Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-12
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
A Leash of Short Stories From Divers The
atrical Sources.

Leash Of Short Stories From Divers The.
arricai Sources.
"yWHEN was in Chicago recently" said a
theatrical man yesterday, "Mr. Booth,
who was playing there with Modjeska, told me
pretty good story on himself
"Owen Fawcett, the comedian Of the COM
pany was not In the cast of "RichelIeu" and
wishing to see one of the scenes from the stage
disguised himself and went on as super. Mr..
Booth glanced at Fawcett once or twice, and
the latter. fearing detection, closed his eyes
every time the tragedian looked at him. At
the end of the scene Mr.. Booth called the stage
manager TO him and said: "Don't let that fat
old super go on the stage again. He slept dur
ing the whole of the act"
DURING Robert Mantell's recent engagement
in New York he posed for Hillary Bell,
who since the success of his Ada Rehan as
Katharine-which is now in the Shakespearean
Memorial building at Stratford-on-Avon-has
been chief portrait painter to the dramatic
profession. The Mantell picture has been on
exhibition during the past week at Bells STU
dio. in the association building. 1t is a canvas
of 50x60 inches. depicting the duel scene In
Fontainebleau. The picture is cold and win
try in tone, the ground covered with deep snow
and the chill light of a January morning steal
The episode chosen by the artist is that one
in the drama when the duelists discard their
broken swords and fight with their improvised
daggers. The action of the principals and
their seconds is spirited. To remarkable de-
gree Is shown the nervous intensity OF the
scene, and, as each figure is faithful portrait
ure, not only of the actor but Of the dramatic
character, the canvas is one of more than ordi-
nary importance. Mr.. Mantell pays $500 to
Hillary Bell for this picture. Augustus Pitou,
his manager, has ordered from this artist
canvas of similar size representing Miss Cogh-
Ian as Peg Wo6tngton.
THEY tell me. the theatrical gossips, that
Pauline Hall, the somewhat large and
sleepy but withal beautiful star of comic opera,
is writing q novel. She ought to be able to
write a very tolerable romance out of her own
experiences upon the boards, but she is hardly
likely to do that.
When she was in Pittsburg last winter she
said that she was somewhat tired of comic
opera and might try something else. Perhaps
she meant to try her hand at literature.
CTUART ROBSON, the Lamb of 1.-THE Henri
etta,n tells this story of his early life: when
was in a high school the students got up din
ner which was presided over by college pro-
fessor who was supposed to preserve order.
The butter served on this festive occasion was
of the rankest kind. The professor happened
to leave the banquet room for a few moments.
While he was out daredevil student picked
up the cake of butter in his hand and hurled it
against the wall of the room, where it stuck
fast. The professor upon returning discovered
this. and was terribly shocked. He asked every
student Who did thatr The guilty one was
10th to answer. Finally after much questioning
he replied: Professor, should think that but
ter was old and strong enough to speak for
ITSELF The prof was overcome as were all the
students, with laughter, and stopped his investi-
CATION"