Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-30

Sardou's Theodore" was running there. with
Bernhardt in the full tide OF success, as the
circus rider turned empress Miss Olcott az
once determined 10 take Bernhardts place
IN an American use OF this drama. She
paid 600 cash down 20 sardou for
the American rights, and spent at least half
as much more in . duplication Of the Paris
scenery and costumes Her persistent tours OF
this country increased her investment TO an
aggregate Of twenty-five to thirty thousand
dollars, for the income from her audiences
never equaled the current expenses We
wouldn't believe that she was a worthy subs,i-
tute for the great French actress. and il was
not until Bernhardt herself appeared here in
New York IN the role that unbiased people under
stood the fact, which Bernhardt further set forth
Is follows: Miss Olcott attended many Of my
performances In Paris, studying the part both
from the manuscript and from observation Of
me- Then she gave a dress rehearsal Of all the
scenes in which Theodore herself was con-
cerned and I attended it; so did Sardou and
many others We were all astounded by her
accurate reproduction. In broad effects and
minor details alike she was 30 much like me rs
TO be q speaking portrait. You say she lost her
fortune and died poor and disappointed? That
pity. She was . wonderful mimic"
A BLEEcKER STREET corIILoS.
II wasdepressively hot in the low-studded hall
on Bleecker street, but there was Q .'cotillon
on, as the posters in the street below announced
to all passers-by. and the place was crowded.
Inc affair was novel, even for the district il
occurred in, which is not notedf for its conserve
i've spirit, and is said to exist without any OBJ
seSancs or social etiquette, as that term is I'M
oefstood further up town. The novelty of the
occasion was TO be found in the decidedly
original way by which the short-haired young
men secured their partners for the dance.
None OF the blokes invited any girls. yer
see, said q chunky young man with the gentle
a LIST hsae "a a.Ss shA
wan RUBBING on a pair OF rose pink gloves;
this Is an auction dance"
1t turned out that an auction dance" was
one wnere the various young women attending
were put up to be bid for, like a secondhand
article OF furniture, and knocked down for the
Ierpsichorean festivity to the highest bidder.
Inc scheme had been resorted 10 for the pur-
pose OF avoiding the unpleasant results Of
jealousy that had marred and confused q pre-
vious event OF kindred sort. Ii was hoped that
. favorite should be given to the youth who
was ready and able to pay the highest price
for her companionship any other gentle
man desiring her as q partner would not
push his claims pugnaciously. The plan was
not bad one up TO a certain point, but itended
In disaster when all was looking rosy. The
auction had begun with the low-priced girls.
One understood maiden with mismatched eyes
was going to bashful young man at the ABB
surdly cheap figure Of cents. As the more
comedy and smart girls were put up by the
auctoneer bidding became brisker, until at
last, when the few final bellies were reached,
great excitement reigned throughout the hall.
Finally but one Of the young women was left
She was by all odds
THE FINEST SPECIMEN OF FER SEX
In the room. Tall and well made, with a grace
fully set head that was crowned with pretty
blonde hair, this queen Of Bleecker street was
fashioned to infiame the heart of any set she
moved In. The upset price for the young lady
was seventy cents. A tall dark young man.
with large jaws and hair that grew like a
tragedians Roman wig, Immediately
offered u. Hardly had this bid been made
youth to sl.25. murmur OF excite
ment swept over the company. The man
with the tragic hair took strong look at the
sandy chap, who didn't finch under the gaze,
and when the former bid Sl.35 the latter coolly
went TO II 50. Matters were now extremely ex-
citng. The beauteous rarity herself PIN
ming rosebud in her hair standing before a
mirror, with an affectation Of carelessness. All
eyes were conferred upon the two reckless bid
ders 1t was not long before the figure called
out by the auctioneer had mounted to $3.50.
This was the limit of any Bleckder street youth.
something was going TO happen. Ii was the
sandy young mans turn to bid.
Two seyenty-fve, he said in q calm, aggra-
waiting voice. Thereupon his opponent crossed
to where he was standidg and fairly Missed out
the remark:
I'm beat you il have to hook my vest i
bid s."
You amt got il" retorted the other. "And
II yer hooked everything yer got ON it wouldn'
bring 10 cents"
Five minutes later the police entered and
cleared out the hall. No one knew who struck
the nrst blow. but the young gentleman who
had declared himself ready to pawn his wear
ing apparel in order to secure the belle OF the
oaii FOR partner was found damned under
some chairs with his hair very much disar-
ranged, where he had been kicked by the adj
herents Of the youth of the sandy complexion
The auction idea had proved sad failure, and
Tor the next Bleecker street dance each man is
to invite his partner in the old way.