The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-07-26
Tuesday Evening.


Chautauqua patrons We're given a
little change In last evenings program.
MIR and Mrs Herbert A. Sprague, two
very clever artists, impersonated Rip
Van Wrinkle and his wife Gretchen. In
the midst of the heavy lecture pro-
gram. the int,rspers:on OF this light
but interesting and entertaining NUM-
Der came as relaxation and amused
and entertained one OF the largest aG-
dicnces that has yet VISITED the chau-
tauqua grounds. Every improyised
seat was in use and many stood during
the whole performance.
The Spragues are splendid. Their
performance offered something nNw in
the chautauqua line but that II was
thoroughly appreciated was proved
by the enthusiastic applause Of the
hearers.
Both were especially clever I'm the
various roles Herbert Spraguc as the
young, drunken, good naturei hus-
band, irresistible, yct the source OF
the Young wife's trouble, disgrace and
humiliation. He h1d E,ccn man eof
wealth, with property. land and money.
lie had marricd Gretchen. tn village
belle and they had a beautiful little
| daughter There was one difficulty.
/ Rip became member Of gang. or
irather ON his marriage had not relin-
quished his band OF merry making
good fellows. and rapidly grew into n
drunkard and sot He sold his land
to buy drink and pay mis- bills Finally
all went except the little cOtt1g own
cd by Gretchen. his wife.
Derrick Won Bcckman, an mscrupu-
| lous man. who had formerly been -
'uitur for tn hand ~ Gretchen vow
ed to take revenge on the Van Win
! klcs, and planned to take AN of Rips
property that ne could wrench from
! his hands. lie thought after ne had
| driven them out Of house ana home
| that Gretchen would give up Rip and
marry him. He formulatcs thr plan
| but 1t is blocked by the clever Grot-
chen.
Rip. who makes no prctcntions OF
working. laves his home for several
! days and on his return is unable To-
1 account fer his abrcnce e. his vlrr
y scene In which Rip promises never
=" drink another drop takes place Iic
| decnivcs her bv drinking again and
She discovers his deceit. She drives
him out into the storm and tells him
never To return. IL. goes up ON the
top of TIN mountain and there falls
| into the sleep that lasts for twenty
years.
| When he awalics his hair rs long
ana white, his clothes are tattcrs and
he finds that he IS scarcely abb, t. walk.
that old age has come upon him and
! that he suffers with rhucmytlc pains.
! He is unable To account for the trans
! formation of one night ana on ad-
| dressing one OF the village lassbas
finds that Rip Van Winkle has been
dead for twenty ycHrs and that the
widow has married Derrick Won Beck
man That his daughter is twenty
six Years uld and Is o. DO compelled
60 marry the nephew of Van Bcrltulan
or be turned with her mother into
| the streets. lie Is unable to account
for the change, but finally comes TO
the home of the Won Brckman's and
is recognized by his ddughtcr. At
this time she receives "A letter from
the lover at sea ana with the return
of the lover knows that she anl her
mother viii be saved. r
The characterization Of the Grct-
chen' the daughter and the village
laSSle hy Mrs Sprogue was exceed
ingly clever while Mr. Spruguo as
~ Won Eeekman ana the Rip of twcn-
| " Years later was impersonatcl I'm
mastery style.
The Lyric glcc club gave one ar thclr
best programs last evening. giving
school Days in manner that caus-
ed much merriment and appreciation
Mr. Henry took tho part of tho
school master. Mr.. Colbert as Percy
Young Radcliffe Mr. DpolittIc as
Hank smith ana Mr.. Pope as Joe slo.
| cum.