The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-05
GOSSIP OF THE DAY.

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Those who Jaw tho Clomencau case will
remember the Countess AZ by far the best
player in the company, and a Of the
cleyerest ever seen in Helena. Her acting
showed the ease and naturalnesa that come
alone from experience and training. bon
ME Reiffarth, for abe was the Counteas, II
50 years old, despite her clever makeup.
She il one of the very few left out Of the
famous stock companies of the California
and Maguire's theaters in San Francisco in
the early days, that ia from 1865 to 1872.
She and our own John Mcguire once acted
in the same company at MaRuire's theater,
and AZ may be supposed they had q genu-
inc love feast Of "reminiscences when they
met in Helena. Their last meeting was III
the Haymarket tkeater in Chicago four
years ago. Miss Reiffarth at that time wa
singing in opera and made great hits. She
is said to have been the best Buttercup ever
seen in America. While discussing the
present, past and future of the stage, the
other evening, she said:
~
The grandest company OF actors ever
gathered was in the stock in San Francisco
in 1SGs-7O. Think Of them. Night after
night the cast included such actors as John
Mccullough, Lawrence Barrett, John Il.
Raymond, Sophie Edwin, Walter Lannan,
Mrs. Judah. John florence, Emily Mel
vile, Mrs. Saunders, who was an aunt of
Joe Jefferson, Harry Edwards, Minnie Wal
ton, May Howard. Rose Evans, Fred Frank
and Oliver Marlowe. Think of a galaxy
of stars like these playing together. OF
| &looa oil orn IaoI Vuitk Int vi ar tu.c ay-
captions. This was the California company.
Maguire's company was also very strong.
Tom Mcguire, who is still alive in New
York at a ripe old age, was a great manager.
The salaries paid i'll California then were
very large and attracted the best players
from New York, who came by the way of
Panama. Those were the good old days of
stock. The stock company gave the train
ing and flush that distinguished 30 many
of our great theatrical artists. Men like
Mccullough, Barrett and Booth would play
one character one evening and another the
next. have played a soubrette at a mat
inee, Juliet in the evening n comedy at
the next performance. Two hours notice
was then deemed sufficient for standard
parts"
~
Nov it is different. A breath of scan dial
attached to the name of a woman will bring
large audiences. Tank plays or real burglars
seem to nav taken the place, in a measure,
of true art. Meaningless society plays and
those of the Tin Soldier sort are received
better than really artistic work. There was
much more satisfaction in the work in
those times because one was surrounded by
capable people, all working with conscien-
tious endeavor. I remember Mr.. Barrett
very we'll. He was stage manager of the
California theater for a time and he was a
splendid manager, too. He was always
very dignifed, and kept strict discipline.
He was careful to appreciate good work,
and always tried to encourage those who
tried to give satisfaction. l remember once
l received a better part than usual in a new
play at the California. l worked very hard
to learn the part, so that when the time
came for rehearsal ! was nervous, I got
through very well, but in some way aroused
the jealousy of some of the other players.
They guyed me on the stage So that l ran
off in tears almost into the arms of Mr..
Barrett, who stood in the wings and saw
all. "Never mind, little girl,' he said,
''you did we'll and will receive your re-
ward" He called up each of the offending
members of the company and distributed
fines of ten dollars. Mr.. Barrett had the
reputation of being cold, unsympathetic
and over dignified. This was partly true
so far as his relations went with the public
or with those not familiar. But among his
old friends he was as genial, kind and social
as you can imagine. He was different from
Mccullough, who was always genial John
to everyone. At our little supper in the
old days after the performance we never
thought of calling him anything but John
or Mac, but it was always ''Mr." Barrett.
In after years after long friendship he was
quite as genial as Mccullough was before,
and yet he never lost his natural dignity"
1.sr *#x
"To go back to old times,'' continued
Miss Reiffarth, ''for the purpose of bring
ing out a story which is of some interest, 1
recall Elias Llpsus, who was a handsome
and attractive man n a fine actor. He
died years ago, and left a wife
who was greatly attached to
him. After his death she went
to his grave regularly for weeks with flow
cls. IL dpptdFcO ldt6T budG announcer MEM
Der of the company loved his memory. We
never knew just the relations existing be-
tween this woman and Lipsus while he was
alive, but her love continued after his death.
She quietly had his body removed and in the
grave a dog was buried. The body of Mr..
Lipsus was buried in another cemetery and
on the monument over the grave was placed
the simple inscription: my Elias" The
grave was always covered with flowers. In
the meantime the widow was regularly vis-
iting the dogs grave and covering it with
flowers. l will not give the woman's name,
for she has since become a star actress and
sometimes visits Helena. The story, how
ever, is strictly true, and SO far as my
knowledge goes has never been printed"