Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-12
THE RICHMOND DIsPATCH-SUNDAY. FEBRUARY u 1888

caused remark al the time, and was never
thoroughly understood even by the we'll
informed on such matters. As matter
OF fact, however. with which / am con-
versant from my own knowledge the per-
sonal relations between the star and the
leading man have ever been OF the friend
lest When Coghlan returned from his
confidential mission to England fora. NJ.
Palmer almost the first house he dined
at was Mrs. Langtry's pretty little
Twenty-third-stre home, and he has
always spoken in the plessantest manner
of Mrs. Langtry. She. on her part, has
to her intimates never failed TO acknow-
ledge that large part OF her improve
ment in her art, which has Of late years
been noticeable, was due TO the advice and
practical illustration afforded her by
Coghlan. That Mrs. Langtry hns long
been dissatisfied with Barrymore has
been no secret to her intimates, though
as to the reason for that dissatisfaction
nothing need be said. SOuront JemHe
Uarie, and that may be given rs the
cause in the case, whether it be right or
wrong. Under these circumstances it
was not strange that few days ago Mrs.
Langtry should have telegraphed A. NJ.
Palmer asking him if he could spare
Coghlan for the balance of the season. II
did not take Mr.. Palmer long TO make up
his mind. He admires Mrs. Langtry as an
actress and was not i'll disposed to do
her any favor that lay in his power. Be-
sides, as it has happened, Coghlan has SO
far been of but little use to him. Hei san
actor who has to be well fitted with
part, and, 80 far, nothing suitable for
him has turned up in the plays produced
or ready for production by Mr.. Palmer.
A little telegraphing arranged the whole
matter, and, with the promise that on
reasonable notice, Mr.. Palmer should
have the call on Coghlan's services, that
actor was nothing loath transferred to
Mrs. Langtry.
MISS ROSE CoGHLAN.
Coghlan's sister, Rose Coghlan, by the
way, is to have long holiday. 1t had
been the original intention Of Augustus
Pitou, her new manager-in fact, when
he announced the signing of his contract
with her Pitou told the newspaper-men
that he was going to send her out at once
with good company to play a repertOry
of standard plays. He had even mapped
out a route and obtained not few dates,
but after some consideration it was
thought better to abandon the idea.
Miss Coghlan, therefore, will open next
season in "Jocelyn," her brothers new
play but, contrary to general expecta-
ton, she will not be seen in New York
till late in the season at oil events, and
probably not at all, for Pitou does not
attach so much importance asmostmaha
gers of stars to a New York stamp of APP
proval on q new play. Monted, under
his management, in "Iron Bars, has
made heaps of money so far this season,
and to get Brooklyn was the nearest APP
proach he made TO New York.
THE BOSTON IDEAL--AoATN.
I was not far wrong when / limited at
internal trouble in the Boston Ideal
Company, who played last week at the
Fifth-Avenue Theatre, and whose en-.
gagement has been shortened. A week
before they left New York Joseph Her
bert, the principal comedian, rendered
his resignation for the simple but all
sufficient reason that his salary was 80
far in arrears that it seemed problemati-
cal that it would ever get out of that I'M
pleasant predicament. Other with
drawals are likely to take place, and it
seems doubtful if the company will re-
main together much longer. 1t was by
n miracle that they managed to remain as
long as they did at the Fifth-Ave-
nue.. Herbert, by the way. is going to
star next season under the management
of o. b. Sheppard, Toronto manager,
who has had some experience of taking
out companies in the States. He man
aged for one season by arrangement
with Augustin DAILY the "Night-Of "
company, and did well with it under
great disadvantages.
w. j. Scanlan's manager is going to do
a plucky thing with that popular young
comedian in the spring of 1889. As soon
as his season here is finished he will take
him to Ireland, and beginning with Dub
lin will play him in all the leading Irish
cities. and afterwards in such cities of
the English provinces as have large
Irish population.
HANDSOME COSTUMES.
G. f. Rice, who is an urbane and
brimful of energy as ever, showed me
the other day the costumes he lately pur
chased for 1.-THE Flower of Pekin," the
new comic opera that is to follow 1.-THE
Corsair" at the Bijou. L doubt if |
have ever seen such gorgeousness in cos
tunes before. They are Chinese of
course, and are wholly different in design
and execution from the japanese dresses
with which "Mikado" companies have
surfeited us. The embroidery is in
fnitely more carefully executed and the
colors are brighter and more barbaric.
Rice bought them by chance in San
Francisco. They belonged to Chinese
company which was Struggled over to
buck against tine old-establshed San
Francisco Chinese theatre, but not with
signal failure. 1t cost SIS, 900, so Rice
told me, to lay them down in Frisco,
and he got them for less than half that
sum. "The Corsair" is doing so well
that he is in doubt as to when he shall
produce the new opera the Uhletts,
which is by G. A. Byrne. and it may not
be seen here till next season.
--<rDu--
Died I'm the AImshouse.
philadelphia Tlmes.l