e waste of
precious time over a description of certain characters that were presently
to appear and endorse it, there was a sudden diversion. The professional
card of a private detective was discovered in an arm-chair. No one seemed
to know how it got there, and, as the curtain chose this moment to fall, we
were left in a state of palpitation, wondering how we were to get through
the interval with our curiosity unappeased. Ultimately it turned out that
the detective was to be employed by _Miss Ussher_ (aunt) to verify her
suspicions with regard to the morals of _Constance_. But I shall never get
you to believe me when I say that the subject was not so much as touched
again till the final Act.

I have spoken of the incongruous stuff of which old _Jacob Ussher's_ heart
was constructed. That strange organ was hard enough to make him give his
daughter away to his secretary in the matter of the forgery; but when it
came to a question of the exposure of her relations with her lover this
same heart was found to be of the consistency of putty.

I hope I shall not seem guilty of _Constance's_ indiscretion if I politely
wonder how it was that so astute a judge as Miss MARIE LOeHR accepted this
play. Actor-managers, of course, have been known to produce indifferent
work for the sake of a good acting part for themselves. If that was her
motive I think she must have imagined a fine subtlety in a character which
was difficult only because it was loosely conceived. If she failed to make
it plausible it was not for want of very adroit handling.

In _Jacob Ussher_ Mr. ESMOND gave himself a most congenial part, in which
he easily surpassed his achievement as author. Mr. TOZER as a slum-parson
was extremely probable with his quiet sincerity. But our chief consolation
came from Miss RACHEL DE SOLLA as the maiden aunt, a reactionary type of
the most confirmed stolidity, with a weakness for diamonds and indigestion.
Miss MARIE LOeHR had many clever things to say, but it didn't matter what
Miss DE SOLLA said; her manner was irresistible.

I must doubt, however, whether the excellent work of the actors will carry
the play to success. Even its title is obscure. The only thing I know about
"birds of a feather" is that they are supposed to "flock together"; and I
have always been given to understand that the adage alludes to the mutual
attraction of similar types. Nobody ever told me that it was meant to
indicate that the sins of the father bir