The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-12
A Square Man Performance
this Evening.
Coming Events and General
Stage Gossip.
A SQUARE MAN.

produced IN BROOKLYN several month ago,
and at the very first sprang in favor.
The newspapers, wherever it has been
offered, have been as one is praising its
essential merit, though. as might have
been expected, they have differed opinion
as to its detail In Chicago, where
it was played two weeks at McVicker's
theatre, in the hottest weather of last sum-
mer, to crowded houses all the time, the
press was remarkably unanimous IN
its praise The chief credit given
to it there was for the purity and
strength of its story. If what has been
generally said of it is to be believed, it pos
sesses dramatic virtue in which few plays
excel, and having which, the question of
locality or fine writing become incense
quential. This virtue lies in its narrative,
which is said to be simple, pure, intensely
interesting, and so we'll varied, as to keep
an audience alternating between laughter
and tears. 1t will be presented here with
identically the same cast that was given it
in all the metropolitan theatres; Mr.. Ben
Maginley himself appearing as Jack Ken
yon, the square mana characterization
that has met only. the warmest praise
wherever it has been seen. One of the
unique features of the entertainment is the
colored whistler whose performances are
said to be remarkable. The sale of re-
served seats is now in progress at Marshall
& Fishers drug store.
HIDDEN HAND
Next Monday evening Whiteley's Hid
den Hand combination will occupy Har
per's theatre, and produce the play of that
name. The play as given by the company
is said to be new, as great many scenes
are eliminated as produced in the usual
version, and the acts and situations are
greatly improved. The company has been
selected with special reference for their
fitness for the different characters assumed,
and a clever and creditable performance is
promised. The principal attraction will be
Miss Nera Vernon, who is soubrille of
acknowledged ability. She assumes the
character of Capitald and makes the most
of her respective charges. The part of
Wool win be portrayed by Dick Oglesby,
while the remaining characters are well
taken The sale of seats will commence
next Friday at the drug store of Marshal &
Fisher.
COMING EVENTS.
Buffalo Bill and company will soon Wis
it this city when his new play will be Civ
en- Calender MINISTRIES will give an early
performance at Harper's theatre. The
Roland Reed Cheek" combination put in
Saturday night at the Burtis opera house.
Prominent among the early attractions at
Harper's theatre is Fred Ward, Hanlon
Brothers Voyage en- Suisse" Robson
Crane, John Mccullough, Mary Anderson.
Mile Rhea, Grace Garland combination,
Atkinson's Jollities. Toney Denier, Hump
ty Dumpty, T. w. Keene, Hess Acme op-
era company, and others of equal merit
and ability.
GENERAL MENTION.
A London actress has written letter to
the Lord Chamberlain (the Earl of Ken
mar, who revises plays and their ''busi
ness, asking that he will abate the NUS
ance of decollette dresses in the stalls and
boxes, as they are annoying to ladies on the
stage.
Among the new people at Wallack's
next season will be G. p Flockton, last
season The Colonel combination; Will
liam Herbert, from Prince of Wales theatre,
London; Herbert Kelsey, from Drury lane |
theatre; and Miss Measor from the Hay
market.
A circus man has been telling St. Louis |
newspaper that the best days of the circus |
are over. Among the reasons he gives |
for thinking so is that for success in the |
circus training must begin early in life, and |
the societies for the prevention of cruelty to |
children are SO active that they prevent |
anything of the kind.
Mr.. Haverly. the theatrical manager,
made this rather shrewd remark to the rep |
resentative of Boston paper in London: |
tsAn the other managers are taking com
panies to America. am going to bring
companies to England. They are crowd
ing the American field too much, and at |
the same time, they are depopulating this |
one"
The grand ballet Excelsior. with eight |
hundred new costumes and two hundred |
silver armors, will be produced at the Bos |
ton Mass theatre during the coming sea-
son. The ballet will be composed of eight |
premiere danseuses. and fifty coryphees |
selected from the elite of European thea |
tres. The whole production viii be under |