The morning times., 1896-01-12
A STORY OF WATERLOO.
Henry IrviDR's Wonderful Creation In
New Play by A. Conan Doyle.

New Play by A. Conan Doyle.
On Saturday night, January 1s, of his
| engagement at Allen's Grand Opera House.
Henry Irving win present, in connection
with The Bells a remarkable new one
act play by the renowned author. DR..
| A. Conan Doyle, entitled, "A Story of
Waterloo" Not even In any of his famous
analytical and synthet ical stories-the
Sherlock Holmes creations, for instance
mas DR.. Conan Doyle SO aptly aud faith
fully developed n character as In the case
or the aged veteran and pensioner, Corp.
Gregory Brewster, the role which Henry
Irving has created. The story of the
play is intensely interesting, and below
resume Of the same is given, taken from
the prompt book of the London Lyceum
library-the play never having been pub
lished.
The time is June, 1881. The scene,
front room in small house in Wool
witch. There is a cooking range at the
fire, and above the fire is a rude paint
ing of an impossible military pan with
bearskin On one side Of this painting
is.a cutting from newspaper, framed.
On the other side is a medal, also framed.
There are a center table, a Bible on small
liable In a window, n wooden chair with
cushion, rack holding plates, etc.
At the rise or the curtain the room is
empty, but Eorah Brewster, a country
girl, who is a grandniece OF the cor
poral, enters, and we learn that his house
keeper, who somewhat ill-treated the old
man, has left him, and Norah has been sent
by her parents in Essex to fulfill those
duties. While she is preparing breakfast
Sergt. Archie Mcdonald OF the Royal Ar
tillery enters, on "hospitable cares in
tent" having heard that the old gentle
naa mot Is..lr bod . f2 xxralI
might be-" but all apprehensions on that
score score are set ea at Ire rest by the presence of
Glancing around. Of .ii's i .lsflaptnqtion OF the
sergeant is called to ffd HJ HJpi2h h printed
and framed paper. which is ne sGihs do wn,
and he reads: "on Tuesday ali interest
ing ceremony was performed at the bar
racksof the Third Regiment of Guards, when
in the presence or the Prince Regent, a
special medal was presented to Corporal
Gregory Brewster OF Capt. Haldane's flank
company, in recognition % ~ -afr- in the
recent great battle. On the t. Z memorable
18th or June four companies oi :"e iird
Guards and the Coldstreams, held tEe i'm
portant farmhouse OF Hugymount, at the
Eight OF the British position.
AT a critical period of the action these
troops found themselves short of powder,
and Corp. Brewster was dispatched TO the
rear TO hasten up the reserve ammunition.
The corporal returned with two tumbrels of
the Nassau division, but he found that in
his absence the howitZer fire OF the French
had ignited the hedge around the farm, and
that The passage OF the carts filled with
powder had become almost an impossibility.
The first tumbrel exploded, blowing the
driver to pieces, and his comrade, daunted
by the sight, turned his horses; but Corp.
Brewster, springing into his seat, hurled the
man down. and urging the cart through the
flames, succeeded in reioining his comrades
Long may the heroic Brewster live to treas
ure the medal which he has SO bravely woD
and to look back with pride to the day when,
IN the presence of his comrades, he received
this tribute to his valUr from the hands Of
the first gentleman of the realm
uaT4 ~
The sergeant, who is due at the butts,
takes his leave, and Corp. Brewster comes
totteriDg in. He is gaunt, bent and dod-
dering, with white hair and wiZened face.
lie taps his way across the room and ex-
claims queruloUsly: Il wants my ratioRs!
The cold nips me without 'em. See my
hands. Rum is warm and schnapps is wa rm
and there's eat in soup, but give me a dish