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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 1904)
is THE SUNDAY 0REG0NIA3, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 14, 1905. 2TDUARD VQRGW 5 Z3dt5Z TiOSST viV: CANFS j O tetter character play has been giv- c n his season at the Marquam than "The Mumy and the Humming Bird." by Paul Gllmore and his com pany. Mr. Gllmore showed by his easy, natural acting and the striking, clearly cut perception of his part that he Is forg. lng ahead in the front rank among our younger American actors. Very few ac tor anywhere have such a magnificent voice as that with which Mr. Gllmore Is blessed It Is like-a cathedral organ. "The Tyranny of Tears," Mr. Gilmore's play of last season, had one part In It that eh one like a beacon light, the part of the secretary. So with "The Mummy," the character of Giuseppe, the vengeful Ital ian, and so artistically played In panto mime by John Martin. The latter's work was very powerfully drawn and his por traiture will be long remembered. For the short time he had to master his part, Mr. "Yielding gave a satisfactory rendi tion: "William Strong gave a healthy, Im pulsive portrayal of the young Lord. As Lady Lumley, Margaret Drew was fairly good, but she did not convince at times. The scenery was first class. It is impossible to think of the pro duction of- "Jane" by the Baker Theater Company, without a pleased smile. There is so much in the pretty comedy to like. The youngest actress in the cast. Miss Vcrnoy "Whipple, one year old, ought to got her salary raised, for she certainly made a. hit at the end of the second act, when the curtain arose and she was dis covered seated on the stage all lone. "William Bernard was Irresistible as "Will lam Tlpson, an English upper servant, and his assumed jealousy for his bride was most amusing. Bennott Southard made a ubiquitous boy In buttons. Mlna C. Gleason sacrificed hor good looks for a most original makeup as Mrs. Chad wiok. and her character work had a true comedy ring to it George Alison, as tho bogus father, had a ready stream of fab rications always at hand, and was ever quick to grasp his opportunities. The Jane of Esther Lyon can bear favorable comparison with that of Johnstone Ben nett It was a lively portrayal. Howard Russell made good as Fixton, and was ably supported by Gertrude Rivers. Two plays worth hearing, "The Blue Grass of Old Kentucky" and "Doris." were tho attractions at Cordray's, and Jessie Shirley's company played to fair business. In "Blue Grass" tho dramatist made far .too much of the mere fact of love letters having been written years beforo the man was married. In real life, these letters would have acted as a boom erang on the woman, if she had showed them as a means to make capital, T. B. Loftus was excellent as Colonel Decatur. In "Doris" Miss Shirley appeared to bet ter advantage in the title role, and "Wilson Forbes was Impressive and commanding as Rev. Mr, Merrlgood. G. D. McQuarrle made a manly Kenneth Ashlelgh. If "Doris" had a little less tears In It It wouid be moro welcome. Wober and Edwards make good at the Arcade with their musical eccentricities, and Freeze brothers work hard to "get & hand" with their tambourines. "MISTRESS NELL." Henrietta Crosman's Famous Comedy at the Baker Today. Managor George L. Baker has succeed ed in securing for tho Baker Theater Com pany tho initial "Western production of one of the greatest New York successes of recant years, Henrietta Crosman's ro mantic historical comedy, "Mistress NeH," which will be the attraction at tho Baker Theater all week beginning with the matinee this afternoon. It Is a romantic comedy In four acts from tho pon of George C. Hazelton, and revolves around the character of Charles II of England and Nell Gwyn, the orange girl, who became the most fa mous actress of the period. Tho first act Is the greenroom of the King's theater, London, where the Initial performance of Dryden's play, "Grenada," is being per formed. Kelt Gwyn In the character of Altnahyde wins great success and the favor of the King. Nell, through her fas cination and wit becomes a great favor ite with all. A great deal of comedy is caused by the lovelorn lord enamored of Nell. She is truly and heartily in love with the King, and during the progress of the play frustrates the plot of the Duke of Buckingham and Duchess of Ports mouth against the King, by masquerading as a boy and visiting the Duchess of Portsmouth's ball, where she Intercepts the papers that are to be sent to Louis of France from the Duchess. At the ball in the King's presence to try his love for hor she reviles Nell Gwyn. The King in defence of Nell forces her Into a duel, thereby showing his love for her. After crossing swords with the King she evades his sword and escapes through a window. Returning home, still in boy's clothes, she is followed by the King and his merry Lords, and is seen to enter Nell's apart ments through the window. The King and his party, believing her to be a man, pur sue, and here occurs the merriest scene In the play, where the Duchess and Duke are unmasked, the King discovers that Nell Gwyn and Adair are one and the same, and all ends happily. "ONE NIGHT IN JUNE." Opens at Cordray's. Theater at To day's Matinee. The attraction, "One Night in June," which is booked to appear at Cordray's Theater at today's matinee. Is without doubt one of the strongest plays "before the public. It3 last year's tour through tho principal cities was one long series of triumphant