Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-16
ENJOYING THE PLAY.
A Glimpse Of Famous Men and Women
in the New York Theaters.
MRS. CLEVELAND HIDES HERSELF.
Gen. Sherman Always on the Lookout for
the Good-Looking Girls.
A CONTRAST IN THE GOULD FAMILY
rcopprepornrrcE OF THE n1spIrc,

lCORRESPONDENCEO
NEW YORK, March 15.-Men and women
of national celebrity can be seen at almost
any performance in the leading New York
theaters, and it frequently happens that
opera glasses are leveled quite as much at
the occupants of some particular box or
seats as at the stage itself. The presence of
well-known people at playhouse is sure to
be drawing card, and shrewd managers
make use of such fact for advertising pur-
poses every time. Their attendance at a
''frst night" is especially desirable, and it
not lnfrequently happens at such time
that every box in the house is given gratui-
tously to celebrities.
occupy box at the theater. Both are fond
of the drama and are frequently seen at
principal playhouses. Mr.. Cleveland has
no special preference for a box seat, and
would probably prefer an orchestra chair to
show his Democratic spirit, but he is alto
gether too big and fat to occupy one with
comfort. With Mrs. Cleveland the case is
different She resents the gaze of a crowd,
and although more conspicuous in box,
she is also more remote from the people who
scrutinize her as they would a freak in a
dime museum. Every theatrical manager
in the city knows that she has refused to
attend performances altogether rather than
sit in the body of the house. She gives in
disputable evidence of her feelings by turn
ing her back squsrely upon the audience.
Mr.. Cleveland always sits behind his wife
in an inconspicuous position. He leans
back in his chair and pays close attention
to the performance. He is chary of his
applause, but occasionally claps his hands
in perfunctory way. Between acts he de-
votes himself to the ladies of his party
there are usually one or two besides Mrs.
Cleveland-but at the same time he finds an
occasional opportunity to survey the audi
ence through his opera glasses. He per-
forms this feat from a position where but
few can see him. He and Mrs. Cleveland
still receive more attention at the tneater
than anybody else in New York.
SHERMAN PARTIAL TO BEAUTY.
That grizzled old warrior, General Sher-
man, is an enthusiastic spectator of theatri-
cal performances. He has the entree to
every theater in the city. He likes a seat
well-down in front, tor his eyesight and
hearing are not as good as they were when
he marched through Georgia. An express
ment fills his face as he watches the show.
He is good listener, and follows closely
the unfolding of the plot. For the good
looking girls of the company, too, he has an
appreciaIive eye. Nothing delights him
more than to be taken back of the scenes and
be introduced to some performer who has
caught his fancy. In his applause he is
generous. He always appears in evening
dress, and his well-known rugged face,
prominent nose and closely y-cropped white
beard look much more familiarin swallow
tailed coat in these days than if gold braid
andtepaulettes were beneath them.
Jay Gould always sits in box, and takes
an upper one if he can get it. He is by no
means a constant theater-goer. He Is even
more retiring than Mr.. Cleveland, and rarely
allows himself to be seen by the audience.
He never applauds, but occasionally be-
comes so interested in the play as to emerge
from his place of concealment and crane his
neck over the edge of the box. When the
exciting scene or striking tableau is over he
seems to become suddenly aware of his con-
spicuous position, and quickly sinks into
the background.
NOT QUITE so RETIRING.
Young George Gould is not so eager for
concealment as his father. He sits boldly
in the front OF the box, with his face in iull
view of the audience, or stands behind his
wife, leaning back OF her chair. He pays
strict attention to the stage, however, as it
is characteristic of the Gould family to al
WAYS get the worth OF their money. At the
comedy touches he laughs heartily, but
never applauds. He likes to look at the
audience, and frequently divides his atten-
tion between it and mis- party when the cur
tain is down.
Mrs. Edith Kingdom Gould is directly the
opposite of Mrs. Cleveland so far as objec-
tion to public scrutiny is concerned. When
one of a theater party she invariably sits in
the most conspicuous seat in the box.
Whether unconsciously or not, she also sits
in position from which she can see the
stage and the audience can also see her face.
She cannot sbe called an enthusiastic spec
tator, but seems to be studying the tech
nical work of the players mure than listen
ing to the play, fact probably due to the
influence of her past career. She engages
in frequent conversation with her husband
during the performance, and usually has q
smile for every word he speaks.
oCHILTREE AND HIS FRIENDS.
Colonel Tom Ochiltree Is a good listener.
He extracts rare enjoyment from a clever
performance, and he finds better ones in
New York than he ever saw in Texas. He
is always ready to lend helping hand as
regards applause, and between acts likes to
wander in the lobby and talk with friends.
Usually he can't take two steps without
meeting any number of them.
Colonel John +. Fellows, who didn't con-
vict the boodlers, likes good minstrel
show better than anything else in the show
line. Merry Marshall P. Wilder is not like
the majority of professionals when - the
role OF spectators. He goes to the theater
to enjoy himself and it is cold day when
he tails to do so. be the play good or bad
He never studies the acting or dissects the
drama. At the thrilling passages he looks
like a wondering schoolboy, and at the funny
ones he leans back in his chair and emits a
true Wilderian laugh. He is generous with
his applause, and will help along an encore
to the best of his ability.
Mrs. Kendall has been a frequent attend
ant at the metropolitan theaters since her
American tour began. She steals away to
matinee whenever she can do so, and
although, of course, she is studying the art
dramatic Of this country, she apparently
obtains hearty enjoyment in doing so. She
is a sympathetic listener, and never lets a
good point pass without applauding it.
DEPEw's MERRY TWINKLE.
Chauncey NJ. Depew listens during the
play and does his talking between acts.
Often-times when his face is sternest he is
keenly appreciating some clever or huDor-
GUS hit, and it would require Close observer
to detect the merry twinkle in his eyes.
When he claps his hands he does so with
vim. Mayor Grant is great admirer of
comedy. Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll is
Shakespearian "crank," and never fails to
attend good production of any OF Shakes
peare's plays. He is an authority on the
subject himself, and those who have beard
him wax eloquent over the great dramatist
have enjoyed one of the rarest Of treats, as
Shakespeare is one OF the few subjects OF