The Sunday herald., 1886-10-10
CAMERON AND LANGTRY.
The Lord. the Lady and the Ioafer Dismal Failure
OF the Lcnsdalc.Camcron Pcrformance-lily
Lapstry Lovcller Than Ever Splendid Reception
ofDalys Company.
Nxm,,A. n...,...- .ss.

or Dalys Company.
NKw YORK, October I, iss6.
The incidents in theatrical life which have excited
general comment In the metropolis occurred during
the first nights of this week. The full truth abou,
them has not been wrten-at least none Of the local
papers have told the precise facts regarding them
There are 30 many conflicting interests In each
newspaper ONCE that II ls seldom the simple truth,
when unpleasant TO large advertisers gets into cold
type And when that which is to be said is pleasant
critics and writers fear to be thought too fusome In
praise, or altogether too friendly TO the advertiser
1t Is possible, however, for you at distance to print
both praise and condemnation with absolute Impair.
tiality. At any rate, hope 90.
THE LORD, THE LADY, AND rus LoArgR.
There landed here simultaneously last week the
Earl OF lonsdale, an English cad, In both looks and
manner, OF the most pronounced and unmistakable
character; Miss Violet Cameron, an English bura
lesque actress OF uncertain age and abilities; her
husband, very decided disgusting loafcr OF the
"sage-door variety" The Lord Ia q pugilist-a
hanger-on at one time to Mrs. LanHtry's skIrts-who
fances notoricy to be famc and who Is rather proud
OF being involved In personal scandals.
My Lady is the head of q burlesque troupe OF ex-
,remcly bad actors and ugly chorus girls The
Loafer is evidently the plant tool of the Lord and
Lady, paid to help advertise the troupe, In which all
are Interested, by acts which keep the scandals alive
In the papers. II was their absurd Idea that this
sort OF advertising was acceptable TO Americans.
They have made mistake ruinous to their specula-
tion, and, fear, very damaging TO tho beautiful
Casino Theatre, in which they are PLAYING. The first
rebun they got was when ordered uut OF rooms
they occupied for one night only at the Hoffman
House. The big bar and picture gallery Of this hotel
gives II reputation It does not seek or dcsire The
bar AMI hotel really different streets. The bar
is great resort OF politicians and about towna
gorgeous place for the Interchange Of the gossip and
Ideas OF men Of oil professions and businesses The
hotel, the entrance being block away from that Of
the bar, is not only OF the most elegant, but
OF the most exclusive OF homelike hotels. It was
to maintain this character that the proprietors re-
quested Miss Cameron to vacate her rooms. She
went to secondrate house notorious for the liberty
1t allows guests and the absence Of any inquiry for
marriage certificates OF strangers who register there
as Mr.. Somebody and wife.
The next obstacle the precious trio ran up against
was the American law enforcing damage for breach
OF contract. My Lord Lonsdale, It seems. has a
supreme contempt for Americans with whom he has
contracts, and thought In appearing at the Casino,
TO Ignore entirely his written contract to bring his
Cameron troupe to the Standard Theatre. This con.
tract was held by John Dun, manager Of the STAN
dard, who has the reputation Of not asking any
more than he is entitled to, but getting tho whole Of
his due. So he gave the honorable Earl to under.
stand that II he was not paid $1,000 damages he
would prevent his company from playing In America
at all. Being forced TO recognize his bond as bind.
Ing, the honest Lord paid over the money, and was
allowed TO open on Monday night.
And such an opening night al II was. This beau
iful theatre, only lately OF the few family thea.
tres OF the city. was filed by mob of the worst ee-
ments Of New York. The lowest class Of gamblers
in the cty-the booksellers and book k.makers-n filled
the boxes. The most notorious Of women Of the
denimonde, dressed In the most wretched taste,
accompanied them; not lady was to be seen except
the few who went professionally. The mob was
there solely tor curiosity. The play was bore to
them; they could not comprehend what the ainaS-
ing mass Of stupidity was about. Only the coarsest
Jokes were appreciated. The scenery and costumes
were 30 cheap and tawdry that no theatre manager
In the city would have put them on his stage II they
had not been Imported. These cheap tinsel hung
upon score Of as ungainly English girls as ever
posed before an audience. And when finally Lady
Violet appeared the audience saw woman Of forty
faded, and repainted for the occasion, and heard a
voice which might have charmed ten or fifteen years
ago. Miss Cameron In few minutes proved to be
burlesque actress who could not act, vocalist
who could not sing, and ballet girl who actually
| could not dance. At least she did not either act
sing, or dance.
