The evening world., 1894-05-25
SOME LAST NIGHTS At HAND.
The Empire, Daly's and American
Theatres Close Tomorrow.
Interesting Gossip About Some of
Our Plays and Players.

Miss Bessie Clayton, whose wedding
cards are out, is one of the prettiest skirt
! dancers and one of the hardest workers
on the comic stage. She comes from a
! Pennsylvania Dutch family of Methodist
ministers. Her mother had never been
inside of a theatre until her daughter
took her four years ago, and she has
! been behind the scenes ever since help
ing her with her care and encourage
ment. 1t is very amusing to hear these
ladies talk about the prosaic side of
this poetic life. Salaries were not always
as big as they are now, and before she
made her success in the "Trip to China
town" company Miss Clayton had to
practise economy, as well as the light
fantastic. The laundress and ballet
shoemaker took SO much Of her salary
that in order to keep down the expense
' of silk hosiery she substituted home
! dyed Isle thread. In her boardinS-house
bill one of the extras charged for was
damage TO bureau" SO much. In lieu
! pulled out for support, and the daily ex-
| erclse really did dislocate the antique.
! One OF her steps-touching a shoulder
bouquet with either heel-haS been great
ly admired by her rivals.
With all her marriage failures and pro-
fsssi onal successes, Lillian Russell Is a
worker, and allows nothing to interfere
4, with her studies. She goes to take a
lesson because the lady whose method
I she considers as good as any professors
IN the musical world will not go to her
She takes her turn with the rest: she Is
see her in the reception-room an un-
: willing listener to some shrill-voiced
pupil, perhaps a member OF her own
chorus, getting the last moment Of the
time due her.
. In "Gudgeons," at the Empire Theatre
Miss Viola Allen uses an old-fashioned
silver lorgnette, which plays an important
Fart in her stage business There are
no glasses on the stick. but. like a fan
In the hands of Spanish beauty, 1t Is
world of comfort to her When dresses
were worn long there was always some
things for the hands to do: with the
short even all around the skirt now in
vogue there Is nothing to engage them
ana Miss Aliens lorgnette is the envy
OF the ladies in the company. She has a
reputation for the graceful expression
or her hands. and there are skill, beauty,
variety and the fascination of fine man
ners in the play of her glassless eye
glasses.
The successful appearance of Nine.
Prince of, Wales Theatre, last week, in
London, has given the .gossips "a new
ssnbJect sub, for DISCUSSION. Like Lydia Pink
t,bih' -h me- itupptTt Is widely known.
She made fortune out of cosmetics
three years ago, and may be said to
have stepped from the toilet table to
the stage. She is slender little woman
OF rather prepossessing appearance, and
since her determination ito play for
charity has put a lot of time and
money in study. Nine. Rupert won the
praises of the English critics. and 1t is
said has three or four good offers from
managers to star.
The Empire Theatre and Daly's Thea
tire both give their last performance OF
= the present season tomorrow night
This leaves only three more representa-.
tions of Shore Acres and "Gudgeons.' u
The latter play. at the Empire, has q
very large. fashionable attendance, anG
Henry Miller's clever work arouses the
greatest enthusiasm. The Empire stock
company leaves Sunday morning fol
Chicago, where 1t begins a long engage.
4 ment next Monday night opening at the
Columbia Theatre in Sowing the
Wind"
Charles T. Dazey. the author of "Ir
Old Kentucky" has signed a contract
to write another play for Jacob Lift
1t is to be society melodrama, and