Evening star., 1896-12-28
THEATRICAL GOSSIP.


bears lis name, is one of those gentlemen
who delight in making small wagers with
his friends or matching coins. He had beer
sitting on a train with a party of friends
engaged in his favorite pastime SO long thai
he WAS the better off by goodly amount
Matching became tiresome. small wagers
v ere made on various matters that pre-.
sented themselves, until at last his diver
sion seemed exhausted. The talk among
the travelling men then, as usual, drifted to
the beauty of the ladies In the car. This
had gone on for some time, when Jordan,
with a twinkle In HIS eye, turned to a
whisky drummer and said:
Fired. you seem to understand all about
feminine beauty. Now, I'll bet you s. that
at the next stopf can walk up and kiss the
prettiest woman on the PLATFORM
The wager was quickly accepted, and as
the train pulled in and came to a stop
Jordan, closely followed by his betting op-
ponent. jumped off. He looked about for a
built. handsome brunette. and, without any
saiutation. kissed her in a manner to make
cne forget even Olga Nethersole. After
this he deliberately walked back, got on
the train and took his seat
Fred had lost, but the loss of the five
did not worry him nalf SO much as the
whyness of the lady's complaisance. Jor-
dan, after few minutes left the party
and strolled into the next car They, anx-
ious to see where he went, followed only
to see him doff his hat and take seat next
to the lady of the platform episode. They
decided then to have the matter out, and
SO filed through the car. AS they came to
the seat occupied by the lady and Jordan,
the latter, looking up, said:
"One minute, Fred, I want to make you
acquainted with my wife. She came on
the train ahead and stopped off to see some
friends"
There was blood in the whisky mans eye
for minute; but the laugh was too great.
and he gently beckoned to the buffet tender.
Among the entertainers of the lyric stage
today none are more deservedly popular
than William H. Mcdonald, the handsome
baritone of the BOstonans Possessing
vibrant voice that has caused havoc among
the fair sex, his sturdy physique is always
a subject of admiration with the male con-
tlngeht who like an athletic build. 1t is
curious fact, relates a friend of Macs"
tEat the baritone never dares while travel
ing With his organization and nightly sing
ing TO indulge in any sort of athletic ex-
ercise, for he trains SO readily that mis- mus
cular developn ent affects the fexibility of
his high notes. story is related on Nc
Donald recently. The Bostonians are just
completing their first southern tour, and in
Dallas, Tex, the baritone was the guest Of
an athletic club. An old sport was in the
party the evening above mentioned, and
became in1bued with the belief that Mac
was a pugliist. During the evening. and
after the baritone had sung favorite
City with his accustomed resonant voice.
the old sport turned and said: "Well,
young man, you've got the sweetest pair of
lungs for boxer ever heerd.''
W. r. Shirley. who appears as Maxim.
the schoolboy, of THE Gay Parisians," has
one characteristic that unfortunate tely Is too
often lacking in actors assuming what are
termed Juvenile relies. 1t is that he Is not
OILY young man. but really looks like a
hoy. He has only been in this country two
years. having been brought to America by
Charles Frohman to create the part of the
College bully in 1.-The New Boy and made
the one big hit of this comedy. He had
been in the United States only two months
when he came to Washington. At the
theater he was approached by the colored
1sundress who. with 3 desire to be friend
Iy, asked If he were glad to return to
his first visit to Washington, and that he
lad only been in the United States two
months.
''Where did you cum fum?" asked the
row evidently interested woman.
From England" said Shirley.
For the love of God" was the startled
response. Ito think you has cnly been in
this country two months and you do speak
the language just beautiful"
There are scenic details and scenic de-
tails, and in most OF them electricity is
coming to be the most potent factor. In
"On the Mississippi" which will be at the
Grand Opera House this week, there is a
most realistic scene. 1t is in that scene de-
pictihg southern swamp, a part of the
Great Dismal. glowing with the phosphor-
escent light of firef1ies. The way in which
the effect Is secured Is unique and illus
trative of the strides the art of the property
man has taken. A large net hangs in front
Of the back scene, which shows the. back
ground Of the swamp. On this net are fas-
tened numbers of small Geissler tubes,
twisted into peculiar shape, something re-
sembling worms. Back in the side wings
an operator sits at special keyboard which
operates battery to which each individual
Of those tubes Is connected, At the will of
the operator they can be forced into light,
Ike the ordinary incandescent lamp, and
by swaying the net back aud forth the mo-
ton of flying lightning bugs is perfectly
produced SO that the audience cannot even
guess as to the means used. Such details
add mich to the beauty of stage pictures