Savannah morning news., 1886-01-30
PLAYING FOR ROYALTY.
COUNTESS AECO CHATS ABOUT
COURT THEATRES.

Odd Customs that Prevail Among Act
ors in AUstria-RUles Established by
Emperor Joseph Stin in VOgus-How
Vienna Actresses Keep Their Families
Shod at tho Theatres Expense-The
Coveted Imperial Decree.
Countess Arco, who appeared at the
| Theatre last night, has a most remarkable
fund of interesting "reminiscences, and is
an entertaining talksr. Last evening
awhile before it was time to get ready for
tue performance, a News reporter was
introduced to her lad dvship by her manager
Mr.. Peyser. She has a suite OF rooms at
the Screven house, and was sitting by sn
open window where the breeze came in
softly from the west. she wore pretty
velvet robe OF delicate light blue, and
looked quite as pretty as she did later,
when she appeared before the footligh.s
as the Princess Andrea"
81 hope you do not look upon titled
actresses as curiosities," she remarked
with an arch smile. After a few common
place expressions she got to talking about
her home and the court theatres Of
Europe 1t was in the old Court Theatre
at Vienna, built by the good Joseph H.,
that made my first success and played
my last engagement" she said.
Nine. Janlsh tells of some very queer
regulations which are still in vogue at
that old place OF amusement. Empero-
Joseph laid down certain rules which in
these days would be regarded as eX-
tremely strange here. One Of these rules
is that no actor or actress shall receive
a salary Of more than 1000 tlorins. or in
the currency Of the United States 81. go a
year.
"Ot course, that salary alone would not
draw even a bad actor nOwadavs.''
madame observed. $50 TO get around
that" she continued with her charming
accent, 1.-THE stars are allowed 4. .000 forms
Tor dresses, ), 900 forms Tor shoes and >. 800
more Tor stOck-Oh, hose. Perhaps 5000
horlns viii be allowed tor miscellaneous
expenses, so that altogether it NAV reach
Z9,VVO nOrIns or more every year, accord
ing 10 The merit OF the player. There is
one rule which provides that an
boots at more than seven perform
ances' The first year ! was there
got SO many that did not know whatto
90 with them. Happening to mention 1t
one day, some OF the ladies laughed. and
slyly explained that everyone had an ar
rangement with the shoemaker who sup
plled the company. The members of the
company would wear their shoes three
months, maybe, and the extra ones rhey
would have made to lit some Of their tam
lly. Ia TACT they would keep their fami-
lies in shoes at the expense OF the thea
ire Another funny custom is that every
member OF the troupe Is furnished with a
candle at night. In the cid Fmperor,s
time the streets were not lighted as they
are now, and the actors were given can
die at nignt to light them home. They
are not wax or spermaceti, but made Of
talioW, just as they were 40 years ago. /
had no use for candles, and gave them TO
tne MAID VINO dressed me, but | soon found
out that the others carried the candles
hOme.'
Abiding to royal favor, Madame Janish
sald that when it is once gained and a
decree is obtained the favored actor or
actress Is sure OF not starving to death at
any rate. A ''decree' amounts to the
same as pension. Sometimes the
coveted imperial pension is not granted
for twenty years. When Madame .Janish
had been playing two years the Emperor
settled an annuity of 1900 forms upon
her. This she gets whether she plays in
Vienna or America, or even il she does
not play at all.
Speaking OF royal families, the Countess
was asked il she ever played before the
Court at st. Petersb burg.
Yes, indeed and the old Gar Alex
ander II. was kind, nice old gentleman.
| just cried when ! heard Of his assassina-
tion. The Princess VIadymir took quite a
fancy to me, and often after the perform
ance she would say: you are fatigued.
Come with me just in your stage dress
and have tea. There will be no one but
my husband and friend or two on
several occasions when | was there the
Emperor came to the Princes apartments
in the palace unannOunced and sat and
chatted pleasantly with the rest OF US"
Two customs that have not been INTRO
duced al the Court theatres are matinees
and the presentation of flowers over the
fOOtlights. The Countess saws she hearth
ly lRdOrses the prohibition OF matlnees.