Since the first night the business has been 30 bad
that anticipate the breaking Of the engagement by
either Lord Lonsdale or the mansger. am sin
cerely sorry for the latter. Mr.. Aronsou had built
| up q clientele OF eminent respectability. He had
put on good plays well sung an acted. He ran "Er
mimic" to the full capacity Of the theatre throughout
the whole summer, and its last week was the most
profitable Of any. He took 1t OF In the height OF lti
prosperity to pnt on this wretched farrago OF unn
telligibe nonsense and absurdy had actors aud act
| resses. The house last night was about one-thrt
illed with the same vulgar class OF criminals ant
| women OF the town as dlsgraced the house the frs
night. afraid the injury to the reputation
will be permanent II Mr.. Aronson does not take
| positive steps TO rid himself OF the company which
has In moment driven out his respectable patron
| to give place to the class have designated.
Mrs. Langtry appeared the same evening at tht
Fifth Avenue. The house waswell ned; the audi
ence did not overflow the lobbies. She has moi
played the adventures on this her third VISIT She
has made some unnecessary display Of the luxury II
| which she Is living; her gorgeous rooms have beer
amply described In the newspapers, and her gaud,
cqupages have been seen In every part OF the city
| But her audiences have been attracted merely by
curiosity to know whether or not she can act. Sht
couldn't when she came here first. She has i'm
proved considerably, but she s still merely grace
| full, beautiful impersonaliiy, without the geniu
which would make her an actress, without the grace
| OF her person. She has dnesse, not force; make
graceful gestures, but displays neither fire no
power in pronounclng the lines which they Illus
trate. In fact, she Is here again merely on exhibl
tiOn; her power to add to our intellectual enjoymen
Is precisely what 1t was when she first came. WheI
| all who care to look upon her Increased lOvellnes
| have paid the extra admission to do 30 the audi
ences will drop oil. and the engagement Of fou
weeks here will be found to be too long for the sol
| attraction offered.
All that was lacking In the way OF Intellectual en-
Inn
| eron exhibitions Of the beautiful and nude Ii foun
at Augustin Dalys theatre, opened on Tuesda
| night last. This was memorable occasion whict
has been pretty fully described In most Of the inter
| esting points. There was no seat untitled; the!
might have been ned half dozen times over. MI
Daily, TO my personal knowledge, was compelled /
| return money forwarded for seats TO o total thre
times greater than the capacity Of his house. Applies
lions for eight and TENN one case OF the banke
SelgInan for seventeen-places had to be refused
aud often where four adjoining seats were wante
only two could be supplied. The best parts Of tn
house for the opening night were reserved bef0r
the company went to Europe four months ago. Th
sentimental success Of the company was quito O
marked a. its financial. The audience had gathere
evidently less TO see the new play than to demon
strate Its good feelings In hearty welcomes TO eac
personal favorite. These differed only In degret
Mr.. John Fisher was the nrst TO receive welcon
back. He had not been abroad at all, but the aud
encc didn't know that. and they showed by hant
only that he was heartily welcome. Mr.. John Drew
the Juvenile OF the company, was the next to COM
on. There were three distinct rounds OF applause
Gilbert next seven rounds Of applause welcome
her, and an eighth was evoked when she spoke he
first line, so appropriate was 1t TO the occasion
"rhank goodness I've got here at last" Miss Rehs
was the next to appear. The applause was precede
by q chorus OF "Ahs," coming from all parts
the house, and from ladies' as well q
gentlemen. The applause did not come this time
waves. II was continuous, and continuous for
least three minutes The lady could only stand al
bow. Several IiInes during this scene, when mar
ladies' and gentlemen were on their feet wavlr
handkerchiefs, Miss Rchans smile changed TO
serious look-a reminiscent look, as II seemed 10 IN
A lady who sat beside me said, ~ believe she is g
ing to cry" and there were tears In the speaker ey
J as she spoke. Bushes came and went on MI
Rehan's cheeks, and 1t was evident that she wi
physically as well as mentally affected by the warm
OF the welcome home rendered her. Mr.. Lewis, u
] comedian OF the company. was also enihusastlcsi
welcomed, and think could have enjoyed II
more than his little wife, who sat In the audienc
near me aud cried with Joy. Mr.. DAILY, at the clio
OF the play, WAS twice recalled. and made speec
which led TO the raising OF the curtain twice more
o the company grouped behind him. Mr.. DAILY dot
: not allow howers TO be handed over his fooiighi
| tha and han Mia.