Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-02

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,ers OF her company, in which, it ie said,
mere was never scandal.
Emma Abbott wears in her coffin
part Of the handsome veil which, in the |
past ten years, she was wont to wear in |
ler performance of Juliet (says the Chi
ago News). This veil she bought in
Paris, and she thought much OF it. 1t
was white, fine net, spangled with gold,
and presumably the wearer kissed it a
thousand times in the famous balcony
scene. She used to call it her mascot,
Tor the reason that fortune favored her
from the moment that she possessed
herself of the article. After Miss Alb
bott's death, half of this veil was used
to deck her for the grave; the other half
was cut into fragments and distributed
among the members of her opera COM
pany. Each of her old associates now
has tiny bit Of this gossamer veil as
precious souvenir OF the departed singer.
Edwin Booth has returned to town saws
the Chicago Sunday Herald OF January
4th, for spell of illness which may
never end. The great tragedian is q
very sick man. He was to have begun
an engagement in this city next Mon
day, but the failure Of his small rem
nant Of health has compelled him to
abandon it. The acting which he has
forced himself to do thus far this season
has been difficult and feeble. His all
ment is chronic form of dyspepsia,
which has dissipated his strength and
lowered his spirits alarmingly. His
wealth places him far beyond the neces-
isity of exertion, but his physicians ad-
vised him to remain on the stage, in the
hope that it would occupy his mind and
keep him from brooding. Expensive and
careful arrangements were made for the
easiest possible travel and the most COM
Portable quarters at hotels, so as not to
fatigue him; but he found that his en-
durance was not equal to the smallest
remnant of hardship incidental to travel,
and so he has come back to New York,
with no probability that he will soon, if
ever, act again. These are the facts.
Booth is today the most respected and
curious figure in the dramatic profess
sion. He leads an almost solitary life.
Just before his departure on this inter-
rupted tour, he permitted his physicians
to coerce him into going to the theatres
for diversion. For few weeks he was an
almost nightly occupant of box at one or
other OF the theatres, and he saw nearly
everything in town, including the wild
est farces and most trivial hurlesuues as
well as worthier performances. He was
usually accompanied by several intimate
friends, with whom he showed very lit
tie sociability, and was always regarded
with keen interest by the audience, of
whose existence he seemed to be obliy-
ious. The effect OF the eminent TRACE
dams presence upon actors on the stage.
If they were engaged in
tomfoolery and horseplay, was vjsiblv
becalming, if not absolutely paralyzing.
The success OF Carmencita's Spanish
ball in Madison Square garden on Janu-
ary Both was great, and the affair ap-
pears to have struck the public fancy,
for it is stated by the managers that
fully one hundred additional boxes had
to be built, so great was the demand for
them. They were engaged by thu best
people in the city, and by those who
have never seen the famous Carmencita
in her bewitching dances. The pro-
gramme for the ball was as follows:
From 8 to 10 o'clock, concert by w. ].
Resteller and Charles Boeswald's or
chestra; 10 O'Clock, grand entree OF Car
mencita on big chariot, surrounded by
pretty girls, with music composed for
this occasion. Following this the royal
Spanish military band, Spanish
students, 200 Spanish girls playing cas-
tanets, gitanas, picadores, tore
adores and others; 10:30, grand
tableaux and dance ''Espagnole."
Nine. Modjeska had recently COM
oleted arrangements for an engagement
1t the Imperial theater in Warsaw, but
IS the Russian ambassador refused to
'ign her passport she was compelled to
it. 1t was supposed her ap-
oearance before her own people in War
saw, where she is favorite, would Gre
ate too much patriotic enthusiasm.
Nine. Modjeska has declined offers of
at the Residenz theater in
Berlin, as well as some very advantage
ous proposals for London season in
the spring, although she may possibly
accept the latter. 1t is said that the de-
mand for her photograph in the English
is fully equal to that OF any
If the celebrities Of the day, thus prov
ng that she is still remembered and ad-
nired in that city.
A theatrical manager says: "In a
great many instances, and in some OF
he largest cities, the opera houses are
either managed directly or controlled by
women, and many of the theatrical or
,anizatiOns now on the road have man
lgeress instead of manager. 1t seems
i'd enough, but it is nevertheless true
hat there are not half dozen managers
n the Whole profession worth half a
million dollars, yet there are certainly
i've women who manage their own COM
oanies who can boast OF wealth even ex-
,eeding this amount, namely: Lotta,
Sarah Bernhart, Lily Langtry, Modjeska,
md the late Emma Abbott
Shenandoah, with many old iavorites,
comes to California in April. Frank
Carlyle plays West, and[Netta Guon-a
pretty girl-Gertrude. Nanette Com.
stock, Frank Burbeck, Barrows and Har
wood are still of the company.
After tour through the provinces,
Lydia Thompson has returned to New
York, and is playing at the Park theatre
n a new musical farce-comedy called
The Dazzler.
An Englishman who has been travel
ng through Italy gives the following
description of the theatres OF that coun-
Try: In Genoa ! wandered into the
Politeama theatre when Gloconda was
being given. Men wore their hats on
heir heads. There was no prompter's
)oX, and the prompter sat in his place
without any attempt at concealment,
With his score leaning against the foot
lights. The curtain was adorned, not
ritl, o;,,t. xr;+ l.