The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-27
MISS KlDDER'S PLAY
Pleased a Large Audience at
the Grand Last Night.
The Actress is Quite a Wheel
Woman.
She Relates a Story of Her Expert
Kathryn Kidder an
Evanston Product.

Miss Kathyrn Kidder who gave To
pelSa people their first taste of Mad
anne Sans Gene at the Grand Opera
House last evening is not only one Of
the most charming actresses Topeka
sees but one OF the most charming Wo-
men, unhampered by any unpleasant
"eccentricities of genius though the
genius itself is unmistaka Bile
There is none Of the sans gene-you
viii notice the absence of the capitals
about Miss kidder in her dressing
room. She is aIniable and yet she crltI-
cised the theater. They all do that. No
stars repertoire is complete without a
well committed monologue to the con
dition of the dressing rooms.
But Miss kidder has q new line:
And yet" she said, perhaps / ought
not say these things without first know
ing what support Mr.. Crawford gets
from his fellow tOWsmen-
Miss Kidder is one of those human
beings known to all newspaper writer's
and readers as an enthusiastic bicyc-
list"
10 generally carry my wheel with
me" she said. but I was warned
against your western hills and left mine
behind I think. however. shold en-
JOY q ride upon IOpeka1s pretty streets
Miss Kidder had one bicycle expert
ence while in California this summer
that she Will not forget.
We had taken a run down to Point
Pleasant she said; and had suddenly
found ourselves caught in a California
rain storm as we started on our re-
turn.
For mile or two we laughed as
we pushed through the streams that
flooded the streets; then I struck a curb
and went head first into a swiftly flow
ing gutter. That was not so funny. 1t
began to get very dark and I fell behind
the others FOR q time. but caught up to
them again. their progress having been
impeded by some unl1ind thing that mad
fovcibiy persuaded them to sit down in
the mud.
-The lightning would flash out occa-
siOuaAy, exposing us to the delighted
view of the people on the Verandsas
watching the storm AS we neafed
Monmouth signs of exhaustion began to
d Let US stop at the station and wait
for the train, said our neighbOr
" No I cried; I don't dare to stop
now; I'm too wet. There is nothing to
do but keep on, and pushed into the
gathering blackness until missed
them.
III believed they had followed the
neighbours suggestion and waited for
the train, SO / put my whole strength
to my task and pushed toward home
1t grew harder to revolve the wheels
through the mud. Every muscle in me
was strained to the breaking pOiutThe
storm increased SO that L could see
nothing except when the lightning play
ed with a fierceness I never before saw
equaled. I could almost feel it in my
handle bars and the thunder deafened
me with its proximity and violence.
The difficulties increased with every
mile and before approaching the end
I felt my strength begin to go, but I
worked with a desperate determination
to keep moving while could. The last
mile was the worst. for the storm was
a its height and the mud was so thick
that my wheel stuck.
Il fell heavily into the mud. sinking
elbow deep and when I could extricate
myself found my handle bars twisted
entirely round. 7 reached the house
but it would be difficult to imagine the
spectacle presented. Mud was inches
thick, even on my hair as if it had
been put on with a trOwel, and I stood
ln gracefully in a wash tub while being
Invested of my dripping garments"
Miss Kidder is an Evanston. Ill. pro
duct and studied for the stage in Chi
cagO- Her first appearance was there
with Frank Mayo when she was but
16. Now she is 81 Her first hit of
importance was in Held by the Enc
my" and she afterwards made one as
Dearest in Little Lord Fontleroy.'
This is her third season as Sans Gene
and most of the original cast is still
with her. Her first De Neipperg was
James K. Hackett, who viii be in To-
peka next month as the star in The
Prisoner Of Zenda-
Miss Kidder likes her western recep-
ton. She goes north Immediately, then
south and east.
Topeka has probably never seen a
stage more richly set.
The Grand's big stage was filled with
trunks and special scenery and the
alley behind for many feet each way
was lined with 49 big property boxes
containing tables, chairs, book cases. 4
etc. The only bit Of property asked by
the company of the local management
was one bass drum