Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-04-19
A TEXAS BOY
And the Son Of Gsllant Confederate
Cavalier Who Fell at Shiloh.
Mr.. Robert McNair Tells Gazette Re-
porter Something Of His Antecodeuts.
A New Theatrical Move and the Way
the People View 1t,

before the curtain at the opera-house
Thursday night Mrs. Robert McNair
of the Monogram Dramatic company
alluded to the fact that her husband
was native Texan. AS this is his
first professional visit to the state 1t
was generally supposed that he was a
regular down-easter, and the GAZETTE
man, in some surprise, hunted up Mr..
McNair yesterday to inquire as TO his
antecedents. A youthful looking,
clean-shaven and affable gentleman.
in whom the resemblance to "lsadoren
is easily marked, responded TO the re-
portorial query:
"Yee,n said he, "my wife was cpr-
rect. / am Galvestonian by birth
and have resided in several
Texas cities, among them Hous-
ton and Austin. My grand
father, Col. John w. Sydnor, was one
| of the earliest settlers In Galveston,
coming there in 1886. He was well
known all through Southern Texas,
especially for his violent Southern
proclivities. II is related of him that
when the news of the downfall of the
Confederacy first reached Houston,
where he was then residing, he re-
fused to give it credence, and asserted
his thorough confidence In the integi-
ty of that government by immediate
~ going out and buying up all the
| Confederate bonds that he could COM
mand. My father was also devoted
adherent OF the Southern cause, and
fell at the battle OF Shiloh. He was
| superintendent of the public
| schools in New Orleans when the
war broke out and at once raised reg
iment among his school boys, which
he commanded until DEATH"
Where did you first enter upon a
theatrical career?n
| "At Galveston with Greenwall IN
1872. A stock company was formed,
which Then but q boy--ioined, and
good company it was too. ! re.
manned there but a short time and
drifted North, where i have been play
| ing ever since, chiefly in Chicago"
| "You are one of the leaders in the
| cut-rate system are you not?N
Eyes. We were among the frat to
| inaugurate it in the East and we found
it very successful. Nearly all the
leading companies have adopted it
now, and they find it profta-
able. 1t is a blessing
TO the poor play oer who is enabled
| to indulge his penchaut at one-half
the customary expense, or attend
double the number Of theatricals.
"How do you think it will take in
the South"
ooh, it is an innovation which is
not yet understood, but they will
come to il after while. AS soon as
the people find out that they can
/ al "A
| one-half the old rates they will quick
| ly indorse the cut-rate system. At
! Denison and Sherman we had poor
audiences at first, but afterwards our
receipts were gratifying. You can
put it down as current business princi-
pie that people do not ordinarily pay
81 for what can rs easily be had at fifty
cents.
what character OF plays do you
| find best suited to Texas audiences ~
Comedy. comedy. They want
something that will make them laugh.
Texans are evidently philosophers
and do not care to borrow trouble.n
| In conversation regarding the the.
atrical world Mr. McNair stated that
this has been the toughest season the
profession has experienced for years,
all sharing in the general depression,
great and small, both in this country
and Europe. In relation to his FAM
| lily the reporter learned further that
Mr.. McNair is nephew of Col w.
K. Baylor, the well-known and gallant
| captain of the state ranger
force. He also has a number of rela-
tives living in Austin, Houston and
Galveston. Mrs. McNair is native
OF Baltimore, and she is also decidedly
Southern in sentiment and action.
Those who had the pleasure of hearing
her neat little talk the other night OBJ
served the true Southern grit and
perseverance,. The company leaves
to-day for Houston, and The GAZETTE
'oins with all who have enjoyed the
humor OF 1.-THE Flower Girl,n the
pathos of "Poor Humanity" and the
inimitable fun Of the several farcee
presented here, in wishing them a
pleasant and prosperous tour through
| the state.