Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-07-05

behind the footights can not be sup
pressed. Stage "guying' is custom
abhorred by managers, detested by au-
diences. ard fraught ofttimes with dan
gerous results. Yet it exists. And its
chief opponents are. of course, the mer-
ry men and women of comedy.
Not at all. They may venture it fee
bly,. perhaps, at the Wednesday and
Saturday matinees, when brother and
sister professionals are in the audience,
but the past grand masters OF tho art
are the heavy and dramatic actors and
tragedians. And the cream of the guild
is Louis James. 1t doesn't seem posi-
bic, does it? The rugged 0thello, the
demoniac Richard, the money-drawing
and tear-drawing Virginius, guy?
81 can't help it, said Mr.. James, i'm a
recent talk with writer for the New
York Recorder. 81 would IL I could,
but can't. My chief delight, after de-
liyerlng u sonorous and impressive
speech, is TO turn up stage and break
up the company by making a face or
saying something that is not in the
text"
But doesn't it affect your perform
ances?"
mot bit. My company have got so
selves accordingly"
''But how about company that you
do not control?"
"Ah, that's different. I've broken
many managerial heart, | suppose.
Oh, what life 1 led Augustin DAILY for
the four years l was with him! Fine,
fine, fine, lecture, lecture, lecture. Yet,
as look back now, think he was very
patient with me-"
what did you do?"
Everything that I shouldn't have
done. Daily is very distant and austere
with his people, you know. He thinks
it is necessary for discipline, and per-
haps he's right. On the way to my
dressing room had to pass his private
Office, so every night / knelt before IL
| md crossed myself. He caught me at it
dice, and that was another lecture. |
honestly believe that most of the strin
gent niles and regulations OF his theater
and hey are 'corkers'-were origi-
nally male for my benefit"
WAS that engagement OF ad 7antage
to you?"
"Of very 6 Nat advantage. Mr.. DAILY
is fine direc1r, as all the world
knows, and he tautht me great deal;
though when / first joined him, | sup
pose, like most actors, = thought |
knew it ALL 1t was during this en-
gagement that Clara Morris first plaSod
| A FOR tho nnnGCifQ
part. How cried during her stormy
scene, when she knelt to me appeal
ingly. l felt the tears were washing
off my makeup but they flowed on, a
tribute to the woman's grand ability
She was weeping also; so you car
imagine my horror and surprise when
she said to me, soto voce, Whats the
matter, cully?' A dose OF my own med
icine."
Mr.. James was playing in a stock
company at Milwaukee years ago, in
"penny dreadful" drrma, where in one
scene he had a struggle with the late
John Howson, in which it was necessary
for the proper ending OF the play, thai
James should be thrown down traI
into the river. This went on for few
nights until James grew weary OF It's
monotony, and Mortified the dignified
and gentle Howson by whispering one
night, as the struggle began:
John, You're going down the trap
this time"
And so poor Howson was really forced
down, to the horror Of the management,
the company and the author, who sat In
front. OF course, Howson had to climb
I'D again, and the scene be gone over
again to its proper ending.
81 remember what pranks / played at
the Arch Street Theater, Philadelphia, y
said Mr.. James, dreamily, as he added
a deeper shade OF tan TO bis Othello
makeup. "Dear, dear, but / was a
thorn in their sides! recall new
play that we did there once, In which
that sterling old actor, George Griffiths,
played the important part. AS had
very little to do Ia the piece saw my
opportunity; so stationed myself with a
putty blower In a dark corner at the
back of the stage, inserted IL In the lit
tie space between the flats and waited.
"Griffiths had a very serious scene
with the heroine. He began his speech
with great dignity, one-half Of his face
In my direction. took a long breath
and let fly.
Ping
THE wicked little wad Of putty
struck him full on the nose. He started
back in panied astonishment, and glared
Indignantly at his vis-a-vis, who. poor
girl. thought he had forgotten his lines,
and tried to prompt him. He recovered
! himself and went on.
'Ping!
This time he caught it, literally, in
the neck and his rage was awful. for
be had found the putty. He stalked 10
/ the wing and Kissed out-for he knew
my propensities- xiii that id
: James aud then resumed his part. A
not chase was made In my direction,
but not before Roland Reed had entered
on the scene and / had 'ftz-ponfted'
him, as our friend Paulton would say,
also on the nose. But who could posi-
bly, Miss Roland's nose?
"As it was getting hot for me where
was. climbed up.unobserved into the
flies. where | had a beautiful view CT
dear old Griffiths' bald head-for he
wore no wig that night.
"Pingl
at was my last shot, and good one,
for il struck downward full on the cen
ter OF his shining crown. GrIftiths fair
~ danced with rage, the audience was
convulsed, and Mrs. Drew, in the box,
nearly had fit. / escaped undiscoy-
cred, but" said Mr.. James, as he shook
his fist at his reflection In the mirror,
sssuch tricks are disgracefnl.r
Woe to the ''star" who got the III win
OF these humorists. He Jared badly.
When the late Barry Sullivan went 70
the California Theatre TO play bis first
..sfarn engagement. years aro he WAS