The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
Tie P|DTTERS a)E Il

Is a grievous pity that the solicitations oil
his speculative SON. who has four theatres
on his hands to make or lose money on,
have prevailed upon Mr.. JEFFERSON TO seno
that second dispatch. HOW can man liA Ae
Joseph jefferson be neutral in a contest
that involves the question whether the
mere Snowman shall supplant the aetorE
The brave actors and actresses VINO are
fighting this thing out will regret Mr.. Jet-
ferson's weakening, but they Will VIM
nevertheless, if they are resolute. Ihelr
cause is just and the public Is with them'
The career of Maud Jeffries. the young
southern girl, who is the leading lady of
Wilson Barrett's company, is being watch
ed with much interest by her friends in
the south. She is a Mississippi girl and
was educated at Columbia, Tennessee. FL
nancial losses made it necessary for her
to make her own living. She wrote to
Augustin DAILY, and as a result began her
stage career under his auspices. Later
on she made her first journey to England
as a member of Wilson Barrett's company.
Not long after this Mr.. Barrett had some
difficulty about a leading lady The story
goes that one evening Miss Jeffries, at a
little dinner at Mr. Barrett's home, recited
the second act of "Claudian." 1T was then
that Mr.. Barrett told her that he wished
her to be his leading lady. She was so
surprised that she burst out sobbing and
said she would not accept the proposition
for she not only felt incapable of accom-
plishing It successfully, but she did not be-
leYe in Jumps. She cabled to Ameri-
ca that she was leaving England by the
next ship. The next day however while
luuehing with some American friends, they
urged her to accept such an advantageous
offer She accepted reluctantly. There
were fourteen leading parts to be learned
in three weeks. She has now been with
Mr. Barrett about seven years.
Francois Coppee, who wrote Julia Mar
loves new play, For Bonnie Prince
Charlie" lives among the humble people
on the outskirts of Paris He wears glar-
ingly red dressing sacks and smokes ciga-
rettes habitually. AS he talks he sits at
his desk or lounges on his huge inviting
sofa, or walks back and forth. He Is fire.
quently taken for commercial traveller
in the country hotels where he stops when
out in the provinces. He loves to idle
about the hotel offices and smoke, and tell
stories with everybody
Rehearsals have begun upon a new play
entitled Beside the Bonnie Brian Bush"
the materials of which are taken from Tan
Maclaren's" three books, "Kate Carnegie"
BESIDE the Bonnie Briar Bush" and 1.-THE
Days of Aud Lang Syne." James Mac
Arthur and Tom Hall, of Munsey's Maya
zine, are the joint paywrights, and the
dramatization is said to bear the direct
sanction of the author. The Rev. Dr. Wat
son (Maclaren) has no scruples on the sub
ject of being responsible for stage play,
and has expressed regret at being unable
to witness the production of beside the
Bonnie Briar Bush," which is soon to oc-
cur in America.
Mile. Reichenbery, famous French ac-
tress, is to retire permanently from the
stage. She is now 50 years old and
played first at the Coincide in 1868, but to-
day she is regarded as the best interpreter
of girlish roles on the French stage.
Kate Bateman, who has been teacher
of acting since she ceased to appear as
LEAH" will be seen as the ambitious
mother of the exiled monarch when 1.-THE
Vagabond King" by Louis N. Parker, Is
played in England Murray Carson will
have Richard Mansfelds role.
The season of opera commences at the
Metropolitan opera house, New York, Jan.
IT, under the direction of Damrosch and
Ellis. Among the artists are Melba Selg-
nae, who is said to have broadened vocally
and dramatically since last year; M 1bos,
the new French tenor, together with Nine.
Barna Mile. Toronto, Mr.. Rains and Herr
and Frau Standgl, all of whom are new
corners.
American minstrelsy is to be again in
troduced into England. Plans have been
perfected by which Primrose and West
are to appear at the Lyric theatre in Lon
don in April.
AS a general rule Sarah Bernhard holds
that an actor or actress should retire from
the stage at the age of SO, although she
confesses that she has seen many who
should have disappeared at the age of
%.
Belle Archer, a very clever young ac-
tress has replaced Caroline Miskel Hoyt
as Grace Holmes in Hoyt's "a Contented
Woman"
Hobart Chatfeld-Taylor is now writing
a play on the yacht Varunon.
syndicate has been formed in London
for building a theatre for e. S. Willard.
A splendid offer will be made Willard as
soon as he returns to England. 1t is said
that it Is the intention of the promoters
to have the English actor spend much
more of his time in London than formerly,
producing there two or three new plays a
season and later bringing them over to
America. Mr.. Willard will be seen in Biz
mingham in March.
ANNIE KENDRICS WALKER.
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