Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-11-20
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New York November II.
STORIES OF The STAGE.
New York November II.

The dramatic critics have just been
engaged III enthusiastic praise of Mrs.
Kendall In her new play, The Elder
Miss Blossom" The character in which
the famous English actress appears is
said to fit her like a glove. The play
IS somewhat different from anything
she has appeared in on this side the
water. Here is the story of it:
Three years before the action begins
DIR. Andrew Quick a middle aged sci
enlist and explorer had met and fallen
in love with a young girl named Sophia
Blossom. On the eve of his departure
for the South Pacific he sends letter,
asking for her hand. The letter, how
ever, is addressed to Miss Dorothy Bios
som, Sophia's aunt, Quick being led to
suppose that the girl is so-called owing
to that name being embroidered on a
handkerchief which she dropped and he
picked up. 1t is, however, the real
Dorothy herself, consumed by an unac-
knowledged passion the doctor, who
replies, and she it is who. when the
play opens, is anxiously awaiting the
return of her supposed lover. The first
discovery of the mistake is made in an
admirable scene between Sophia and
the difficult problem how best to break
the truth to the woman whom he has
hidden to make all her preparations for
an immediate marriage, and who, sur
rounded by wedding presents, is now
looking forward to the bridegrOom'S ar
rival.
The thing has to be done, however,
and done it is in a manner which, I'M
E.. koJ,r ~ fax h 1xr
upon the explorers tact and delicacy.
But Dorothy Blossom, after the first
outbreak of disappointed grief and an
ger, is far too good and noble woman
to- harbor any feeling save that OF
regret and sympathy for the man who,
she is forced to recognize, has also
his own burden of sorrow to bear,
for Sophia has long ere this bestowed
her affections upon good looking
young clergyman. The situation. thus
reached. is obviously in the nature OF
an impasse. but the authors have no
hesitation in forcing their way through
it or over it. At one bound they over
leap all obstacles. and by the simple
expedient of awakening in Nnch
heart a new love for Dorot- in II
hours of his rejection by that lady
niece bring the separated sweethearts
together. The transition is, of course
much too rapid to be altogether cred
ible; but, although palpaole coup
de theatre, it serves, after all, sufh-
GENTLY we'll to bring the curtain down
upon a scene of general applause.
Charles Hoyt and Otis Harlan, who
has made a hit in the Hoyt piece, "A
Day and a Night" used to travel to-
gether with "a Black Sheep" in which,
too, Harlan was the central figure.
Harlem was born in GAINESVILLE. O., and
he never failed to grasp the hand of a
fellow townsman wherever they ehanc-
ed to meet.
From the time they left GAINESVILLE
the two never got into town where
Harlan would not soon run acros some
one from GAINESVILLE. He never failed to
introduce Mr.. Hoyt to his fellow towns
| man with great gusto.
There was scarcely an exception to
this until they had reached Ell Paso
Tex. The two alighted from the train
together, and almost the first person
they met grasped Harlan by the hand
Delighted to see you!" cried Har-
LAM Let me introduce you to my
lfriend. Mr.. Hoyt Mr.. .Hoyt. this Is
1870