successes, and this season finds it marching under the same ban ner of prosperity. A carload of magnifi cent scenery, beautiful electrical and me chanical effects; a large caste of clever Metropolitan artists and a series of the newest, brightest specialties Introduced during the action of the piece, make the presentation one long to be remembered. The theme of the play is based on the love story of the country parson and the village belle, who has just returned from school. "While at the seminary she forms an attachment with an unscrupulous vil lain and clandestinely marries him. A child Is born to them. He tells her she Is not his legal wife, and his treatment of her is such that she places the child In te care of a trusted friend and returns to her childhood home, supposedly from school. Fearing to cause her father worry, she keeps from him the story of her marriage, but reveals It to the Parson, who, although most broken hearted, for gives her and promises to keep her secret. He resigns his pastorago and goes to New York. The husband appears upon the scene, and by threats of exposing her to her father gets her consent to accom pany him "back to New York, which she does, leaving a message to her father, ask ing him to forget and forgive her. The trials of the heroine In the great city give rise to scenes of dramatic In terest, but the last act finds the mother and child back on the old farm, happy in the associates of their dear ones, but still under tho shadow of disgrace. This Is all cleared up by her husband's accom plice, who brings her news of his death, also the proof that she alone was his legal wife. The Parson returns and the love story which was broken ."one night in June" is taken up where it was left off and all ends happily. The closing pic ture on the stage at the conclusion is never to be forgotten, and one that will live In the memory of those who seo It for long years to come. "THE ETERNAL CITY." Edward J. Morgan at the Marquam Tomorrow Night. Edward J. Morgan, supported by nearly the entire original company, will present Hall Caine's much-talked-of drama, "The Eternal City," at the Marquam Grand Theater tomorrow (Monday), Tuesday and "Wednesday nights. This event will rank among the foremost of the theatrical year, as no play since "The Christian" has caused such widespread and varied comment in this country and England. It was the sensation of a season fraught with the unexpected In New York last "Winter. The play remained at the Vic toria Theater in the metropolis for five months and commanded absorbed atten tion in the other large Eastern cities. "The Eternal City" is reinforced by the beautiful music setting written for It by Pletro Mascagni, composer of "Cavalleria Rusticana." Mascagni caught the eternal spirit of Rome and turned Into harmonies whose rhythm are as the pulse of the play. It Is not often that the oppor tunity comes to see a drama like Caine's and to hear music like Mascagnl's on the same evening. Liebler & Co. have surrounded Mr. Morgan with a production of a masslve ness and beauty seldom seen on the road. The scenes were taken from famous ex isting places, the best known being repro ductions of the Vatican Gardens, the In terior of the Castle of St. Angelo, the celebrated prison, and the Coliseum as seen in the moonlight. Donna Roma's studio is one of the most elaborate In terior sets ever constructed. Sarah Truax, late leading woman at the Grand Opera-House, Pittsburg, and one of the most talented and handsome of our young leading women, will have the rolo of the fascinating Donna Roma. Frederick de Belleville still lias his strong original role of Baron Bonelll, and Frank C. Bangs will lend his native dignity to the part of Pope Plus the Eleventh. In David Rossi, the enthusiastic young Italian patriot, Mr. Morgan has an even more vital character than that of John Storm In "The Christian," which he made famous.- The curtain will rise promptly at S o'clock. NEW BLEND OF VAUDEVILLE. Arcade Theater Will Present Enter taining Programme Next Week. The Arcade Theater has won fame by Its vaudeville blend by comedy, startling acts, and musical novelties. Today the programme Is continuous from 2 to 10:36 P. M. .and tomorrow at 2:3 P. ML the new bill begins. Six new acts of rare merit will be presented. The Barsdens, the world's greatest cycle wonders, will startle by their agile feats.- Leslie and Langton, far-famed funsters, will present a laugh-coin sketch, entitled "Oour Coun try Cousin." The Telsuwarl arc the imper ial troupe of Japanese Jugglers, as clever In vaudeville as their countrymen are daring on the sea, Delmar and Dexter"s long suit is turning entertaining tricks as fast as their audiences can respond to their merry quips. Jessie More, the favorite singer of Illustrated songs, and the American Bioscope with moving pic tures complete the programme. THE KILTIES BAND. Picturesque Musical Organization at the Marquam This Week. The celebrated Kilties Band, undoubted, ly the most picturesque, novel and popu lar musical organization now beforo the public will be heard at the Marquam Grand Theater next Thursday night, Feb ruary IS. This wonderful organization, which was recruited from the five principal regi ments of the Dominion of Canada, has played before hundreds of thousands of people in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Tho band, in their concert, always give due prominence on their pro grammes to the compositions of the great composers, bur they are 'equally at home In the popular