The record-union., 1896-10-18

to have a big hat to keep her nose from
getting sunburnt' made me scowl be-
cause 1T was wicked; but when turned
| around and looked at her and found
tnat ner nose propped a spotted veil
out SO far that couldn't see anybody
on the other side of the house / am
ashamed to say l laughed. Is it SIM
ply a tempest in a teapot-this furry
ABOUT high hats at the theaters-or are
the managers and the newspapers play
ing for keeps this time? If the agita-
ton Is going to subside, as it did once
before, the hairdressers will be discon-
| soIate; for they must do a nice business
| when theater parties don't wear hats.
In speaking of the production recent
ly of Mascagni's latest opera, "Zanet-
to-" the London Times remarks
Seldom has public opinion changed so
| quickly as in the case of Mascagni, a
Grange due, 1t is true, quite as much to
| the proverty of his later works as to
the proverblal fickleness of amateurs -
In this new work the Times" thinks
| ne has been wholly successful in
avoiding his besetting sin of hysterical
sentimentality." "Zanetto" has one
merit which will commend it to those
Who do not like Mascagni-it lasts only
forty-five minutes.
Miss Harriet Vernon, the beautiful
London vaudeville singer, has Just
closed successful tour through the
English provinces. In Belfast, where
she appeared for the first time, one of
the papers said Of her: Her songs are
simply delightful, both in music and
treatment, and her fine stage presence
is enhanced by the magnificent cos
tunes she wears so gracefully. She
was encored again and again" On
December 26th Miss Vernon opens at
Cape Town, Africa, for a special en-
gagement of eight weeks, for which she
receives one of the largest salaries ever
paid vaudeville artist"
Miss Mary Penfield, formerly of
William II. Cranes company, is in
England securing material for articles
to be published in American magazines.
She carried letters abroad from Joseph
Jefferson, Bronson Howard and other
distinguished persons associated with
the American stage. She has already
secured interviews with Sydney Grun-
dy, Henry Arthur Jones, Arthur Pinero
and others equally well known. She
leaves London shortly for Scotland,
where she will interview Marie Corelli,
and afterward will make a short tour
through Germany and France before
returning to America
MY Friend From India" a new COM
edy, by H. A. Du Souchet is one of
the surprises of the season. 1t was
produced in Philadelphia recently un-
der the direction of w B. Smythe and
Myron Rice. 1t made an instantaneous
hit, and the engagement was extended.
the time booked in one night stands
being cancelled. Managers of theaters
in other large cities became eager to
procure it, and the route was quickly
changed from the small towns to the
big cities.
The chorus girl is quite as important
factor as the stately prirna donna or
the arch soubrette in attracting attend
ance, and indeed the most successful
Of these latter personages have gradu-
ated from the ranks Of the chorus. Was
not the queen of comic opera, Lillian
Russell, herself once an humble sister,
cousin or aunt in "Pinafore?"
In its comments on the death of Sir
Augustus Harris, the London "Chroni-
cle'' says: And since 1t must pay or
die, his death seems to mean the death
or opera in England. There is abso-
lutely no outlook for 1t at present. It
has no future discernible to human eye.
CoVent Garden, as we know, was his
creation He carried it on his shoul-
ders, and there is none who can take up
and carry the burden"
Beerbohm Tree, envious apparent
ly of the laurels won by Louis Waller in
the character, has been playing Hot
spur, which, of course, offered a very
striking contrast to his Falstaff. The
comments upon his performance, how
ever, even In quarters very friendly to
him, are cool, and it is pretty evident
that he was not much better in the one
part than in the other.
Clever little Virginia Jackson, a great
faVorite in Sacramento and one of the
promising young California actresses,
has made decidedly good impression
In Louisville, where the press notices
OF her performances of Bessie Fairfax
in "The Golden Giant" are most fiatter-
ing. Miss Jackson also received much
praise for her impersonation Of the
Widow in ''The Plunger"
Joseph Hart is rehearsing his new
farcical comedy, Truthful John" while
en- tour. 1t was written for him by M.
j. Royal, and will be produced under
the direction of D. w. Truss & Co..
about December 1st.
Louis James production of Sparta
Gus, the Gladiator has ten handsome
scenes painted by celebrated Eastern
artists, which Managers Wagenhals
and Kemper send with the other hand
some settings for the seasons reper-
toire in California
Wilton Lackaye has secured the rights
OF new romantic play entitled King
or Player" 1t deals with the period of
the reign Of Louis XIV. Beside this the
young actor will make a feature during
his season Of curtain-raiser entitled
"Moliere."
The old theme of the retired mill
ionaire porkpacker's efforts to get his
name enrolled among New York's -Four
Hundred" has been once more used by
f. A. Du Souchet in his new comedy.
My Friend From India"
&s
z. S.Willard has been paying visit to
Hall Caine, who is writing play which
the former hopes to produce in the