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

him to England with her when she crossed the
water, but Mr.. Downing preferred to remain
here, and for Q couple Of seasons he was Q mem
Der of Mr.. Joseph Jeferson's company, playing
the leading characters. This was also valua-
bic experience to him, because 1t was q differ
emit line of characters entirely from that he had
been accustomed to play with Miss Anderson.
Mr.. Downing then concluded that he had ac-
quired sufficient experience and had become
sufficiently well known throughout the country
TO justify him in making venture on his own
account. and he bad play written for him by
Joaquin Miller which he FIRST produced in this
city. 1t was called ''Tally-ho" and was based
upon an incident in the life of Hank Monk, the
veteran stage driver Of the Rockies. Mr.. Down
ing's season with Tally ho'' was not glitter
ing success and he realized that the way Of the
star is not always strewn with roses, but he was
plucky and next season presented q play called
"voutour, the Exile" in which he had part
that he acted splendidly, but the piece was too
dismal to win popular favor. In the meantime
John Mccullough had died and Mr.. Downing
They purchased the play Of 1.-THE Gladiator, /"
and in the character of Spartacus Mr.. Downing
made o great popular and financial success. Two
seasons Of this play brought him fame and
money, and then he severed his connection with
Mr.. Mack and has since been his own manager
with his own company. He has made money
each season, and he has added to his reputation
as an actor. He has increased his repertoire,
which now includes Saumet's version Of 1.-THE
Gladiator" "Ingomar," 'Othello," Julius
Cesar" and many other tragedies In his stage
work Mr.. Downing Is ably supported by his
wife, who still retains her professional name Of
Miss Eugenia Blair and who is known as a beau
tiful woman and an accomplished actress. Both
Mr.. and Mrs. Downing are extremely domestic
in their tastes and their vacations from their
professional work are spent at their beautiful
home. "Edgemore," at Benning. about three
miles from the city limits.
MR. cHAs. B. HANFoRD.
Mr.. Charles B. Hanford made his first dra-
matte venture a member of the Lawrence
Barrett Dramatic Club in a performance Of
Julius Cesar" which was given at the National
Theater in 1881. This organization was COM
posed of pupils and graduates Of the Washing
ton public schools. and included in its member
ship several who have since adopted the dra-
matte profession. In this first performance
Mr.. Hanford PLAYED Cdssius to the Brutus Of
Clarence b. Rheem. The whole performance
was so much above the average amateur effort
that it excited good deal of interest in the
community, and the young gentlemen who sus-
tanned the leading characters received warm
praise from the newspapers. Mr.. Hanford's
Cdssius was particularly commended, and the
prediction was made that if he should decide
to go upon the stage he would win an enviable
reputation. subsequent performance by the
same cIuD OF tne merchant OF venice, In
which Mr.. Hsnford played Shylock, deepened
the favorable impression that gentleman had
made by his first attempt and won for him even
warmer expressions of approval. So emphatic
was the general verdict as to his peculiar fitness
for the profession that Mr.. Hanford decided to
become an actor, and he first secured an en-
gagement with Mr.. VIM. Stafford. He played
several seasons with Tom Keene, gradually
receiving better parts until he attracted the at
tention Of Mr. Lawrence Barrett, by whom he
was engaged and with whom he was associated
for some time. At the dramatic festival in
Cincinnati he played the part Of Aegeon in the
COMEDY OF Errors" so excellently as to attract