British Miner and General Newsman : — 1862-10-18 (London, England)

[OcT. 18, 1862.  PLAYS AND PLAY-HOUSES.  SADLERS WELLS THEATRE.—A new piece called the Willow Marsh has been brought out at this theatre, and is full of interest. Prior to the commencement of the play certain events have occurred with which we must acquaint our readers. Jean Roux has, during the Reign of Terror, compelled a noble lady to marry him, as the sole means of saving a beloved father from the horrors of a death by the guillotine. The lady escapes to America, the hated marriage never having proceeded further than the mere religious ceremony, and there marries the Marquis de St. Foix, to whom she was betrothed, believing at the time her husband to be dead. At the rising of the curtain we find the Marquis and Marchioness, accompanied by their son and daughter, just returned from America, and their happiness interrupted by the arrival of the detested Jean Roux, supposed to be no more, and who compels his wife to recommend him as a steward to the Marquis under a threat of divulging the secret of their marriage. The Marquis having overheard a conversation between them suddenly appears, and after administering to the quondam husband a sound thrashing, insists upon the latter accompanying him to Paris to have the marriage annulled. On their road they pass the Willow Marsh, where the Marquis is shot by Roux, who returns to Paris, and assumes the name and appearance of the St. Foix, whose person, from long absence, is forgotten. He even threatens the Marchioness with an exposure of her first marriage, if she does not agree to forward his scheme, and endeavours to persuade her son to do the same by declaring himself to be his father. Neither, however, can be brought round to his views, the Marchioness boldly declaring the truth before a bevy of friends, while the son finding that Roux has nothing to depend upon wherewith to verify his assertions, save a copy of his marriage certificate, the church in which the marriage was celebrated together with the registries, having long been destroyed by fire, engages him in single combat, mortally wounds him, and obtains possession of the important document. Before dying, stage etiquette of course allows time for the Marquis, who was it appears not murdered but saved, to reappear upon the scene, and the curtain descends upon the happiness of all parties save the villain, who dies. This little piece was well received and ably acted. Mr. Forrester as Jean Roux was as great a villain as well can be imagined, while Mr. J. Johnstone and Miss Sophia Miles played the parts of the Marquis and Marchioness with considerable tact and taste, nor can we omit to give our mead of praise to Mr. Edgar as the son. His battle with Roux was well planned and got up.  OUR readers will be pleased with the following beautiful and touching lines. We all are poets in feeling, if not in expression. ON OUR QUEEN LAYING A MEMORIAL - STONE ON CRAIG LAWRIGAN. . Grey Mountain, hush thy softest breath, Put on thy saddest veil, Lay down young morning's rosy wreath, It fits not woe or wail.  Keep solemn stillness in the air, Stay the bold eagle's flight, Mighty thou art, yet mightier Is death in deathless might.  Stronger than love, at his behest, A princely soul hath fled. Tremble, oh Mountain, in thy rest, THY days are numbered! Grey Mountain, stir thy softest breath, To touch the wind-harp's strings, Yet not to strain of woe or death Wake its low murmurings: Wake it to lay of earthly love, Deathless, though all things die; Wake it to tell the blest above That love can never die!  She to whom kingdoms kneel will bow • On thy storm-beaten crest; The Daughter of thy kings will low Kneel on thy rugged breast.  So lays she there memorial stone, So prays she mourner's prayer. God of the widow from His throne Look on her kneeling there! Grey Mountain keep that stone a shrine Thy Queen hath bent her o'er! And oh! in holier trust than thine, God keep her evermore!  ECCLESTIALL.—MELA.NCHOLY SUICIDE.—On Tuesday morning, about six o'clock, a deplorable event took place near Eccleshall, which has cast a gloom over the neighbourhood. The wife of Mr. George Sinteox, of the High Lanes, near Eccleshall, was alarmed by hearing the report of a gun in the house, and on proceeding down stairs a horrible sight presented itself. Her husband lay weltering in his blood, his brains scattered upon the ceiling of the room, and his head almost blown off. He lay with one leg on the sofa, and round his foot was a string attached to the trigger of a gun. It would seem that the unfortunate man must have tied the string to the trigger of the gun, and placed the muzzle under his chin, and then by the action of his foot discharged the gun. The unhappy gentleman lived upon his own farm and was universally respected'. .No motive for committing the said act i can be discovered, but t is said that he had been in a desponding state of mind for some days previously, and complained of pains in the head. 

Article type: Incident