Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1891-08-14 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

TIIE RE-OPENING OF THE GRAND.—Playgoers will be pleased to hear of the re-opening of the Grand after being closed for several months. To-morrow week a new drama w eitten by Mr. J. Barker, the proprietor, will be produced. The erama is entitled Vice and Virtue," and is divided into five acts and 23 scenes. The hero is a young designer and inventor at the Pendle Scan' Mills, in love with a four loom weaver, who is employed at the mill. The hero is a clever young man; by his designs has largely contributed to the properity of his employers. One of the partners, the son, becoming jealous of Carford, the hero, tries to thwart him at every turn. Ultimately Carford is compelled to leave the mill and a set of designs which he has made for the coloured goods trade, whereby the warp could be dyed, sized and taped by one process, were twice destroyed by the vilhan and his sister. We are then treated to a strike which the hero is called into settle. Being throwa out of work, Carford decides to place his invention on the Manchester Exchange, and Ilickton hearing of his intention and afraid that it will ruin their trade, forms a plot along with Wheatley, a book-keeper, to get the hero into the mill, with the intention of destroying h;ln by setting the mill on B^e, or in the event of escaping to charge him with incendiarism. The mill is fired, but Carford escapes, by the means of a warp. He was, however, at once arrested and while struggling at the bottom young Ilickton fires with the intention of killing the hero. The bullet, however, finds a wrong billet, Wheatley being shot. In the confusion Carford escapes, but his father who arrives on the scene with a pistol in his hand, is arrested for the murder. The hero hearing of his father's arrest, wrote out a confession, taking the guilt on himBel'. Ile then escapes, and we next find him in Birmingham, where in the course of his business in an architect office, he comes across a Manchester manufacturer, and in the course of a conversation learns how excellent an opinion is entertained of his invention. Through this manufacturer Hickton again gets to know Carford's whereabouts, and the police are at once set on his track, but the hero, anticipating this, has fled to London. Hearing that his sweetheart has been forcibly abducted he decides to return to Pendle Sear to find her, but on doing so is again recognised, but once more escapes. We last of all find him it the New Forest, where his father has purchased an estate— made rich by the son's patent—where he overhears Hickton trying to obtain money from his father, and promising to clear his son from the murder, and threatening in the , event of refusal, to deliver him up to justice, stating that he knew where he was hiding. The father agrees to this, and the agreement is signed, but just as Ilickton is about to leave, Carford reveals his identity, secures the agreement after a struggle, and declares that no money shall be paid. Hicton's sister turns Queen's evidence, and Carford, being declared innocent, marries his sweetheart and all ends happily. The piece is well mounted and includes several new scenes by Mr. Kenyon, the scenic artist. Mr. Barker has engaged a good company, the leading parts being taken by Mr. Claude hiving and Isabel Irving, from the Sailers Wells Theatre, London. The company also includes several old Nelson favourites.