Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-01-24
METROPOLIS MATTERS.
Edwin Booth Suddenly Closes q
Star Engagement
BECAUSE OF MS POOR AUDIENCES.
Lessons He Could Learn From irving
Some Of the Styles Recently Adap-
ted by womsn-POpularity
Of Chop Houses.
.Spo-ial 10 tis Rc,ts,er.


NEw YORK. January 23.-Mr. Edwin
Booth has suddenly terminated bis engage.
ment two weeks before the time decided
upon when he began at the Star Theatre
some weeks ago. This Is not really because
Mr.. Booth needs rest" As has been stated,
but simply because his engagement had
been q Hat footed failure. Nobody is 10
blame but Mr.. Booth himself. He isa
good actor, and in some respects, . great
one, and the American public 10 willing
and often anxious to pay ito money 10 see
him. He could be great and successful
man II he chose, but he hates work OF any
sort, and 80 potters along in the old style.
The fact il, Mr.. Booth Is
A Little Behfsd tho Arc.
He is content to hire himself out TO tirm
OF theatrical speculators, Brooks & Dick
son, Who attend TO ali his business tor him,
and all he has to do 10 to step on the staSe
at night and play his part His company
Is almost criminally incompetent Coming
as II did sitter the supsrbly balanced troupe
OF Henry Irving, the miserable supportersef
Mr.. Booth seem doubiy bad. Ever since be
has been on the stage, Mr. Booth has pur-
sued the policy Of surrounding him,elf
with poor actors, 30 that he would shine
by contrast. He believes that this makes
him sppear greater. Mr.. Irving manages
his troupe with consummAte ability. HIS
industry 10 boundless and he works night
and day. He Is not 4 great actor but he
seems one. because he 10 tho head OF the
great troupe. Mr.. Booth with suck su-
perb surroundings a. Mr.. Irving would be.
come a national blessing. As 1t Is, he re-
peats his failures each succeeding year.
Red the Prevailing Color.
The number OF remarkably pretty
women Who attended the first performance
VI 'it,spiion' M Wallack's on Tuesiay
uirht excited more comment than tho
play itsrf. There seemed 10 be no end OF
them. The theatre Was fairly filled, and
fully tw,-thirds Of the auditors Wrrs OF
the rrnllsr sex. don't know whether
there was any thing signifcan, in tho title
Of the I'lsy or not. They gisgled delight.
edly and snicEersd at every fresh dec~ptiou
on The slage and chsttercd erminsbly.
The men, overawsd by numbers, sat staring
stupidity at the women, and actually forgot
10 90 out between the acts. don't tnos
that more sincere compliment could have
beer paid them. The ostumes Of fashion.
able women this season Is certsinly stun
ming. A great many OF them at Wsll,ct's
on Tuesday night reminded me Of an opsra
boufis that had seem years ago, before IL
had become popular for women 10
Wear such Atriking Cslovs,
One lady who sat scross the aisle from mo
locked rs II she had just stepped OIL Of the
stage, whore Shs Was playing In some gor
geous spt ctaculsr piece. | have not been
nbl TO decide yet whether 10 was q Jersey
she wore or something e'1e, brit suspect
II was something else, o. It went down 10
her heels II Was Of dark maroon. and was
completely covered, including tn" arms,
with brilliant tracery OF gIitpring beads.
The same idea was carried out In q small
bonnet, from which sprarg an snormpu,
red feather. Every time she moved she
giittered and sparkled like a snake
was struck by The prevaencs Of rel thst
night. presume, though have no sccu.
rate IN formation. that red Is about the cor
rect thing Ia wear for women. Every third
lacy had brilliant red head gear.
Popularity oGChsp Houses.
English clop houses are springing uD oil
over town. Their popularity increases
cor staDily. Three or four years ago there
were only half dozen god chop houses.
Now. there are = score or more, and they
are all Of them fourisbing The slap bang,
greasy, noisy and rushing restaurant with
its dozens OF tables. tOiied linen, slonchy
negro walters and miserable kitchen. hs
given way to neat and commodions little
chop houses with we'll polished tsblss, quiet
walters and excellent cooks They sell
nothing but shops, steak, potatoes, beer
and ale, snd the services II Characterized
by cleanliness aud promptnea. Ths prices
are qnite reasonable. II IL n sort Of r.,,au.
tsnt which appeals 10 tho large bo1y of
men who are not fond OF elaborate din.
ut 70, ird who enjoy . glass of ale and =
hop moro than the most smbitloas break.
fast.
sioch W. Cosnbiaatisss.
Il - certainty tine that WsIlack should
have q or two suocessfuI piscas. He bas
nod IOihiEg but q succession Of fail
rr,s f.r lie pest Two years. II va Q
..ra,s rr.t thing that rh-odore Noss. Who
MI. WAil.,k's psrtIsr, ssid the other
- hat sew York could not support
9, cck company. Mr. Moss says thst
- GL" Nr. Wsllsek are really considering
Ut j.Jt.'i i'v Of giving up there company
tG.nlihg their house 10 combinsiioas,
Ts! eek ID 10 be p!tied u, sftsr - many
year., iis theatre IL stlil rnsuorssfnl, but
sfteI ell, II 10 the policy Of the managers
which has resulted Ia 20 many failures.
Tie fret decided blow which yr. wslIsok
strutk TO his long scors OF success vas
when he began TO play those ridlculoos
melodrauPs nj his theatre several ysass
ego. His sn,ipsihy 10 everything that II
American, and bis psrristency IN spgaxinE
IN nothing that 10 not English, has op,f.
ttsd tgsins' him. One would think that
Mr. Wall6ck wouId see the sdvisibiiity Of
producing occasionally "a American p,sy
snd mpIoyiDg American sctosa People
have prtjudicss, and when one is cstsring
% Ia, n he IIn,t ALLOW Tor their i1lo1yncfa.