The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-06

good Excess Of flncry is demanded by this
play, and the costumes having been determined
by conventional rules and traditions. there Is
nothing In particular to describe They are
splendid and correct throughout; and II Mr..
Coghlan would only be satisfied with two
coats. instead OF three. and one pair of hose and
brooches instead of two, | am INCLINED to think
ho would lind more valuable nlnlirgrs OF his
drawing style Of playing INC role fashi"na-
bio men talk that way now. ! believe. aud they
used To- dress us Charles SV,Jdce is given ~ the
public hy Mr.. Coghlun.
Inc Union SQUARE IS noted iur We mi,hncry
eOratcd Case Will. l am sure, remember the
spcndor q costume ny tnat play. aud i is re-
pcatcd in " Mother and Son The Park. too. is
abaze at the moment with the satin and lace
and goden-lringed and ribbon -decked COS
tunes Of Mrs. Agnes Booth.
when the costumes of that admirable comedi-
ennc Mrs W. Florence, are seen on tho great.
ample stage ot the Grand Opera House. This
immense place ,ot amusement ~ illed
nightly with audiences largely composed Of
women wn,0 20, literally TO see. not hear,
to take u bnck seat and cunnot hear Billy Flor
ence and his funny wife make their mirth pro-
yokng hits. They can hire an opera glass in
which the Jolly cxtravaVnnt Mrs. Gem GilfOrV
has brought back from Paris. When she comes
act IN .princess robe OF cream iaille with rcd
rosebud embro,dpres in chenille. and ny
iringess TO match. with Tom Thumb tassels 81
Shaded red. every opera gHss is raised and
every neck is crHned forward TO get us full n
view rs possible. They all Know that her cream
sik stockings are embroidered to match tue
dress. and that the diamonds that sparkle ON
the ipstep OF her maroon satin slippers are
real. That her gloves bear n gold embroidered
monogram. and have twelve buttons. They
wonder If the pearls In her blonde hair and
around her pretty Int throat are real can tell
them secret IL Is said-I'm not sure that ii IL
true-thnt they were presented TO her by Mr.. j.
W. Mnckey. the great bonanza man. At any
rate he sad he was going 10 give her set. and
no doubt these are the very pearls.
Whether this Is 50 or not I'm sure VI one
thing, and that IS that when Mrs. Florence
changes her dress Tor each act IN the play AZ
she does. she does the thing thoroughly. was
there in her dressing room last might and saw
that she changed her shoes and stockings
Tor every uct that the stockings were all
Of SILK and all are equnily fine. and
beautiiul-all are clicked and of different
colors Tor ench drcss-thHt there j. no sham
about her laces. her jewelry her rouge. her
makeup. nor her acting She is tsue to nnture
every time in tho midst Of her art Her Mosaic
set is real. So ia her diamond dog collar,
bracelets, cross. earrings and pins set On spiral
wires so ~ o. trenhle Ike dew drops IN her
blonde pulls. It's worth double the money To-
see the way in which that clever woman sets UN
Mrs Florence" asked does II not fatigue
you terribly to dress ana undress 50 many
"Yes"-puning and blowing" but wha, is
one TO do It's expected. and you are obliged
to Keep up with others
She looked at me- with wan. weary look that
went TO my very heart. and went on:
DO you know that on matinee dnys-twicc a
week that isl dress and undrcss ten times
eight times at every performance. once before
leaving my hotel. and again after the perform
ance IS overland on the other four days. six
times dnyf Now count that up and see what
II makes
She started off on n run for the stage She
did not have time To- stop n moment after her
gloves were on and buttoucd. anu her jewels
were changed. The reader may count 1t w Tor
himself.
=, Now. suppose. instead Of playing the Mighty
Dollar night after night. rs Mrs. Florence doe
ior SIX months at time. and she has been 1T
that tor four years. | believe. she had 10 study
aud prepare Tor u new play every few weeks
How could she do II and accomplish AL that
dressing too: How can any woman become n
great nrtist who Keeps 40 all this dressing and
attempts new plays at the same time.
Just as | wis leaving Mrs. Florruce's dress
room, Christine. her mad. showed me- the
dresses IN which she VIII play the same role
next week. A new set OF costumes with stock
ings. slippers. and everything 10 match for each
costume.
And this is what draws the fullest houses
This II the sort OF thing that makes the money.
Do We not need a different KIND Of progression ?
Would We not do better 10 initiate the crawiish
and the lobster for while. since We have Tor
gotten our HsOp with has lesson Of the tortoise
and the hare!