Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-10-14
THE STAGE BEAUTIES.
Frank Conant,s Collection of The.
atrical Celebrities.

Frank GOuanCS Collection Oh Thc.
atrical Celebrities.
If we are known from what we leave
behind US, it is question if any one per-
son in Los Angeles knows more of the
celebrated people that have visited this
city, or has the pen and ink proof of
their regard and esteem, than F. ".
Conant, the genial Treasurer Of our
Grand Opera House. Knowing of his
autographic as we'll as Photographic
mania, our reporter obtained the follow
ing information in regard to same.
Rep.-When did you first begin to
collect photos amp signatures?
F. C.-The fact is, never began to
collect with a collection in view, but
more for the purpose Of obtaining come
"Reminiscences of the celebrated and tai
anted people my position brought me in
contact with. The album shows the late
lamented tragedian, w. s. Sheridan,
to be the first autog aph i this
| is dated on January 26, 1885.
This man OF genius like many
others whose kind remembrances l have
in the album, has passed away, and, as
Shakespeare says, "has played his many
parts" and made his earthly exit.
Speaking from personal knowledge, the
| signature OF nearly every noted person
denotes their character more or less.
For instance, pointing to Sheridan's s
autograph) there is strength, character
and their concommitants opposite here
you will see Mrs. Brown Potter's sigma
ture with style, frivolity and ambition in
every line.
RI see you have Edwin Forests
autograph; isn't that little before your
time?
F. C.-Yes. That is the only one not
presented personally. l obtained that
from friend in the East as fitting bril-
liant to precede such names as Edwin
Booth, Lawrence Barrett, Fred Warde,
etc., which you see Immediately follows it..
Some OF the quotations are very ap-
plicable to the persons subscribing them
For instance, Emma Abbot says "Con-
quer and die;" then James O'Neill says,
| like Monte Cristo, "The world is mine -
with jolly w. J. Florence's addenda,
"When was your age l also thought |
had mortgage upon it,"
i Rep.-I see you have none but the
most celebrated Of the profession. Do
none of the rank and file theatrical folks
wish to subscribe?
F. C.-I think the reason is, the pho
tos being only of the greatest people and
all having autographs upon them, sug-
gests the idea to the others of the same
calibre to follow in the wake. Here
are two names, strange to cay, both upon
the same page that have both passed
away, cute, charming Marie Aimee and
that Prince of Momus, John T. Raymond.
Here are some of the noted nightingales
Adelaide Patti writes in neat running
hand, and saws ga beautiful voice is
the gift of God" under which her for
tunate husband, E. Nicolini, says
"Souvenir des plies beau pays du monde
entier."
Rep.-Do you think Nicolini meant
what he said when he wrote that?
f. C.-Yes, indeed. 1t was expressed
in every move OF the pen. Here is Seal
chi, Materna, Emma Nevada Palmer,
Clara Louise Kellogg, JEANNE Winston,
and many others. Among the noted &C.
tresses you see l have Fanny Davenport
Clara Morris, Mile Fanny Janau.
schek, Rose Eytinge, Mrs. Lang
try, Georgia Cayvan, Jeffreys Lew.
. is, Margaret Mather, Rhea, Annie
Pixley, Fay Templeton, Kate Caatleton
No, haven't many authors, but you'll
| uuu lew there. lnGT6S 3 DlCn ECuCl
. cault, Gillette, BARLEY Campbell. l dit
try to obtain Shakespeare's but whel
the discussion arose as to whether Bacol
? or Shakespeare wrote the plays ascribe,
to the latter, 1 feared might have In,
trouble for nothing, SO did not bothe
t about it.
Mr.. Conant then, with great deal o
pride, took from cabinet the photos o
all the aforesaid-mentioned celebrated
persons, each of which has been pre-
sented personally to him, with some re
, mark OF regard written thereon.
One of the most weird signatures il
the book is that Of Hermann, the presti
digitateur.
Reporter-Do the theatrical peopl.
bother with the many autograph fiend
who in every town trouble them fo
their names?
} F.C.-No. hardly think so. l knoy
OF no class OF people who dislike to com,
in contact with bores, dudes, or any
kind OF monamnniacs as much as theai
, rical folks.
Mr.. Conant is very proud OF his album
and when he has secured some extraor
binary gem in the way of a celebrity h,
feels as happy as when counting up
81 500 house for Ecdngeline.