music of the day, and par ticularly excel in the rendition of their own peculiar national music, that of Scot land. Aside from the musicians In the band, attached to the organization are seven soloists, six- Highland dancers, two bag pipers, four British military buglers and a splendid vocal choir of 18 voices, who relder with' skill and effect exquisite Scotch and American melodies. The band appears In the picturesque full-kilted uniform, and attached to It Is a giant drum-major, Donald MacCormack, who stands seven feet In his stocking feet, and oyer feet in the feather bonnet which he wears. George "W. Griffith, the owner of the band, has equip ped it with every accessory necessary to the successful conduct of a high-class concert band, and there Is every reason to anticipate a successful engagement. The advance sale of seats will open next Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock. "Down by the Sea." The attraction following "One Night In June" at Cordray's Theater, week of Feb ruary 2L will be seen a quaint and . suc cessful comedy-drama of life on tho "sea coast, entitled "Down by the Sea," wblcH' comes to us overwhelmed with laudatory notices from critics -wherever It has been presented. This production will be one of the theatrical treats of the seaaQri.'"". Murray and Mack. Murray and Mack, who come to the" Marquam Grand Theater shortly with their latest musical offering, "A Night on. Broadway," are winning new laurels every week. Undoubtedly they arc Amer ica's best stage Irishmen, and their pop ularity Is founded on merit and origin ality. "The Bostonlans." The announcement of the early coming of the Bostonlans to the Marquam Grand Theater will be welcome news to Port-, land theater-goers. "Sag Harbor." "Sag Harbor," James A. Heme's beau' tlful drama, will be seen at the Marqi Grand Theater In the near future. STAG ELAND. Harry B. Smith often says, with a placid smile, that he was discharged from every newspaper la Chicago. And there are news paper men by the dozen who corroborate his story. But the author of "Robin Hood" and "The Girl From Dixie." and the more thaa a hundred comic operas and musical comedies strewn over the 13 years between these out puts, says, with a sigh, that those newspaper -days were happy ones compared with the dark period since he became a manager and went into the "angel" business, besides being- a librettist, "I suppose there are playrigbts who lead an Ideal existence," he says, ruefully, "but per sonally I have a hundred worries now to one when I was a very unsuccessful reporter." Augustus Thomas was another confessed misfit In Journalism. It is a tradition on the St. Louis paper which ho attempted to servo that he was the worst reporter that had "re ported" for It In all Its 90 years. Frank Pixley, who wrote "The Burgomas ter." "King Dodo" and "The Prince of Pll sen." Is another graduate from newspaperdom who did not leave a gap that could not be filled. "Fairish" Is the highest praise any one has ever applied to his newspaper work. Even his devoted wife, whom he calls "Billy." could not say more for it. But sow that she has lured him away from his old Ideals when $50-a-week as an editorial writer on a New York newspaper represented to him life's high est good she dampens every verso he writes with her happy tears. Glen Macdonough's was a dim light on Park Row, and his editor had three distinct &nd nearly fatal shocks when he learned that the man for whom he had saved all his choicest editorial expletives had written a successful comedy for May Irwin. Leigh Bruckart. who went through the Ori ent and Australia ahead of the Frawley Com pany, says: "In Calcutta we owned the town for eight weeks. "We presented two new plays, and introduced the latest, up-to-date Ideas Ice cream and fans between acts. Oar com pany played In Melbourne and Sidney, but the season In those clUes was not enUrely satis factory! as the Australians, first of all. do not like Americans, and have no use for purely American plays, with the possible exception of Arizona,' 'Secret Service and a few others. "What they want Is elap-stlck American farce comedy. They are very lax regarding copy rights in Australia. There is no copyright on story books "there, and every fiction success that comes out U promptly seized by local dramat ists and put on the stage. The only way to protect book stories in dramatic form is to copyright that version. The pirate reigns su preme all through Australia. 'In the Palace of the King Is being played under the UUe of 'In Old Madrid'; 'Blue Jeans is being called In Indiana'; The "Wrong Mr. Right' Is called The Wrong Mrs. Right ; 'What Happened to Jones Is changed to 'What Happened to Smith. and so throughout the whole list of successful plays. Another peculiar thing about the Australian country Is that the actor, no matter how humble a member of his class, will not double a part. Every part Is la charge of a separate actor." Sick or well, the actor. like the soldier, has to go ahead. There Is no let up. A decidedly painful experience fell to the lot of Ed Abbey, of Jessie Shirley's Company, playing "The Blue Grass of Old Kentucky." at Cordray's Theater, last Tuesday night. Just as the cur tain was about to rite In the first act, a tele gram addressed to Mr. Abbey was handed to htm. He was all made up ready to go oa with his part. The universal sympathy of the company went out to him when It was learned that the telegram told the mournful news that his brother was dead at Toronto, cnfo "What was to be