National Republican., 1883-07-23
PLEASANT DAYS Ar CULpEpER.
Opening OF the New RiKey Opera House
by the Rice CompRny-Gen. Mahone's
PopuIarity-Thc Washington Light In
fantry 60 he Invited to the Fair.
specin, Dispa,c1.

POpuIarity-The Washington Light In
fantry TO he Invited to the Fair.
Special Dispatch
CULPEPER, VA, July 2l,-The week clos
ing to-day has been gala one for the citizens
of Culpepor. An interesting term of the
county court was begun on Monday and tho
Good Templars held picnic on Saturday.
The great attraction, however, was tho dra-
matte festival" which took place during the
week.
The opening of the Rixey opera house was
celebrated on Tuesday night by q large and
brilliant audience This hall is one of the
finest most comfortable, and elegantly ar
ranged, dare say, in the Old Dominion, and
IL was but natural that it should have been
opened with considerable spendor. The
Rice Dramatic company, OF Washington city,
under the management of Mr.. A. B. Ander-
son, had been engaged for the occasion. This
company was given cordia reception by
the citizens of the town, aud the members of
it acquitted themselves admirably and with
credit to their city. Home" II threC-act
comedy drama, by T. w. Robertson, was
selected for the opening performance. l can
not pronounce much encomium upon the
play itself, though the actors did ample
justice to what there was of it. "Noemie," a
beautiful drama in two acts, which was
played the second night, was far more
popular with the audience, and gave the
members of the company an opportu-
nifty to display what talent they possessed.
Mr. }. A. Jewell and Mr.. @. W. Darr were
cast for the leading roles both nights. Miss
Florence lowell, Miss Clarence Cunnin CHAM
and Miss Hattie Waldo, reached the highest
expectations of them. What more can be
said, unless | add that Messrs. Jewell and
Darr were at their.best Wednesday night, in
the characters of Count D'Avrignay and Ele-
more D'Avrigney, the counts nephew; or
that both Miss Jewell and Miss Cunningham
surprised their auditors in the parts of Val
entine de Quercy and Noemie and that Miss
Waldo's fine mimicry in the afterpiece Nan,
the Good-for-Nothing," fairly captivated the
audience, especially by her whstling solos.
Mr.. c. Jones Rixey the proprietor of the
new opera house, and one of the most enter
prising men we have in tho town. is accorded
much credit for the handsome manner in
which he has completed the building. 1t is
an ornament to our already beautiful village,
and everybody feels proud of it. i should
mention the fact that our local papers are quite
enthusiastic over the success of the " fes-
tival," and speak in very complimentary
terms of Mr.. Anderson and his company.
At public meeting of the liberal party of
this county, which was hold at the court
house the early part of the week, resolutions
of sympathy were passed for Mr.. w. G. Elam
editor of the Richmond Wing, who received
painful wound in his late unpeasantness"
with the editor of the State of that city. The
Wing is very popular newspaper with the
readjusters everywhere in Virginia-THE
REPUBLICAN being next-and to even wound
the editor of either of them is to raise the
everlasting indignation of the party. Reso-
lutions indorsing Gen. Malone for his straight
forward course and manly action were
also adopted. The senator is more popular
than ever with his party in the state, and
the assertion too often repeated by his polit-
cal enemies, that he has :" lost his grip" with
tho people, is all nonsense He is stronger to-
day with the masses than ever before, and
they will follow him anywhere. That's how
Gen. Malone has lost his grip" in Virginia.
1t is pretty well understood that Hon. j. S.
Eggborn will be q candidate this fall for re-
election to the house of delegates He is the
most popular man in the county, and l doubt
very much if the bourbon democrats will
even oppose him in his campaign.
The corn crop is very promising in this
county. The yield of wheat was never better
than the crop now being threshed. There are
evidently good times ahead for the farmers
surely they deserve it all.
Preparations for the fair are still going on.
l understand that some of the more enter
prising manufacturers of Washington have
applied for space in exhibition hall to exhibit
their wares. Our fairs have heretofore been
literally attended by Washingtonians, and if
the Washington Light Infantry can be pre-
vailed upon to come down and spend
day with us they will meet with warm re-
ception. / learn the company will be invited
| further understand an invitation will be
extended Hon. James G.. Blaine to deliver the
address at the approaching exhibition.
The town is still full of summer boarders,
and the gayety which ensues is only increased
by incoming visitors. Several Washington
families are here. Lawn tennis croquet,
driving, and hop" every few nights make
up the pastime.