The Sunday herald., 1886-12-19
Especial Correspondence |

1
delphla. She had Just played IN enormously sue
cessfnl engagement In the first city and was hasten
Ing to begin another In Philadelphia. She evidently
enjoys the labor OF acting A more enthusiastic ar
list than Miss Ocott think, does not exist and shc
Is quite as much in love with her own "Theodora'
az when she first played the piece for six weeks to
the biggest houses Nblo's Garden, In this city ever
held. Her labors In tho oefots part seem to have
Improved her physique father than worn II, as had
Imagined II would. Her voice has beeh a little
strane, but her 1.-THE figure IL as handsome as ever,
and hcr falr features even more beautiful than for
Inefs. Shit tells with intch udtDete OF the treat
ihent shc was accorded III I.ostoh. oThe critics
were something fearful" she said, with comic ex-
preston OF fegncd horror at the recollection.
"There was nothing which they did not condemn
except the acting OF Marcellus, q think she said
MarcellusD and he was 80 very bad we had to
| change the cast the same week. They even con-
demned the dresses, which were made In Paris
from designs by artists from the Porte 81. Martin
Thcatre And they actually criticised my kissing OF
Andfeas IN the lore scenes, although the business
was that 81 Sardu liself arranged for Sara Bern
hardt, and which NJ. Safdoh Insisted shoid follow.
They thought the kissing too realistic, and one OF
them suggested that miss OlcUtt had better leave
| something 10 the imagiiation!' 1 wUpder n that
sort OF thlng Is In vogue among Boston lovers. II
80, think II strange that more OF the Boston girls
don't emigra,e. Really begin TO believe that II
Is true that Boston critics will condemn anything
with New York Endorsement" "And what sort OF
| business did you do?" I asked. ~ turned them
away every night before the overture was inlshedn
Evidently, Thought, Boston criticism ls not specially
respected nj tdc, OF tiywh esc for that matter
The truth Ia that Boston ttlticstii, like its ltcra-
tre, Is, and has been for soitic time past, seeking
the larger field Of metropolitan Journalism.
My respect, however, fof Boston criticism was
somewhat Increased the next night, when John W.
In
b. Mantell appears to great disadvantage, told an
| audience ut the Fifth-avenue Theatre that Boston
had 1aed To admire his play II IL pity that Bos.
ton criticism was not powerful enough to have ar
rested the career OF "Tangled Lives" before II coud
| reach New York A more absurd plot could not
have been conceived, n more revolving moral could
| not have been Invented, nor inote preposicrous
| situation than that OF mistress refusing to marry
her lover to ease his conscience after having lived
with him for yearsi Mr. Keller has unwarrantably
carlcatured men and women with whom he never
was permitted to associate. Joseph Howard, ,Ir, is
broadly sketched under the thin disguise Of Joseph
Howson, character who leads five separate lives
| proud only OF the vicious ones, and who ridcules
only the sacred ties OF his existence William
Winter, of the Tribune, Is even more cOarsey carl
catured under the name Of Addison Raphael Pope.
The actors "make up" to resemble these gentlemen,
and that the rude author Is responsible for their vul
gar assumptions Is patent from the lines regarding
the pecuaritles of the originals which he puts into
theif mouths. The author even descends to carlca-
turing ladies', and pictures that bright, witty, and
big-hearted woman who writes the "Giddy Gusher''
OF the Mirror, "Bab's Babble' OF the Star, and the
letters Of Clara Belle" In the country newspapers,
under a disguise which happily only her Intimate
| friends recognize. Evidently the poriraiture is
drawn at second hand, the original sketch being OBJ
tanned from some one privileged, as MIR. Keller was
not, to enjoy the brilliant gatherings at the ladys
house when her husband and she were "King and
Queen OF Bohemia"
Some years ago Fanny Dayenport discovered
Robert Il. Mante. young and fresh from England.
she needed tall and young actor for the part Of
her lover In "Fedora." She took Mantell In hand
and drilled and drilled and drilled him. until he
played the part precisely to her liking. He made a
hit In the part; for It fitted him like glove After
that skilled artist, Miss Davenport, had drawn 1t on
Then the young man thought that he, too, could
"star," and "Tanglcd Lives" WAS woven for him.
