Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-07

Hessian commander, at Trenton,
Christmas. 1776, and shot-riddled
house i'm Yorktown on the day of
CORVALLIS surrender to Washington
in October, 1881. The play opens with
the development of the love interest
between Janice and Charles Fownes,
the bondman, who becomes a colonel
on Washington's staff, and the sly
Vaccinations of Squire Hennion to
induce .Janice's father to marry her
to his son, Philemon, country
pumpkin, who afterwards develops
into fighting major in the British
army. Lord Cloves. the British spy.
Lieut.. Mobray, an honorable soldier
in the kings army, and Joe Bagby,
the trimming, time-serving captain
of the village militia, too, are all
suitors for Janice's hand. The reVo-
lutionary war is approaching and the
people of the village have formed Il
militia company which has been
drilled by Fownes, and have secured
large quantity of gun-powder in
preparation for the conflict. Wash
ington desires to secure this powder
and is refused it by Joe Bagby and
the village militia. The British Of
ficers seek to seize ii. but Fownes
secures il and escapes to Gen. Wash
ngton's liness aided by Janice. The
second act shows the homely life of
the revolutionary times in scene in
living room in the Greenwood
house. Here Fownes. as dispatch
bearer from Washington, hard press
ed by British patrol under Lieut..
Mobray. takes refuge. Janice aids
him to escape, and to cover her act
proposes Il toast. success to Wash
ington." To the British officers. Her
ruse is detected and she is arrested
for aiding the escape of continental
spy.
Janice Under Arrest.
In the third act she is brought
to the headquarters of the Hessian
commander at Trenton under arrest.
Brereton comes here disguised as II
Hessian soldier to secure information
that Washington desires. The Ameri
can commander has already crossed
the Delaware and is prepared for an
attack on Trenton. The information
to be secured by Brereton will make
his victory sure. Brereton is given Il
former believing him to be what he
but an insult to Janice
bv Hessian officer leads him to
reveal his identity and he is arrested.
He is about To be shot as a spy when
the attack of the continental army !
saves him from execution. In the |
Janice obtained the dis
patch written by Rail to Howe and |
forwarded il TO Washington by Sc
crct messenger The battle tableauX
in this act are thrillingly realistic |
and evoke tremendous applause.
The scene of. the fourth act, which |
represents dismantled house in
Yorktown, is unusually elaborate and
presents several novel mechanical
and lightning effects. Janice and her
father have taken refuge within the |
British lines. Lord Cloves plots to |
her and remove her from |
Yorktown before CORVALLIS surrend- |
Frs the city. His scheme Is frustrated |
by Brereton. who comes under Il flag
of truce with message from Wash |
ington to CORVALLIS. \ strong love |
situation occurs between janice and
Brereton. which ends in their be-
trothal just as the drums of the con-
tending armies sound the long par
ley" indicating the surrender of the |
British officers to Gen. Washington.
The final lines heard by the audience
are replete with unusual historical in
cries of the American SEN
tries. Mine o'clock. starlight night, |
CORVALLIS surrenders. AIS WE'LL"
Eight Bells" PIeases-
The Brothers Byrnc. in the panto-
mimic comedy. Eight Bells" pleased |
an audience at the Illinois last even