Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-02-05


The tragedy played here is stolen
piece, but the theft was not a crime; IL
was only miSdemeanor. IL was not q
great play in the first place, aud Thes-
PTS with q road company has not ele-
waited IL.
The Attica papers all speak Of Thes-
pis in friendly way and call him The
Child Wonder, though he is forty-nine
years OF age and dyes the whiskers on
his jokes.
"Thespis needs n new play with some
pop to il. The writer Is now working
on one that would bring out the abili-
ties Of the great tragedian and give him
a standing so that be could, with better
support, play return date at times.
Now his company is constantly thinned
out by the police and filed out from the
corn fields along the roads.
"Thespis also drinks too much. Our
reporter called TO see him yesterday, but
was told that no was resting up Tor the
evening" That will not go with the
Grecian press. The walk from his last
stand was not an ardious one. and n he
ever expects to succeed he must show
more consideration for the press.
"A little more scenery and less real
ism about the frost bitten feet OF his
support would help Thespls. and little
more dignity or more clothes In tho
chorus would bring out better class OF
people. The twelve meE who saw thu
play last evening agreed TO tell their
wives that they had been serving on
jury and couldn't agree.
"Thespls claims that his entire chorus
Is composed OF young lads, but n man
from Attica came on here 20 look for his
wife and took one OF the chorus hom9<S
his buggy weeping bitterly"
Cooley Cibber was born in 1871. Thes'
pis had severely criticised the tendency
OF the people, and so did Cibber 200 years
ago. They were the same things that
are grumbled about now. There arc
many reasons why audiences are critl-
clsed yet from the stage, but IL Is tho
same from the press, pulpit and presi-
dent. And yet how necessary an sud-
ence Is TO all OF usl We cannot demand
that the audience shall be best pleased
with what least peasos US. There arc
a good many elements In an audience,
and II wants all kinds Of things In two
hours, Just as the reader wants news,
sport, humor, poetry, opinion gossip,
weather, arrivals, departures, science
and lawn tennis In paper-for two
cents.
Colley Clbber married n Miss Shore In
1893. Being cautious man he handled
his matrimonial bark so as 10 hug the
shore occasionally, but Cibber was man
with n set OF morals that had been
handed down 20 him from an ancestor
who was a Roman senator, and In those
days the morals OF Rome were very
much in need OF a suitable fly screen.
Cibber was a dramatlst and comedian,
born IN London. He wrote Loves
Last Shift" referring doubtless TO
Cupid, who has seen some OF the most
rigid winters, but never wore an over
coat yet.
Clbber also wrote 1.-THE Careless HIS
band" "The Nonjuror," etc.
He and Thespis both referred sadly to
the decline Of the drama.
Pope regarded Cibber as the most stu
pid man Of his time aud said many un-
true and cruel things OF him. He was
made poet laureate in 1880 and then
ceased writing anything OF merit.
Not long since, referring 70 the stage,
/ had a happy afternoon in Chicago, and
later on in 81. Louis a very charming
evening with that we'll balanced gentle
man and rising young actor, Joseph JEFF
ierson.
Every little while something recurs
10 his mind that should have gone into
that autobiography OF bis.
Fifty years ago" he said, there In
st. Louis, on the ground where We
played this evening, was fairy and
bad gauzs wings. I wore pink tights.
and when the orchestra made the re-
mark
"Tummy tum teedle,
Tummy tum tie,
pulled the string that worked my
wings and gladly skipped up and down
the stage Ike thistle down borne on the
bosom Of playful wynd."
4. Mr.. Burbank said: Il sent a man TO
see Rip many years ago He went from
Buffalo on purpose. lie was clergy
man and asked me II there was anything
about the play that would demoralize
him II be went"
"Dld be go?" says Rip.
ayes. he was greatly interested In
Irying's story and was anxious 70 sec
how II looked on the stage"
He was q clergyman, you say?'
Eyes, be was clergyman OF tho
Dutch Reformed church"
WELL" SAID Mr.. Jefferson. I'm
afraid be was disappointed. for there IL
nothing In the nature VI Dutch reform
about Rip"