The record-union., 1896-11-15

tania even. for although Miss Yaw Is
really above the average hight OF Wo-
men, her perfect and chlldllke natuFai-
ness gives the observer an impression
of being with a dininutive creature.
Her voice created an instant ana ire
mendous sensation in Paris, ana some
CT the finest press notices are from the
Paris "Galignani" While in the capital
of the world Of genius Miss Yaw was
given the freedom of the box of Baron
ess Rothschild at the Grand Opera,
where her singular and delicate beauty
must have made her the cynosure of
that acute assemblage, and the ladies
Will be interested to know that the
Parisians used to promenade slowly by,
again and again, to get a nearer
glimpse Of the artistic dresses which
were sure to enhance the grace of this
charming 'Americaine.'
Plays and Players: Chales Hop
per (Chimmie Fadden) did not always
occupy position which enabled him to
confine his travels to the larger cities.
lie has been on the stage over ten
years, in all sorts of capacities-some-
times as a vocalist in minstrel organl-
zations then as an actor in repertoire
company; again as a comedian in
comic opera, and last year as star in
very bad Irish drama called THE
Vale of Avoca."
In the early years of his stage career
he toured the South one season with
small dramatic company. At Albany.
Ca, they stopped over Sunday. AL
tany is a very small town of the
cracker" variety, with a population
composed mostly of negroes, the pro-
portion being about twenty Ethiopians
TO one Caucasian. Sunday was a dull
day, and to amuse himself Mr.. Hop
per stalked down the only street in the
town, Main street, of course. He met
some curious types of the Southern
'nigger," but the quaintest of all, he
says, was an old chap, all rags and tat
ters, with snow white, kinky wool, and
a form gnarled and twisted by the
vicissitudes of long life. He asked the
aged negro his name.
Hiram Jasper Scripture Dingman,"
was the darky's reply
You must be very old man, Hi
RAM said Hopper.
"Old?" answered Hiram, I'm hun
dred and ten years old.
What memories you must have!
Perhaps you remember Washington"
Washington" answered the black
centenarian, contemptuously, II knew
Columbus"
You did? How interesting. What
sort of looking man was Columbus ?"
Uncle Hiram looked Hopper over
roinute and, as he started to walk
away, said: Columbus? He favored
you a great deal only he was thicker"
Play and Players: Andrew Mack, the
Irish singing comedian, is bright, lev
el-headed young fellow. He talks inter-
estingly, and what he says for publica-
ton is worth reading. He recently ex-
pressed himself In regard to Irish char
acters as follows: II like the part of
Myles Aroon very much, indeed, though
it is not the kind of Irish part I would
like best to play. The sort of charac-
ter I want to play is that of an Irish
gentleman, something on the order Of
/ Sir Lucius O'Trigger. I don't like to
play a rough Irish character, and
don't like to see it on the stage Nine
out of ten of them are merely carica-
lures. l never saw the kind of Irish
that are to be seen on the stage with
a fringe Of red whiskers under the
chin. You know the type I am
sensitive on this point, too. Such char
acters are gross caricatures. without a
single particle of native Irish wit or
Eumor to relieve them. They are as
absurd caricatures as those of the ordi-
nary stage Jew. l never saw in real
life such Jews as are depicted on the
stage any more than / have seen the
kind of Irishmen that are generally to
be seen behind the footlights. In 'Myles
Aroon' I have part which, as / have
said, is not my ideal one, but which
! appeals strongly to all kinds of people.
/ 1t is not the Irish alone, by any means,
| that come to see my plays"
In the LOCKER On" for November DIR.
John Williamson Palmer gives a very
graceful and interesting description of
Manners and the Playhouse in Old
Maryland" In the Maryland Gazette"
II June IS, 1852, appeared the first an
nouncement of play by any regular
company in America, as follows: "At
The New Theater in Annapolis, by the
/ company of comedians from Virginia.
on Monday next. being the 22d inst,
will be performed The Beggar's Opera,
| likewise a farce called The Lying
Valet To begin at seven. Tickets at
the printing office. Boxes, los; pit,
rs. Cd" The company came direct from
! London on board the Charming Sally,
/ and was organized and drilled by Will
jam and Lewis Hallam, brothers Of the
/ English Admiral of that name 1t may
also be noted that the first American
+ theater was built at Annapolis on
ground belonging to an Anglican
church. II is described as q neat brick
building, conveniently arranged to ac-
commodate GOO persons. About 1917
the church recovered possession of the
/ property and the theater was sold and
demolished for the material 1t afforded.
: In 11T4 Congress discountenanced gam
ing. horce racing and playacting. and
then. DR.. Palmer explains. British Off
( GERS in amateur theatricals came to the
relief of persons of quality bored or
1 distracted by the vulgar passions Of
+ the people. Mayor Moncrieff, Mayor
John Andre, Lord Cathcart and General
+ Burgoyne pranced in the mimi, scene
aristocratic and condescend.ng." The
dandies of 1761. in powdered wigs, silk
stockings. short quartered shoes and
/ silver or paste buckles, are described
/ by veracious chronicler of those days
as ogling or nudging the actresses on
/ the stage, while their sisters in the
BOXES, in pyramids of pasted hair. stud
/ ded stomachers and high -heeled shoes,
made eyes at the handsome actors and
/ admired the antics of their brothers.
| Miss Sibyl Sanderson is singing opera
| In French az the Teatro Sirico in Milan