Notice.

Last night the Maid of Arran was greeted by an immense house scarcely standing room to be had. The playing was far superior to any professional troupe that has appeared in the Vale this season, Vidette. March 16. 1885.

The Maid of Arran is written by LYMAN F. Baum, of Syracuse N.Y. from whom it has been obtained for this occasion. It is a dramatization of William Black's beautiful novel, A Princess of Thule. Into it are woven many laughable and happy incidents while it is here and there graced with snatches of song. simple in their melody, yet pleasing to both ear and heart. The whole combining to make up one of the most charming dramatic plays it has ever been our good fortune to see placed on the boards.

Vidette. March 20. 1885.

The Maid of Arran.

Cast of Characters.

Shiela.................. The Maid of Arran......
Oona................... An Ideal Irish girl......

The Prophetess.......... Relic of Arran's greatness....

Mrs Harriet Holcomb.. A disciple of Marcus Aurelius Antonius.

Gray................... Her maid........... well broken in to harness.....

Hugh Holcomb........... The fairhaired stranger...........

Capt. Jno Ingram........ Commander of H.M.S. Firely...........

Con O'Mara............. The last of Arran's king's...........

Phadrig................ A follower of the O'Mara's...........

Dennis.................. A broth of a boy...........

The Boatswain of the Malabar...........

Jack.................... The Tar.

Sailors, Marines, &c. &c.

Synopsis.

Act 1st.. A young man's fancy.. Scene.. the ruin of Castle Arran.

Act 2nd.. Weighed in the balance.. Scene.. Hugh Holcomb's London house.. Act 3d. A friend in need. Scene.. Mrs Holcomb's appartments.. Act 4th.. The turning of the tide.. Scene on board H.M.S. Malabar.. The prison hold.. The open sea.. The escape..

Act 5th.. The scales balanced.. Scene.. Con O'Mara's Island home.

Musical Numbers.

During the performance the following songs written especially for this play, will be introduced.

The Legend of Castle Arran..... Shiela.

When the O'Mara's is King once again.. Con.

A turf from the old Irish sod...... Oona.

Sailing.................. Sailors Chorus.

Waiting for the tide to turn...... Hugh.

A pair of blue eyes........... Oona.

## Act I st.

Scene I st.... Ocean at back, Castle at left, Woodland, ship drawn. Rock L. and R: fronting ocean, set flowers, Pallette and Basel Picture with stool for Hugh. Green carpet, table and stools convenient for Luncheon.

Prophetess discovered gasing on picture. Music the Harp.

Prophetess in ragged garments with gray hair falling over shoulders with one hand she shades her eyes from rays of the sun, while with the other she leans upon a long hooked stick, Music soft at rise and continuing through the speech "The Harp that once" &c.

## Proph.

The picture lives, breathing ruin, where once was magnificence and Kingly splendor, and this fairhaired stranger comes not to paint Arran in her palmly days, but in utter desolation, Aye: and more than this he comes to woo our last treasure, in whose soul is centred all the sweetness and honor of a Kingly race, Would I could save her, but I cannot. The hand of fate is here and we must bow to her will. (exit slowly to through arch) sounds of laughter heard without enter Dennis and Oona R.U.E.)

## Oona

Drop that basket here Dennie, for here is the place Miss Shelia said.

## Dennie

Oona, did ye ever think how much aisier it is to drop a thing than it is to pick it up (sits beside the basket) Sure I've oftened wondered what I was good for, and I think its a beautiful philosopher I'd make.

## Oona

Oh bother the philosopher, and keep your hands out of the luncheon, that's for your betters.

## Dennie

Thats what I thought, I was just philoso phizing how it would feel to be one of my betters.

## Oona

Philosophzing will ruin ye some day, lad, if it has'nt already (approaches picture) Oh: but its a fine painter is master Hugh, sure its the ould Castle itself that's in the picture, but why he spends so much time painting these ould rocks, when there's so much better things in Arran to picture. I cant see for the life of me--now there's the pigs and the cows.

## Dennie

Whist now: that shows your no artist. The pigs indeed: now who-ever heard of an artist painting so sensible a thing as a pig, they want something more rhuematic, as they call it.

## Oona

And how can you expect Mr Hugh to be sensible when he's in love with our Shiela, sur she's an angle Dennie (comes up to him)

## Dennie

Is she? Well it strikes me you're an angle yourself Oona, and the devil take me if I aint in love with your own beautiful face- and they--

## Oona

Whist now: there comes the gentlemen and we must go for the water.

Dennie

(sentimentally) Just one kiss before we go darlin'.

Oona

Well Dennie you can have it if you can get it. (runs off R.
followed by Dennie for a kiss. Enter Hugh and Ingram, from R.
Hugh goes to picture and seats himself on stool Ingram stands
at C.)

Ingram

A beautiful spot this.

Hugh

Beautiful! its grand, just notice the splendid outlines of the
old mountains, and grand sweep of the sea, its this sort of
thing that almost drives me to despair and makes me sometimes
vow never to touch a brush again. (enter Con, Shiela and
Phradig R.)

Con

Well Captain, what do you think of the view from the ruins of
the old Castle.

Ingram

It is a beautiful place you have brought us to Mr O'Mara.

