The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-09-14
IN THE LOBBY.

IN LII IL LObB1.
A theatre dressing-room is always an absorb
ingly Interesting place to the non-professional.
With George Thatcher the famous minstrel,
smearing burnt cork over his mobile features
the 'star" dressing-room at the National
Theatre was even more interesting than usual
to The HERALD man who had been permitted
to penetrate behind the scenes The minstrel,
in decidedly negligee costume, was putting
on his makeup but as the operation from long
practice has become mainly mechanical with
him he talked as he worked. sWhere do get
my gags and jokes ?" he echoed 'Not from
the almanacs or the comic papers, bless you,
though the latter are always slurring the min
strels about what they are pleased to call
'chestnuts.' Why, 1 picked up comic paper
yesterday on the news stand at the
Arlington and it contained an original
1t even had the nom de plume of the witty writer
of the paper attached to it," "No
SIR" continued Thatcher. "a greater part of
the end stories you hear originate with the per-
formers themselves. In my own case l do not
pretend to be original in everything; but the
material l am now using-at least, the best
part of it-I put together last summer during
my vacation. When thing strikes me as being
good generally spring it on friend. If he
laughs enough to encourage me / try it on two
or three friends If it goes with them, then the
public is my next victim. If it fails with the
public, then the early friends of my gaghood
days are bitterly arraigned for originally ap-
preciatng SO vile a point. 1t is the only con
ISOLATION 1 have in the matter. The outlook for
minstrelsy? Never better, so far as |
am concerned. l never was so con-
tented, never made SO much money
in so short a time, and never was
surrounded by such well-disciplined com, ON
pany since | have been in the profession. /
think we are, take us all in all, the happiest
band of brothers ever organized. Everybody
seems to be working for my interest as well as
lie for fhn nfbn min ct,.a1n
concerned, am unable to say anything. Some,
hear, are doing finely, and Others as well as
they expect. This is a great big world, and it
wants amusement: There is room enough for
us all. But" The interview came to a sud
den termination as Ed Marbles voice was heard
announcing the appearance of George Thatcher,
and in a seconds time he was receiving the tll-
mutuous plaudits of his friends.
X X II
The bill at the National for the week begin
ming Monday, September %, will be one of ex-
traordinary interest, inasmuch as it introduces
to Washington theatre-goers for the first time
number of remarkably clever European artists.
The company appearing is Marks's Interna-
tiona Vaudeviles, and if the opinions of the
New York and Philadelphia press count for
aught the performance is one of rare merit.
Among the artists announced are Leonce and
Lola, of Portugal, marvellous jugglers; the
brothers Avolo two boys of sixteen and seven
Aldow and Theo, musical and electrical eccen-
triques from Madrid; John Ransom, the Amer
lean comedian, and Bryant and Richmond.
Xxx
Mr.. John Philip Sousa, the well-known leader
of the Marine Band, is naturally and justifiably
proud of that organization, which has won ma
tional fame under his capable direction Mr.
Sousa has a ready wit and seldom allows an op-
portunity for quiet joke to go by unimproved.
The other day he was riding down town from
his home on Capitol Hill, on his way to keep an
engagement. He was in full uniform, and his
distinguished and picturesque appearance nat
urally caught the eyes OF the other passengers.
Among these was young man, who plainly
took great interest in Mr.. Sousa, and at last
ventured to open a conversation with him.
"Are you member OF the Marine Band ?' he
inquired. 81 have that honor" replied Mr.
Sousa. "Pretty good band, isn't it ?'' was the
young mans next question. swell, think it's
a fair band" answered the leader. "Best band
in Washington, guess" persisted the admir-
ing youth. "Well, now, you get beyond me''
replied the blushing musical director, ''but
will say this; it is at least the best band in East
Washington"
Francis Wilson gave what he called 'gloat
ing party' at the Hotel Metropole, New York,
on Thursday night. The object of the gather
ing was to gloat over the big success of his new
opera, "The Merry Monarch,n which continues
to crowd the Broadway Theatre to the doors
nightly. The guests were the men who made
the opera, Mr. j. CheeVer Goodwin, the libret-
tist; Mr.. Woolson Morse, who constructed the
score; Mr.. John Philip Sousa, of Wash
ington, who did the orchestration; AL. Candy,
Wilson'S manager; Professor De Novells, the
orchestra leader; Mr.. Wilson himself lis treas
urer. Mr.. Richards, and his stage manager.
For five hours the happy party gloated to their
hearts content over 1.-THE Merry Monarchs"
magnificent reign and one of the Metropolis
4 Al.
witty and felcitous as his librettos, made a
glorifcation speech, congratulating everybody,
and then everybody congratulated everybody
else. Mr.. Sousa, who returned to the city yes
terday morning, says it was delightful affair.
X X Il
The successes of purely American comic
operas are not numerous. recent one, and