The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-28

At the actors benefit for the benefit Of
the LAMPS club, given at the Broadway
theater in New York. recently. a number Of
Wei known actors played a skit burlesuuing
tne big theatrical trust or syndicate. The new
follows: -
The scene represented the office Of the
y HuIcdte. IL was easy to recognize the
o~rlg1nals OF al Playman Wayman), Charles
snowman and Dan Snowman, as they entered
ana took up their places at their several desks
prepared to absorb everything theatrical in
sight, al, represented by George Barnum,
was the head and front Of the trust. with a
manner that bet0kened the self-satisfed man
ager conscious of the whip hand that he holds.
Dan, unprecedented by Walter Craven, was the
4Vlng prototype of the amiable manager of the
Lyceum, and Charles, played by Alfred Klein,
IN makeup, gesture and action was the per
iec1 counterfeit presentiment of the doughty
hUtle theatrical Napoleon whose brains and
energy are the head of the concern that is at
present so occupying the histrionic attention.
Hardly were they seated when the tele-
phone bells began to Jingle. With great Rlee
It was announced that the National theatre at
Painted Post responded to the pressure and
had enrolled itself on the syndicate's roster.
"Tfngle! Tingle!'' went the bell and Dan
applied MS ear to the telephone.
Boys" he exclaimed, "the Grand opera
house, Paris, wants to come in
Whats the fgure?' asked Playman.
Three millions" remarked Dan as he hung
up the receiver, and Charlie prepared himself
10 write out the check.
llHsle! Jingle. again went the bell, and
Dan shouted, Hold on there, Charlie. Make
that check S, 600. It's the Grand opera house,
Paris, KY
The next telephcnic communication was
from Sarah Bernhard.
Bernhard says she must have more than
10 per cent of the gross. Last year, she de-
clares; she got 80 per cent"
Tell her. replied Mr.. Playman, that she
takes Is per cent or she can't play anywhere
on EARTH
Henry Irving also telephoned that his
theatre, the Lyceum, was at the syndicate's
disposal, but that he would still like to act
there once in a while.
We'll" replied Al and Dan, tell him that
the stage is open to him occasionally but that
Macbeth is barred"
In the mean time, Willie Collier, repre-
senting Ada Rehan,s impresarie Augusttn
Daly). a perfect study in mimicry. and Dig
by Bel, as E. NJ. Balmer, were Guiding the
vigilant office boy in their endeavors to get
a slice of the syndicate pie. Their efforts,
however, were f%ruitless. When a trust has
1t ali its own way, why divide UP with out
siders?
Mr. Balmer at that stage-his offer to man
age the Coliseum at Rome on condition that
1t be known as Balmer's having been rejected
was heard to read off from a slip:
Fourteenth street, Eighteenth street, TWEEN
ty-third street, Twenty-eighth street and
Thirty-third street."
'"Wha are you doing?'' asked some one.
Laying out Francis Wilson's route for
next season" replied the imperturbable Balm
er, as he blandly stroked his flowing white
wings.
At this there was a spontaneous response.
Wilson's opposition to the trust and its meth
eds were truly appreciated by those in front,
and so it went on.
Fanny Davenport is now playing a long en-
gagement in San Francisco.
On last Friday evening, March 26, the two
thousandth performance of Jacob Lifts I'M
equaled success, I'm Old Kentucky oc-
CURED at the Academy of Music. New York.
1t was q gala night, and the large theater
contained an audience. which packed it from
pit to gallery. The occasion was marked by
the presentation Of an elegant souvenir. in
the shape of a solid silver candelabra to
those in attendance.