The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-08

succession of large audiences since the
opening night and, as the comedy
frolic does not impress people as be-
ing nearly so shocking as they antici-
pated after reading the newspaper
notices, a favorable reaction has set
in for the play.
The audience evidently find the play
amusing. and there is an abundance
of uproarious laughter and curtain
calls after-each act. Mr.. Gunter does
not regard the play at all harmful to
morals, and says that the play is he
biggest success financially that he has
ever had. This statement means not a
little when one considers that his list
of successful plays Includes Prince
Karl Mr.. Barnes of New York"
The Deacon's Daughter and others
quite as good.
W. j. Ferguson, who plays with 'sThe
Gay P~arisians," Is the man who rang
down the curtain on the grimmest
tragedy ever played In an American
theater, for 1t was his hand han rung
the curtain bell at Ford's theater.
Washington, the night President Lin
coin was asSaSsinated, and the curtain
stayed down forever. Ferguson was
call boy at Ford's. and the night of
April IA, 1866, aura Keene was playing
'Our American Cousins" and owing to
the SIChIt6SS VI JIG III the EQEa cOnl-
pany, young Ferguson was hurriedly
coached in his part. He was holding
the prompt book in the wing imme-
diately opposite the box occupied by
President Lincoln and party.
Some of the players at the former
performance had missed part of their
lines, and Ferguson vas afraid to leave
his prompt book, Laura Keene stood in
the wing hurriedly ~rehearsing him.
Suddenly, a pistol shot sounded in the
presidential box. Ferguson sprang to
the end OF the wing, a man Ieaped
from the opposite box, caught his foot
In the folds Of an American flag draped
from the box to the stage, sprang up
and rushed across the stage.
Ferguson, Ferguson" shouted the
stage manager, ring down the cur
TAIN"
The tinkle Of the bell was not heard
in the fearful uproar that arose In the
crowded theater; the lever creaked. and
the curtain slowly descended on COM
edy transported to awful, sickening
tragedy. Lincoln lay bleeding in his
fag-bedecked box while John Wilkes
Booth clattered down street, squirting
his horse. fleeing from the ruin
wrought by his hand.
The success just achieved by '"The
Gay Parisians," In London, makes the
third big metropolitan conquest of this
French farce. It has been running 1T
Paris for nearly two years under the
original title of Hotel de Lbre Elk
change" 1t ran for over 200 nights in
New York, and Charles Frohman ca
bled from London that the newspapers
there say it will keep the English folks
amused for at least two years.
Considerable interest should attach
TO the presentation IN this city at an
carly date Of "Tennessee's Pardner."
Scot Marble, the well-known play
wright, is the author. and he has taken
for his material the stirring incidents
pathetic and humorous situations OF
Bret Harte's novel of hat title. The
play is g. romano of the mountains
telling a story of adventure-written
as only that famous story-teller can
write. Though "Tennessee's Pardner'
has never been seen here, it
with the Endorsement OF long engage
mentS in New York, Boston and Phil
adelphia. The company is headed by
Harry Mainhall, the capable leading
man. Chas. B. Hawkins, Esther VII
laims and Jane Coreoran.
1.-The Girl I Left Behind Me-" which
will come to the Grand soon, is the play
that had the honor of opening the EN-
pire theater, New York, where so many
plays by American dramatists have
been launched. 1t is itself the work
Of two skillfHl and popular writer's
Belasco and FRANKLIN Fyles. It