The morning times., 1896-08-23

QUWu ny Idtc Que U8y ~ oaiCIiSdHs nc
says he's glad 1t was in Michigan. 1t
was only seven years ago, during one OF
Sol. Smith Russeil's tours. The juvenile
actor either by dismissal or illness was
missing and II looked as III there would be
trouble to get subst tute. And there WAS.
Juveniles are plentiful 10 the growing
commonwealth OF Michigan, but not OF e.. t
peculiar temperament which make salts
iactory stage lovers. At tie eleventh hour
Agent Whnam Black consented TO 20 on,
at.ef Playwright kidder, VINO happened to
be with the company and everybody else
in sight refused. He had a hasty rehearsal
at nooI preparatory to the matinee. Tie
doors were opened and the people began
TO pour IN. Tne house was iafDmed. Biacs
hau been watching the process through the
pcephoie in the curtain. Every new arrival
knocked a degree Off his courage. FINALLY
he could stand it no longer. He rushed
around TO the front door and told Man
ager Berger lie wouldn't go on for all
the money in the house twice over and
started away, perhaps FOR the river or "A
barre on to crown his distress. But Mr..
Berger is a quick thinker, he grabted the
coat Ia is OF the retreating TLespIan: IF
you can't act you can take t.ekets?" The
alternative was allLring and Black &C
cepted while Mr.. Berger disappeared.
A few minutes after Ec appeared In Mr..
huSSehb ufeSblDS EoOih, oio "iht-cut "a
plana,iOn began to make up. Russell was
paralyzed when he saw his uBsorhisticated
manager fired with this desperate deter
mination to act. He suggested keeping tie
curtain down and having TASTY rehearsal.
The suggestion was declined with thanks.
Mr. Berger played tie part to tremendous
appIausc-furn!siied by a ciaQuc composed
of Kidder. Black and their friends. and un-
limited aughter-especially IN tle pathetic
scenes. AT the end OF the act there were
loud and continued calls for speech. which
Mr. Russell with stellar presumption took
TO himself. He came before the curtain and
explained that the juvenile was ill and Mr..
Berger had stepped in TO Obviate a seIious
emergency. II they would tolerate linn
this once lie would give them his personal
bond that he would never appear again.
That was Mr.. Bergcr'S last appearance on
the stage.
ne ,,ua a little laagh on his star the
other cay In retaliation for all Mr. kcs-
sells fun at his expense fo- bis perform
ance of DR. Coates. In a Bachelors Ro-
NANCE" which Martha Morton has written
for Mr. Russell's prospective tour, she Eas
made him play afew measures on guitar
This has consumed more OF the gentle star S
study than all the rest of Lis part. lie
finds it extremely difficult to master TIE
cavaliers instrument, though lie mas Deen
taking lessons and practidng assiduously all
sui.:mer at his Minnea polls hoIre. He only
has to play three chords He wrote his
manager last week OF his troubles The
difficulty is / can't remember from one
time to another what my music master tells
me, and my early education as oontor-
tionist was unhappily neglected, SO that
when do remember have the greatest
difficulty in tying and untying my fingers
on the keyboard" Mr. Berger is aniioi-
Mating Mr. Russell's first performance as
a. guitar soloist, and wrote back with a
Significance which the comedian VIII un-
derstand: "You never saw me play Dr..
Coates, but will See YOU play the GUITAR!
- EERBOHM TREES path will not be
~ strewn with roses when he returns.
- II prominent critics are TO nc br-
lieved. 1t seems that he has de-
livered himself of some injUdicious
criticisms OF this country. which, Ike
prOyerbial hens, come home to rOost. Ly-
man Glover said OF him several days ago:
I'm a burst OF confidence Bcecbohm Tree
recently cxpIai ined to a London mterview w"r
the real reason Tor his American tour. Mr..
Tree statement was circulated in a Journal
which he supposed no American eye would
see set thcre was no OCCASION Tor secrecy.
inasmuch as the motives that actuate
6hRlish ufests eo ''Sae eniS sou"oAS "st
thoroughly appreciated and estimated at
their right value. Mr.. Tree has long teen
the presiding genius at the Gaymarket
Theatcr in London. and here II was that
he reha bilitated his fortunes by means ofan
American play, 'TriIby.' 1t may be re-
called, by the way, that MI Tree. thonsh
nearly at the end OF the theatrical rope
last fall, tried his Dest 10 dodge foftune
by enieavOrinG 10 stase piraticsfl version
OF Du Maurier's play. And. moreover,
it may be a matter OF general recollection
that Mr.. Tree. when Drought 10 Dook by
Paul N. Potter, who dramatized 'lriioy.
fought Mr.. Du Manrier's selection o! an
actress for the heroine ana tr;ed 10 give
the role to his wife.
DDrothea Baird, who POSED as iTlioy
for Du Maurier when the novel was being
written, was fnaiiy engaged TO play us
part in London, AMI the resolt was a years
run and a rep!ehisiied pank account ior
Mr.. Tree. Now Mr. Tree has reiinquishea
his leasehold OF the haymarRet ana IS
building theater on a site direct'y
opposite rms .heater 10 De eahen
Her Aaiesty's, but 1t Will not DE COM
pleted Until next year. Inc haymarSc'
comes into the nahas OF fedefN mar
rison ana Cyr1i Maude iho"th ateer ne&''
so Mr. Tree is pracucaiy wahuerer.
But ne mas company TOT the present oS-
cupant OF the Lyceutn iheater, foroes
Robertson VIII De honeiess soon, because
Mr.. irving mas cohcluded ms pfoviheiai
tour and VIII De reany TO present Cym-
Define" on the Lyceum stage IN september
Many stars ana companies are nnanie 10
secure theatcrs IN Lohuoh, ana just no"
lhefe ~ cohs'ueiaoae peIpeN"y aniohs
managers as 10 'he P."p'eih y. sa'"'"S
nearing Tor Important pro!uct"us. MI.
iree admit'ed 10 reporter 'hae he.essuy
drove MN 10 America. ne WIS paIied
III ms a.te'hp' 70 Ilnu .hea'el ,oi 'ie
winter, ana SO he WOuF De tO.npelteu I'd