St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-21

the 108 signatures on the teStl-
monial presented to Mrs. Lane by
her company and staff in 1886 repre-
scented 1854 years of service. On
festival night, which is usually about
a week before Christmas, the vari-
Gus members of tile company ap-
pear dressed in the costume of the
character they have played with the
most conspicuous success during the
past twelve months, and each one in
his or her turn comes forward to
the footlights to recite few ap-
propriate lines and gather to himself
the good gifts of the gods" which
are thrown on the stage with reck-
less prodigality and with an uncer-
tainty of aim that necessitates the
temporary removal of such fragile
articles as glass chandeliers, etc.
The theater holds upward of 1900
people, and its pieces usually run
from three to nine weeks.
THE GRAND'S MANAGER.
Charles Wilmot is the man
Grand theater, Islington. He is
quite a rich man. In 1869 he pur-
chased the once famous Cole-Hole,
now the site of Terry's theater, for
a hundred pounds, and made a for
tune out of it. 1t was originally an
apology for a concert hall, but he
made a great billiard establishment
of it, and in 1877 he sold the place
for $4,000. He Immediately en-
harked in the theatrical business,
opening Dukes theater in 1873. He
was financially ruined in July of
1880 by the burning of his theater.
1t was completely destroyed, and
was uninsured.
Then he turned his attention to
amusing the provinces, and in time
controlled that profitable
field. Later he secured the old
Grand, at Islington, and after four
years of success he saw it burned to
the ground uninsured He rebuilt
the theater, and also secured con-
troll of the Olympic theater, Strand,
but the latter was not a success.
Forty years ago Mr.. Wilmot was
one Of the leading actors in Aus
tralia. In the Sixties" in London
he also enjoyed considerable reputa-
item as an actor in low comedy
parts, and was associated with
many of the leading stars of a gen.
GRAFTON ago.
AND REGULAR.
Douglas Cox, of tie Alhambra, is
credited with being the youngest
looking man of fifty-two years in the
whole city of London. He does
evryt thing with the regularity Of
both in his business and
private affairs. This system he re-
CARDS as the best read to longevity,
When boy he was a chorister in st.
Pauls Cathedral, and took part in
the funeral ceremonies Of Turner
and the Duke Of wellington. In
early life he became a member, and
later secretary of the Dramatic Au
thors' society, which brought. him
in contact with many playhouse
managers. subsequently he was en-
gagged as business director of the
Globe theater, and later he was as
ISOLATED with Sir Augustus Harris,
of the Drury Lane. He had much
to do with London successes of Min
ME Palmer, and for some time df-
rected the affairs Of Covent Gar
den.
AQUARIUM'S DIRECTOR.
To Josiah Richie is due the wide
of the Aquarium, one of
the most popular amusement places
in London. Mr.. Richie was dem
fist and had practised twenty-seven
years, accommodating a large for
tune. He retired intent upon devot-
ing the rest of his life to enjoy
ment, when the affairs of the
became badly democrat
lied. He was largely interested in
it, and to save it from financial dis
aster he jumped in and took it's man
agement upon his own shoulders.
Today it is one of the best paving
houses in London.
OLDEST ENGLISH ACTOR.
Any story about the London man
ayers would be incomplete without
mentioning James Doel, the oldest
living English actor. He was nine
ty-one years old the 18th of March
last.
Though he is better known in the
West of England than to the play
goers of the English metropolis, it
is still interesting to hear of one
who played First Gravedigger to
Edmund Kean's Hamlet" and
First Witch to Macready's MAC
beth" In 1.-THE Hunchback," when
Sheridan Knowles was the Master
Walter, Doel played a secondary
part, and in the Stranger" he
played Peter to Miss Cushman's Mrs.
Halter
AT the Prince George hotel.
Stonehouse, Devon, this venerable
actor, theatrical manager and pro-
prietor is still to be found hale and
hearty, and as full of fun as ever:
and, as one would naturally expect.
he is greatly respected by his fell
Mr.. Doe1, or as he
is more Familiarity called James" ia
truly marvellous host, and is onlv
TOO pleased to chat upon his extern
slve experiences to his numerous in
reviewers. Probably the first thing
he tells his visitor is of his unin,e
claim to have been born in two
counties, explaining that Maiden
Bradley, on the borders of Wiltshire
and Somersetshire, was his native
place, the room in which he first
saw the light having been situated
over the stream which divides the
two; and. perhaps, that the great
age which he has attained is no ex-
ceptlon to the rule of his family for
IN Stroke churchyard three of his
aunts were buried whose ages aver
aged 101.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
HNN~e~