Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-03-12
.rnE An,sn oIlsL.


S000 l001U1GI0
Here.
On Saturday evening the row Local
drama entitled (" Tho Amish Girl" Whioh
was written by John D. Missimer, Of
Reading, was presented for the flrst time
in this city. by dramatic company from
Reading. Excursion tickets were sold
from Reading and stations between that
city and Lancaster, and out tho Quarry
vile road. A large number took advan.
tsge OF the cheap rates, and as special
trains left the city Immediately after the
performance they were enabled to reach
their homes on Saturday night. The
audience present was quite large. The
piece was written by Mr.. Missimer moro
as local experiment thar anything else,
and it was not his intention to have it
presented in any city except Reading. Il
deals with the peculiar people known as
the Amish, and q very correct idea of their
customs, religious belief, &C., is given.
The scenes are quite natural and the
characters familiar, especially to the peo-
pie of Lancaster or Berks counties. The
plot Of the piece is good, but it il some
what sensational.
There is not sufficient comedy in the
play to hold the attention of an audience,
as people become tired of so much serious
ness. This could easily be remedied by
the introduction of another character.
The company, with the exception Of
MIR. Stephens, is composed of Reading
amateurs, and they did remarkably we'll.
Mr.. Stephens, who has often been
here, is an elocutionist of well-known
ability, and the character of Mark Meredith
in his hands was we'll taken care of
Harry A. Minker and VIM. II. Mckinney
|
rich and miserly Amish farmer, and Benny
Kurts, the overgrown awkward looking
Amish boy. Their costumes were good,
wearing the regulation hooks and eyes,
broad trimmed hats and long hair. Lin
ton o. Miller by clever acting made con-
siderable of the character of anton Here
dHh. One of the best people of the com
pany was the lady who played the part Of
Dame Barbara, but her name. for some
reason, did not appear ON the printed
programme. while Miss Laura Holmes, who
appeared as Madeline Ammon, the Amish
girl, is worthy of special notice, and Mrs.
James NJ. Griffiths, very pretty woman,
made q charming maid of all work."
The other characters were taken by persons
fully able to sustain them, and James
Griffiths and Adam B. Ward created all
the amusement as the tramps. Some Of
the company seemed little ''stagy," but
that will wear off,
The piece was well put on, the scenery
of the house being we'll adapted to its
presentation. The fire scene in the fourth
act was very good, as was that of the
second act in which A6sal0m Amm0n is
killed by lightning. The costumes of the
ladies did not seem to be sufficiently
Amish, but were more like those worn by
the Mennonites. Altogether the play and
its presentation here were successful.
Dur ing the fire scene in the fourth act
Mr.. ames NJ. Schaeffer, the we'll known
Read ing bill poster who was stage director
for the party, had one of his hands terri
bly, burned By premature explosion of
powder, which he was using to make fire.
The wound was dressed by several OF the
stage hands and Mr.. Schaeffer left town
with his hand in sling.