Con

But you must come and see the old draw bridge. Its just hanging
togather now, and another winter will ruin it entirely. (exit
Catpain and Con through arch)

Shiela

(standing before picture) Why! Mr Hugh you've been painting our
old Castle, and do you think the old ruins will attract the att-
entions of your city friends when they see this.?

Hugh

Miss Shiela, I think this is the most beautiful spot on earth,
and now that you are here to see it with me. I am only in dis-
pair, lest I shall not be able to do justice to the granduer of
the scene.

Shiela

But do you know there is a legend connected with the old Castle.

Hugh

No: What is it ? Will you tell it to me ?

Shiela

No: I'll sing it for you. (song "Legend of Castle Arran".
(enter Captain and Con during song and exit after song.)

Phadrig

Sure if you like the ruins of the old Castle, Mr Hugh, you
should have seen it in the ould days, when The O'mara's were
Kings of Arran, with hundreds of followers to do thier bidding
and none to say them nay. Ah! the ould Castle, was different
then, when the O'Mara was King. You would have liked to have
painted it then Mr hugh.

Hugh

But I like it better as it is. It seems to me that had I the
power I should change nothing in all this fair island. And the
O'Mara is still a King Phadrig.?

Phadrig

Aye: and a good King to his people, though never so poor as he
is now. But I saw some wild flowers growing on the mountain
side as I came up. I'll go and get them for you Miss Shiels

Shiela

Thank you Phadrig, you know how I love our wild flowers. (exit
Phadrig R.U.E.) Oh: Mr Hugh are you going to put any people in
the picture.?

Hugh

Yes, one.

Ingram

Done much painting since ?

Hugh

No: There's a sort of lazy influence in the atmosphere of this
isle, that makes one unfit for work, and makes a fellow fell
more like liing under the shadow of these old ruins, listening
to the sea and building Castles.

Ingram

Ah: (knocks ashes from cigar) Struck!

Hugh

Ingram, I've met the first girl, in the world, whom I would like
to marry.

Ingram

Stuff'.

Hugh

But it is true. So beautiful, so gentle and so very frank then
she is so sensible you know, and not to proud to take an interest
in all sorts of common affairs.

Ingram

Hm: Hm:

Hugh

(turning away) You are not a very sympathising confidant.

Ingram.

Because I know the story of old, you have told it to me about
twenty women and it is always the same- I suppose you have made a
heroine of this one, and have fallen in love with her for a for-
tnight, and then you will return to London and get cured by a
flirtation with some city belle.

Hugh

Society Belle: and who do you suppose-- Ingram, could endure those
creatures after once seeing our Shiela.

Ingram

Nonsense: Shiela is a country girl, sweet as a wild flower,
but still a wild flower, and you brought up as you were in a
London drawing room cant appreciate her character yet.

Hugh

Can't appreciate Shiela. Ingram I love her.

Ingram

Why Holcomb: I firmly believe you have some romantic notion
of marrying her and taking her up to London with you. Goodness
gracious, what a figure such a girl would cut in a London draw-
ing room.

Hugh

Bother the drawing room, Come Ingram dont be absurd, I have
firmly made up my mind to marry Shiela O'Mara, if she will have
me, But I shall not take her to London, I shall quit the great
world, fortunes, and its failures, and become a free islander
of Arran, wear coarse sailor clothes and devote my life to making
Shiela happy.

Ingram

All this is idle talk, and once for all I say again and for the
last time. You don't know Shiela O'Mara. Yet and I doubt if ever
you will.

Hugh

Confound the fellow, why you must be in love with her yourself.

Ingram

(slowly) Shiela and I are two old friends for that.

Hugh

And do you really mean to tell me that you are not in love with
our Irish princess ? Answer me honestly Ingram.?

Act 3rd.

Scene 1. Room interior. Bed and furniture. Pen, ink, and paper.
medicine bottles &c. Mrs Holcomb discovered sitting propped up
in bed.

Gray,

Mrs Hol.

Yes ma'am.

Gray

The time?

Mrs Hol.

Five ten ma'am.

Gray.

Five ten, don't you know I should have taken my medicine at five
sharp.

Mrs Hol.

Yea ma'am.

Gray

And here you leave me to die alone- if I didn't keep my eye on
you, How many drops Gray?

Mrs Hol.

Seven ma'am.

Gray

Mrs Hol.

Well, see then that you don't get more, I expect that you will
give me an overdose of poison some day in order to get your
legacy the quicker. And you know very well, that I am on my death
bed.

Yes ma'am.

Gray

What's that?

Mrs Hol.

Oh nothing ma'am.

Gray

Oh! very well Gray, my pulse?

Mrs Hol.

Seventy ma'am.

Gray

What is?

Mrs Hol.

Seventy ma' am.

Gray

Mrs Hol.

I am getting worse, give me Marcus Aurelius (gives book) well I
declare some one is knocking, see who it is Gray, (enter Shiela
Oona, Phadrig.) Great Heavens! child you here, where did you
come from? and what do you want?

Shiela

Mrs Holcomb, I have left my husband and I have come here to ask
your protection.

Mrs Hol.

Do you mean to say that you have run away from home, Shiela Hol-
comb.

Shiela

Yes ma'am I have.

Mrs Hol.

I understand, that good for nothing husband of your's has been
abusing you.