The record-union., 1897-01-10

Rossini, and in 1889 Richard Wagner
who was then "a mest frank, amiable
and lively companion, modest and full
of enthusiasm"
Halle tells a good story of Rossfni
When Brod. the oboist, played F sharp
Rossini asked him for a pinch of snuff
and plaeidly remarked that the right
note was F, but lin regard to the F
sharp. do not worry yourself; we shall
find means to put it somewhere else. .
There is another,good story about Doni-
zetti who, being told that Rossini wrote
I'll Barbiere'' in a fortnight, replied. i
can quite believe it; he always was a
lazy fellow
New York plays and Players"
Charles H. Hoyt, the dramatist, is ac-
counted one of the brightest of wits in
the profession He eXudes happy re-
marks, though they are sometimes
tinged with sarcasm. On one occasion,
a few years ago, he requested his Secre-
tary, Claude Goodwin, to obtain two
berths on a sleeping car, and was par
ticular in his instructions as to just
how he wanted them. The next morn
ing he found two tickets on his desk.
They were not what he wanted. He i'm
mediately wrote Mr.. Goodwin a sharp
and cauStic note. Goodwin replied
quickly in person. He said there was
no reason why he should receive such a
note, that Mr.. Mckee had bought those
sleeping car tickets.
We'll then, indorse the note to Nc
Kee," was Hoyt's quick response.
Recently the critic of a newspaper,
after very pleasant review of "A Milk
White Flag" said that 'to enjoy Mr..
Hoyt's latest production one should
leave ones intellect at home" Before
leaving the city Mr.. Hoyt wrote some
thing like the following note to the of
Tending critic:
Dear Sir: [ read your notices of nv
latest play, in which you say that one
should leave ones intellect at home be-
fore going to see it 1 judge from your
criticisms you took your own advice.
Yours truly CHARLES HOYT"
Not long ago an actor of more or less
to make a change in the cast of a part
in one of his plays. The actor sent this
telegram to the authormanager:
Il very much desire to have an op-
portunity to play the part of .''
To this Mr.. Hoyt sent the following
MESA ge:
You are entirely alone in your de-
SIRE
Digby Bell tells this story about a GER
tain comic opera manager who is more
or less distinguished for not paying sal
aries. On one occasion he was indebt-
ed to the comedian to the extent of ST.
600. Digby called on the manager one
afternoon to get some money. The lat
ter's manner was frigid and naughty
as the actor made his request for part
payment. The managers feelings were
evidently hurt, but he reserved his COM
posure and informed his caller that he
had no money.
Very WELL" said Bell, then I won't
play tonight"
You won't play to-night?" echoed
the manager in evident surprise. You
don't mean it?'
Yes, I do" persisted the actor. Not
one step on the stage do go unless get
some money"
"Ah, that opens up a new line of
thought replied the manager cheer
fully and his cold air quickly thawed
into a CHEEKY friendliness.
Before Bell left he had obtained $500,
a,a 49, ,so,d r,Iox,a5 On
New York plays and Players: An
drew Mack dropped in at phonograph
store on Broadway recently to hear
himself sing his song, my Pearl Is
Bowery Girl" He handed the attend
ant dime and got a nickel in change.
Then he moved along to hear his friend
Otis Harlan sing Nancy" paying for
it with the nickel he had just received.
Il am sorry, but this is counterfeit"
said the attendant.
well. / like your nerve" replied
Mack. Didn't you just give it to me?"
"Oh, 1 beg your pardon" said the
man.
You needn't" answered Mack; "the
counterfeit's no worse than these
things you are passing off in the boxes"
Charles Froh1nan made his first ap-
pearance before the curtain at the EN-
pire Theater New York, last week,
when the stock company opened their
regular season in Under the Red
Robe" Frohman is notoriously modest,
and heretofore has never answered a
public call to appear on the stage and
bow his Acknowledgements. But on this
occasion the audience was exception
ally enthusiastic after the last act. The
company was honored with nine curtain
calls, but the audience would not de-
sist until Frohman came out. i Is said
that the Napoleonic manager had a bad
case Of stage fright, and only ventured
half way out until some one in the stage
entrance pushed him gently forward
until his entire figure was clearly in
view
New York plays and Players:
There can be no doubt about Thomas
Q. Seabrooke's triumph in comedy. He
duplicated his Boston success in Balti-
more, and if opinions of the reviewers
are accepted as an assurance, he has
now firmly established himself as one of
the very best American comedians The
conservative critic of the Baltimore
"Sun" has this to say of Seabrooke's
performance in ''The Speculator''
His fun-making is clean-cut and eff
fective, and in some of the scenes of his
play. THE Spectator, there are bits
of earnestness which indicated that he
possessed that touch of pathos without
which the farcical fun-maker can never
hope to rise into the higher and freer
field of pure comedy. In more than one
situation he suggested this or that one
of the long line of famous American