New-York tribune., 1895-12-23
A MODERN MIRACLE INDEED.
THE LITTLE PLAY THAT WAS AClhD AMI
SPOKEN BY DEAF ACTORS-HEl-EN
KEIJ,ER'S RECITATION.

THE LITTLE PLAY THAT WAS ACTED AND
SPOKEN BY DEAF ACTORS-HEl-hN
KELLER's RECITATION
The little play acted in the parlors OF the "risht-
uumason School for the Deaf on Saturday night
os &c novel as II was interesting. 1t was called
"a Modern Miracle" an apt title. inasfnucn as the
eight participants, including the author himseH
who took the principal part. had no sense OF near
ing and only a somewhat imperfect command Oh
speech Plays Of far more AMBITIOUS type nave
beon presented from time to time by inmates Of
various public institutions for the education OF
deafmutes but the portrayal has been Almost en-
srelv In pantomne The actors and actresses IN
this modern miracle spoke their lines, ana when
as in the case OF one or two OF the g'rs' the pc
cuNar and indstlnct enunciation interfered win
the sense the graphic pose and expression maze
I'D for the deficiency.
The little farce replete with !aughaoie si'ua-
.,ore and owed much of its success to the clever
acting of the author, Robert H. Mouton, VINO
threw himself into the trials and tribuiatlons Oh
the droi character he had invented with an aDan-
don that won the praise OF the auuiehce' MI
Monitor is a native of Tennessee. He Is preparing
10 enter Columbia College, and takes rank easiiy
with advanced pupils VINO are III PoSSe'H'o" VI -"
their normal senses.
The quaint old-time costumes OF MISS Cafrie
Macnie who represented 'matured suscepuphi'y,
in the person Of Mrs Mary Pettibone dhe YOUTH
fulness of sixteen in the garp OF siN'!'' were d"
interesting feature Of the play. The distinctive
bell sleeves exaggerated. long shoulders, par
re,boon skirts lace mantilla and elaborate head
dress of the forties and fties were in strong con-
trast with the pretty rosy face and glrhsn hgure
The father Of the charming daughter In the play
had tod that daughters persistent suitor 10 put
him off that he should never wed the girl unu
three Sundays should come in one week Trip
around the globe in pursuit of his sweetheart
brought the entire group to point wnere' OWING
TO the difference in time. three presumaoe sun
DAYS did actually together in one week. 10 tie
| discontinue Of the old gentleman and the gra'ih-
| cation of the lovers.
| An ENJOYABLE feature Of the programme wes the
| Greek dance performed by Miss Katherine Wood
| ward. little Colorado maid OF tender years. al, IN
| personation OF grace and Innocence. Looking at
| the pretty, rapt face and dainty sandaILed lee teet
| moving TO the tune could scarcely reaize tnat
not tho slightest sound of that tune or the rhythm
| fell on the childish ears. o,,,
to pify in what supreme measSpe ahbds iso
compensates for the senses sne wifhhTrs nartv
read. partly recited The Courshp Of Niles stand
ish." and the varying expressions that fitted over
her her unconscious face depicted the action of the
story graphically as the tableaus wnicn nus, =
taed It from time to time s MISS ornamenteS hggr T0 Win
| bows of pink velvet ribbons. cluster Of white
hs is ns now m "si a the pretty age
womanhood and girhood meet .o,, ro,ro, s,o
| asks. with arch earnestness. and siraghtway the
| curtains part. and Priscilla, In her quaint gray
| gown and demure cap and kerchief, her backward
| lover at her side Is shown TO the audience
| Miss Keller has recently experienced rare pleas
| ure a pleasure of which she is eager TO speak
| that her face lights up the moment the word
| theatre is mentioned. She has met and talked
| with Mr. Irving and Miss Terry.
II met Miss Terry at a friends she says In
| her slow distinct utterance. "one Sunday after
noon. She beautiful to me Mr., Mr. Irving M was was
| invited TO me. too but he could not come:
They sent me tickets and saw Charles the First
| Miss Sullivan, Helen's teacher ard inseparabe
| companion takes up the tale here. and tells how
| she Interpreted the situations Of the play TO her
| charge through her fingers how at times the tears
| were rolling down the girls cheeks, and how Miss
| Terry said afterward In her dressing room: that
| when she the varying expressions on Helen 5
| sightless face 1t gave her new inspiration.
Both Sir Henry and Miss Terry strove TO show
| Helen how they expressed emotion In their feat
| ures and she felt of their faces, felt of their
| hands and arms with her magic fingers and now
Miss Terry is a beautiful woman" she declares
| enthusiastically. and doubtless with her spirit 5
eye she has coniured up vision OF loveliness and
| womanness which bears the name of Ellen Terry.
"On the way TO the theatre in the carriage" re-
| latcs Miss Sullivan. "Helen told me that she did
| not admire Charles the First that she thought he
| was a tyrant Coming back. however, she confded
her belief that he noble character: that she
| should always like him. now. since she had seen
| Mr. Irving the part