The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-15
THE WORLD OF ADJUSTMENTS
History of the Origin and Development
of the Art of Pant0mime.
Attractions of the Week at the indianapolis
Theaters-NOtes About the People
Who Amuse the Public.
Coming Attractions.

est successful facieal comedy "A Cold Day
When We Get Left written by Dir. Joseph Ar
thur. a former well-known metropolitan. The
piece has been well received everywhere. The
company is composed of Chas. Burke, Frank
Wills, John Gilbert. the Only Leon" Frank
Cushman, John Rice. Harry Standish. Miss
Oracle Emmett Miss Lizzie Hight, and Miss
Hattie Arnold.
The comedians Robson and Crane, supported
by superior company, will be the attraction at
the Grand Opera-house the last three nights of
the week, appearing in their repertoire. There
are few performers now before the American
public who have a higher professional standing,
. wider popularity, or the record of a more sue
cessful career, financially and artisticaly than
Stuart Robson and VIM. II. Crane. The sup
porting company embraces the following we'll
known professional people: Chas. S. Dickson,
VIM. G.. Beach, w r. Ogden, Miss Sadie Bige-
low, Miss Flora May Henry and Mrs George
Dickson. The entire series of performances
viii be under the auspices and for the benefit of
the Indianapolis Light Infantry.
Englishs Opera-house will be occupied by
Charles L. Davis as Alvin Joslin, the first three
nights Of the week. Davis is the fellow who
travels on his diamonds and his show is the
tartest on the road.
Thursday evening English's Opera house will
be occupied by Thomas Mast, the celebrated car
'tOOnist of Harper's Weekly who will deliver one
of his illustrated lectures. Mr.. Mast is so well
known, and his previous effort entertaining,
that rare treat may be expected in this lecture.
The Mendelssokn Society will give a. concert
at Plymouth Church Tuesday evening
Hon. William Parsons of Ireland, will tell the
s'Story of the Golden Age" Wednesday
night, at Plymouth Church. This is the ninth
49,, 0E M Dnn
sons brings with him the Endorsement of Mr..
John Bright as most brilliant orator, while the
story he tells is the Oldest and most beautiful
story in the world Mr. Parsons was with Prof.
Schleman in his excavations at Troas and My
zenee, and will describe the remains of buried
life from those ancient cities.
DINE MUSEUM
The Monarch Museum will present, for the
week opening tomorrow afteraoen, Leopold g.
Bunrell, clever musical artists Charles and Jen-
me Welsh, sketch artists; Conway & Leland,
one-legged song and dance artists; Donaldson
Brothers, contortionists; John and Nellie Ma
earthly, German sketch artists; Butler & Oak
ley, rifle team Pauline Bachelor, operatic vocal.
ist Burt Ransome, comedian and expert tam
bourinist; Master frankie Jones, in a new song
composed by himself; Langan Brothers. juvenile
musical prodigies the Mastodon Twins; Goldie
Grace, one of the seven wonders hair eight feet
ana TOUR lncneS long; RODln5On, the human
thunderbolt: Fatima, the mystery, the human
pin-cushion; Sampson, the strong man; Wege
mans Automatic Clock. and the hugo serpents
from Central Park. New York.
ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF PANToMraEs
Mr.. George Hanlon, of the famous Hanlon
brothers, in conversation with journal report
err during their engagement here gave an in
teresting account of the history Of pantomime.
''You must know" said Mr.. Hanlon, "that panto-
mime originated during the reign of Augustus
Caesar" II don't know" replied the reporter.
YES continued Mr.. Hanlon, 'the art of pan
tomime may be considered to have been invent
ed in the reign of Augustus Caesar, by two
= worthy Romans-Pylades and Bothyllus-who
were rivals in its profession. PantOmime -four
ished in ancient Rome for about two centuries
with very great success, and was lost, with the
other arts, in the oyerrunning of Rome by the
barbarians.
''We are all, in these days of school board in
struction supposed to know that the italian
Arlecchino, with his mistress Cclumbne, and
miscellaneous group of characters from the old
italian comedy. furnished the groundwork of the
English harlequinade. Few, however are prob
ably aware that the first English pantomine,
properly so-called, was that broughtout by Rich,
in Lincolns Inn Fields London, on boxing night,
a7l7, under the title of Harlequin Executed
The entertainment was described as "A new
italian mimic scene-never performed before
between Harlequin Soaramouch, Country
Farmer and his Wife
Later on we began to preface the gambols of
Clown and Pantaoon with a fairy legend, told in
action, and this form of entertainment assumed
marked Importance at the commencement of the
present century. Dialogue. at this time, was
never used The amount Of talent employed on
these elaborate but shortlived productions, for
they were generally withdrawn during the first
week in February. could scarcely be estimated
By mere mention of names. At Drury Lane
half century ago, the chief scenic artist was
Clarkson Stanfield. At Covent Garden the scene
painters were the MesSrs. Grieve with David
Roberts to paint the annual panorama. Ware,
who composed most of the comic tunes that have
lived in recollection. musical director, and
William Bradwell, mcse ingenious theatrical
me5hanician, was the contriver of the proper
ties, tricks changes, and transformations.
'Fhe pantoInlme company at Convent Garden
with Elar, Grimaldi, and Barnes, as Harlequin,
Clown and Pantaloon, were remarkably good
Joe Grimaldi has not had recorded one word too
much of enthusiastic praise for his genuine
humor Ballet pantomimes on the English
stage have since had some very clever opponents
and George Wieland ard w. III. Payne must be
mentioned as especially distinguished by their ex-
Cellence in this difficult form Of dramatic art
But you asked me about trip to Spain.
That some years ago, when we we're all
quite youthful We hardly beyond the
frontier when we found that civil war divided
Spain into two hostile camps OF course we
were subjected to many indignites aud much
Inconvenience. They would handle cur theat-
rical properties and tap then as though they
were Internal machines being sinuggled into the
country. Finally, Madrid was reached, how
ever, and our first performance given in
the Circus We became favorites at once,
and invitations from many of the highest fami-
lies were showered upon u.s. On one occasion
red-letter day at that time-the royal command
arrived, and we were ushered into the presence
of her Majesty, Queen Isabella. We were also
introduced to the Comtesse do Teba her sister,
the Duchesse d'Albe, and many other people of
rank. Many funny incidents might be related
In connection with this trip but / suppose you
have heard enough. The tours wo made through
anumber Of other countries were equally fraueht
with interesting incidents and adventures We
have been so long in this country, and so uni
formly we'll received, that, we almost consider
ourselves Americans. In St Louis, several
years ago General w II. Sherman presented us