The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-03

edy, to Be Given Its First Presen-
tation on Any Stage Next Sunday
Evening-PegIer,sL Latest.
First nighters will have a treat at the
Metropolitan next Sunday night-the rare
taste here of witnessing the first pre-
sentation OF a new play on any stage.
Not very often has st. Paul had this
privilege and the more interest attaches
to the present play than would under
other circumstances, from the fact that
the dramatist in this, Arthur E. James
Pegler, was formerly a local newspaper
man, for number of years connected
with the G lob e.
The first presentation of the play is in
the hands of the Neill stock company,
which assures a careful study of it's
capabilities and an adequate presanta-
ton of it, as the company has demon
strated it's histrionic ability, especially
along comedy lines, and the new play,
'Matrimony," is said to be well sus-
tanned in action, bright in dialogue and
thus not dependent on subtle interpola-
lions of a vaudeville order to carry it's
three acts. ''Matrimony'' is neither
problem play nor a satire in the mar
riage relation, but a brisk comedy pro-
duction in which are brought together
number of amusing situations, cleyerly
worked up dramatically and without any
tagging in the plot
Clara Talboys, the heroine, is quick
witted American girl in love and the
part is one of spirits and vivacity, while
the complications that follow her ro-
manticeattachment for a young man who
does not win the parental approval Gull
inmate very pleasantly, although the
critical scene of the play takes her
through some especially ludicrous situa-
tons. Clara loves George Tremayne,
Boston lawyer, with whom she has an
appointment in Chicago. While she
awaits him at the hetei-and that is said
to be based on AN incident which really
occurred at the Ryan in this city-the
irate father turns up unexpectedly. The
daughter, afraid to meet him alone, be-
trays her predicament:,to a. Chicago re-
porter, who has sought her in search of
a. "story." Reynard Westbrook is his
name, on the scent of the news, and he
consents to play, the husband till the
lover arrives. Maj. Chasem Talboys,
Clara's father, although in business in
Chicago, is from Kentucky, and has
warm blood in his veins. He has not
really anything against Tremayne except
that he has never seen him, so he up
braids Westbrook at some length for his
inva sion of the harmony of the Talboys'
home.c Indeed, bye the time he finishes
with Westbrook he has assigned to him
SO large majority of the evil attributes
possible to exist, that the real lover, Ire
mayne, must appear sanity in compari-
son and is thus able to step in, win his
bride and secure the parental blessing.
The reporter has had very exciting
half hour, his paper gets good story
and all ends well.
Participating with these conspicuous
actors in the development of the comedy
of the piece are Clara's brother Jack, d
banker from Boston, Count Taritoff, a
spurious nobleman, and his countess, or
as she is otherwise known, Tottie Teeters,
a soubrette and a protege of Maj. Tai
boys. Jack has affairs of his own and
his fancee, Isabel Heatherston, and Isa-
bells mother lend some additional aid to
the complications that entangle all. Then
there are two men servants and a saucy
French maid, Hortense.
This is the first ambitious dramatic
effort of Mr.. Pegler, who has hitherto
varied the course of his journalistic
career with 'curtain-raisers' only, so
far as creations for the stage are con-
cerned. His hair raising narratives of the
Indian uprising at Leech lake a year ago
not only brought him conspicuously be-
fore the public, but also demonstrated his
ability as a writer Of "the graphic and
those who have seer the manuscript of the
new play say that the Peglerian climaxes
are as sharp and clean cut as the Peg
lerian descriptive style is vivid Mr..
Pegler has contributed a number of short
stories to current publications during the
last few years, not only to the daily
newspapers, but the weekly and monthly
magazine field, and some Of these have
stood the test of fdramatization into one
act sketches exceIlehtly. His friends are
predicting for the new comedy a great