Evening star., 1896-12-12

Wy dAC tiipSt III IiiN Theatrical IldHdScES
had little faith Among the most note
worthy examples are Augustus Thomas
Alabama and James A. Herne's Shore
Acres" Mr.. A NJ. Palmer bought ala
bama. but had so little faith in its draw
ing powers that he withdrew it from re-
hearsaIs three different times. Not having
any ether available play he was at last
forced to produce 1t. and its success was
instantaneous. Shore Acres was hawked
about all ever the United States, and every
ell-knOwn manager was approached with
the manuscript. Mr.. ]. II. McVicker, lacking
material for his stock company, agreed to
produce 1t. but the changes he made in the
various scenes interfcred with its success.
Mr.. K. NJ. Field of the Boston Museum
agreed to present It the following season,
but even during its rehearsal expressed
fears of its success, and put another work
in rehearsal, which was to replace Shore
Acres" in case of failure. A run of ia
nights Gid not serve to convince Mr. Field
of its value, and he sold out his interests
TO Henry C. Miner for a mere bagatelle.
This was four years ago. and Mr.. Miner
Jointly with Mr. Herne have made a fortune
with this charming idyl of New England
life.
Another instance may be cited in My
Friend From India" This play was written
eight years ago, but no one could be in
duced to produce it. Its present owners
I'LL grow rich its profits as its weekly
expenses are trifiing.
Harry Askin tells a good story about
1gnacio MartiEetti. who appears in THE
Nancy Hanks" From the first day it was
announced that the company was going
out in the play. Mr.. Martinetti began to
have trouble, and is having it yet. The
news Of the companys approaching season
was scarcely in type when ring came
early one morning at the comedians door.
Who's there?' he demanded.
something very important"
About what?"
About Nancy Hanks"
Imagining all sorts of things. Mr. Mar
tinetu let the man into his parlor and hur-
riedly dressed to him.
Well. what's happened?' he asked, as he
burst in the room.
''Nothirg," said the strange visitor; but
it's what's likely to happen Now. you're
this winter, aren't you?'
Yes"
Then. it's lucky you saw me- for I've
got the daisiest, warmest cough and cold
preventing horse blanket you ever saw"
Horse blanket cried Martinetti What
for?"
Why; for Nancy Hanksr l.
II took ten minutes to convince the man
that Nancy Hanks was not to be in the
play. and then he went away muttering:
Well, It's cuckoo horse play that amt
SOI any morse IN II.
After II at there was ring after ring at
Martinettfc door bell. Men had horse
salve. binders, everything for the horse
and sixteen n en- made application for the
position of groom. Martinetti was nearly
crazy Finally, he went to the door for
the last time.
What is it?" he asked the man who
rang.
Want anything for horses, sir? 1
Bang and the door was shut.
And that is the way it has gone on ever
since.
Whatever experience / may have had in
booking attractions. and while in arrang-
ing Eugenie Blair's tour there has been no
difficulty whatever, yet in all my expe-
rlence, as i have just remarked, l have
never had so many funny things happen"
said Albert Riddle yesterday. Both Mr.
Downing and myself have been very much
amused. We needed night between here
and Richmond, and needed 1t badly. So we
sent letter to Alexandria and in a few
days the answer came. stating that the
night was gone, and that 1T was just as
we'll, as East Lynne wouldn't go in Alex
andrfa anyway The writer said we might
play ACcotink or Fairfax Court House.
well. you know, East Lynne isn't the
only thing that wouldn't go in Alexandria
got another letter from a man in Opt
delka. Miss, saying: Better not play East
Lynne here again. as Lady Isabel was
murdered in this town last week, and the
jury returned verdict of justifiable homi- 1
eide. Needless TO say, We do not play i'm
Opidelka this season.
Eugene Blair and her own company will
be the Christmas attraction at the Acad-
emy OF Music, and will undoubtedly give a
strong and complete production of East
Lynne"
Mr.. VIM H. Crane tells a good story of
his early experience at Ottumwa years
ago. when the orchestra of the company
went on strike, and the local brass band
was engaged to furnish music for the per-
formance and to play three selections in
frOnt OF the thedter before the perform
ance, In return for free admission to the
snow The band showed up on time car
Itu OUT us part OF the contract, and went
INTO the theater." said Mr. Crane Il was
on the door that night. and, by the by, l
was struck by the fact that the OttumWa
Brass Band must be one of the most re-
markable musical organizations in the
country Every minute or two somebody
would come up TO the door with a brass
norm under his arm, wave Ii at me and sail
on into the theater without a word After
mad passed fifty OF sixty musicians in
TINS way / began TO grow trifle suspi-
ciouS, and stopped an old granger who was
carrying in big tuba. Excuse me sir
! remarked, but do you play in the band?'
Nope, he answered. What are YOU doing
with that horn, then? | asked. I'm goin'
70 20 In on 1t, II / can, he replied can
uldly- Whose is ft?' L inquired. Blamed
II / know, he said. a feIler outside there
gave IL 10 me and said / could get in with
II left the door and stepped inside the
theater just in time to see one of the Aand
boys drop another horn out of a window
INTO the hands of somebody in a crowd ont
slJe IN the alley As nearly as 1 can cal
cuIate, the Ottumwa Brass Band that night
must nave mad more members than Gilmore
Ut oousa ever directed at one time"
II is not generally known that Martinus
SieNeking. the great Dutch pianist. is a
hercules in strength. SievekiDe has ner
rect control over all the muscles of his
pody, and can move them at will. which
accounts for his claim that the seat Of his
technique Is his muscles, and not the brain
as other pianists have claimed: which also
accounts Tor the marvellous tones produced
bS thls artist without any apparent effort
ON ms part Sievektng does not drink nor
smoke. Tor fear of its affecting his ne-vas
ana hke all great artists, practices from
seven TO eight hours day. When not plav
ing the piano he is playing with his dog
OF Whom he thinks the world Tad - for
that Is the dogs name. is a Thoroughbred
pointer, and is beckoned to his masters
presence by whistling the first bar of the
Saint SaSn Concert ~
one time when Sieveking was ont u-as,
ne was at a small station waiting for a
raln that was slightly overdue He US
waking up and down the platform With
ms doS, when tough, brutaI-lookinp man
Desan TO annoy the animal Sieyekin1 no
Fg1 \