drawn up INF hollow square,
TO receive the colors from the charming
young lady who presents them, pre-
luded with q happy speech. Then
there's the drill of the awkward squad
by the brave Pussy JOnes-the squad
which is SO remarkable in its gymnas-
tic exercises upon the discharge of q
gun. The fearful farewell, the meas
ured tread of the regiment as 1t takes
its departure for southland, the BIZ
vouack, the dream of home, the taps,
the reveiIle,-all these having a thrill
ing effect upon the old soldier. Life
in camp is effectively presented. Tom.
the faithful Tom, is on hand. He
could not be happy unless he could be
doing some good in h!s bungling way
for the Omitted States" To while
away the time, the boys would like a
little dancing and singing from Tom.
Tom does not claim to be an expert,
but has an "orphan" who is, and he
comes to the front with q good old
"hoe down" and performs in admira-
BILE style. Albert Morton trembles and
his heart almost fails him rs he prom
ises the gallant general that he will
assume the questionable character Of
n spy, with all its responsibilities and
dangers. The deaf old "graybeard"
rs he totters along after sack of meal
has made the rebels believe that he is
the inofiensive party he assumes to
he, but o, unlucky fate, that he cannot
escape the keen glance of the revenge
full Sergeant. Tom, too, pays the PEN
atty of his rashness, and his poor bones
are terribly twisted i'm that blanket
performance. But the faithful darkey
can do his friend Albert q good turn
and escapes to announce to the YAM
KEGS that their conrad is to he
shot as aspy. The stalwart cry Of"Up
boys and at Them" brings up q host
of boys i'm blue-like the signal of Rod
erick Dhu to Clan Alpine, and the Ia
bles are turned upon the executioners
Shiloh's bloody field is represented in
miniature, and the beautiful tableaux
Of the death of the Color Bearer"
closes that act. The horrors Of night
on field of battle are effectively por-
trayed. The heart rendIng cry for
water. from the wounded, the recOgni-
ton of brothers on the field, the ele-
CANT tableau of the Decoration of
Soldiers graves''-Occur in succession.
Now the terrOrs Of Andersonville are
faithfully portrayed. The half starved,
gaunt relics of noble men appeal to
the sympathies of the auditors. Noble
little Willie, loved and hOnored by all
cast in the heroic mold-his tragic
death affected all deeply, as did the
sorrow of the bereaved brothers. The
rescue is thrilling. The villainous,
dOgged demeanOr of the foiled Orr and
his tragic death is true TO life: the
tableaux, "Gurdian Angels''-perfect.
The closing act commences with a
joyous home scene, and only one event
to cast shadow over the happiness
and that is Willie's vacant chair. The
gallant regiment returns, the bummers
come marching along with their
and hams and vegetables.
And along comes Uncle Tom mounted
on an actual representative Of the
mule species. And Tom proceeds to
deliver his lecture on the Fifteenth
The "cussedness" of
the mule Tuesday evening i'm re-
fusing to bulge an inch, i'm ac-
ror,lance with mule nature, was not
laid down I'm the bills, but was "a hap
py part of the programme rs any
other feature, and brought boisterous
shouts from very much tickled
audience The tableaux of the surren-
Ter, Coronation Of Peace, &c, was |
most beautiful close for this grand
play. And this was the Union Spy
with its pathos and mirth-presented
IN most happy manner. 1t is but
Justice to say that ali who took part In
he play did well but more deserving
If special mention are all the ladies,
r. l.. Bond, Col Temple, +. NJ. Hamil-
on, Frank Hamilton, &. T. Hilton, Joe /
James Bell, s. NJ. Wilson. Col.
Temple has proved himself a most |
thorough, successful manager, and
deserves the hearty welcome and sup
DOrt of other towns where he shall de- 1
Tide to produce this play.
Last Saturday Mr.. B. H. Ober was
to Macon, ILL.,, by telegram
Eating that his wife had been thrown
rom buggy and seriously injured.
Upon his arrival there he found her
more dangerously injured than was at
irst supposed. When she was thrown
rom the buggy she had her baby In
Ter arms and in endeavOring to shield
Ter child, received the full force of
Ter fall upon her own head and shout
|ers. Her shoulder and collar bone
vorp hrokon and hAP eknil a11Ohflv l