The morning times., 1896-04-26

L"se ''iSut<haS noJdDle III the career OF
Robert DO TRing.s A L Aliens Grand Opera
House he gave the three thousandth per-
formancc ofA''The Gladiator aud it not
only marketk the CLOSE OF his present sea-
son, buG the ferfltnatioR Of his first score,
his twentietnlyeaf on the stage.
It was orfy tittiug that this eminent
lfagedlan, %hps lifsJ trod the boards OF "a
Washilietonsstage, who has always been
| ldenblileu as ,tlstfiIzen with the CapIJai City,
should fnark tits a spieious occasion by
a performance Ia this city.
his friends and ADMIRERS, who have al
ways taken kriaesiu his achievem and
nave Watchfti his career constantly, and
with paternai Interest, seized the opportu-
hlty TO give hin9 q testimonial OF their re-
| gafa Iof hissposition aud rank in the pro-
| iessioh aad Tie honor IL reflects upon the
city. Aliens was last night crowded with
u representative audience, which included
the Vice-Prestdent and party, and many
| peasant Incidents and much enthusiasm
distinguished the event.
"A douhJe bilF was performed. The first
was one-act comedy OF the first Ere nch
! republic, French Marriage" by Charles
Dance 1t was delightfully."- acted by Mr.
Downing as Sangfroid, negiectful but
penitent and adroit husband; Eugenia Blair
| as the yaeillatiHg Pauline, his wife, whom
ne Fescues skiilfully from an uuwilfut
| ndiseretion, and j. II. KoIker as Alphonse
| Ihe other play was 1.-The Gladiator" :"
which has so long been identified with
/ Robert Downing, which he gave a ne w
lease OF life when it was neglected, and
| Whicn has served him the most popular
| play Of his repertoire for three thousand
| performances
his splendid conception nd artistic por-
tfayal or the slave Nero, Is too we'll known
10 suggest critical comment at this time.
He presented 1t in the maturity OF ripened
Judgment and facile expression from long
| ASSOCIATION. His supporting company was
| in al ways capable, and the exceptional
charm and art OF his Beautiful wife gave
! gentle trace aud winseme interest to the
role OF Neodamia.
From the very first the temper of the
audience denoted tile festivity of the oc-
| caslon- As Mrs. Downing entered and then
| Mr. Downing they were given a warm
welcoming salvG. At the end OF the first
| play an enthusiastic curtain call was given
| and great bouquet of American Beauties
| Was passed to-the popular stars.
| After the second act of The Gladiator, ~
| When the curtain was lowered on Nero and
! NeodaHia, ii was raised again To- disclose
! Mr.. Downing. Noble Edward Hay and
| Shrner emblem in flowers. The design
stood about four feet high and consisted of a
| sCiniitar III tea roses, the inverted crescent
-.
Mr.. Hay on behalf oF Alemas Temple of the
| Mystic Shrine, of which Robert Downing
| IS noble, made q frateTnal and racetiDus
address oongratulating the star on his
achievement of twenty years honorable ser
Vice i'll the profession, congratulatiug WASH
| iugtun as the home of Our Bob and pre-
senting the floral emblem.
MI. Downing repliedina particularly happy
manner, evincing his adaptab bility to roles
which are not written for him by others
but force themselves upon him in the circum-
stances of the moment. He announced his
determination, to- lay aside, if not per-
manently, at least temporarily, the role of
The Gladiator. and to devote himself to
new productions. He said that it is bis
purpose To next year produce new play
by an American author on an American
subject having for its hero the valiant
Israel Putpam. =
Robert Downing began his theatrical
career in Washington city in the centennial
year, S76, in the National Thea ter Stock
Company, Of which the late John T. Ford
was manager In this company were Louis
James. Eleanor Carey, Laura joyce. tnow
Mrs. Digby Bell, Theodore Hamilton Harry
Rainsforth. and Ellen Cumnins. affection
| ately known as Oregon Nell
James Galloway and Downing were
grips name they had for utility men.
He was eighteen at that time. People think
him an old man, though he is barely thirty
| eight, youngest of the American tragedians
and younger than eHy of the New York
leading men.
After four years in the stock company,
T which divided its seasons between Wash
mgton, Baltimore and Philadelphia, with an
occasional trip into the South, Downing
| joined Mary Anderson's company, with
which he remained until the famous star
first went abroad. In this company he
,Nl,, D., fnI,, L
/! Thomas Clifford, Ingomar, and all the
| leading juvenile roles.
He next went with Joseph Jefferson to
play Captain Absolute in THE Rivals and
John Perribngle in Cricket on the Hearth"
Then as now it was Mr.. Jeffersons custom
to play a spring and an autumn season.
| In the interval, during his second year with
| the eminent comedian, Mr. Downing made
his first starring venture, supported by
| the Jefferson company intact, presenting
a play by Joaquin Miller, "Tally Ho." This
was i'll 1885. The piece was kept out a
season and a half. Then he produced
| .sVeutour,'' by D'Ennery, which was un-
successful. and cost him $4,000.
While pla ying this piece he secured
.'Spartacus," by DR.. Bird of Philadelphia,
which was an instantaneous success for
him on its presentation in Chicago. He
kept this out for three seasons, adding to
his repertoire 'Virginius,' Damon and
'.Othello." 1t was in 1889 lie produced
1.-The Gladiator" which has been for him
what Rip is for Jefferson and Monte
Cristo'' for James O'Neil. Last night he
abanIioned it after seven years almost con-
tinuous use. Meantime he has made re-
peated efforts to replace it, but only
secondary popular success crowned THE
Saracen," David GarricR, y Samson an's
DeliIafi." Richard Occur de Lior'' and
Helena" His repertoire now embraces
twenty plays.
Mr.. Downing is now in the plentitude of
his powers and achievements He is ex-
perieneed enough and has attained a posi-
ton to be authoritative in matters of his
art, yet young and vigorous enough to
bear within him promise of splendid new
triumphsi in the future. This summer he will
spend as usual at his beautiful suburban
home at Benning devoting himself TO his
beloved pastoral pursuit and to the school,
of Dramatic Art, which will command his
attention during large part OF the three
months Of the summer.
NEGRO HIGHw AYMAN CAUGHT