Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-15

for Russell's good fortune. He knows
how to appreciate talent. Next season
he will have Schoolcraft, the most
natural comedian in the world; Billy
Emerson and Billy Sweatnam, in farce
comedy. "They will literally make
Rome howl when they are introduced
to it in the same piece. | think it will
be worth seeing, and l am sure that it
ought to be great winner
Extensive preparations for the pro-
duction of Sardou's Cleopatra at the
Fifth-avenue theater, New York, on De-
cember %, by Fanny Davenport, are now
going on under that artists personal
supervision. Miss Davenport has Sc
cured the English rights OF the play for
America, and hers will be the first pro-
duction of Cleopatra in this country.
She fully intends that neither time,
labor nor expense shall be spared to
make it second in magnifcence to none
which may follow. Her company will
comprise $50 people. Melbourne Mac
Dowell will be the Mark Antony. There
will be ballet and chorus also panor-
annie effects, given under new process
which has never before been seen ON
any stage, and to produce which will re-
quire about one thousand five hundred
yards OF canvas. Fanny Davenport will
have two charming young ladies in her
company, who will, respectively, create
the parts of Chairman and Iras in Sar-
dou's Cleopatra. Blanch Moulton will
be the Chairman and Lillian Burke will
be the Iras. Miss Burke is the adopted
daughter of wellknown lawyer and
journalist, and she has long been recog-
nized in society as a brilliant elocution-
s,% Io~ JoI L
terest to her large circle of friends
A New York paper says: The genial
and finished acting of J. H. Stoddart in
A Pair of Spectacles is an attractive
feature in the performance at the Madi-
son Square theater. 1t is recalled that
since the death of John Gilbert and the
retirement of Charles Fisher, Stoddart
is the only active representative of that
school of performers that made the New
York stage so brilliant under che old
stock system. Agnes Booth is seen in
the one-act piece, After-Thoughts.
The New York Star says: Carmencita
will add this week to her two dances.
Santiago and Petenera, her famous dance
La Cachucha, one of her most beautiful
creations.
The talk as to whether the mistress of
Craig-y-Nos is Roman Catholic or Jew
ish in her religious training has brought
out the following story:
The singer, Diaz de Soria, an orthodox
| Israelite, always carries mesoussah in
locket atteched to little chain around
his neck. This mesoussah is little
piece of parchment, on which are writ
| ten in Hebrew characters the Ten Com
mandments. Sometimes Jews place upon
the doors of their houses these objects
of piety to preserve their habitations
from all evil. When Diaz de Sora was
singing in PATHS castle one evening last
summer, the mysterious locket became
detached from its chain and fell on the
floor. Patti picked it up, asked Diaz
what it signified and received all the in
formation that she desired concern
ing it. Then she expressed an
ardent wish to get one for herself be-
fore she appeared in Juliet at the
grand opera of Paris. Like the gallant
gentleman that he is, Diaz de Soria pro-
cured one for her, and had it placed in
locket with the inscription "God'' in
Hebrew, and this locket containing the
mesoussah was fixed upon the bracelet
of the lady. Shortly after PATHS great
success in Juliette at the Paris opera,
the Baronne de sRothschild, in conversa-
| tlOn WlCn ner, nOClceQ Cne lOcKet. A re
you a Jewess?" she asked. ''No, mad
ame," replied Patti, ,smilingly, "but am
great admirer of the Jewish religion,
especially now since the mesoussah has
brought me such good fortune. | owe
to it my success at the Paris opera in
Juliette. have worn it ever since, and
shall continue to do SO. am willing to
risk to be taken for a Jewess, although
| am Catholic
There is a passage from Bulwer's
great play, Money, that fits in here:
.God made man" said Alfred Evelyn;
"but see (holding up gold coin) what
thing man has made God"
How absurd, not to say blasphemous,
it is to find an opera singer making her
ephemeral success before the footlights
a rider, so to speak, on the doctrines of
eternal salvation.
At the Grand opera house, during
Christmas week, the Grismers will APP
pear. Sam Thall, the agent, is now
here making necessary preparations.