The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-05

son wrongfully accused OF his mothers
escapes after seven years. The dialogue rs
full OF rathos, with an occasional dash OF
dry humor. The comedy element, white not
forced nor of the COMMON horse-piay order,
is sufficiently funny to light up the sombre
parts of the play. The action IS hurried and
lively, with plenty of sudden surprises and
unexpected changes. Each scene abounds
in thrilling situations and each act ends
with a powerful climax. The horse "busi-
ness is all new and origiliui, --splaying the
wonderful intelligence of dumb brutes, each
horse playing a part to perform. playing it
for all il is worth. FOLLOWING the proper
cues and lines. Raider, Charger and Texas
are the three horses. and with the trained
donkey, Pete, they furnish a quantity or
amusement. Mr.. Wallick had his customary
big houses yesterday afternoon and last
night. The engagement runs until Thurs
day, when Across the Potomac comes.
-Empire-John l.. Sullivan.
John L. Sullivan, in his new play of "A
True American drew two large audiences
at the Empire yesterday. The play is cast
on the good old melodramatic lines of the
broken-down old man with most of the
human virtues and holding a bit Of prop
erty that is liable Gwo acts out of three
to seizure at the hands of the seheming
villain. OF course, the villain gets the worst
of it, SO to speak. He has to. If ne didn't
the audience would go nome G.sgrrntied.
The hero of the play, naturally, Is John l..
himself. The play was written for him. As
John d. Newman 9TH d. stands for 'Des-
mond," the name assumed by him while
unravehng the tangled web Of deception
and heartless villalny woven by the schem-
ing cousin) he rescueS the innocent and
protects the weak. as It is a lero's uuty to
40. Inc play WINDS up with an eXIlipltIon
or boxing ny SULLIVAN and Dan DIVER thai
hearty blows planted in the rignt spot and
ending With a very pretty exhibition OF the
famous sullivan eX-Knockout bow. The
supporting company Is a cdpdDle che, IN
ciudlng BOBBY" Mack as the irish servant,
with songs; Misses DAISY and May Netley,
as two slangy girls up to the times; Mll-
liam +. sheldon, as the uncle of Desmond,
and Master Willie Barrows Ind little Josie
BarrowS, two quite young persons, who
scamper through the parts assigned TO them
in very good style. The company re'tiairs
ances daily.
English's-HaIlen and Hart.
An old friend in the shape of farce-comedy
made it's temperance at English's last
night. A fair-sized house welcomed Hallen
and Hart and their successful skit, Later
On, Nowadays 'farce-comedy" is a much
abused term, but Later On IS a'plly wnica
is really enjoyable. For many years the
firm of Hallen and Hart has possessed the
favor and confidence of the play-going pub
lie, and never at any time have they abused
the confidence. This is the last season that
the team will play together. Last
III III kltlCGo tIAC1t PPAC-
citation by frequent and hearty applause.
The support Was good throughout, the sing
Mark Murphy was as humorous as ever.
and Carrie De Mar just as sprlghtiy ana
vivacious as she ever was. Nina Harrlng-
ton and Edward Lawrence made a hit In
their song and dance entitled -fne Bow
cry Boy and the Tough Girl quite q
number of new songs were sung and fire.
quent demands for encores We're made.
Inc dancing of Louise Willis. Edith Muir
ray and Jennie Grovini was something re-
| markahle. and other SDeCialtleS were well
| received. Later On VIII continue until
Thursday, with a matinee tomorrow.
Daniel shelby Dead.
WILKESBARRE, Pa, Feb. 4-Daniel
Shelby, manager of the Music Hall, in this
city, died suddenly of heart disease this
| morning, aged hfty-seven years. He was
| w%elI-known in the theatrical profession. hav-
| ing managed houses in New York, Buffalo
| and Chicago. During his residence in Buff
falo he was an intimate friend of Grover
| Cleveland. A wife and son survive him.
Mrs. Shelby, his wife. is now singing with
an opera company. Mr.. Shelby's home was
l in New York city.
Shelby was a member of Medina Lodge
of Masons and Mystic Shrine, Oh Chicago
He was also a charter member of the New
York Lodge of Eiks. The funeral Will take
place from the residence of an aunt In
| Brooklyn.
Twenty-Five years ago Mr.. Shelby was
| manager of a theater in the Exchange Block,
| which stood on the site now occupied by
the Y. NJ. C. A. Building. The theater was
| located on the second floor and Hinsley's
livery stable occupied the first floor. 1t
was while managing that house that Mr..
| Shelby made his reputation as a shrewd
manager. With Sherry came the variety
show. which, however, was not the same in
| those days as now. Stock companies COM
| posed mostly of femaIeS, without high re-
gard for morals, maze up the show, and
IN fponorfant feature of Tha r6ratnES wa
the sale of liquors in the green-room,
which was open to all who held tickets to
| the theater. 1t was about TINS time that
| Simon McCarty took charge of the old
Metropolitan, more Familiarity known as the
Met" The two houses were great rivals
for two or three years, when Shelby left
mere.
After Shelby gave up the Illinois-street
house it was remodeled and for a number
of years was occupied almost exclusively
by undertaking establishments and came to
be known as "UnderIakers' Row" Later
it was refitted again and occupied by the
Y. NJ. c. A, and finally gave way to the
present building