Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-21
Colonel Burr Describes a Delightful
Symposium Given by Lon
dOn's Great Tragedian.
SHORT SKETCH OF THE LYCEUM.
Situated Among GrOggeries and Gambling
Dens, but Yet Center
of Intellectually.
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE THEATER.
Ellen Terry and Esr Accomplished Son at the Hospitabls
Board With the Rest
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE D1srArcHl

8 mlQnlg1t Qlnner only SNORT Ilme
ago to few friends, as he frequently does.
1 was there. A number of pleasant people
were around the table, but the interest was
not alone centered in the company but in
the surroundings. The women and men who
sat and ate would have been more than well
come in any company on the face of the
earth. The story which this dinner tells
is singular one. because it brings out new
phases OF character and presents Mr.. Irving
in the light of host, rather than that OF an
actor and stage manager.
The caprice which prompts this remarka-
bic man to surround his playhouse with a
romance surpasses my understanding. Yet
this is one of the sinews OF his power, not
only in England but in the United States.
He thinks we Americans are parsimonious
only in relation to amusements. The other
night he said to me:
IRvING's OPINION OF AMERICA.
Gan American will spend $50 for din
ner, but debates about 81 80 for the play
house. L am delighted with my experiences
in the New World. While your people do
not have the same idea of seat values in the
theaters that we have here, they are per-
fectly willing to pay me the same price as l
receive in England. 1 could not have
PLAYED for less. 1t cost me from shore to
shore 81, 10 every night ] raised the cur
tain. l paid nv company so per cent more
than they received in England, because the
difference in living between Lere and the
United States is so great l think Ameri-
cans are liberal in the extreme with every
thing except the theater. There they are
economical, and the result is that they can
not get the productions that we can in a
country where living is cheap and perfec-
ton can be obtained by discipline and thor
ough education"
The Lyceum Theater is a curious old
building. How long it was erected before
Henry Irving and Ellen Terry occupied it
1 do not know. But those two remarkable
personages have given it an individuality
and strength that it has never before known.
1t has strange surroundings. The entrance
is on Wellington street, and the door lead
ing to the pit is on the Strand. A big gin
mill occupies the ground between this COM
mon entrance to great playhouse and the
place where the high-toned people enter.
A RESORT FOR SPORTS.
There are big, brown Corinthian pillars in
front which remind me of those before the
residence of Andrew jackson at the "Her-
mitage" in Tennessee, 16 miles from Nash
vile. To the right, as you go to the main
entrance, there is the gamblers club. This
is one of the curioslties OF London, where
millions OF money are every night laid on
the races or at cards. Yet the theater, with
its master, dominates the whole of this Sec
tion of the British metropolis, and it is a
bright spot in a rather somber quarter.
There is an air of mystery surrounding
Mr.. Irving's theater. Perhaps it would be
better 10 say an air of dignity. He has any
number of secretaries aud servants. 1t IS
difficult to see the master of the house I'M
less you have an engagement. Then it is
easy. The morning usher is an old soldier
who wears an armless sleeve, and the author
titles call him commissionaire. There are
1,500 of these veterans in London who are
undertaking to make a living as errand
runners, porters or attendants upon shops.
The average Englishman has no use for the
messenger boy. For year they have been
trying to establish the new system patterned
after that in the United States, but the peo-
pie won't have it, and the telegraph, which
Is prompt and cheap. combined with the
commissionaire, fills the bill to the English
mind.
ATTRACT I'VE ONLY WITHIN.
The entrance to this historic playhouse is
not inviting; in fact, all the theaters in Lon
don lack color and spirit either by day OF
night They are dreary places to look at
and difficult to get into, ior you either have
to go under ground or upstairs to see play.
As a rule, they are not attractive until YOU
get into them, but there is an air of comfort
about all the surroundings that makes you
contented when you get there. The bar
room privileges are abundant, and you can
have drink brought to your seat or an ice
for your girl without going out In fact,
u, 10 loo IL
in London without charging ior return.
They provide everything on the inside and
expect you to patronize them. Yet, no one
abuses these privileges, and neither man mol
woman get funny because they are allowed
to have what they want without leaving the
theater. These English women and men are
very much in love with their stomachs, and
food and liquor play very eminent part in
the economy of this nation.
As l said before, the theaters are mostly
underground; some OF them entirely SO, and
they bear no comparison whatever 10 the
american play-houses for beauty, but in
comfort they can give US points. The seat:
are roomy, the aisles wide and the attend
ance as perfect as it can be. That is pro pa.
bly, because pretty girls are the ushers in.
stead OF boys.
FILL ONE WITH APPREHENSION.
The long passages and singular bywayl
by which you get in and out set the average
American wild with apprehension lest ht
be burned up or murdered in case of panic
The new theaters now being constructed
change this condition of affairs, and Civ,
you more of an American playhouse thar
they have ever known In the British capital
No matter how big the kick among actor
and actresses about American theaters tn,
London houses are no comparison to them 81
fer as comfort Tor the players is concerned
The audience, however, fares better and tn
people who pay the cheap prices are just a
well off as those who buy the most expensive
seats known as the stalls.
The Bookmaker's Club, within marble tos
of Henry Irviug's business home, does no
cOntaminate it in the least The Lyceuu
Theater is the shrine toward which all the bes
of London turn. Mr.. Irving and Miss Terr
impart a wonderful charm to this strang
old playhouse. 1t is regarded as the hom
of the drama, and Mr.. Irving's intellectual
ity gives it a standing that is superior to al
else. His productions are the perfection Q
stage management, and he prides himsel
upon pictures as much as upon acting. Hi
idea is that in this age of wonderful re
sources there should be as much perfectio
in detail as power in utterance. Readin
lines well does not play the entire part i
his idea of a production. Perfection i
scenery, color and costume lends its assis
snce to the actors who play their parts we
in all they have to do.
THE OLD BEEFsTEAK CLUB.
The Beelsteak Club was once great il
Etitution in the social life of the Britis
Capital. 1t was once theresort of high-bre
Bohemians like Mr.. Irving, and by SON