The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-03
IgG[HO[E9F [ROR0 EllI1lG [LAGl[D
The Delightful Beautiful Virginia
soneR o

exciting interest for half at least Of the
art-world ut least.
The bptrothed Of Mr. Sothern was so
beautiful. so devoted and the engagement
was so besct with fascinating difficulties
and DELAYS that it was unanimously con-
eluded this must be the one professional
case of a real course of true love and
both the sentimental and sportive fol-
lowed every pretty development OF the
Sothern-Harned affair, with responsive
palpitations and hopes for the imminent
fulfIlment of all tender vows exchanged.
A honeymoon month has been counted
devoutly from the rosary of years Of all
the world hopes may keep in happiness
this really ideal pair, but there is moth
ing oppressively bridal party" about
them and the charming simplicity of sim
cere attachment and wholesome sympa-
thy are the only positive elements appa
rent in their attitude of confidence and
tenderness toward each other. They are
go essentially congenial that argument is
dinacult. and the other night as we three
sat cozily gissiping after midnight, | be-
came gradually convinced that there
was but one wildly impressive idea
among us. and that was that Mr.. Soth-
Sothern has a boyish, frankly modest
courteous way of submitting his humble
opinions in choice language and persua-
sive gesture, but with all his gentle man
ner the mental Drawn and clear reason
ing of the man asserts itself valiantly
and the bride and / being in a holiday
mood and likely to consent, agreed to
everything Mr.. Sothcrns proposed, from
,Nft ba F,saii OF IA no
ing Of a salad.
Not that Mrs Sothern is not spirited
and wilful in many enchanting ways; for
she is. She is a bright, sparkling, in
dicative creature, full Of the piquant au-
dacities of a school girl. and an inces-
SAINT bubble Of merriment. She has the
most extraordinary litany OF familiar
titles for her brilliant lord ever eata-
Iogued in a honeymoon. Sometimes she
calls him Cd" which is rather a mystic
rious nickname and suggests brigand
oaths and robber-caye signals or con-
spiracies depthous; then she calls him
"Chap," and occasionally 'Mr, Sothern,
but never his baptismal brand nor
''Teddy," nor the stereotyped dear.
/ was pieturing h model little wife Of
8 celebrated actor who is friend OF
mine, and how adoringly she listened to
her famous husbands arguments, his
stories, plans, and we all admired her
from afar, and complimented the gentle
man Upon his submissive partner.
II Losse ia time began Sothern. with
dignity, ito reduce me bride TO similar
condition Of subordination, but
"Better begin right away, don't you
Think, queried the lady threatened as
h fha in
of a telegram envelope which brought It'd
ings of Paul Potter.
"He calls me the most extraordinary
things, not being used to my new once
and the nominal decorations which go
with it, he fights shy Of the old names and
practices alone the new ones; by next
year / trust he will have decided on some
thing rationaE'me bride for instance,
to the bellboys, just as likely
mot ours, indeed not ours" declared
the conscious owner of this charming
lady without a name good enough for
her wait until one Of them comes in.
They are the most remarkable servants
ever you saw, they are always dawning
upon one out Of thin air, from a wholly
unsupported curtain or through the wall.
They have kept me ON the verge Of heart
failure ever since 1 reached Chicago"
E. FL. Sothern has a peculiarly interest
ing face when that handsome counte-
nance is robbed of the little
change his mask Of powder
makes in it for the stage. 1t is
stamped in melancholy, face of abso-
lutte beauty, but the beauty of pathos and
poetic intensity. What makes it more
fascinating is the fact that his tempera-
ment and humors are eternally at vari-
ance with this sad, thoughtful, spiritual
visage. / do not know man whose wit
is SO incessant, whose love of life and
fun and human venture is more exuber-
ant. But there are his fathomless eyes.
his pathetic mouth, with its sorrowful lit
tie curves at the corners and its small
angelic lift at the centre, face perhaps
Shelley or Poe might have prayed for.
but which acts like mystic charm with
the laughter and satire forever behind it
in Sothern's disposition.
"Old Mr.. Jefferson-gad, he is no older
than I-came over to see me this morning
and what do you think? / was in bed"
confessed Sothern, obviously. Wasn't
it nice Of him? Ny fathers friends are
80 loyal to his memory and never fail to
look ME up when / am within hailing dis
lance. MT. JRueTSoD WIS one OF my
fathers earliest chums. In fact, it was
because OF Jefferson's earnest pleading
that the governor played Dundreary
Not that Joe thought there was anything
in the part, so he tells me, rather NOT
My father and Jefferson used to ride
horseback together every morning those
days in the Park at New York, and they
shared the expense. Joe says that his
sole object in persuading the governor
to play Dundreary was to keep both the
horses, because If his friend lost his en-
gagement he couldn't afford to ride, and
Joe couldn't stand the expense alone.
80 he spent hours OF eloquent appeal and
conjured up endless false visions over the
despised part, when in his heart he felt
my fathers judgment was correct. 1t
was such a beast Of a part. When IA
ther made the immense hit in Our
American Cousin" nobody was more
DUN bfouudpd than Toeforeo,, 4bo,,eyI,