The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-11-03
THE PRESIDENTS DOUBLE.

THE PRESIDENTS DOUBLE.
sion. Usually he was alone, but often ac-
companied by a member Of his family
| President Cleveland takes practically no
exercise at all In his library, however, he
is an exceedingly hard worker. From early
| morning until late at night he is at his desk
attending to the affairs of state.
| The President at tho Play.
Once in great while Mr. Cleveland at
| tends the theater. A few weeks ago he was
one of a party which occupied a box at AL
baugh's, Secretaries Gresham and Carlisle
and their wives being also present. The
play was "a Lady OF Venice in which q
young actress made her first appearance
before the public 1t was a romantic play,
and President Cleveland appeared to be
mora or less bored by it. He was greatly
interested, however. when an old actor
came on the stage impersonating SforzA
nobleman of Venice. He was attired in a
rich robe which did not conceal his ample
proportions. The president started and
then smiled as he perceived that the Veue-
tian gentleman was almost an exact repro
duction of himself. In figure, height, ex-
preston of face, carriage and manner of
speaking, the old actor was double Of
the president of the United States. The
resemblance was SO striking that litter at
once ran round the audience and every eve
was turned toward the box in which the
president sat. The president and his party
exchanged smiles, and Sforza at once be-
came, contrary to the playwright's inten-
ton, the hero of the piece.
An AIuring Charm.
Washington is known as the greatest first
night city in the country. Besides being
town in which the theater is exceedingly
popular, the audiences are not extremely
critical. We are good natured and happy
20 lucky people here, none of US working
very hard and all taking life as easily as pos
sible. We are always willing to be amused
and not very particular as to the class of
amusement. The theatrical managers have
discovered this, and they like to use Wash
ington audiences as the dog on which their
new pieces shall be tried.
Another advantage which the capital
city possesses in this respect IS the ease
with which fashionable audience may be
assembled upon the occasion of a first pro-
duction. Tickets for boxes are sent to the
White House, to members of the cabinet
and to other high dignitaries, and the
charm of a free ticket TO the theater is one
to which all human nature seems to sue.
cumb. The result is that occasionally the
president more often Mrs. Cleveland when
circumstances permit, ladies of the cabinet
and other society leaders are to be seen in
the boxes on these occasions. Thus with a
Judicious distribution of paper to the $50
newspaper correspondents who are station
ed here representing the press OF the whole
United States, not forgetting TO send few
pasteboards to senators and members OF |
ongress, it is easy to gather an audience
which it is no stretch of the imagination TO
term distinguished and fashionable"
Whether the new play is a success or not
the newspaper correspondents feel that the
presence OF SO many important people, in
Guiding themselves, justifes them in send
ing brief dispatches TO their paper concern
ing the event. In this way an enormous
amount of advertisement for the new COM
pany is secured at very small cost. About |
one-half of the plays that are brought ont /
in the United States have their first per- |
formance in this city. IL is a theatrical /
tradition that New lork's judgment upon
q new piece is final II New York approves I
it is a success; while if New York condemns /
it is failure No such tradition exists as /
TO the Judgment of a Washington audi !
ence, for the very good reason that Wash !
ington audience has no Judgment. IL as !
sumes that it is not its business TO bring !
IN verdict. Washington audiences are /
proverbially liberal with their applause and /
their flowers. and little eclst secured in 1
Washington by the means already men I
toned helps to smooth the rough road /
which a theatrical attraction has TO travel !
in the provinces. and sometimes even 10 /
prejudice New York in its favor.
Buffalo BilI's ProteGe.
The Young woman who made her debut (
before President Cleveland and the d!stin- /
guished audience of which l have spoken /
is protege OF Hon. NiIlism +. Cody. bet (
ter known as Buffalo Bill 1t was Buffalo /
Bills money which sent the young woman +
10 Europe for a stage education IL Was
his money which provided for her elaborate
scenery, beautiful costumes, an enteTprIs-
ing manager and q good com Isaov. incine-
ing the old actor VINO i Ar. Cleveland
double IL II said that Buffalo Bill spent 1
something like 81. .oo IN putting his Young
staV apoa the road, and II Is 10 be nopaa
that she is achieving success tIat VIII "a
time ens bic her 70 returD 10 her 0iss4I-
guished friend the large sTIn which h.
generosity led him 70 invest for her.
From Chicago comes the interesting BIT
CT gossip that Colonel Cody has made
ba-T-i OF money with his Wild West show
at the World. fair He has given there al
summer. two performances every day. oy
far tie best show Of the sssyt the world rTer
saw. His congress Of rDugh riders brouEsi
together characteristic ho-semen from az j
parts Of the earth and j. was spectacle
which even Cnicae oaEs. though = -feItez!
with triumphs, were proud 70 take ihslT
frlends ~ seq
Unfortunately for Colzznei Cody lA1G
this Is another Interesting ai' of gossip, p
does nos oSa the show. Re has s'Eal.
interest in il. lysls Colo.el Nate Sassbury
and Coicnel Burke are the real proprietor
O. tie Ra;IAso Blu es.Ah1iAAnsI. A.