"NEW BABYLON."

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2606, 14 August 1882, Page 3

"NEW BABYLON."

This evening another of the latest novelties in dramatto sensations, "New Bibylon," will be produced by Mr Holt at the Theatre Royal. As the piece is entirely new here a brief sketch of the plot may cot be uninteresting. The prologue opens with the grand saloon of the s.s. Antarctic. Seated at the tables are a number of passengers who are voyaging from New York to New Babylon. Hiram Maltby, a wealthy shipbuilder, whose wife some time previously absconded with one Austin Graham, tells his fellow passengers how he visited America, and invested a large am aunt of money in Union Pacifio bonds, and in visiting a gambling haute in compaty with an Irish gentleman, whose acquaintance he had made in New York), he met a young girl in the hands of an old woman and a foreigner. Maltby protects the girl from their vengeance, places the girl in charge of a trustworthy lady; but on his*~"~ return to the hotel he found the bonds he had previously purchased had been stolen. Flotsam (an American detective), a fellow passenger, on questioning Maltby, comes to the conclusion that the thief is one O'Sligo, a noted sharper. Eunice (the girl whom Maltby saved and who is on board the ship) is suddenly confronted by Ramirez, the very man from whom Maltby had rescued her, during a struggle (the night being very f°ggy) the sh<p collides with another vessel. Flotsam, Eunice, Maltby, Rimirea, Randal, and a Chinese servant, are saved.

The first act opens with Maltby and Madge, whom ho thinks is his real daughter. She is deeply in love with one Vinoent Vane. A Jew fence, named Ezra Lizareck, tells Maltby that the Yane family diamonds must be solely. to pay his (Vane's) gambling debts. Maltby oonsents to purchase them, and so save the family honor. The second scene is a scene from Taltersall's, introducing horses, ponies, Jko., for sale, also one Bel Lorimer, who so resembles Funics that she is constantly mistaken for her. The Long Firm visit Oremorne, with its thousand lights, with John Jeremiah La;i.b, Ecq. Maltby'a wife (cow a confirmed drunkard, nicknamed Aunt Crazy), enters, and Ramirez gains from her the whereabouts of Eunice. Flotsam is on the Long Firm's track. Eel Lorimer appears on the scene, and Ramirez seizes her in mistake for Funics, and when asked by her who he is Flotsam snatches the false wig and beard from Ramirez, and exclaims, " My prisoner, John Smith Ramirez," but during the struggle Ramirez escapes. A free fight takes place, in which John Jeramiah Lamb figures conspicuously, and the ourtain falls on act Ist.

Aot 2 opens with Maltby and Eunice. Maltby, learning that Eunice is his child, and not Madge, rushes from the house in a state of frenzy. A scene dtpioting Goodwood Baceoonr&e follows, wbero O'Sligo proves to be a welshei; the mob seize him, and during the straggle Flotsam fir.d,. the missing bonds in O'Sligo'* coat, but O'Sligo escapes. Bel Loriuier, finding that Vincent Vane has transferred his lave to Madge, determines to ruin him, and promises one Tiny Spurts, the jockey (a former lover), who if to ride Vane's horge for the Great Goodwood Stake, that she will marry bim if he Eelli the race. He does so. Vane flags him, and accuses bim of having sold the raca. Bel Larimer gloats at having ruined Vane, but Madge promises to 6'ive bim.

Act 3 discloses the Long Firm, Bamirez, O Sligo and Lazareck, who have an adjoining office to Maltby. Lazareek sells him tbe Vane diamonds, and receives £12,000 for the same. The Jew induces Maltby to give him a cheque for tbe amount, and returns the notes to Maltby, asking him to lock them up in the eafe. Maltby does so, but as he is leaving tbe effios the telegraph machine on the table sousds, and Maltby aska Lazareck to excuse him, and he will join him in the street. Maltby finds his presence is required at home. He takes the diamonds and notes from tbe safe and leaves tbe office. The villains in the adjoining office set to work to pull out the back of the eafe, and find they have been forestalled by Maltby. Flotsam arrives unexpectedly, and arrests O'Sligo. Jack Bandall, a clerk in Maltby't employ, who, having saved Eunice's life at sea, has so ingratiated himself in Maltby's favor that he promises him her hand in marriage with a wedding dowry of £13,000. Bandall, doubting that she is Maltby's daughter, quarrels with her, and demands his contract from Maltby, who refuses to give it to him. Bandall leaves the office uneesn by Maltby. Bamirei; and Lazireck enter and strike Maltby on the head, rendering him unsensible. They find the £12,000, but not tho diamonds, as they expected. They escape. Maltby revives, and despatches a message by the telegrapbio machine on the table to his daughter. She arrives, acoompanied by Vane and Flotsam, the detactive. Flotsam reads the tape, asa conoludas that Maltby has been attacked by Bamfrxz. In Act 4 r?e are introduced to 'a den in the Seven Dials, inhabited by the very scum ol the city. Here Flotsam enters (in search of Rimireit) disguised as a London ballad vendor. He amuses the crowd with a oonphj of comic songß, and, espying an old won an, gels into conversation with her, and suddenly occludes that the old woman is no other than Bamirez in disguise. He sings another song and departs, to arrange for the capture of the Bpaniard._ Bel Loiimer arrives on the scene on a visit to poor Tiny Spurts (.who after selling the race, is turced off the turf and reduoed to beggary) and who is now dying. Bamirez thinking she ifl Eunice seizes her, she escapes, and as he is about ho ahsothsr Spurts staggers from bis bed, knocks the pistol np from its aim, Rt.d falls dead. Bamirez is rushing after Eunice, when Flotsam enters and confronts him. The Spaniard, who is armed with a long fcowie knife, remains defiant, and when called on by tho Yankee to surrender exclaims, " It is your life or mine," making a terrifio blow at Flotsam with the knife, but tho aitute Yankee is wideawake, and seising the candlestick suddenly fells Kamirei and captures him. Flotsam finds proof of the robbory oa the Spaniard, and the Jew is brought on in cuttody by Jetsam. Maltby arrives to oonfront the sooundrels, who imagined he had died. A general explanation eninei, and all ends happily.