The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-04-05

markable run of $50 successive
nights The title role of Esmarelda
is played by Miss Annie Pussel. who
was selected by Mrs Burnett from
among 81 applicants for the place.
Mrs. Burnett considers her the ideal
of her novel and the play. After lts
su ccessful run in New York, it was
put upon the -Oad, and last night it
was played before q full house here
in Louisville. The play openes with
a scene in the rooms of North Car
olina farmers house near Bald Noun
tain.
A mining engineer, Geo. Drew, &C
companied by his friend Es;abrook.
IAN alinorpluni artist" visits old Mr..
Rogers, the farmer, in order to make
arrangements for the purchase of his
larlu, which Drew has learned is inn
menseiy valuable on account of the
mineral wealth which it contains, OF
which mineral wealth Rogers is ig-
nOrant. Drew Is a cunning, shrewd
speculatOr and attempts to purchase
the farm from old Rogers who, how
ever, refers him to his wife, telling
him at the same time that although
he (Rogers) paid for the farm. Mrs.
Rogers ..runs it," This Mrs Rogers
is nigh tempered vixen, dissatlsfi
Ell woman, who is ambitious of
moving in higher sphere Of society.
and who at once agrees to ell the
farm for what appears a very fair
sum Of money The bargain is how
ever prevented by Dave Hardy. a
young North Carolinian, who is in
love with Esmarelda, the daughter Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Rogers. Dave has seen
rev during the dat prospecting the
farm and examining the mineral de
posits. and he tells the nature of his
discoveries, thereby exposing Drews
scheme, who is compelled to confess
Ills baseness. but who renews his
offers of purchase proposing to give
a sum commensurate with the value
of the land. Mr. Rogers aud Fsmar-
elda protest against selling the old
place. but the Madame is incorrigfble.
She makes the bargain. receives the
money, and then tells David he must
nreak off his relations with Esmarel-
la. Oi course he protests but she
Pursuades him that he is acting sell
iishly thereby, that he is injuring Es-
marelda and that if he truly loves
ner he should not hinder or jeopar-
iize her welfare or advancement in
life by injuring his own claims. With
"a herois,r worthy of his nativity,
Dave sacrifices his love for Esmar.
elda's advancement and releaves her
from her troth.
The second act opens upon an ar
lists studio in Paris. where two sis
tiers Kate and Nora Desmond are
water painting and discussing the
state of affairs in the Rogers family,
who have lately arrived in Paris and
who are making themselves ridicu-
ious by their utter inability to con-
form to the usages and conventional.
tiles of we'll bred society. They sym
pathize with old Mr.. Rogers and Es.
marelda whom they suppose to be pos.
sessed of finnate gentility and nobility
of nature, though lacking in polish,
out they unreservedly and unmerciful
lily condemn Mrs. Rogers, whom they
consider fool. a panderer to the
vanities and empty hoEors of worlo
for which she is totally untitled.
These two girls are sisters of Jack
Desmond. an artist who is an Amer
lean by birth hut a Frenchman by
adoption. Mrs. Rogers meanwhile
has formed the acquaintance of 8
certain Marquis de Montessiu. an ad
venturer who. for the sake of bel
money, has asked and obtained from
Mrs. Rogers the promise of Esmarel
da's hand In marriage. Esmarelds
and her father Overawed by the
.violent and imperious temper of Mrs
Rogers. .passively submit to her plan:
:, for time, hut learning from Jacl
i Desmond that Dave Hardy, poo
= faithful one had scraped his little al
y together, sold it and followed her t.
| Paris, Esmarelda and her father de
J. termine to oppose Mrs. Rogers plans
e and with that idea Mr. Rogers ap,
i peals to the Marquis to break off thu
!. engagement, first stating to him th'
:, exact nature of the relation between
i Esmarelda and Dave. Hardy. Thi
: the Marquis refuses to do, but Es-
t marelda. with ridden courage borl
|. of despair braves her mothers anger
4 dares her to do her worst. ignomin.
b iously banishes the Marquis and de
e clares her intention OF going on a:
= immed ate search for her David
= Estabrook meanwhile has fallen il
: love with Nora Desmond and they
= both being good and true friends t.
e Esmarelda and her father, endeavo
| to concoct some scheme by which tn
8 mothers plans may be frustrated en-
s tirely. Estabrook receives a lette
e from an old friend in North Carolln
: stating that the supposed wealth Q
b the minerals on the farm purchases
: by Drew, the payment for which wa
y a share Of the profits, had provel
! only surface deep, that it had bee
g exhausted aud that the Rogers fami
). ly was consequently as poor as befor
n the purchase. This friend also state
). that the really valuable mineral dc