Left TO his own resources, he betrays ineiclcncy as
an actor He has no Fanny Davenport to coach
MIN. He IL incapable Of teaching himself anything,
and, being surrounded by competent men, he IL
seen In his own play at a marked disadvantage. II
Mr. Mantell had head on his shoulders not entirely
disproportioned to his body he would be handsome
man. III he knew how to walk naturally he would
be graceful person on the stage; and II he knew
anything about acting he would in time come to be
an actor. But these defects are 30 marked that
they cannot be overlooked, and fear they are In.
cradlcable. Mr.. Maniell, am afraid must 20 into
the category of English actors who think anything
English is good enough for "blawsed Americans,
ye' know"
John NJ. Hill, the manager OF Margaret Mather,
mas given up one of his theatres In this city, and
would probably be glad to get the other of his
hands. He has lost good deal of money In both
lie tried to "boom" Miss Mather In the one, and to
give tie Bowery better quality OF plays than 1t
hankered after at the other. Neither effort was sue
cessfl, and while he is going to repeat the Mather
experiment, he gives up the Thirl-nvcnue Theatre
IL was always dull, dark, and uncomfortable place.
The fact is that none of the Bowery theatres are
credit as structures to New York. They are close,
ili-ventilated, and thoroughly constructed death
traps. Tho worst of these is the Theatre Comique,
at Harlem. wonder that companies are willing TO
perform In such house, and 1t Ia marvellous that
audiences can be got together to attend the per-
formances given there. Not many ever are. The
place is already recognized as "a theatrical
morgue" by the people who have played there. The
Building Department has compelled the managers
10 make some improvements to lessen the danger OF
the house IN case of panic or fire. but It can never
he made secure. The fire marshal ought to look |
mo the place. and probably will when his attention
IL called to Its Insecurity by some disaster there
The manager OF this Harlem theatre, "Josh', |
Hart Is healeged proprietor of the Dramatic Ne,rs,
to which recently alluded as having been mort
gagged to secure payment of Judgment against him
for libel lie Ia unfortunate not only In his theari-
chi ana newspaper ventures, hut also In the many
lawsuits he engages In. lie sued George Alfred
townsend for libel few years ago. laying damages
NJ $4,000, and although Townsend admitted on the
STAND that the libel was his, and the judge had to d-
rect the Jury to bring In verdict IN Harts favor
the Jury thought his character had been injured |
ONLY 800 worth. Hart recently sued the Importers
and Traders Bank for 5000, part OF balance of
100000 OF deposits made by his wife during four
years, ana which he claimed had been drawn out |
by forged checks. lie positively swore that the
checks were forgerles, but the Jury thought they
Knew better than Hart. They decided that the |
checks were genuine. and gave a verdict In favor OF
inc bank. Harts wife was formerly a ballet girl In
the Black Crook Company at Nblo's, and the wonder
IL how he could possibly have accumulated SO much
money In four years. There were three other ballet
girls In this troupe who made their mark In lite in
other fields. Emily Rlgl studied English and be-
came quite prominent asan actress BOnfante mar |
red young millionaire since dead and has had to re-
turn to the stage for living. Another known as Mrs.
went TO Europe some years ago with Jose-
phine Mansfield, formerly Col Jim Fisks mistress, |
and Travelled abroad with the Grand Duke Alexis |
Through thismeans Mrs. Backford was made known |
to the Grand Duke Constantine of Russia who stole
his mothers diamonds. lie was sent to the Sibe-
ran mines, ana Mrs. Blackford hastily left Russia
When last saw her. In the Grand Hotel, Paris she
was SILL wearing some OF the Graud Duchess's dia
mOnds.
The Senatorial contest In the next Legislature OF
TINS State promises to he Of national interest, so In
tense and bter Will he the fight. The rival camps OF
Morton ana Miller have been pitched In this city,
and Will remain here until the march next month to |
Albany. Mr.. Morton unquesiio ionaby has the lead |
lead Mt present, not only among the news
papers, hut among the delegates to the Az |
sembly Mr. Miller distinguished himself by adyo.
cacy In Congress of only one measure OF very great
Importance, and this has not added as he expected
to his popularity. In the interest OF the agrlcultur-
lists OF the state he advocated the passage OF bill
levying tax on oleomargarlne OF nve cents. The |
sale OF the stun as butter was prohibited. II was
Thought an onerous tax would drive It out of eA-
islence. Mr. Miller urged the bill, hut at the last
moment consented 10 reduce the tax from 1--WE TO
TWO centsa pound. The practical result has been |
To egalize the sale OF ole0margarine without stop
ping al II all; and the farmers in rage with Mr.
Miller, who now regards his oleomargarine bill az a |