, 1889-11-05

vice in the orchestra, and every seat in every
part Of the house commanding an unob-
structed view OF the stage.
srGNoR ToMAso ALvIN
1t Is probable that no European actor, with
the possible exception OF Henry Irving, will
ever receive a more enthusiastic welcome In
the United States than did Signor Tomaso
Salvini. Too many biographies and sketches
OF Salvini's life have been published to make
one interesting now, and it is even unneces-
sary to say that he Is acknowledged to be the
leading living exponent of the italian school
Of acting. Many old theatre goers, who lave
learned to admire him during his former
tours in America, will be sorry to learn that
he has fully resolved to make the present his
farewell appearance on this side of the water.
Salvini, like most men who have made de-
cided successes, has many little peculiarities
and some big ones. He Is a man of strict and
precise ideas of morality both In social and
business life, and when on the stage he insists
that everything shall be lone exactly as 1t
should be. In Bologna, several years ago, he
was announced to appear in Othello, his first
representation Of the character in that city
The character OF Iago was entrusted to IA vel
known and popular leading man, Signor Pic
cinini, a man of immense stature and physical
strength At the preliminary rehearsal ali
went well until the famous scene In Act III
between Othellc and Iago, when at an i'm
portant ju~ncture P~iccinini was found to be
on the wrong side Of the stage.
Sig. Salvini quietly and politely pointed
out to him his mistake, and requested him to
take the other side when giving the actual
performance. Piccinini grumblingly con-
sented to do so, saying that although he could
not see that 1t made much difference, yet he
supposed when the time came, that he
would assume the position desired by the star.
you supposefn exclaimed Salvini. NAY,
sir, you viii be there.n When night came
things went smoothly until this very scene,
when either Intentionally or more probably
through fo~rgetfulness, Piccinini again took
his stand upon the wrong side.
Salvini stopping dead in his part, walked
deliberately across the stage, seized the as
tonished Iago by the waist, and carrying the
six-footer across the stage as II he were a
child, deposited him on the desired spot, with
the audible exclamation, "You shall stay
therel" For a moment the audience, COM
pletely taken aback, was silent, but, grasping
the situation. the house broke out with a vol
ley Of tumultuous applause. Piccinini, even
more thunderstruck than the audience, sim
ply bowed to Othello, and the performance
went on
At the end of the act there was a ~vocifer-
Gus call" the audience being fairly mad
with excitement, but this was nothing to the
enthusiastic uproar which ensued when the
two actors, hand in hand, appeared before
the curtain in answer to tho call 1t was a
genuine ovation to both men-to one as the
teacher OF a lesson, to the other as its recipi-
emit. From that night until poor Piccinini's
death the two actors were the warmest and
best OF friends, and when Piccinini, through
loss Of his sight, was forced to leave the
stage, the people of Bologna were the first to
come forward with such liberal aid as placed
him beyond the reach Of want for the re-
mainder of his life.