done? There was no under study ready to jump in and play Louis Birth elot, the part for which Abbey was cast. The audience was waiting, and rather than con sent to some one going on the stage and read ing his lines. Abbey smothered bis- prlrate grief and played his part. Nobody In the audience guessed that beneath his smiling face lay the weight of a heavy sorrow. He never played better. David Warfleld, cf 'The Auctioneer," aeed not play unless "he wants to' do so. This'" is the kernel of the opinion delivered by Justice Leventrltt, of the Supreme Court of New York, in the application for a mandatory Injunction asked for by Joseph Brooks. The latter, who says he Is a partner with David Belasco In the production, recently secured the appointment of a receiver of "The Auctioneer" In a suit for the dissolution of their partnership. Be lasco denied that any such partnership existed. Warfleld refused to play, except under Be lasco' s management, and when W. M. K. Ol cott was made receiver, Warfleld ceased play ing, and tho company was disbanded. Counsel for Warfleld contended that, while the court might enjoin Warfleld from acting for any persona outside his contract, it had no Jurls dlcUon to compel him to act If he declined to do so. Justice Leventrltt agreed with this view of the matter, and held that a mandatory Injunction could not Issue. Two babies filled Important roles at Baker's and Cordray's Theaters last week. In "Jane," the star baby attraction was Master Verney Whipple, 1 year old. eon of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Whipple, of 705 Vancouver avenue, and at the end of tho second act when the baby was left alone on the stage, he made a very pretty picture. A chorus of delighted "Ohs" arose from all parts of Baker's Theater, ahd tho (gyeyeryperHm present. Verney Whipple has wr wr, niie eyes, ana he is the proud pos- "sesjor, ;so. far,- of eight teeth. Miss Rankin. 4 months. Old, Is the baby who was the star actress ol- her size In "The Blue Grass of OltUKeitudkl'." at Cordrav's Theater. On ac- pfcouTrt'- or her tender age, she was carried arcuni br Miss Jessie Shirley. Baby Rankin hoe not received her Christian name as yet, -and is the adopted daughter of Mrs. Rankin, 375 Front ijtreet. JDavld "Belasco says: "After existing en gagements have been filled, no company of Bine shall ver again appear In a theater If Its booking Is controlled by the trust. The routes that I have booked myself, dealing dl ffectly wlmIocal managers, are Infinitely bet ter than any -routes ever given mo by Klaw & Erlanger, nd It Is obvious that the profits to both the local managers and myself should be ffiueh greater. Klaw & Erlanger receive a dmlsaloai . for booking from the company anaser, .a, percentage from the local man ger, and Jr? one Instance I was obliged to ve up a, run half of my entire Warfleld profits beslles. This enormous tribute was de manded by Klaw & Erlanser for booking routes that .necessitate great expense in rail way faresj with such long Jumps that players are .lnra rrpetual state of faUgue and irrita tion. FoVlhls service managers have paid tribute' for years. I know what I had to pay." Lansing Rowan, leading woman of the Hod- .klns StQck Company, at Memphis, Tenn., has necn engaged as leading woman of the Acad emy cf Music Stock Company, Newport News, Va., for the Spring and Summer season, open Ipg the latter part of next month. Miss Rowan wlll.be featured. The company will bo man aged by William T. Klrby, a .newspaper man. Royalty bills will be produced, the season opening with "The Girl I Left Behind ile," to be followed by "The Silver King." "The White Squadron." "Trilby." "Held by the Enemy." "When London Sleeps" and other similar bills. The season Is planned to last at least 12 wfeeks. and will probably run Into the Summer. Mlas Rowan's supporting company will make a short tour of Virginia In "Sapho" prior to the opening of the stock season at Newport News. "Mies Rowan was leading woman with Ralph Stuart the season before last. Oscar Hammersteln made public recently tho details of his Invention for quenching any fire that may happen on a stage. Ho has patented the device, but says It is not for sale, but that any manager is free to avail himself of his permission to use the invention, any way. ilr. Hammersteln's Idea is to substitute for the wooden or Iron cross-pieces In the gridiron. Iron pipes 1 inches in diameter, perforated with good-sized holes. In addition to the usual GOOO-gallon tank now in use on the roofs of the New York theaters, there must be a second tank of the same capacity. Both tanks are to be connected with the pipes, the water being held In check, until needed, by valves that may be operated from the stage. In case of fire, the levers or cranks could be opened and 10,000 gallons of water would flood the stage and drown out any blaze in a few mo ments. McVlcker's Theater, Chicago, with safe guards against Are and loss of life, reopened, being the first of the Chicago popular play houses to do so since all of them were closed after the Iroquois fire. The sight which met the eyes of the audience was a corrugated surfaco of the 2500-pound lire-proofed steel curtain. The curtain was lowered between the acts. Scarcely less obvious were the exits. 