The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-22

beautiful Cclehtdl ifihStF" -. n
h,,,ry IN we'd and therefore imposes
- ,,ro, All suitors. " is the correct So
t,,,tor 81 three problems. Many nave IaIl-
"a -, .gi,,e she riddles and I'm consequent
thereof nay the penaity OF loh'us 49,
heads Not through dsappVn'," ~
hut bv aid Of Bi-Kloride's sworu, To- '', - =,
- enc sheriff and the "headtriminer :"
the Empire. -, ,,,..,ao ,,,reueo
his DUTIES and decapitated unsuccessioi
s,.itors that he has absorbed almost al i
,be cash Of the royal treasury, deriving i
a nercentage from his executions he /
th,,e brings on a stringency In the money |
market and a financial panic threatens |
the Empire -,
temple with the gods oyerthrown; the |
act OF frenzisd populaoe several years
before. To this temple Shing Ching,
DAUGHTER OF the Moon Princess Royal
OF China. arrives I'm state 10 meet sultors
and again PROFOUND the problems TO them
A correct solution enables the victor 70
claim her hand. Failing in this, Bi-
KlOrde gets another victim whom ne
eagerly dispatches. Wing HI SCOTS at
the story told him by Ssbe Muchi,
former tutor to the Prince. He meets
Ping Ling, and in rapture renews his
VOWS OF constancy 10 her She shows him
q miniature Of Shlng Ching, and ne Is
| Instantly struck by the beauty OF the
/ Celestial Princess and resolves to enter
/ the list as a sutton. To all entTeaties ana
prayers he turns a deaf ear Shing Ching
arrives and Wing III correctly answers
all three problems to the utter amazeinent
/ Of the multitude and the Emperor. Shing
] Ching absolutely refuses 10 accept the
/ victor and threatens so Kill herself. Wing
/ Hi gives her until sunset Of the next day
| 10 answer a problem concerning himself.
/ II she solves H. he will release her: if
| she fails he will claim her as his bride.
The Emperor is delighted and promises
10 aid Wing iii in this latest turn Of
affairs Shing Shing loves the unknown,
/ but her pride and station cause her 10
/ carefully conceal her real feelings and
| she pretends 10 abhor him.
The second act shows conspiracy in
| progress. and the wiles Of Ping Ling,
who, woman scorned." seeks vengeance,
add dramatic interest TO the plot. The
! Emperor resolves to assume the place OF
a huge idol I'm the temple and help him
self to the Jewels and money offered at
| it's feet This course is rendered neces-
| sary by the empty treasury Watching
| his chances he takes the place Of the
idol just as the priest and populace ar
rive Instead OF jewels and cash the idol
receives the abuse OF the worshippers
AS is the custom when gods refuse TO
grant the prayers Of the people, the
idol is thrown down, kicked dragged
In the dust maltreated and hung INTO
the river The poor Emperor, wet ana
tattered. sneaks into his own palace,
and vents his anger upon Bi-Kloride,
whom he deposes. and appoints his Dit
ter rival, HeesO-Fli in his stead. By
aid Of his wealth Bi-KlOride purchases
his office back again. The IDOL Is fouhu
in the temple and is taken as an omen
that the conspiracy II not favorable 10
him. He is again enthroned and all the
wealth sbowered upon him and all bow
r low i'm humiliation to crave his forgive
ness. -, -. -
The Emperor curses his Ill luck In
missing the wealth by such mario"
7 margin The hour Of sunset - an
r nounced. The populace gathers 10 heai
the solution Of the riddle. Ping Ling Be
5 orotly +eTs the Princess, and she an
nounces that Wing III is Tartar Prince
q AbdaIlah bv name Wing III, surprlseu'
eiyes himself up to Bi-Kloride's execu-
[ tto,ars and is about TO be led away
, lion Sbing Shing commands MN 70
; 80, She reveals her love for him ana
. 18th tov he flies to her arms. Inc I'm
% reror commands an instant mar slaso
I ceremony. Ping Ling Is forgiven anu az
D cents Bi-Kloride A Chineese "eeuins
a. rrogrcss as the climax Is reacheu'
"a ~ daughter OF the Moon weds the
,,an of her choice mid a scene on happi,
! Yess and the joyous acclomauohs Vi
the Celestials. .os,,o,
o The advance sale has been eXceedlns-
n l., large and the engagement promises
TO prove notable.
Across the Potomac.
. In a martial way, Across the TO'o'
noe - the new play by Augustus Iito'
10 ana Edward NJ. Alfriend, which Is 10 D,
u nroduced at the Academy next flluay
+ and Saturday evenings, Is perhhps' u'
"a best Of the war dramas we na' a. -
= That is TO say it imparts better laea ~
the shirt and feeling Of the peIlod IL
. which Is story is cast. Moreover. IL u
ue,l-deytsed. carefully intelhgentS
u,ritten drama, full Of interest, Win
, stronq stirring sweep OF heroic passion
y aud a succession Of striking lnciuehls
II begins with the half-dehned ColliliiJ
=, ton OF aroused patriotism that III NJ i',t'
tho evcitements Of incipient war are "up
, S,,od NV the tender sentiments OF th'
y soocof,i village life and the mlstaKel
p,,,,iction that the conflict is 10 be shof
a ~ ~ Sooie,,e and that the troops so en-
u ENTHUSIASTICALLY mustered into the service
viii come marching home AGAIN II
y triumph before their gay UNIFORMS az
y much the worse for wear. lhe,i -,
y the horrors of deadly action. the pam
p suffering and despair Of prison ire IN
% nerns TO home in the Southland the eA
nartences OF camp and field, the prepare
: ttous for the execution of CONDEMNED
= prfsoners sentenced by court martial IN
!, fateful column Of death drawn up
i The qrirn-rnantled Notifications, and tnei
" tbe sunrise over the mountains as M
S snent messenger arrives with the hat
= ~ neace to announce the surrender o
" lee This is all effectively presented
Z sor,etfmes With emotional extravaganza
= sor,etines with irreconcilable inconsls
tencies wbare the dramatist has maze
TOO free use of his license, someume'
with an excess OF heroism for these moo
ern DAYS but always with good dramau
results. These things do not affect I'M
nonular value Of the play, when mas
I'm Il all the essential elements OF sue
: caes and combines the rare merits OF
military liberalism with fair dealing 10
ward both sides in the controversy lher
> &c no attempt TO exploit one side at IN
j ovnense of tie other and though patron
y teno Is the keynote OF the play, the Valol
u he honor the manhood OF the Souther
soldier are defined as admirably as tn
Q ene qualities Of the Northern hero III
y novel emotion of chiyalry is made use 9
II an an excellent way. A Southern ana
y Union officer are in love with the sam
c woman. but instead of being scoundrt
g conniving at the death or ruin or IN
q other. both are noble men; and one 9
/ of plaX.