Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-23
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
ANECDOTE AND FACT : AMERICAN
SINGERS -MoDJEsKA.
Some Stage -Disconcerting a Co.
median-Wig Wearers-For
Riley's Sake.

the Chicago Herald, but De Wolff Hopper
rises above such influences, and throws all
the more vim into his work, endeavoring
to dispel the dreary effect of empty seats,
not only upon the actors, but upon the au-
dience itself. One Christmas at the matt
nee, while "The Bellman" was on the
boards, the house was pretty light. The
day was lovely outside, and the temptation
to enjoy it overbalanced any desire for in
door amusement, even with Hopper to
laugh at. The first appearance of the
comedian that day was the signal for ap-
plause, but it was no such furor as is usu-
ally raised upon his entrance. Mr.. Hop
per felt the chilliness of the reception, but
when he glanced through the thin ranks,
he knew it was not the lack of heart in
those present that had made it weak, but
the lack OF numbers. Mr. Hopper began
at once to get in his byplay for the partic-
nlar benefit of his few admirers. He was
slowly but surely getting them into good
humor, bat he capped the climax by say
ing 'I notice there is only few of you,
but l shall do the best l can, just the
same"
A comical thing occurred Christmas
Eve in "The Belman." When Hopper
sings one of his songs he carries banner,
on which are the words, "McGinty and
Reform" and as he walks across the stage
he leads small negro boy by the hand.
As he reaches the wings some one hands
him large glass of beer. After taking
sip he hands it to the little coon, who also
takes drink. Christmas Eve the little
darkey failed to show up. They waited
for him as long as they could, and the
stage manager sent out men with orders
to kidnap the first small colored boy they
could find. In few minutes back they
both came, each having prize in tow.
One of them was selected, and the other
let go. The one chosen did his act in good
shape, and when the beer was handed
him he brought down the house by hang
ing TO the glass and drinking down the
beer as though it was the chance of life
time. At the Christmas matinee Mr..
Hopper kept his hold on the glass.
FOR RILEY's SAKE.
The following illustrates how closely
humor blends with pathos, and also en-
phasizes the wide difference of opinion at
present existing between Bill Nye and
James Whitcomb Riley. Those who have
attended the seances Of these erstwhile
Dromios have doubtless noticed that Mr..
Nye first occupies space in the ozone above
the footlights. One evening in certain
town, over whose name we might as well
draw veil and build stone wall behind
the veil, Mr.. Nye came gravely down in
front at the opening of the lecture and
said:
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr.. Riley is
greatly distressed just at preseat, and in no
small degree mortified, owing to the fact
that his baggage failed to keep its appoint
ment in this city. In consequence of this
serio comic predicament Mr.. Riley thinks
that you will feel hard toward him because
he is obliged to appear before you in
common, but well-made and stylish busi-
ness suit. His tights, spangled trunks and
diamond blazing girdle, spike-tail round
about and decollete waistcoat are many,
many miles in our rear. Please excuse
Mr.. Riley, and try and forget when he
turns on the fioodgates of eloquence that
it IS not all of life to live nor all of death
to die. l shall remain in full dress all
the evening, and if you get tired looking
at Mr.. Riley, will step out at any time
and let you rest your eyes"
And all this time Riley's dress suit was
| in the ante-room, but he was not in con-
dition to warrant satisfactory change of
suits, and he went through the lecture the
best he could in travelling costume.-S.
Paul Pioneer Press.
MoDJEsKA.
Nine. Modjeska, in a reminiscence of
her debut as an actress at the Imperial
Theater, Warsaw, says: "At some time
more than two decades ago q trust the
reader will be courteous not to insist upon
the precise date) was living in Bochnia
with NJ. Modjeska and my little son, only
few months old. We were poor,
wretchedly poor. But if remember well,
poverty did not make me gloomy nor de-
spondent. At the time of our stay in
Bochnia some misfortune happened, caus-
ing the death of several men, who left
widows and orphans without any means of
support" This furnished the occasion of
her first appearance, which was at a charity
performance. She was seen by NJ. Che
cinsli, an actor and author of repute. She
played in the provinces by his advice, and
made her debut at the Imperial Theater,
Warsaw, in 1868.
WIG wEARERs.
Three of the most stalwart and athletic
actors on the stage wear wigs, says the
Boston Herald Two of them, Barrymore
and Mantell, have delicate toupees, which
cover forehead whose abnormal height is
detrimental to beauty. The third, De
Wolff Hopper, has head that is entirely
denuded Of hair, and he wears wig for
general decorative purposes. OF the lead
ing men, Barrymore is a perpetual source
of wonder to his friends. He does not look
day more than twenty-eight years of age
off the stage, and he is the picture Of
fresh-colored, vivacious and alert college
athlete. Nevertheless, Mr.. Barrymore won
the first prize in boxing at Oxford College
in England over twenty years ago. Twenty
years added to any collegian's life is apt to
lift him above twenty eight years of age.
Barrymore remarkable youthful appear
ance is attributed to his early athletic
training and his superb physique. Man.
tell is more apt to pose than any OF the
leading men since Bellew left; but he is a
big, muscular and powerfully built man.
III nO SENSE, however, ID ue an dtnietc VI
the Barrymore stamp.
AMERICAN SINGERS.
There was time when it might have
been asked who listens to an American
singer, but that time has gone by. For
some years past American singers have
been coming to the fore and have made
regulations not only at home but abroad.
The list of American stars is really for
midable one, both in the concert rooms
and on the operatie stage. One recalls
not alone the three we have mentioned, but
Amalia Patti, Carlotta Patti, Anna Louise
Cary, Clara Louise kellogg, Miss Thursby,
Marie Litta, Emma Nevada, Marie Van
Zandt, Pauline pAllemand, Minnie Hauk,
Mrs Osgood, Emma Abbott, Antoinette
Sterling, Hope Glenn, Miss Eames, Vir-
ginia Whiting, Jules Perkins, Charles r.
Adams, Myron Whitney, Fred Packard,
and others who have been abroad and
made successes beth on the lyric and con-
cert stage Even our Black Swans and
Black Toms have astonished Europe.
WHY Is IT?
A question, which is bashfully put for
ward, is: Why are the legs of stage fair
les, and of all supernatural beings who ex-
hibit their LEGS so varied in color The