The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-22
originated with Hallen tS Hart in this,
their latest success
Umpire Theafer.


It should be extremely gratifying TO the
ardent supporters of a legitimate school of
dramatic endeavor TO learn that 1.-The Two
Sisters" that undeniably excellent play by
the authors of 1.-The Ola Homestead will
have q rehearing at the Empire this week,
commencing tomorrow matinee. 1t is IN
fortunately true that in this age OF indif-
ferent theatrical entertainment the really
meritorious offerings are so very limited
that one which is entitled to serious con-
sideration is announced something more
than the ordinary notice concerning it's
merits is necessary IL order to impress upon
the mind of theater- goers the respect due
to 1t. 1t Is now five seasons ago
since Messrs. Denman Thompson and
George w. Ryer. the brilliant authors
of THE Old Homestead" introduced The
Two Sisters" And each succeeding season
has added new interest TO it's work as
natural and absorbing dramatic produc-
ton. The various scenes OF the play, re-
plete with genuine affective situations. en-
acted by characters borrowed from life
and atiording the introduction of an equal
supply of pathos and comedy, give to the
play q peculiar zest not to be found in cur
rent stage presentations. Then. again.
there is a moral purpose served In illustrat-
ing SO wildly a country girre folly in spite
of her sisters fervid entreaties. but the au-
thors of THE Two Sisters" may be said to
have won special distinction as writers of
thoroughly elevating play. Messrs.
Thompson and Ryer can invariably depend
upon O hearty reception of their efforts III
this city. Matinees daily except Wednes-
day or Friday.
High Class Vaudeville at the Park.
The Howard Atheneum Star Specially
Company. which plays this week at the
Park, has the reputation of being the
largest and most expensive organization of
speciality performers now travelling. and
plays in popular price theaters in no other
city except this where it's business at the
Park is as sure as such things can be, to be
very large. The Boston Howard Atheneum
Star Speciality Company is a rather long
name for any theatrical organization. but
the reputation that the organization which
supports this name has made among tho
lovers of vaudeville is one that is enviable,
and has succeeded in making the promoters
under this title financially prosperous.
Several OF the specialists that were with
the company when last seen here are still
umbered among its members hut perhaps
the newest and most ~ eel of this organi-
cations last summer importations from
European vaudeville halls is Nj.
Servais lie Roy, French cOnjurer.
One of the features announced. and that
novel. ia called The Three Graces." In
which the conjurer. with the aid of a silken
scarf, brings from the apparent vacant
corners of q cabinet placed upon table
three young women. Another feature of
this seasons programme is the female
eouilibrist. BertolGi. whose startling per-
Torrance familiar to nearly every
one whohas patrOnized the Howard
company's performances here as given
last season. Kara. who Will be re-
that master of jugglers. Cinquevalli, Is
still with the company. Others that 90 TO
make mp somewhat lengthy yet novel
programme are Will H. Fox. or: as, he is
guerite Fish BABY Benson(; Carrie Joy.
singer OF descriptive songs; the DeForrests
in a high-kickIng speciality; Edward Les
lie. the yOnng comedian, after u European
others.
George Thatchcr's First Appearance.
George Thatcher has been giving his
views on minstrelsy and an account of his
first appearance on the stage. He says:
"The decline in the popularity of min
strelsy as understood and practiced when
/ first joined its ranks has not been en-
tirely due to a change of taste in amuse-
ment patrons so much as 1t has been the
change in the minstrel men themselves.
They abandon character and naturalness
for gaud, tInsel and theatric spectacle
that, once seen, the interest forever de-
parts. The picture of the plantation
darky, with his songs and dances. his
unctuous humor and natural picturesque
ness has been relegated to the rear as q
back number. while the new features sub
stituted were viewed once aud the public
did not come again and again TO hear Jim
Crow and other plantation melodies"
Another thing. and one which think
you will agee with. Is the lack of bright
ness caused by the absence of bright pretty.
vivacious girls in genuine miplstrelsy. 1t
was these reasons which caused me TO pro-
mote Tuxedo" and Its success. think
you'll agree, has proven the sense of my
reasoning.
"My tirst appearance on the stage was in
white face. and | did what is known as
Dutch business | caught the dialect from
German, who lived in my brother-lh-law's
hotel / used to mimic him and Dick Fitz-
gerald, who run q variety house in Balti-
more. boarded at our hotel. He persuaded
me to 90 on ana do Dutch turn IN mis-
house. Pll never forget an experience
had at that house. They cast rue to play q
Hebrew part In one OF their after
up. found my nose was
not at all Hebrew-like in appearance and.
| being novice in the art of nakIng-up l
was stuck TO know how to fix my nose.
some one TOLD me TO SenQ ont and get some
flour, mix 1t with water, build mp my nose
and paint and powder il. and it would be
all right Acting on the suggestion, / sent
one of the stage hands after some flour,
and proceeded 10 follow directions. 1t
seemed to be lu8t the thing and IN q short
time had q sufficiently prominent nasal or
gan TO satisfy the most rigid requirements
Istarted In on the lines of the part. and was
getting along nioely. when seemed tonotIce
that my nose was gradually growing
larger. i thought Ii only my
fancy, and dismissed il from my mind.
Pretty soon it got so large that had
to peak out at the side to see at
all. Well. l was puzzled, l couldn't &c
count for this peculiar occurrence. L asked
the boy where he got that flour, and he said
of the grOceryman across the street. Early
| next day | called on the groceryman aud
asked HIM what kind of -four he sold that
| boy, when / was knocked out to learn that
| il was a well-knOwn brand of the self
| rising article. Soon after this L joined a
minstrel company In which Hughey
| Doughorty. now with me IN Tuxedo
William Manning and many other promi-
| nent minstrels were members. D0ugherty
| In their business and did not rely on set
| speeches. but aroused applause. as they
| were both remarkably quick with
| reDartee. They were forever break ing ea C h
| other MP. which WAS almost Is enjoyable
to the audience as IL was to the company.
As an example of MaDnings alert and ever
| ready tongue. the company opened in Pitts
burg during strike n short time before
| Mannlngs death and the audience num-
| bered scarcely two hundred. Dougherty
had been talking up PIttsburg as the town