consolation in a French widow whose Christian name was Madeline. Such was the situation at the time when the Carters made their first visit to Salt Lake, and the veteran tragedian having settled down in Salt Lake to end his days, was in mortal dread of the Carters fixing their future home here too. CHAPTER XV. SEASON OF '71-'72. The season of '71 and '72 opened on August the 4th, only two weeks after the closing of '70 and '71. The Lingards were the opening attraction; they played only two nights. The Lingards consisted of Horace W. Lingard, Alice Lingard, his wife, and "Dickie" Lingard, a sister to Horace. They played short cast pieces and did not require many members of the company. The repertoire included "Caste," "The Weaver of Spitaefield," "Morning Call," "A Happy Pair," etc. They were followed closely by Kate Newton and Charlie Backus of minstrel fame, who stayed two nights; and these were succeeded by the Hyers Sisters, a colored concert troupe, who gave five concerts, opening August the 9th and playing up to the 13th. On the 21st Joseph and Mrs. Murphy made their debut in drama--the medium being a hash-up of improbable incidents put together to string Joe's specialties on. He played a sort of stage detective and disguised variously as an Irishman, a Swede, a Dutch Girl, and a Nigger. This was the first performance of "Help" on any stage, and should have been the last, if merit alone counted. The Salt Lake Theatre was made the bridge to carry a number of new dramatic ventures across the quicksands of dramatic speculation. Afraid to make the trial of a new play in San Francisco or New York, they have brought them to Salt Lake to "try them on the dog." "Help" ran three nights, 21st to the 24th, and was fairly launched on the dramatic sea, and Joe Murphy was no longer a blackfaced comedian but a versatile actor of the Irish comedy persuasion. "Help" served Joe faithfully for several seasons and put him on Easy street, financially. August 25th the Stock Company, strengthened with the Cogswell-Carter troupe, resumed. J. W. Carter was engaged to play leads for a time; McKenzie was absent, Lindsay was gone, Hardie had deserted, and the management were in sore straits for a leading actor. The Stock played from August 25th to September 25th, when Mrs. Lander opened a star engagement in "Mary Stuart," continuing one week, during which she gave, in addition to "Mary Stuart," "Camille," "The Hunchback" and "Marie Antoinette." Mrs. Lander was at this time one of the bright particular stars of the American stage. She was a woman of superior intelligence and rare dramatic talent and played a fine engagement.