17 in number, nearly all leading directly to the alleys on each side of the theater. Above each In largo black letters on a white back ground was the word "Exit," Further, to direct the audience, a gas jet with a red globe appeared over each door. The aisles led di rectly to the exits, a reformation which cost the theater about 300 seats, chiefly in the bal conies. The theater people are under bond to make further alterations by September 1. llarle Cor.dlt, of Oswego, N. Y., and Fred erick R, Taylor, electrician of the Garslde. Condlt & Mack Stock Company, were recently married on the stage of the Colonial Theater, Feeksklll. N. Y. The ceremony followed the regular evening performance of the stock com pany. The bridal party, consisting of the members of the company, marched up the aisle to the strains of the wedding march from Lohengrin, headed by the youngest of the Arabian acrobats, who acted as page, car rying the wedding ring on a silver plate. Una. Pellhanl was bridesmaid, and Thomas Maskell best nan-. Rev. Thomas C Straus, a Presbyterian minister, officiated. A wedding breakfast at one of the hotels followed the ceremony. Attractions last week In San Francisco the aters: Columbia. James and Warde, In "Alex ander the Great"; Tlvoll, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home": Grand Opera-House, Weber & Fields. In "Whoop-Dee-pee" and "Catherine"; Alcazar, "The Gay Parisians"; Central, "In Sight of St. Paul's": California, Murray and Mack In "A Night oa Broadway"; Fischer, "Roly Pely"; Orpheum. Billy B. Van, Rose Beaumont and Company, Thome and Carleton, Enyder and Buckley. Rice and Elmer, Two Silvas. Stuart Barnes. Robertas and WUfredo. Orpheum moUon pictures, and Monroe, Mack and Lawrence. r . . , Laura Plerpont, who recently appeared In this city as the singing star In "Maloneys Wedding."- Is meeting with great success on tour, and Is one of the most valuable mem bers" of the company. She Is an unusually pretty girl, and although .her work Is warmly praised; her "head Is itlll of normal size. This Is one of her chief charms. Mlu Plerpont Is I 1 1 40 II $J?1 J.HOLMES " "v IN- QNF NIGHT WJUNF a Cincinnati girl, and is experienced in musi cal comedy work. Her father Is an artist, and she comes from a musical family. She U clearly destined for better engagements than the one In "Maloney's Wedding," which Is a good stepping-stone. Evelyn Wood and her stock company will open an eight weeks' engagement at the Dewey Theater, Oakland, Cal., commencing" -February 21. Miss Wood began her stage career under the Charles Frohman manage ment, and remained In his companies for three seasons. She next Joined Maud Adams, the Empire Stock Company, Marie Osborn for a special engagement, and then back to the Em pire Stock. Then followed a season with Isabelle Irving in "To Have and to Hold," and a season with Amelia Bingham. Last season she was with Elsie Do Wolfe. Two hundred members of Pyramid Lodge, No. 400, F. & A. M.. attended the performance pf "By Right of Sword" at the American Theater, New York, lately, to honor the star of the play, Ralph Stuart, who Is a member of the lodge. After the performance a ban quet was served on the stage, speeches were made, and a flash-light picture was taken of the gathering. The American Theater orches tra furnished the music, and played Theodore H. Bendlx's latest two-step, entitled, "By Right of Sword." Fl F. Proctor, the prominent vaudeville man ager, has purchased the Fltty-elghth-Street Theater, New York, from Randolph Guggen helmer, for about- $500,000. Mr. Proctor con trols the theater 'at the present time, and there will be no change of policy in his man agement. This Is the second theater he bos bought In the last few months, the other being the One Hundred and Twenty-flfth-Street The ater, In Harlem. Mr. Proctor now owns four theaters outright and controls three more. Many, people have asked the name of the pretty melody that Frank M. Griffin, the con ductor of Baker's Theater Orchestra, played as a curtain-raiser to the comedy, "Jane." The air Is taken from the English ballad, "My Pretty Jane," by Bishop, and was one of the most famous songs in the repertoire of the eminent English tenor, Sims- Reeves. It Is a tender love song, and so beautifully did Mr. Reeves sing It, that he often left his audience dissolved In tears. Manager George L. Baker Is negotlaUng with Dodson L. Mitchell to reproduce his American patriotic play, ,"Paul Revere," at Baker's Theater In the near future. Every schoolboy knows the story of the patriot, Paul Revere, who, during the Revolution, mounted the steeple at midnight of the Old North Church, Boston, and swung bis lantern to warn the Americans of the approach' of the British. Otis Skinner will use Edwin Booth's reper toire next season on an Independent tour, to begin In November In Chicago and to stay four weeks In New York. The plays will be "Hamlet," "Macbeth," "Richelieu," "Ruy Bias," "The Merchant of Venice," "Richard III," "The Fool's Revenge." "Don Caesar de Bazan" and "Franceaca da Rimini" all, with the possible exception of the last, nonroyalty plays. The Rochester (N. Y.) Herald says, appropoa of the Improvements in exit facilities demand ed by the authorlUea everywhere: "With the predominating Influence of the Theatrical Syn dicate, it Is most desirable at any rato that there shall bo moro opportunities for patrons of the drama to get away from some of their bad shows. Let the exits be multiplied and kept open!" Henry Miller's 18-ycar-old on. Gilbert, Is lh Miss Bingham's company, playing a small part la "Olympe," against his father's wishes, as Mr. Miller did not want him to go on the stage, .giving as a reason that the stage Is overcrowded. Gilbert Heron Is the young man's stage name, from his mother. Bijou