National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-11-23
AMUSENI ENTS.


Mercy Baxter and Lucy Ashton, in Howard
Taylor's play Caprice" The scenery Of the
first act represents summer camp in the Adj
rondacks, ana q real waterfall putting timely
end to the serpent river which winds amid the
snowclad mountains, flows on to the stage in
front of Jathro Boxter's farmhouse. Mercy,
the totally uneduoated daughter of the farmer,
fascinates Il young artist of good family, who
spends his holidays in the neighborhood and
who finally marrtes the country girl. A short
period ensues OF love in cottage, but the
artist grows weary of his poor little ungrnm-
matical wife, and, after much pathetic expostu-
lGtion with her father for not having sent her to
school, Mercy leaves her husband and devotes
succeeds so admirable that, although she can
only sing "In the Cleaning" during the cot
tHge PERIOD she is enabled to warble. with
yariegated accompaniment, 81 Doubt II You
Everything turns up all right. Becoming au
"eddiCated' lady, Mercy embraces Jack Hen
ness fell into the arms Of peace. Miss Minnie
Madden is very charming actress, with
somewhat mixed characteristics. Her rich
and cultivated speaking voice, is the voice of a
leading lady in Shakespeare's tragedies but
her gymnastics and attitudes ore those or
Rosina Vokes. She sang two well.knOwn songs
with such grace and tenderness that the
uniform, occupied four or five OF the font
rows, was with e.dihiculty restrained from
rushing on the stage to greet its petit:
eSa.fe sH,-- sf-sSv." W
the Light Infantry and other friends, aud the
young lady received many hearty calls before
the curtain. The support was excellent,
though we would select for special mention
,Mercy's lover, father. and though last not
least, our old friend Dave Longworth, who, In
the character of PhilGnder Potts the profes.
sor, succeeded in transforming an untutored
village maiden into a thoughtful, educated
in any society. Caprice" is an impressive
and truthful exposition uSon the value ofgood
schooling, which might. with great advantage
TO the rising generation, be brought before the
eyes of all boys and girls Of the United States
ALBAUGH's GRAND OPERA HOUSE.
Miss Maggie Mitchell as Eanchon is above
criticism. Age does not wither nor custom
stale the infinite variety of this delightful
phatically her own; The cast is the same as
that of last year, with the exception of Mother
Barbeaud, which is now played bv Miss Clifton,
Miss Mitchell was heartily received as she can
never fail TO be received in Washington, but
"FAnchOn" has been so fully and frequently
analysed that we defer further comment upon
this company unit we shall have seen Little
Barefoot" which is to be presented this even
ing.
HERzoG's OPERA HOUSE.
An unusual thingat any Washington theater,
Herzog's matinee oil yesterday filled the house.
and last nights performance did rather more.
The play, Against the Stream" is emphati-
Cally good. All its sentiments arc Just aud
noble; The entire representation was admira-
the life exhibited changing from low to high
Frank l.. Aiken was eminent in his three char
acteTs. Each was so well acted that we cannot
say any one should be DESIGNATED as prefeTa.
BILE. Silas Calkin, by Evelyn Evans, offered a
fine study, probably requiring years TO attain.
II was lifelikc. Words can go no further. Flip.
Miss Marti Crocker. gave us such picture ofa
newsboy as is quite possible in reality-whethcr
people generally will believe It or not-and
The effect was delightful. Mary Radrord, Miss
Irene Worrell Holton, and Lively Mag, Miss
1Att aa1 1I... ~.
nnces. Ihe hotel fire and the rescue formed
the best scene of the kind which we have wit
| messed on any stage. Close attention, decided
interest, and hearty, applause favored the
| the conclusion every member of the audience
| departed homeward, not only pleased but thor
| Oughly satisfied.
HARRIss BIJoU THEATER.
A full attendance at the Bljou Inst night
greeted Eagles Nest and the young hero of
| the play, Edwin Arden. For the ''western
idyl" II is highly romantic yet perfectly true
10 the region and the people represented. We
ourselves passed several years in the wild
border land described, and witnessed such
scenes as were then reproduced before us. For
Edwin Arden, he correctly portrays the char
acter asSumed-Jack Trail, a pioneer and
hunter. His manuer has q certain half rough
ness at times, and at times deep tenderness
and pathos, The difficulties of the personation
are great; they require, aud can only be over
come by exalted talent, If not to say genius
Arden was completely successful. Applause
crowned his every effort. For the company, IL
Is chosen with great wisdom and Is precisely
adapted 10 the task assigned IL. Where ali did
well we must yet mention as especially aG.
Geptable. Daniel Digsby, the lawyer, Horace
James; Robert Blasedom. Charles Maoklin;
Sierre suze, Jennie Christie Rose Milford,
Evelyn Campel. and Martha slsbe, Mrs, Har.
vey. The scenery and grouped pictures were
very effective throughout the play.
KERNAN's WASHINGTON THEATER.
The three companies In one at Kernans last
pnUanpI n ~ nj
and we doubt If any member Of the large and
enthusiastic audience felt able TO decree the
crown 10 either. The fact was that three dla-
dems were bestowed, aud, as well as we could
observe, all of the same rich approval, Yet
the acts were very unlike. But excellence
characterized every division. Enough to say
that j4bilaHt pleasure peryaded the house, and
that though every one received generous
share of It, no one seemed to have enough.
TOO much Of n good thing" Is an ancient say.
Ing, the truth Of which modern times viii not
admit especially at kornan's this week.
THE DINE MUSEUM.
The beautiful and gifted Ethel Tucker
charmed the Dime at Yesterdays matinee aud
also at night with her live acting OF "Queena."
We felt ourselves no longer In theateT when
she moved and spoke before us, Performance
more true, more noble, more grand can no.
where be seen, Well, too, was she supported.
Lord Walter Huntington by Adolph LestIuo,
Henry wilkins by Fred Vaughan, and Flor
ence Nightingale Fletcher by Lillian Sinclair,
merit special commendatlon. Nor should be
omitted kindest mention of Little Eddie Mas
ter George Loane, who though he hadn't much
TO say or do, said and did the little sweetly and
naturally, BY what has already been pre-.
sented II is evident that each Of the three plays
TO follow at the Dime this week will be most
worthy Of attendance. Particularly. we think.
"FanchOn" on Thursday Thanksgiving day and
night, will distinguish Ethel Tucker and her
conscientious company,
EIGHT hours, 50, and one bottle 81, Jacobs