Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-10
Music And DRAMA.
HOW GEORGE BARRETT WAS MISTAKEN
FOR A SAILOR.
sothern's Love for Sketching-Mrs. Ken
dal's Fads-Bernhardt's Dresses
Stage Notes.

in the company of his big brother, Wilson
Barrett, the exponent of English melo-
drama, received quite a compliment for an
artistic makeup during his voyage across
the Atlantic, which ended week or more
ago 1t was an indirect one, but it was
none the less in earnest He was passen-
ger on the City of Chicago, which brought
all of Wilson Barrett's company and also
the members of Charles Wyndham's troupe
to this city. The entertainment for the
benefit of an English sailors orphan asy-
lum, which is an incident in nearly every
transatlantic trip, was arranged when the
steamer was within two days of Sandy
Hook. Some of the Barrett company
played "The Color Sergeant" and George
Barrett appeared in the character of an
old sailor, fellow who looked as if he had
been stepped in salt water and baked in
the sun for half a century. AS he came
out of his stateroom he was accosted
sharply by one of the ships officers.
Here, you," said the man with gold
braid on his sleeve, "what are you doing
here? You must go down in the steerage,
YOU know. You cawn't stay here"
81 think l can," said Barrett. 81 have
paid for a frst-class passage"
But the officer wouldn't listen to him,
until Barrett protested that he was one of
the theatrical company and that his face
was disguised with makeup. Even then
the actor was compelled to cali upon some
of his associates to identify him before he
could get into the saloon.
DUTY ON SCENERY.
The Custom officials of Boston found
themselves in a quandary over Wilson Bar
rett's scenery, after they were ordered by
the Secretary of the Treasury to assess
duties if the stuff appeared to be dutiable.
The tariff laws are not explicit on the
matter Of theatrical scenery. 1t occurred
to the Custom officials that the goods
might be classed as works of art, but an
expert in art matters told them that as
such the stuff had no value whatever, that
no one would think for a moment of pur-
chasing any Of the scenes as paintings.
Then one of the leading theatrical man
ayers of the city was called upon for an
opinion as to the value of the material as
scenery. He said he would not give more
than $50 for the lot This answer puzzled
the officers, who knew that the outfit must
have cost several thousand dollars But
the manager explained that the scenery
was made for the production of certain
plays, of which Wilson Barrett is the
owner, and, although it really did cost
thousands Of dollars to build, it was of no
use to ANYBODY who did not have the right
to produce the plays. This was a poser to
the Customs officers. They finally con-
cluded to allow Mr.. Barrett's manager to
take the scenery to the theater in which
he is to play, leaving the question of duty
for future consideration. Mr.. Barrett
finally had to pay $4,000.
SARA BERNHARDT's DRESSES.
Not one of the four dresses worn by
Sara Bernhardt in one of her new plays
which she produced recently was ready
until the evening on which she made her
first appearance in the new character, end
two of them arrived at the theater after
the curtain had been rung up. If they
had been brought earlier Sara would have
been sure TO have gotten out of conceit
with them and mistrusted their effect,
perfect as they were in taste and well
adapted as they were to the part she had
to play. No great actress ever depended
more upon the aid of "fne feathers" than
Sara. Her costumes are designed by
women, who are permitted TO see the
famous actress at rehearsal. After they
have studied her in the part they are sup
piled with quantity of stutis aud told to
Compose" dresses adapted to the character
and the situations. The costumes are
usually very handsome and always in good
taste, as every one who has seen Bern
hardt on tire stage knows.
MRS. KENDAL's FADs.
Mrs. Kendall, the English actress, who
is playing at the Fifth Avenue Theater,
New York, has an especial fondness for
yellow silk and mechanical toys, and pre-
fers bne Turkish slippers to the prosaic
shoes of every day life. One corner of her
English drawing-room is taken up by an
enormous divan, draped in black Roman
satin. The embroidered pillows, partly
concealed by Maori rugs, are of japanese
crimson silk In the broad window, sur
rounded by "sealing-wax red" arabasque
work, chirps "Sirsex," an elderly canary.
The carved screen which protects the divan
from the draughts, is laden with Fiijian neck
laces, Monte Carlo tambouIines and Seville
fans. Continued good fortune is provided
for by the horseshoe from Sandringham,
fastened by velvet pad to the pale-yellow
paneled wall. Mrs. KendaPs favorite dress
is pale-yellow tea gown, trimmed with
f1y III oh nf Ia
soTHERN's SKETCHES.
Few persons know that E. H. Sothern
started out in life as an artist. Why he
sacrificed sketching and painting to the
stage is known by fewer still. That he re-
tains deep-seated fondness for his early
profession is certain, for he spend nearly all
of his leisure time in making water-color
expensively and with which he decorates
every theater in which he plays. The
little smoking-room of the Lyceum is
adorned with two of these sketches. They
are SO small and appear so heavy in deep
frames Of gilt that persons who do not know
who the artist is pay little attention to
them. Mr.. Sothern has the reputation of
being cold, unsocial man his friends say
he is nothing of the sort, and that no more
convivial fellow lives than he when sur
rounded by friends who he likes.
STAGE NOTES.
Denman Thompson has passed his 5Sth
birthday.
Wesley Sisson VIII go on the road as
manager of the Salvini tour.
Evans and Hoey are going to take "a
Parlor Match" to Australia in April.
Mrs. Langtry has leased the St. James
Theater, London, England, for one year.
Ramsey Morris is to pilot the tour Of
Kate Claxton "Bootles' Baby" Company.
Kathyrn Price, the pretty soubrette, has
begun rehearsals of the Bells Of Halle
mere"
James Connor Roach has finished a new
Irish play, which he has named "Rory
O'Malley."
Mary Anderson has returned to London
from the Highlands of Scotland, very much
improved in health.
7. Henry French is no longer treasurer
of the Broadway Theater. The Broadway
is to be congratulated.
Richard Mansfield S production of Rich
ard Ill" at the Boston Globe Theater has
proved a great triumph.