Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-10

uoW VI lie mere, IL must De aQm1Jted
that she is, notwithstanding, a most es-
Unable and charming creature, pos
sessed of much good sense, a little poor
taste and many years.
The story of 1.-The Elder Miss Bios
som" which, by the way, is by Ernest
Hendrie and Metcalfe Wood, is sub
stantially as follows: Andrew Quick,
f.. R. S., is middle aged man who is
supposed to be confirmed bachelor
He chances to meet, just prior to his
departure for some faroff and uncivil-
lied land, Miss Sophia Blossom, the
daughter of Christopher Blossom and
the niece of Miss Dorothy Blossom.
Quick is deeply smitten by the charms
of the young lady, and when he leaves
he is head over ears in love. After
thinking the matter over in his island
retreat he concluded to make a pro-
posal of marriage by mail. This he
does, but unfortunately he addresses
his note to Miss Dorothy Blossom. This
apparently inexcusable error was caus-
ed by circumstance which serves well
enough when one does not care to be
too critical, but is woefully inadequate
if probability is to be regarded as an
essential of good comedy. 1t seems
that just prior to his departure from
England Quick picked up a handker-
chief which Sophia had dropped. The
handkerchief happened to be the pro-
perty of Miss Dorothy Blossom, whose
name was written upon it. Sophia was
called Bah by her relatives, and the OBJ
fuse Quick had never taken the trouble
to learn her real name. Consequently
when he saw Dorothy on the innocent
little piece of linen he assumed, that at
last he had solved the riddle. Acting
upon that theory, he wrote to Dorothy
Blossom offering his hand in marriage.
Her reply was an acceptance, and when
the play opens we find that Quick has
returned to England and is about to
visit the home of his prospective bride,
who has gone so far in the prepare
tons for her marriage that the we'd
ding presents have begun to arrive.
When Quick meets Sophia at the re-
sidence of her father, he assumes that
she is the bride elect, and she in turn
imagines that his peculiar remarks and
surprisingly warm caresses are but the
manifestations of the exuberance of the
middle aged man who is about to mar
ry her aunt. The truth comes out, and
Sophia is naturally startled, the more
especially since she has never cared q
jackstraw for Quick, being violently in
love with the young parson of the
neighborhood. Much episode comedy
is introduced, but it lacks the ring of
sincerity and is SO manifestly introduce
ed for it's momentary value as a time
Killer that it never becomes convincing.
But to return to the story of the
play. Quick, realizing that he has done
al estlmable woman a grave injustice,
tells her of the terrible mistake he has
made. He expresses his regret and we
see preparations making to send back
the wedding presents when that cratic
gentleman, having changed his mind,
concludes that, after all the elder Miss
Blossom is just the proper mate for
him. He so informs that lady, but
she, being convinced that his appar-'
ent change of heart is due to feeling
of pity for her deplorable plight, rejects
him. He then again sends her the note
which Originally caused the trouble.
MY ID uOut ny lay ms IL Ol Tic Ntu-
ding dress, which OPPORTUNITY arrives.
The added postscript which inquiries
whether or not he must leave England
does the work, and the play ends with
everybody happy.
When Dorothy, the elder Miss Bios
som, learns the true state of affairs,
she is crushed, and at this point we get
the best acting that is shown in the
piece. Mr. Kendall is never a bad ac-
tor, but it cannot be said that his work
in 1.-THE Elder Miss Blossom" will add
greatly to his reputation. Neither be
nor his wife appears to have the strong
grasp of situations which was the dis
feature of their work on
the occasion of their previous visits,
but withal they give a performance
which would be thoroughly satisfactory
when judged by any other than the
high standard once set by the Kendals
1t is certain that the play
lacks virility. 1t is too mandy pam
by to create a furore in this country,
where both humor and emotion must
be shown, not suggested, as is too
often the case in THE Elder Miss Bios
SOM" There are one or two very we'll
drawn and admirably acted roles in the
play One of these is a suffering SER
want and the other is a country gem
tleman with thoroughly hearty if a
trifle undignifed haw-haw, The cast
in full was as follows:
Andrew Quick. f. r. S.........Mr Kendall
Christopher Blossom. Mr. Athol Forde
Major Twentyman.. Mr.. Frank Fenton
Rev. Arthur Leacroft. Mr.. Rudge Harding
Tyrell Jones. Mr. Rodney Edgcumbe.
Withers.. ,............-......Mr I. r. Ames
Wells, the caretaker. Mr.. G. p. Poison
Sophia Blossom. 49,. Miss Nellie Campbell
Mrs Wells. Miss Mary Kilpack
Cooper. Mrs. A. B. Tapping
Dorothy Blossom. .............. Mrs. kendall
When James X. Hackett few years
ago became the leading man of the Ly-
ceum theatre stock company of this
city, he showed, despite many crudities
of method, some work which prompted
the prediction that he would within
very short time become an Independent
star. This occurred last year when he
was sent upon the road with Anthony
Hopes Rupert of Hentzau." Since
that time he has filled two engage
ments In this city, where he has been
received most favorably, and his ex-
perience on the road, both before and
since then, has demonstrated that he
may be justly regarded as fixture in
the American stellar armament Mr.