Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-13
The Local Houses Both Dark
ALI This Week.
Edwin Booths Last Appear
ance on the Stage.
How They Hold the Mirror Up to
Nature These Days.
Notes ON Plays and Players From Near
and Far, with Some "reminiscences
of the Past.


niphts' engagement there Thursday,
April 23d. Mr.. Cleveland's name alone
is guarantee of company OF ability.
His success in the minstrel world 10 due
to his excellent artists composing his
three companies now touring the United
States. The principals of the CONSOLE
dated minstrels comprise the following
merry minstrel monarchs: California's 8
own Billy Emerson in his new special
ties, the inimitable Hughey Dougherty,
the prince of punsters, Luke School
craft, and Mr.. Barney Pagan, the rec
ognized leader in the production OF fancy
dances and originator of the Phantom
Courassieurs, which is q feature of this
company; the eight marvellous Craggs,
royal acrobats brought from London es
pecially for the consolidated minstrels.
The New York World says: Edwin
Booth terminated his season yesterday
at the Brooklyn academy of music un-
der circumstances which will make the
event notable even in his remarkable
career. There was quite prevalent i'm
preston that the performance would be
his farewell to the stage. That Mr..
Booth himself did not intend it to be
such was proved by his address at the
final fall of the curtain, when he con-
firmed the statement made in the World
last Wednesday.
Hamlet was the play and the big audi
torium was packed to it's utmost capac-
ity, mainly by ladies. 1t was not only
one of the finestgatherings that had ever
assembled in the City of Homes, but one
of the most demonstrative as well.
When the curtain fell upon the last
act there was vociferous call, followed
by perfect storm of applause. The
green baize assembled and revealed the
actor. A second call was made, accom-
panied by cheers and the waving OF
handkerchiefs, and this demonstration
being kept up, Mr.. Booth was compelled
to appear for the third time. When he
came before the curtain there were cries
of "Speech" mingled with the cheers
and plaudits, and the actor, whose dis
inclination to make speech is proven
bial, overcame his natural reluctance
and with evident feeling spoke as fol-
lows:
sLadies and Gentlemen: can only
say what have said many times before,
that thank you for your kindness. l am
not going to say good-by for good. l in
tend to rest next year for the benefit of
my health, and / expect to appear be-
fore you in the near future. again
thank you, and hope it will not be for
The auditors became wildly enthusi-
astic, and many of them, instead of pro-
ceeding homeward Immediately, lin
gered to watch the tragedian leave the
theatre.
When Mr.. Booth had dressed and
stepped from his room he found his sup
port and the attaches standing in a
double line to greet him. All shook
hands with him, and Miss Gertrude
Kellogg, who was formerly member
of his company, stepped forward and
kissed him. Her example was followed
by Mrs. Beaumont Smith, wife of the
leading juvenile.
Upon opening the stage door the trag-
edian found a crowd of about thou
sand persons waiting for his appear
ance. In his surprise he stepped back,
but recovering himself doffed his hat
in recognition Of the cheers that greeted
his advent. Policemen cleared pas
sage to his carriage, which stood some
distance down the street, and as Mr..
Booth slowly passed through the crowd
many people extended their hands. He
clasped the outstretched palms of few
but had to stop at that.
One attempt was made by enthusiastic
admirers to unhitch the horse, but it
was stopped. Mr.. Booth then stepped
into his carriage, and amid cheers and
more waving of hats and handkerchiefs
he drove off.
The following comes from New York
Mr.. Gerber of Dittenhoefer q Gerber,
counsel for the actors fund, moved be-
fore Judge Pratt, in the supreme court,
Brooklyn, Friday, that a guardian be
appointed for Wesley Vanua, the insane
actor, who has been cared for by the
fund since October, 1889. Vanua made
rambling speech in court, and as a
result of the jury's findings Judge Pratt
made A. M. Palmer, president of the
fund, his guardian.
Mr.. Palmer will collect some money
of Vanua's now in the hands of the
Adams Express company, and expend
1t Tor the actors support. Eighteen
months ago Vanua, then in Baltimore,
expressed to himself at New York war;
rants on the county treasurer of Jackson
county, Ore, worth about 500, and
$500 In money.
That was the last sane thing he did,
When he came to New York it was
found that his mind was affected. He
wandered about like Rip Van Wlnkle,
in ragged clothes and with his long
white hair hanging down; but he was
smart enough to hide himself from the
police for four days. Then the man
ayers OF the actors fund sent him to the
Brunswick home at Amityville, L. L.,
and have maintained him there.
Mr.. Vanua has had checkered life.
He was in San Francisco during the gold
fever OF 40, and run theatre in Sacra-
mento for years, making considerable
money. He was always considered eccen-
trio. One day he sold his theatre and
turned everything he could call his own
into cash, realizing about $4,000.
With this money he bought vessel,
hired some sailors, and went to the So
ciety islands in the South Pacific. Here
he lived for abont ten years, at the end
OF which he again suddenly showed him
self to his San Francisco friends, and as
mysteriously disappeared. Next heard
OF him he was in New York. He claim
ed to have walked all the way, carving
with him all the money he had in a
sailors bag. He was placed or went
into the Forrest home, from which he
ran away upon becoming impressed
with the idea that the directors were
a - h &c