Heron's, name. Mrs. Brune, who has been In London with her husband. Clarence M. Brune, has gone to Paris to receive vocal instruction from Slgnor Sbriglia for two months. Mr. Brune's companies are now touring In the English provinces. Mrs.. Brune appeared at the Mar quam last Season In "Unorna." Minnie Pixley, now Mrs. E. H. McCracken. was lately vislUng In San Francisco. She and Annie Pixley. It will be remembered, were a great team In years gone by. Mrs. McCrack en was a fine dancer, and Annie made M'Llss famous. Gus Pixley. the brother. Is an actor, and Is presenUy In New York. Nearly the entire business staff of Klrke La Shelle was 111 one day recently. Mr. La Shclle was down with a severe case of ptomaine poisoning; his stage director, John Stapleton, had nervous prostration, and Del Bonta, his general manager, had tho grip. But all are better, or very near It. James E. Sprott and J. E. Small have com pleted a comedy entitled "Love's Triumph," that will be produced next season. Mr. Sprott Is now writing the book of a romantic opera. In which Forrest Huff will be featured. Mr. Sprott was press agent last season for Harry Carson Clarke. Companies closed: "On the Stroke of Twelve," "The Japanese Nightingale." la South Bend. Ind.; "Minister's Daughter," at Richmond, Ind.; "Jesse James, the Bandit King"' at Burgholx. O.; "Heart of Chicago,'' at Syracuse, N. Y.; "A Desperate Chance." Julia Sanderson, who played at short notice Paula Edwardes part of "Winsome Winnie," at the New York Casino, recently, while Miss Edwardes -was ill. has been engaged to-play Mrs. Pineapple In the Easton Company's pro duction of "A Chinese Honeymoon." The engine attached to Sir Henry living's special car, on the way from New York to Montreal, blew .up near McKeever, N. Y., lately, and the engineer was badly scalded. No one else was Injured, and the train went on after a short delay. Nine out of every ten actresses who col lapse from "overwork" and "nervous prostra- tloa" are victims of. lack -of fresh, air." You rarely knew a woman who made two hours out of doors every day mandatory to herself that became a wreck. ' Engagements for the James Nelll Company: Los Angeles. Cat.. unUl February 20; Ye Lib erty Theater. Oakland. Cak. March 6-June 19; Majestic. Theater, San Francisco, June 20-Sep- tember S; Los Angeles, from. September 11, In definitely. m The New York DramaUc Mirror of February i 0 says: "There are but threo prominent stock companies on the Pacific Coast, Of these the Baker Theater Company U located at Portland. Or. The other two organizations are- In- Cali fornia." Robert RusselL of Schenectady. N. Y.. son of the. late Sol Smith Russell, bad charge of tne electrical exhibit at the recent Automobile '.Show at the Madison Square Garden, New Maude Adams was lately taken, ill 'in Water- bury, Conn., and was brought to her house In East Forty-first street. New York, to recuper ate. Tomorrow night, at the Alcazar Theater. San Francisco. "The Charity Ball." by David Belasco and H. C. Da Mllle. will bo presented. York. . , E. D. Price, of the Alcazar, San Francisco, will go East in April. Mrs. Price 13 vilUng relative In Idaho. Chris O. Brown has signed with Norrls & Rowe's Circus to handle car No. L Frank Oppcrman has 'one arm helpless from the effects of rheumatism. Fanny Gillette is still In New York, not In the best of health. Ellta Proctor 0tl3 has Joined the Century Theater Company. STORIES OF THE STAGE. Remembering El H. Sothern. there are sev eral lines In the text of his play. "The Light That Lies In Woman's "Eyes," that cause one to wonder whether they are- uttered In a spirit of apology or protest. For example, the bounder Wiggin Smyth WlggJn remarks: "I've got to go on the stagf?." "Why?" asks Lucy Porter. "I'm no good for anything else." "But how do you know you can act?" "Ob, any fool can do thatl" Later some one says: "The stage Is going to the dogs in this country," and the retort is: "The stage la always going to the dogs in every country. Wonderful how cheerful tho dogs are." Another exchange of "courtesies" having to do With he profession results when the query Is made: "It he falls as an actor, what will he do?" "Ob, then, he'll teach acting." "They'll name a cigar after him." "Good; then he'll end In smoke." Mr. Sothern has evidently had experience with budding novices that led to this apt de scription of the class: "Now that he's mado up his mind to act, he thinks he knows all about if," And in the phrase, "These Irish people have no sense of humor; wo laugh at them because they have a brogue, but they're not really funny," one wonders It it is not the leading man's protest against the popular appeal of the character actor, who gets laughs by a com bination of red wig, broken English and mak ing mouths on the side. r There are Innumerable little comedies and tragedies of the theater that the people before the curtain know nothing about. Not so very long ago an actress in New York made a pro nounced hit In a play which was numbered among the season's few successes. Night after night her strongest sceno was applauded to the echo, and again and again the curtain had to be raised to allow her to bow her smiling acknowledgements to the enthusiasts out front. But each time the curtain fell, screen ing the actress from the audience, her tongue went out In derisive mockery at those who were paying her that unusual compliment of unrestrained applause. To the casual spectator of tho Incident the MOTHER LOVE ON THE STAGE AS PORTRAYED BY MRS. DELLEN BAUGH IN " POLICHINELLE " Sr New York Press. S tender and appealing as a tear set in smiles is Harriet Otis Dellen baugh's portrayal of mother love In "The Secret of Pollchinelle" at the Madison Square Theater. It Is an emo tional gem, clean cut and radiantly beau tlfuL It is "the touch of nature" in a pure and pretty comedy. "Mrs. Dellenbaugh must bo a mother herself," said a sweet-voiced, sad-faced matron after the performance on "Wednes day night "I'm sure of it. She could not play with such real and intense fueling and so naturally If she were not. Her work bears the stamp of genuine heart-love. It is a lesson in tenderness that some of us need overmuch, I fear." Mrs. Bellenbaugh Is a mother, and her son Is the inspiration of her art. He is a sturdy little chap, a bit older than tho boy In the play but not so much older that she cannot readily imagine him to be the chnu before her on the stage. The story of "The Secret of Pollchi nelle" tells of a mother who finds that her only son has been secretly married for five years and that he has a child, a boy of four. Her delight, gratification and pride in the child struggle for the mastery with her disappointment and. re gret at her son's choice of a wife. "The part is very real to me," Mrs. Del lenbaugh confessed to the writer. "I ap ply the circumstances of the piay to my self personally, and I know how I should feel and act under them at home what I would do and suffer for my own child In such a situation. Then I analyze my feelings with the result which you have seen. "There Is a sceno In the play, you re member, where a photograph of my grand son Is shown to me. I'll let you Into a secret. That picture Is actually a photo graph of my own son; and it Is so for the reason that I could not get tho nat ural expression without It. In the re hearsals wo used simply a piece "of card board and my lines sounded unreal to me as artificial, in fact, as that bit of blank paper. I told the manager that if I was to get out of this piece of business all there was In it I must be shown a picture of my own little boy. He agreed. "Now, when I sec that, the scene be comes as real to me as anything could be In my private life. I can see my own NEVER AGAIN, SAYS SOTHERN ACTOR, SUED BY BUDDING PLAYVRIGHT, VOWS TO READ NO MORE MANUSCRIPT H. SOTHERN wHI never, no never, e again read the manuscript play of any young man or woman who "only wants a chance." Mr. Sothern was served today, at Louis ville, Ky., with more papers in a suit filed by Miss Ellenetta Harrison, of Som erset, Ky., says a New York newspaper. The actor is said to be seriously thinking of founding a library for the containing of similar legal papers and of entering into competitidn with "Weber & Fields as champion defendant of the theatrical world. Miss Harrison's demand is for tho mod est sum of $5000. She claims this amount for a play called "The Stage of Life." When the process-server caught Mr. Sothern In his hotel, the actor's face It self was a breach of the peace. Not H1I debrand, nor P.upert of Hentzau, nor any of the others whom Mr. Sothern has im personated or slain, could withstand the glance. But he controlled himself. "A year ago," Mr. Sothern explained, "Miss Harrison sent me a thing that thick" Indicating a couple of books lying atop of each other. "She said she was In a hard way. Father and mother poor, she their main support. Mortgage on the, farm. Same old James A. Hearrie talc. But, she said, 'great ldea3 la actress attitude seemed most ungracious, but uucnsaiea an explanation or it i may or may not seem sufficient -as one se u view it. "For years," she said. "I have worked and slaved arid fretted for recognition hero In New York. la other cities they have respected my efforts for a long time. Here It was always bad business, bad noUces. and cold, cruel treatment. Now I have them exactly where X want them. No. I'm not unappreclaUv (hert ete made a contemptuous grimace): that's Just the way I feel about it," Maude Fealy. chatting la her dressing-room ,a ,avoy about er somewhat rapid rise, told, with some gusto, this Incident of the cir cumstances leading in 1, , ., woman by William Gillette for "Sherlock Holmes"; "Mr. Gillette hadn't seen me when Mr. Froh- ,C t0 ensaKe me and en he told me I looked too young. I hurried down town ?, ?7 flrstJon sW. When next I saw Mr. Gillette my hair was done up for the first time, and I wore high-heeled slippers, so that I looked a good deal more of a woman. He laughed, and said I looked a lot older, but I knew I didn't. "I will never fonret that Miss Fealy. "It didn't At me. It didn't begin 10. me mnouni 01 irouwe I had to make it presentable would only be appreciated by a woman. But I firmly believe that the skirt got me that position; and. as I consider myself a very fortunate girl In getting it. I naturally cherish that first long skirt" Eleanor Robson anneared th n i in a brand-new frock In the last act of "Mere ly Jiary Ann," at the Garden Theater. New York. The dress she has hnn trmrion in .v.. act Is pink. The new one Is white and some- wnar. plainer, although no les3 elegant In de sign. "Don't you think you're a bit extravagant?" Inquired one of Miss Robson's friends the day after she had worn the new dress for tho first time. She went on: "I think that pink dress is a dream, and Isn't nearly worn out. Of. course, the white Is a dream, too, but then" "Well," replied the actress, Vlt's this way. I've found since I've been at the Garden that audiences differ a great deal. Some of them are very cold, and others