Omaha daily bee., 1890-10-26

vitality than men. Lester Wallac5 was in
mindlc life when he died; Harry Mon
taFue Beautiful Harry as he was
called, was still young man when
the messenger came; John Gilbert was
the Oldest member of the company. Dear,
kin d-hcarted, gentle John Gilbert there is no
parsonage on the stage today who can take
his place and fill it as he did. The good old
times died with him.
John Broughsm was in the middle of life
when death came to him, as was Harry
| Beckett and George Floyd.
| MADAME Ponisi was also member of the
company then, playing old women, and today
| you are always sure of finding her name on
| the bills of the New York theaters when blg
| attractions are on. Effie GermOn has re.
| tired from the footlights, but Miss Boniface,
| believe, is still acting, butin what company
| l cannot recalln
Then asked her If she anticipated re-
vival of stock companies TO any general ex-
tent, and her reply was characteristic Of the
| woman.
"Not as long as people will flock to see
farce comedies which seemingly dominate
the stage to the exclusion of everything
else When the public tires of the
''Rag Babies" the '''Tn Soidicrs,n the
Brass Monkeys" the "Hustlers" the "City
| Directories - and IA thousand and one other
| forms of variety entertainments, then we
| may expect a revival of the stock system,
| but not before.
| "What are my plans for the future' Well,
| if everything turns out as anticipate shall
| be my own manager next season, my con-
| tract ending with Mr., PitOu early next year.
| My brother, Mr. Charles Coghlan, is writing
me anew comedy, which | shall produce at
| one of the New York theaters next May with
the strongest cast that can be obtained
| 81 have the outline Of the play and think
| it will be GO The situations are new and
the title is very catchy, but not having the
name copyrighted l am not at liberty to d-
vulge it as yet, The characters are all
American, the scenes being located in New
| York and the west. Should the play not be u
to do old English comedies and one or two
Shakes pearean plays, ''As You Like IT. and
| "Nluch Ado About Nothing.n
Then the talk drifted to her personal life,
and something being said about her unfortu-
nate married life | asked Miss COghlan if she
| thought marriage was a failure.
''lt certainly was in my case,n said she,
with silvery laugh, ''but | can hardly be-
| lieve it is IN all cases. in fact, it would rob
life of many charms if | thought it was. MIR.
| Edgcrly and i were unsuitcd for each other.
| He had little in common with the profession,
| and while he acted as my manager for two
seasons, still he disliked my continuing to
act. In view of the fact that had to sup
prIt him as well as myself, my mother and
my adopted daughter, | could see no other
way to do it than by acting, and so | con-
| tlnued before the fOOights.
'Then when he found | would not leave
| the stage he commenced 10 blaCken my char
actcr by saying that l wos addicted
to drink and had IA feroci0us temper Some
times he would come home in q beastlv state
of intoXication and amuse himself by striking
me and abusing my mother Patience was NJ
last eXh austed and went to l. is father to give
him notice that / would apply for divorce
on statutory grounds. But Mr. Edgerly, sr
being "A gentleman, Of excellent family, and
hating 10 have mis- name sullicd, persuaded
me to allow his son to go to Sioux Falls, bo
come resident of that place, and secure d
divorce on the ground of desertion.
Il readily consented to this, as | wanted tc
be cifectually rid of the man, and any way
seemed the best.
MIR. Edgerly went TO Sioux Fails pro
cured the divorce on the grounds / have
stipulated, the proceedings being ex partc
Then, in his delight, probably, that he was
lree, circulated the dastardly report that
was addicted to drink
| All the calnness, the nsoucnnce of hel
nature had left Miss Coghan now, and sh,
appeared in the role of wronged woman
suffering at the hands of person who coult
, so lower his manhood as TO make the charge,
attributed to him.
: 81 dhn't care for the quarrelsome dsposi
, uon; that doesn't count for much, but / dt
, ieel the charge that am u tippler. No mar
} ever saw me, under any circumstances under
the hemf1uence OF liquor, and / do not intenC
) 10 rest quietly under that imputatiOn. NJ
reputation Is worth good deal to me- 1t ha
never been spotted and rather than IL shoult
suher now by what he charges, will throw
. upmy engagement, reopen the case, even