The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-05
THEATRICAL GOSSIP
James L. Ford Describes a Novel and
Profitable Profession.
AMUSING CHARACTERSKETCH
How the "Major" Gets an Easy
Living by Means OF a Succession
of Clever Wives Who Appear
Before the Footlights.

My acquaintance with the major
dates from a chance meeting one even
ing about Is years ago In a small Ital-
ian cafe near the stage door of the
Academy of Music, a resort largely
frequented at that time by the fid-
oilers, chorus people and others con-
nected in a professional way with the
Italian opera, and also by the great
army of unemployed hangers-on that
always clings to the skirts of an
amusement enterprise.
was sitting in this cafe drinking
chianti and raving deliriously about
the divine Tarantella, whom l had
heard in La Somnambulla" the night
before My companion, who was two
years older and had been In the news
paper business three years longer than
/, so that he was my senior by IL
years. listening politely TO my rhapso-
dies. and then reached forth and
placed a OBTAINING hand on we'll
dressed, important-looking man VINO
was hurrying past US towards the pa.
Major" said my friend, sit down
and Join u.s." Then to me: Il want 10
introduce you to the major, the nus
band of Signora Tarantella, whom you
admire so much. My friend IS on the
newspapers, Major and he hasn't beeh
quite himself since he heard the mao
anne sing"
The newcomer had at first bowed 10
me stiff1y and with a look OF suspicloh
on his face, but on learning that was
a newspaper writer. and therefore pre-
sumably in a position to become OF
some use to him, he thrust OUT ms
hand. twisted his face into wnat pas
es current among grand opera h'opie
as a genial, cordial smile, and said:
'She's a lady with a big draft
I do not know exactly what form or
physical eccentricity his words sug-
gested to my mind, but / remember
distinctly that / shuddered as L listen
ed to him, and was glad when he LETT
us a few moments later AT tne very
moment when III became his turn 10
pay for a round of drinks.
After he had gone / learned from my
friend that the title worn by my new
acquaintance had been bestowed upon
him by his grateful sovereign In recos-
milton of his services in one OF the
great encampments of militia In Eng
land at a period of piping peace. ne
had laid aside the sword and epaui-
cites. however, TO adopt the profession
of theatrical husbandry, and had MADE
n very good beginning by marrying
Signora Tarantella.
He had begun at the foot OF the lad
der. too. for IL is well known fact
that the hangers-on of Italian opera
more filthy and repellant in aspect
than the human barnacles who cling
TO amusement enterprises OF other
kinds Ii is also true that "a we go
lower and lower in the entertainment
business the hanGers-on become more
and more respectable. SO that the UNI
der-fed and overdref sed contingent
that attaches itself to the lowest sort
of variety theaters is, In comparison
with the brigands and outcasts who
swarm about the stage door and infeSt
the Hobbies of the Metropolitan opera
house, a chivalric and scholarly body
of gentlemen.
The next time that l attended the
opera / found the major engrossed In
the duties of his profession. He was In
evening dress and was very busy quar-
reling with the manager, annoying the
critics-who fled from him as from the
plague-and setting in circulation ma
licious lies concerning other singers In
the company. / don't think L nave
ever known a theatrical husband who
could do more irreparable injury TO a
singer or actress in the course or
single evening than the major could.
Indeed, he succeeded in creating so
much trouble during his wife's first
season in New York that the impress
sario positively refused to re-engage
/ her. and the really beautiful and gift
ed Tarantella departed from our shores
to be seen and heard no more.
For a long while heard nothing of
| the major. / always had present
/ iment that he would turn up again
! somewhere find IL impossible to get
| rid Of such acquaintance when they
/ are once fastened upon me-and at last
! / did run across him again; and this
| time l was glad to notice that he had
! risen in the barnacle social scale, fof
he was acting as the business manager
of a travelling variety show that per-
formed for one week at an eastside
theater 1t happened that | was as
signed 10 write a notice OF the enter
tainment, and the major bore down on
me a. 1 entered the lobby. he address
ed me i'm a warm hearted and cOrdia
manner. for he had been told that
was a newspaper writer, and the no
blest side of his nature instantly as
serted itself.
You won't forget to give the mad
anne a leg-up." he said pleasantly, a,
he dropped into the seat beside me anC
placed a friendly pa1 on my knee.
The madame" l exclaimed in as
constituent you don't mean TO tel
me that your wife is singing here IL
this show"
"of course, she is, and what's more
I shes the cleverest little lady I'm th'
company Just wait till you hear he
sing, and then some night I'D like q
have you come back with me and NEE
her. Shed be very pleased 10 know
you. Her turn is the third after this
and shes just knocked 'em with II ev
erywhere we've been"
But" l said as l examined the pro
gramme. this is a different name
Bessie Ellington. from the one you
wife had before
1T Is a different name and differ
ent wife. too he replied cheerfully
with the other one it's a case Of "
never speak as We pass by. Ever s'nc
we left the 'Scuttle of Coal com
pany-"
"Signora Tarantella singing in fare
| comedy" / cried.
The major looked at me a momen
| I'm apparent bewilderment. and then In