Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-07
PLAYS AND PLAYERS
Nine. Janauschek's Lament
Over the Legitimate.
A Story of an Owl Club Actress
and a Bouquet.
Men and Women and Sullivan Billed
for This Week.
A Once Great Actress Takes a Wrong
Point of view-How Manager Nor
ris Got His Bouquets News
Notes and Personal Gossip.

"Time has proved what prophesied
years ago-that the legitimate drama is
dying out. This past season it almost
breathed its last"
That il what Madame Janauschek
wrote recently in letter to the editor of
the New York Dramatic Mirror, in
which she also denies that she will re-
tire this season.
Madame makes mistake. 1t is not
the legitimate drama which is dying
ont, it is madame herself. That may
sound bit brutal, but truth is very
seldom pleasant, though it is said to be
beautiful.
At madame's last appearance in this
city, there were those in the audience
who had seen her ten and fifteen years
ago. Perhaps even longer. Then she
was good actress. Not genius, not a
Rachel, nor Cuhman, but a good
actress. Those who saw her when last
here regretted their presence, and de-
plored her want of judgment in still ap-
pearing. But she will not give up. She
announces that next season she will for
sake her usual repertoire and play
in sensational light comedy drama !;
she says she is through trying to elevate
the stage and will give the public what
they want. 1t is the same old story.
Few of us learn it in time to save
ourselves modification. This is the
age of tomorrow. Those who live in
yesterday must receive buffets and be
elbowed out of the procession. The
death of the San Francisco Alta was a
case in point. You who read this may
be another example. 1t is not a ques-
tion of age as regards years, but as re-
CARDS the ability to keep abreast if not
little ahead of the tidal wave of
progress which is always rolling ahead.
1t is hard, tiresome work, and it is more
profitable to ones self and to others,
when the struggle becomes too exacting,
to drop behind the crest into the smooth
water.
The legitimate drama is all right. 1t
is full OF vitality, and it will live for
ever, because it is founded on truth and
vivified by art. Its form may vary it,
like all forms of art, has no use for
straight line; it advances in winding
path, the curves of which are so sweep
ing sometimes as to give the impression
that it is going backward, but such is
never the case. Poor humanity is the
only factor in art which does retrograde.
1t is hard sometimes for an artist TO
realize that the highest point to which
their talent can be developed has been
reached; that they have finished going
up hill and must go down.
That is what is the matter with Nine.
Janauschek.
That is not the matter with the
drama, however.
A STORY OF BOUQUET.
One of the women who played in
Caste the other evening at the opera
house received bouquet over the foot
lights, about which there is a little story.
"Who is she?" asked Mr.. Morris,
the manager OF the Men and Women
company, who sat beside the HERALD
reporter. He was told.
"Ahl that's too bad She's the right
sort. She'll make an actress. I'd get
her an engagement at good figure any
time. I'd like to send her bouquet"
''Do it," advised the HERALD.
81 will" said Morris, and off the two
went to find flower shop. They found
several, but they were closed for the
evening, and the manager was about to
give up his intention, when in walking
through the lobby back to their seats,
the two saw number of those nuisances
called "floral tributes" piled up in
chair, waiting to be handed over to diff
ferent members of the company, who
were designated by cards attached by
ribbons to the flowers.
The HERALD man had an idea and a
malicious one it was. He whispered to
Morris. Both smiled. The latter said
"I'll do it." He pulled card from his
pocket, wrote few pretty phrases on it,
and called one of the ushers. A short
conference took place, during which a
couple of big silver dollars changed
owners, and the usher was given the
card, which later took the place of the
one attached TO the bouquet by the real
sender, and Mr.. Morris the next day re-
ce,Yed q pleasant note of thanks for his
corperdation aud his blossoms.
Whose card was originally on the
e.-sz7eL2 Oh that got lost in the
shuttle.
Ans AND WOMEN.
At last Mr.. CharAs Frohman has sent
one of his companies TO Los Angeles.
There is no reason why hs should not
have done so before. When we get a
good thing dramatically we know it.