are very enthusl--stic Now. I always Uke to have things in keeping with my surroundings. So. when I find I have a cold audience out la front, I intend to wear the pink dress. When the au dience Is enthusiastic. I shall put on tho white. Don't you think that's a good Idea?" The handsomest usher at the Marquam The ater tells this one: "When one of the East ern companies playing 'The Little Minister was In the Aeight of Its success la New York, one of the ticket-takers noticed a Scotch colllo dog looking as if ho would like to seo tho show. Ultimately tho dog stood In line and made straight for the central door along with the crowd, but to his great surprise he woa kicked out. Three different times did tho dos attempt to get In to see tho show, and each time he got the boot. He eyed tho crowd with Intelligent interest, and at lost seemed to notice that each person who passed through the theater door carried a ticket In his right hand. A Scotchman who was present, not wishing to see one of his own nationality get left, said to the dog: 'Am Scotch like yersel. Pit a btttle paper in yer moo an' ye'll be a rlcht,' The dog barked as If he understood the advice, and the next minute ha appeared at the theater door with a piece of paper In his mouth. That was his ticket, and he was Immediately admitted." When Otis Skinner returned to his old homo town, Hartford. Conn., on day last Summer, he met a friend of his school days, Charles G. Huntington. "Busy Just now?" asked Skinner. "No," .said Huntington: "what will we dor "Let's go swimming same old swimming hole in the Farmlngton River." "All right," said Huntington; "shall wo drive out, or walk, as we used to?" "We'll walk." said Skinner. So they tramped the threo miles to the old swimming-hole, which neither of them had seen In a score of years, and plunged In. They walked back. Skinner was so lamo he couldn't act for a week, and Huntington has been peri odically rheumatic ever since. son as he played around our house at the age of this little boy In the play, and I can recall how rhy heart used to jump at a sudden sound when he was not in the room, and how I feared for half a second, with my heart In my throat, that It portended some disaster or misfortune to him. That i3 mother love, and it is a sensation and feeling which no one but a mother can fully comprehend. "In tho play the mother's disappoint ment at her son's marriage Is greatly overshadowed by her delight in his hap piness; yet even this is tinged with a shade of pain at the thought that it must have been a sore distress to him for these five years to have such a great secret from his mother, whom he love3 with, all the devotion of a truly good son. "Several persons have suggested to mo that this line of thought would not occur In tho real lovo of a mother; that sho would be so disappointed and angry at her son'3 deception atad marriage so far beneath him that she would havo no thought . for his sturdy little son. I do not agree with these critics at all. I know that if I were to find my own son had acted in a similar manner I should feel glad that he was happy, and while it would be a great source of grief that ha had not confided his love to me in tho first place, yet I think all this would be swept away In my desire to have him happy. "If a mother truly loves her son, her. first and only thought is his happiness, and if he loves a girl well enough to havo been constant and faithful to her for five years under burdensome circum stances, he must love her with a really true and great love. Therefore, having proved his devotion, a mother who would not welcome his wlfo with open arms would not be worthy the name of mother. Then, too, even If she would not forgive, her son for his own sake, tho sight of her grandson should melt any mother's or grandmother's heart. Particularly lg this true In France, where small families are the rule rather than the exception, and the birth of a child Is therefore very much more of an event than It Is In Eng land or America, "Consequently I think the Interpretation of tho role which I have given It is a proper one. Summed up. It simply amounts to a mother's love for her son surmount ing any and all circumstances and condi tions, and any mother win agree with ma that this Is the rule In real life." manuscript.' Would I read it? Oh, yes! Soft-hearted dub of an actor certainly I would I Now, we players are a good natured lot. There's heart in most of us, and we fall for the real, because lt'a strange to us. I honestly wanted to help that poor girl, and wrote a' note saying I'd read her work at my earliest con venience. I've never read It because I haven't had the time. In fact, I haven't had time to answer my own personal let ters. "So now she wants her play, eh? Like Mr. Schoonmaker, of Lexington." Mr. Sothern referred to E. D. Schoon maker of Lexington, who yesterday ob tained an order of court on Mr. Sothern. to return a manuscript, "No," said the interviewer. "She wants $5000, which she says you agreed to pay hen" "It'3 a forgery," said Mr. Sothern. "I never 3lgned any agreement to pay her money for that piece of work, nor did I promise to do so, verbally. I'll read no more plays! I don't want any won't have any! "They are imposing on my good nature. I know where to get plays. I go to a particular playwright every time I want a play. How absurd for me to pay a mere girl, who isn't known to anyone, 55000, when all my plans have been made for seasons ahead! Oh, really, it would mak me laugh If It wasn't so serious."