Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-02-12

The right proportions, ana presenting
the contrast of the rustic simplicity of
North Carolina farm. with the ameni-
ties of artistic life in Paris. The scene
opens in North Calliny,i at the home
of "Old Man Rogers Though the old
man paid for his farm ''sort o yet
his wife "Liddy Ann "kinder runs
things"an their daughter Esmeraldy'
returns the love of their sturdy young
neighbor-Dave Hardy. A sharp
Spectator named Drew discovers iron
ore on the farm, and makes a bargain
with Mrs. Rogers by which she is to
have share of the proceeds Of the iron
produced. Mrs. r. having been born
and raised in "Lizabethville, is ''high
sperited' and ambitions. She accord
lngly breaks Esmeralda's engagement
with Dave, and takes her and the old
man to Paris, where they are gay
and she nearly wears the life out of her
husband ind daughter. Estabrook, an
artist, and friend of Drew's, turns up
again in Paris, and finds the Rogerses
out through Jack Desmond and his
sisters Nora and Kate, who have met,
taken an interest in them. Estabrook
"has letter in his pocket which
tells the news that the ore soon gave
out on the Rogers farm, the vein run
ming into that af Dave, who has in the
meantime, all unconscious of his good
fortune, followed the Rogerses TO Paris,
and is living in garnet. Mrs. Rogers
has nearly succeeded in bulldozing
Esmeralda into marrying a certain
designing marquis, who wishes to ex-
change his title for her supposed
wealth, when the presence of Dave in
Paris is made known to Esmeralda
This brings about the climax. Esmer-
aida for the first time rebels against her
mothers authority, and refuses the
marquis. A meeting IS arranged at
the studio of the Desmonds, and Esmer-
aida andNDave, Estabrook and Nora (who
have in the meantime fallen IN love)
are all made happy. A general recon-
Citation is effected and the play ends
most happily for all parties concerned.
Miss Helen Strong as Esmeralda was
charming. Both as the meek and sub
missiye maiden and as the defiant
daughter who loves sake dared to
''stand out agin Mother" she kept
her audience in complete sympathy
with her. Mrs. Street as Nora was well
suited to her part, and Mrs. Meyer as
Kate and Mrs. Lowry rs '.Lyddy Ann"
were both highly satisfactory. Mr..
Burr in the character of Old Man
Rogers was the dear gentle old man.
himself, a perfect reality. Mr.. Lowry
as the hesitating lover, Mr.. Street as
the titled Frenchman, and DR.. Strong
as the American Spectator were all ex-
cellent. The part of Dave was taken
by Mr. Chandler. The stage effects
were very pretty and for them and the
entire management of the stage thanks
are due to DIR. Barber
The second entertainment, given by
the younger young people last Friday
night, consisted of domestic drama ia
two acts, entitled Old Pills Birthday,
and the laughable farce-Ici on Parle
Francois. In the former, the leading
part-that of Old Phil Stapeton the
faithful porter of Hardness & Co., was
taken by Fred Burr; Hardness, Ed. S.
Strecter; Lionel. his erring son,
Chass II. Baxter; Frank, the trusted
clerk, son of Old Phil, Geo. FL. Baxter;
Marion Hardness who loves aud is
loved by her fathers clerk, Frank
Stapleton, Miss Fannie Schmitt; and
her cousin Blanche Howard, Miss Bessie
Calls. To give in detail the circum-
stances which led the degenerate
Lionel, through the influence of evil
associates to rob his fathers safe, in
order to pay his gambling debts; to
show how the innocent but generous
Frank was suspected and accused of
the crime; how when everybody. even
his old father, proud of his honest
name, believed him guilty save one,
who would not believe even the evil
dcnce of her own senses against him;
how at last honest old Phil learning
who the real culprit was, determined to
save the House of Hardness from
disgrace and his son from suspicion
determined to assume the guilt him
self; and how at last, driven by re-
m0rSeful conscience to confession,
Lionel makes clean breast of it and
Frank is restored to the confidence of
of his employer, taking into partner
ship, and given the hand of his daughter
in marriage, would be beyond our pre-
sent limits The acting of al! was ex-
cellent, and no part was over done. OF
course amateur actors have few facili-
ties for making up SO the too youth
full appearance of Old Phil and the
head of the House of Hardness was I'M
avoidable. They made up, however in
excellence of acting, for any inconsist-
ences in their apparent ages. The
farce was irresistible Fred Burr's
Spriggns could hardly be surpassed,
and Mrs. S. played by Miss Cora
Streeter was the best make up of the
entertainment. Miss Mabel Bushnell
was the maid-servant, always in de-
maud in every part of the house. The
! other characters were taken AS follows:
Major Rattan. the jealous husband
/ Ed. S. Strceter; Victor du Bots, the
! susceptible Frenchman. q. H. Baxter;
| Angelina Spriggins whom he adores,
Miss Fannie Schmitt, Mrs. Major
Rattan. Miss Bessie Calls. The farce,
as whole. was one of the best pieces
of amateur acting we have ever seen,
and the young people deserve the un-
/ qualified expressions of appreciation
which we have heard from all The
music was furnished by an impromptu
orchestra composed Of Messrs. Joe Bar
nett LIST violin. Joe Nathan 2nd, Eugene
} Spencer cornet, Chas. Orton flute and