The evening world., 1888-06-05
LucKLESS PAULINE.

So all the pleasing, saccharine words l had oulled
from a Webster to lavish with reckless generosity
upon Mrs. James Brown Potter when she should
return TO New YORK City, improved, dramatic and
Interesting, must be thrown way after ALL It 10
too bad, but, as the Frenchman says when any
thing bothers him que pOtiiei rottsS
When | nestled into my seat at the Grand Opera
House last night and prepared to listen to Mrs.
James Brown Potter-by the bye II Ia Mrs. Potter
pnre and simple now-I was filled with the exult-
ant hope that she was going to permit me to write
ut least a column OF honeyed criticism. The un-
kind thugs I said about the lovely woman at the
time of her Fifth Avenue debut have haunted me
ever since. That by some strange freak OF fate I
should have been forced to cruelty ~criticise a beau
titul, refined, intelligent woman f! There was
something uncanny about It, but IL had to be done.
1.-THE Lady OF Lyons" was the play last night.
The curtain rose and fell upon the nrst act, ana
the audience endured the Indifferent performance.
because In the second Mrs. Potter was to appear
and tho action Of the play was TO become more
lively.
All, now we have It! Here are the grounds be-
longing to Papa Deschappelles, and everything 10
prepared for the impressive entrance OF u, Potter.
The actors and actresses talk, but the audience
hardly hear them, so anxious ia It to lose nothing
connected with the appearance OF the society
graduate. There they come. Enter Kyrle
Bellew, looking ridlculously pleased with himself
about nothing, for he is dressed In odious taste,
and struts along like q peacock. On his arm leans
the star, Mrs. Potter. Good gracious mel Why,
how the woman has painted herself. 10 Is hardly
possible to recognize her. Her eyes are darkened,
her cheeks are daubed. What does IL all mean?
Then-why, l thought she was anxious to dis
play her exquisite taste In dress? That Directory
robe Is abominablei 1t ia unsuited TO her style
absolutely unsuited. The waist ia needlessly
short, the sleeves ~hideously pulled. the robe an ex-
aggeration OF an exagSeration. Ohl Mrs. Potter,
Mira Potteri
IL Ii spungled in the manner an equestrienne
loves. ! was not prepared for this. She speaks.
Her voice is still ~tuneful, renned, grateful, but It
has no meaning. Easy 10 1t to hear that each
speech has been carefully drilled into her. There
II q stereotyped delivery, q s~tencilled prec,seness
about every phrase. Her arm in the big, pulled
sleeves are Irrelevant. She knows II. She looks
appeallngly at Claude Meinotte, as though to re-
mark In utter patnos, "Iel me-, love, what to do
with my arms"
An! this Ia not funny. Tho curtain fails. I rush
out and take a %sedative, as my nerves are too
much worked upon. You see I came expecting
bread, and this stone Ia OIL 80 cold.
Act. Ill. The interest OF the play Is at its height.
Pauline Is brought to Claude Melnotte's palace on
~~ss' ~ aAe hhSNSfJ - thtnVt aoIo
cottage, Inhabited only BY q homely old woman
his mother. Poor Paulinel Mira. Potter enters.
My spirits rise, AZ sne delivers o really excellent
speech to her mother-in-law. The good impression
Is Instantly e1aced. She bursts into tears and
does exactly what / complained about last October.
She dries the tears from her forehead, Just a.
though they came from that region. A reaction
comes. laugh rather cruelty. It Ia 30 ridiculous.
She turns and upbraids the unfortunate Claude.
With her back to the audience and the most extra
ordinary extension OF the arms I have ever seen in
mortal, she exclaims, Sand Is this your palace ~
! feel glad she has been deceived. I AM angry
with her. Good enough for you, Pauline, I say.
After that the interest In the play Ia over. /
glance around me, and see a tepid audience look
ing at the stage with absolute indifference. Pauline
still sobs, Kyrle Melnotte continues to pose IN his
red velvet unmeniionabies. Finally the mamma
leads Pauline to her room. She stiniy turns her
head aud gazes at Claude with what Ia meant to be
an Involuntary tender look. The curtain falls.
And so the play went on. Pauline, In Mrs. Pot
ters hands, was distinctly embarrassing. OF
course people always feel pleasure In looking upon
q lovely woman. and lovely Mrs. Potter decidedly
ID, paint or no paint. Not much was done to help
her. The supporting company was utterly insig-
nincant. Kyrle Bellew was o convuislve sort Of q
Claude, very beautiful, and oil that. you know,
but no the hero of the play.
Thursday night Mrs. Potter appears in Romeo
and Juliet" Let us hope for the worst-I mean
the best ALAN DALE.