The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-07
RUSSELL'S CHILD ACTORS.

Something About Sol Smith and the Lit
tie Folks That Play With Him.
There is no denying that Sol Smith
Russell is one of the greatest, if not the
greatest of American comedians.
There was a large audience at the
Grand Saturday night to see his por-
trayal of Noah Vale, the starving inven-
tor Long before time for the curtain to
ring up, every seat IN the house had been
sold and standing room was being taken
No better compliment can be paid to a
mans drawing powers than that
MIR. Russell was highly pleased with
his audience. 1t was one of the largest
he has ever had in Topeka and there has
been only one larger audience at the
Grand this season.
Mr.. Russell On the stage and Mr.. Rus
sell in his dressing room or at his hotel
are very much alike. The audience had
a taste of his personality in the speech
he made after the close of his second
act 1t was happy speech full of wit.
The audience has his word for il that
it was impromptu and had never been
delivered before to any other audience.
He is the original before the-curtain
speaker. All others are but limitations.
There is no more perfect gentleman on
the stage, or off of it, than Mr.. Russell.
He is geniality itself, kind and quiet,
friendly and honest. The people travel
ing with him-many of them have been
on the stage for years and worked for
many different managers-say he is the
best man to work for imaginable. If
there is any Observation-Disclosures seldom
is-he is always ready to listen to the
complaint and do his share toward re-
moving it. He is a father to all his COM
pany.
There was a good deal of interest Sat
urday night in the two children that
played. They are Virgie and Glen Glyn-
don. Nirgie is five years old and Glen is
three. Glen is out for his first season and
Virgie is out for her third. Three years
ago, when she was but two years old, she
appeared on the stage with Carl Gardiner.
Their mother travels with them. She
ts an actress, but does not appear in anv
OF the plays Mr.. Russell is putting on
this year. Her sole duty is to look after
the children aud dress them for their
parts
Little Miss Virgie likes the stage very
much, and intends to stick to it. The
audience of Saturday night will advise
her to. Master Glen is very much inter
ested in his sister and thinks her accom-
plishments are wonderful
Say" he said Saturday night while
his mother was putting the finishing
touches on his somewhat elaborate toilet
for the last act, s'Virgie's got a satche
bag what she made all by herself" He
meant a scent sachet and compelled his
sister to go down into the depths of hel
dress somewhere and produce little
pink bag that smelled of crab apple
blossoms.
Mr. Russell is very fond of tn,
children, as you would know he is of al
children During a short visit in tn
third act little Virgie went up to him an,
said: "Mr. Russell, did 1 do my part al
right tonight"
Mr. Russell looked at her quietly for
moment. Yes" he said, ''you did i
very nicely. If your brother only did a
we'll as you do we should have a yer
good performance.
The children are not in the lea:
spoiled" by their success.
Mr.. Russell will give up his one nigh
stands next year, and it is possible h
will never play Topeka again.