Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-16

the progress she had made She knew that
there was good material in her and perhaps she
had ambition. to do serious work. vet her dimin-
utive size. which gained for her the title Of
Little Annie, was against her essaying that
line of business. So she left Mr.. Reeds COM
pany and accepted an engagement with Hallen
& Hart in Later On" Here she made an I'M
doubted success. She developed into an ex-
ceedingly graceful cancer, pleasing singer and
an actress with an abundance of vivacity and
vim that compelled immediate attention. Hal
len 4 Hart realized that in Miss Lewis they had
drawn prize package and were anxious to re-
tain her services.
After two seasons. however. she concluded
tina. she had worked hard enough in that play,
and besides she had received proposition from
John r. Rogers to star in Minnie Palmers play
Of My Sweetheart" That was a piece in
which Miss Lewis felt she could make a pro-
nounced success. and so she declined to renew
her engagement with Hallen 4 Hart and signed
contract with Mr.. Rogers. This was about q
year ago, and was at the time when John and
Minnie were out. Rogers agreed TO provide a
frst-class company and TO star Miss Lewis with
all the vigor and energy that he had formerly
devoted 10 the interests of Miss Palmer. Time
was booked and everything seemed bright But
the misunderstanding between Mr. and Mrs
Rogers was rectihed and the latter would not
hear OF his going out ~ the manager for any
other woman, articulariy so bright and at
tri.ctive a lady Miss Lewis, and SO the star
IL
Miss Lewis, however, was immediately en-
gagged BY Mr. Jacob Lift and assigned to a good
part In ''YOn Yonson." Mr.. Lift soon saw the
possibilities there were in his soubrette and de-
termined TO secure plav for her in which she
could be seen 20 good advantage. Several
authors we're willing and anxious to contribute
their work and many plays were read and ex-
amined. Finally one by Mr.. William Haworth
entitled "a Nutmeg Match was selected and
the part OF Cl"dsrs it was believed would fit
Miss Lewis perfectly. The Judgment Of her
manager was fully justified when the piece vas
produced a, Minneapolis few weeks ago, for
Miss Lewis made pronounced and ins;anta-
neous success. The play was given at Mime
apolis just to see how il would go and the result
was erninenuy satisfactory to all concerned
IN this city next September. ard in the mean
time she is resting here with her parents a,
their home on Capitol Hill.
ROBERT DOWNING.
Robert Downing is perhaps well known in
tins city as any man now upon the dramatic
stage. He was born here, e6Ecated in the pub
lie schools. and mis- parents and relatives still re-
side here and occupy good positions in the CON-
munity. Brought up under the stric;es. kind
Of influences il was perhaps rather strange tina:
he should have drifted into the dramatic pro-
fession. and yet he felt that the mimetic pove,
was In him when he was quite young. His frs,
attempt was made negro minstrel in an
amateur company that played at Odd Fellows
Hall. and he made quite q hit by singing the
song of "Old Black Joe" in character Hs
eonided in his mother. and one night while the
troupe was PLAYING Mrs. Downing induced her
husband to accompany her TO witness the per.
formance- Mr.. Downing was wonderfully
pleased with the work done by the young man
in "Old Black joe" and expressed his satisfac-
ton TO his wife, who remarked: why that's
our Bob" Probably the old gentleman was
never more surprised in his life than when he
learned that his son was doing burnt cork act
This work excited Bob's ambition and he de-
termined to become On actor. He went to see
John I. Ford, who was then managing Ford
Theater in this city, and told him what he do
sired Mr.. Ford presented to him the Difficult
task he would undertake il he thought to max,
the drama his life work, but young Downine
had good deal Of perseverance and energ,
and told the veteran manager that he no
afraid Of hard work and that he believed b,
could one day amount TO something IN the pro-
fession- He was given an engagement as utiis.
man and made his first appearance profession
ally carrying halberd a. one Of the soldiers Il
klehard Ill" After an experience Of but
lew months Mr.. Ford formed q company Z,
send through the south IS support to John Nc
Caiiough. and young Downing was made
member OF IT. Having a quick study, beini
Always anxious and willing to work and having
no pad nAoits-for though he il now thirty-hv
year. Oh age Mr. Downing has never touches
any liquor IN his hfe-the young man fire.
quentiy had an opportunity to appear in part
that would not have been given him on accoun
OF his experience, but which he was found al
ways competent 70 perform in q crediiabi
0Annsr. H sAys that this tour was the mos