The Progress., 1893-11-04

SION. OSually ne was alone. nut often ac-
cOmpaned 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 the Play.
Once in great while Mr. Cleveland at
tends the theater. A few weeks ago he was
one of Il party which occupied box at Al
baugh's, Secretaries Gresham and Carlisle
and their wives being also present. The
play was "a Lady of Venice" in which a
young actress made her first appearance
before the public 1t was a romantic play,
and President Cleveland appeared TO be
more or less bored by it. He was greatly
interested, however, when an old actor
came on the stage impersOnating Sforza, a
nobleman of Venice. He was attired in
rich robe which did not conceal his ample
proportions. The president started and
then smiled as he perceived that the Vene-
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 eye
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 Alluring Charm.
Washington is known as the greatest first
night city in the country. Besides being a
town in which the theater is exceedingly
popular, the audiences are not extremely
critical. We are good natured and happy
go 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 a fashionable audience may be
assembled upon the occasion of 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 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
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
congress, 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, justifies 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 a very small cost. About
one-half of the plays that are brought out
in the United States have their first per-
formance in this city. 1t is theatrical
tradition that New York's judgment upon
a new piece is final If New York approves,
it is success; while if New York condemns
it is failure. No such tradition exists as
to the Judgment of Washington audi
ence, for the very good reason that a Wash
ington audience has no judgment. 1t as
sumes that it is not its business to bring
in a verdict. Washington audiences are
proverbially liberal with their applause and
their flowers, and little eclat secured in
Washington by the means already men,
toned helps to smooth the rough road
which theatrical attraction has to travel
in the provinces, and sometimes even to
prejudice New York in its favor.
Buffalo BiII's Protege.
The young woman who made her debut
before President Cleveland and the distin-
guished audience of which l have spoken
is protege of Hon. William +. Cody, bet
ter known as Buffalo Bill. 1t was Buffalo
Bills money which sent the young woman
to Europe for a stage education. IL was
his money which provided for her elaborate
scenery, beautiful costumes, an enterpris-
ing manager and good company, includ-
ing the old actor who is Mr.. Cleveland's
douole. 1t is said that Buffalo Bill spent
something like so, 900 in putting this young
star upon the road and it is to be hoped
that she is achieving success that will in
time enable her to return to her distin-
guished friend the large sum which his
generosity led him to invest for her.
From Chicago comes the interesting bit
of gossip that Colonel Cody has made q