The record-union., 1895-05-04

| At the Clunie Opera-house this after
| noon for matinee, this evening and to-
morrow evening for the last times, the
| thrilling semi-military drama "Her-
| minie," by the Smith-Lieb Dramatic
Company, a com bination Of sterling
| merit and high character.
Manager Todd has written an engage
| ment with Peter f. Daily. the we'll
known comedian, who will appear at the
Metropolitan Theater Wednesday night
next in McNally's successful farce
! comedy IA Country Sport"
The Metropolitan Theater was filled
last evening by one of the most thor
oughly satisfied audiences that has
gathered in it in long time. The play
was Belasco 81 Fyles' American border
drama The Girl l Left Behind Me-"
and the company one of Charles Froh-
mans combinations of capable people,
The story of the play has been told in a
novel. 1t brings to mind the pitiful
story of the Meeker family which fell
into the hands of hostile Indians few
years ago, and the relation of Mrs. Gem
eral Custer that her husband, when she
was with him in border camps, always
stood ready to shoot her if she was
about to become captive to the
Indians. 1t is thrilling tale Of
Indian warefare, of a beleagured outpost
of our army; of one act of cowardice and
many an act OF bravery; of an assault and
rescue; OF three lovers and three
triumphs of love; of heroism and ad-
venture; of life in a border army post; of
wit aud recreation in barrack life. All
through the gloom of the play, and Of
treachery, Of cowardice and the despair
OF fOrlorn hope, there scintillates the
neatest and liveliest comedy passages.
No shading Is permitted to become
wholly black. no tragic climax to be
without relief, for the neatest and pref
tiest of unconventional humor is so
threaded into every incident of the
story that the audience Swings between
smiles and tears" so to speak. We do not
recall an instance when q large audience
has been hushed to such stiffness and
held in such state of nervous high ex-
pectancy as in the third act Of this play,
where the little band of boys in blue are
penned in stockade that is assailed by q
horde of Indians who have the men and
women at their mercy. and the GeneraPs s
order to let no women fall into the hands
of the savages alive. and sets the example
of his order by preparing to take the life
of his own daughter. The drama is
well mounted and we'll played. Miss
Shannon, as the chief of several heroines,
l6 SUCCESSFUL u I6IudTkaUIo OoRI00 OF
concentrating the attention of the audi
ence upon herself, and winning such
rounds of applause as are but rarely ac-
corded. However, not less successful,
but in comedy, is Miss Alter as q West
ern wildflower. Probably the strongest
character in the play and best assumed
| is that of Major Burleigh by Mr.. Oberle,
but with perhaps a single exception, all
| the men do we'll. and leave very little for
the exacting taste to complain of. 1t is
true that the situations of the play are all
! in their favor, and he would be poor in
ability, indeed, who could not command
sympathy for his part in such play.
| 1t is an adroitly constructed drama
| without being phenomenal, it is good;
| without beiny strlkingly original, it is of
| wonderfully sustained interest and novel
situations. A lad. Master Enos, plays a
conspicuous part in the drama, and does
SO with skill worthy of an older head.
Miss Violet Rana's Indian girl, 'Fawn
| Afraid" is notable instance of good pam
| tomimic work. 1.-The Girl Left Behind
Me" will be played Tonight for the last
| time.