Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-15
s.Fhe American Countess,

|
MI. Howard CARROTS play, produced in
public for the first time the National theater IN
this city last night, met with a most kindly re-
/ ceptlon from an audience which crowded every
part OF the house. The President, Mrs. McElroy.
Miss Frelinghuysen and Mr.. Phillips occupied a
box, and among other distinguished people present
We're Hon. Lionel Sackv1lle West. the British min
lister; Senior boa Juan Valera the Spanish minister
Col Frey, the Swiss minister: Secretary and Mrs.
Chandler, Representative and Mrs. Mitchell Sem
ator Hampton. senator Miller, Assistant Secretary
Davis, Senator Lapham, Senator and Mrs Ed
mundS. Senator Vest, Senator and Mrs. Hale
Gen. Duncan S. Walker Gen. and Mrs Slocum
Gen. VIM Mckee Dunn, and Eiihu Root, Judge
Dittenhofer. and stephen B. French of New York
For first night performance that OF last night was
remarkable Tor It's smOothneSS and spirit 1t went
forward without any of those awkward pauses and
bitches which usually mar such OCCASIONS indi-
eating the most thorough rehearsal by Mile Rhea
and her support The applause throughout the
evening was most generous ana the curtain was
rung up after every act In answer to It. Mile Rhea
received numerous bouquets and baskets OF flowers
After the third act there were loud call for Gar
rOli.' and the author came forward amid applause
He thanked the audience for their kind reception
OF his work. 70 the success of which he gave great
credit to the nntIring Efforts and ability OF Mile
fhea- From literary standpoint, ''The American
Countess contains great deal OF IN .rtt Tine
dialogue is throughout very happy, both in thought
ana expression. lt Is singularly free from that
stiltednesS so common In dramatic efforts and con
taias many sharp thrusts at the foibes and hJ-
Poesles OF society on the other hand the
larry effective, and there is failure to arouse the
interest OF the audience TO the requisite degree
These faults are common to the first attempts of
playwrishts, and while they detract greatly from
the strength OF the work, they are not difficulf
to remedy. They arise naiuy, in this instance,
from 100 close condensation OF the dialogue
whereby points OF vital interest are not dwelt upon
at Sufficient length to bring out their full force and
Significance The story POSSESSES few original
features, and the eontrivances by which the nior
Is worked out are familiar by frequent use The
role OF HoJtense, the countess, affords Mile Rhea
" for fhsa
talents and the display OF some MAGNIFICENT
dresses. her support throughout was fair Mr.
hearoek as A1th,a' Aortoa. her lover; Mr. EdwardJ.
Henley as B0rd0a, the villain; MI. Amory as Stubos
Young man VINO talks In rhyme; Mr. Robert e.
Wilson as the hard-headed DOCTOR and Miss Mae
Clarke as Emily, being worthy OF special cOmmen-
dation. 1.-THE American Countess" viii run thronoh
the remainder OF the week at the National theatsr
6. A. X. OFFICERS IHsTAILEp-The Visit nv tho
officers or the Department Encampment, g. A. r..
10 James A. Garfield Post, No. z, closed the series
l0r the current year. At their meeting last even
Ing the following officers vera Installed by Com
rade Senior Vice Commander Brooks. VIZ: Post
commander, j. II. Jochum; v. commander, j. s.
Stodder; J. V. commander, P. H. Weber o. D..
Frank Wilson: o. g., J. Wright; chaplain j. H.
Bradford; q. NJ, A. Ii. @. Richardson; surgeon, A.
c. Adams; adjutant, G. L Patten: Sergeant major
Samuel McNOnngie; q. Vi. sergeant J. l. Dayen
port After the installation the comrades gathered
around ne camp IRE and were entertained with
music and rotations by Messrs. VeidL Cardella
SaXton and others
=
the Equity Court The bill for divorce nled by Ida
Mckenna against Joseph McKenna on September
18th last was dismissed The complainant set
forth the marriage on October GOTH 1879 her name
being Ida Goodrich; that they had one child and
lived together till November 2gth. 1sS3 when he
deserted her. she further charged that he was
subject TO spaS,ns and treated her with cruelty
The answer denied cruel treatment and charges
tnaC Oh November 29th. 1883, she took away her
personal property as We'll as that OF her SON He
admits having spasms, ard says she well knew hts
affection when she married him. lie states that
ne did not mold oihce In the Treasury except as q
substitute Tor ms aged mother, who is dependent
upon him Tor support, and asserts that the com
plai1ant was appointed 10 the place with the dis
tlnct understanding that the salary was TO 20 to
his anu his mothers support Judge Cox dis
missed the case promptly on the bill and answer
ANOTHER DISTRIBUTORS HACKMAS SKsrrNcvn
EX-Po.icc Officer Vim. 7. Benton, now cab driver
was placed on trial in the Police Court this morn
Ing charged with refusing TO obey the orders OF
sergeant Perry, In reference to his vehicle ana
also with assaultins the officer last niglt in
f9 d 81 .e t National theater Sergeant Perry tes-
ness got on the cab and placed him under arrest
when he was assaulted by the driver who struck
nm in the mouth, siciied him In TIE stomach and
uSed his whip freely Officers Penny, Harding and
Quinlan e3cn cOrroborated Sergeant Perry,s iesti
nlony: The Judge said that hackmen are under the
cuntroi Oh Inc ppiicS at such gatherings and their
orders must De ooeyed. These fights by hackmen
az social gatherings must be- stopped, ana the de-
fendant Could have two months 10 jail
FINED Ten DoLLARs.-rhomas A. Mitchell wa.
Sdti!lioiicu 40 IN the case or DanenAOWeP
& son against Straning. in the Circuit Court Tues
DAY, out falicd 10 appear, and an attachment
was Issued. Yesterday he was taken before Judge
HaSner. and stated that he did not fail to appear
because OF any contempt for the court but because
ne Oil rot wish to do anything In the interest OF
one OF the parties. The judge imposed a tine OF
$40 and COSTS
CHARGED WITH CRUELTY TO HER CHrLD.-In the
fonce court this morning. Annie Nelson, q colored
servant at No 1907 street, was charged with
cruelty 10 her nve-year-old Child by placing irs
haho on not stove. Title RCD nsol, coiored tes-
tined that she saw Mrs Nelson put the chflds hand
on the stove and hold IL there for f1ve minutes be-
cause she stole some walnutS Annie teytiiAd thar
the cnilo le on the stove and burned its hand and
sne placed the hand On the back OF the stove .sf0
draw the IRE out" The child W as iuferroVafad nv
Tue judge, aud repeated what her mot her had said
Ju .ge smell said he had a doubt regarding the
quit OF the mother, and would take her persnnal
recognlzance TO let her child alone.
HE FIRE INSURANCE CoNPANIRs-At a meeffno
OF the representatives OF tae IRE and marine fnsir
ance companies here, local and foreign held yss
teroay, the organization OF the board of under.
Nrtels was perfected, and II was agreed that from
ana AFTER January 18th all insurance shall be- writ
Ten at the rate heretofore established by the hoard
inc following officers were elected: n ID Iarner
PRESIDENT, Capt X. w. Tyler vice PRESIDENT. n
W. Pratt. secretary; James II. Marr Treasured ana
lne Iollowing executive committees: Hon Simon
W0I lclairinanl, d. L SWOrmsfRdI Franr pom