Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31

tho average Hoyt farce VIII drive a sensitive
man to drink, had ample confirmation the
other night, when "a Black Sheep opened
to a large audience at a local theater. To
see the crowds Of men going out and in
between the acts, trampling over men,
women and children in their path like so
many thirsty Juggernauts, was an instruct
i've, IL not an edifying spectacle. To be quite
accurate, they were not as a rule sensitive
men, but rather the ordinarily honest and
not over-refned citizens who find the plays
of Mr.. Hoyt amusing and who consider Mr..
Hoyt a %satirist. But their exits and their
entrances were just as much OF an unmitt-
gated nuisance to those whom they incon-
venienced, as IL they had been gentlemen;
In which case. to be sure, they would not
have run in and out at all, but would have
brought in their drink with them II they
must have It, and taken 1t out OF the bottle
In their seats. A drunkard may still have
g"entlemanlike attributes. There is hope for
him that he may reform. But a man who
will rise up three or four times in the
course of a play Of ordinary length and make
a whole row of his fellow creatures rise up
also to let him out that he may drink some
thing alcoholic and come back to suffocate
his neighbors with the fumes t~hereof-such
a man is beyond the pale of all but divine
mercy. He is practically one who does not
so much interrupt the play by going out
for drinks as he interrupts the steady flow
OF his drinks by dropping In to see the play
while the bartender rests. Possibly with
out being aware of 1t, a man who cannot sit
through a four-act play without a drink is
pretty far gone. He ought to take the cure
or put himself under restraint. He is an
insufferable nuisance, which by its con-
tinued and unregulated existence gives the
female wearer of big hats to declare with
some show of truth. I'm a lady, l am, and
l don't care who knows it."
The drop curtain at one of the local houses
was painted by a resident artist of no small
skill and a reputation in his art consider
ably wider than the city limits. For pres
ent purposes he may be called John Smith.
He Is a man not learned in the ancient
tongues, though a handy man with the brush.
Wherefore, when he came to sign the cur
tain in question. desiring to make use OF
the familiar skeleton of the Latin word
pinXit, he boldly set down John Smith,
p. X. T."-flling the abbreviation full of
periods. The signature as 1t stands has
been a stumbling block to many who, like
the painter, have not been sufficiently in
structed in the dead languages or have for
gotten their Latin.
1t formed a topic of discussion the other
night for several people who were attend
ing the theater in question. Only one could
offer a satisfactory explanation of the ini-
tials. He thought the X might stand for
e." in which case the whole inscription
might be read, John Smith, Painter and
Trimmer"
Thomas w. Keene, the tragedian, is con-
| sidered one of the most entertaining takers
in the profession. He has a wonderful
memory of incidents in his career On the
| stage and whenever he meets a party of
| friends he is apt to indulge in story telling
| and "reminiscences. Not long since, while
he was being entertained, he was asked by
| one of his friends what incident in his stage
| career impressed him most. He replied:
81 think the one that most indelibly
| stamped itself upon my memory happened
at the time | was playing an engagement
| at what is now known as Robinson's opera
| house, in Cincinnati, at the time when the
late Bob Miles was the manager. At this
! time President Garfield was on his death
bed. The theater was crowded, and | was
playing Richard III Just as l had spoken
the line, How awful is this gloom in the
tent scene, Miles whispered from the wings,
Garfield is dead l Immediately rose from
my haunted couch. Invested myself sud
denly of the character, and walked to the
footlights. l said solemnly, Ladies and
| gentlemen. the president is dead. The audi
once is dismissed. Please go out quietly
There was not a word spoken by anyone in
the audience that l heard. and everybody
departed as I had requested them. Ere
0uent comments were made at the time, and
| have often Deen neaTu Slnce inc inciueul, On
the singular and appropriate expression
which | used in my lines Immediately pre-
ceding the announcement of Garield's
death"
Eleanor Moretti. whose performance of
Roxy in "Pudd'nhead Wilson" is well re-
membered in this city. has been engaged
by Manager Harley to create the leading part
in F. Marion Crawford's DIR. Claudius,"
which is to be produced by {. NJ. and Joseph
Holland at the Fifth Avenue theater, New
York. Arnold DAILY, the Chambers Of the old
try his hand at creation" having been
| selected to originate the part Of Jack Manley
in the new play, John Bradley's Money"
which will be produced next week.
Coming Events
Thomas w. Keene will play a brief en-
! gagement at Boyd's theater, beginning next
Tuesday evening. He will no doubt be
| cordially welcomed. Charles B.. Hanford, a
| popular young tragedian, who was formerly
with Booth and Barrett, is associated this
season with Mr.. Keene in the dual capacity
of leading man and manager. The union
of tho professional interests of these two
tragedians Is a combination similar to that
in which the lamented Booth and Barrett
were joint stars. Mr.. Keene and Mr.. Han
ford have received very cordial recognition
! and generous financial support. Mr.. Keene
| a kil ~ blNh ms NiSabSlilNAAl VII
Richard H." This is the play in which
he made his debut as a Shakespearean star
ct the Boston theater many years ago, and
with which he has ever since been indenti-
fed. He is by many regarded as the only
Richard on the American stage, and as the
Richard of Shakespeare. Mr.. Hanford will
| appear as Richmond. Shakespeare's tragedy,
"Othello," will be given at the Wednesday
matinee. Mr.. Keene will appear in the title
role and Mr.. Hanford as Iago. Julius
| Caesar" will be given Wednesday evening.
1t has been several years since Mr.. Keene
| appeared in this play, Mr.. Hanford will
| appear as Marc Antony, a character In VIII n
he won distinction with Booth and Barrett.
An elaborate production of this great his
toric tragedy Is announced, and as the play
has not been seen in this city for seve,ll
| years, its presentation by Mr.. Keene WI
no doubt attract more than ordinary in
terest and a large audience. The staging
of the play is said to be worthy OF the
| highest communication.
The Woodward Theater company will be
the drawing card at the Creighton for two
weeks, opening with a matinee today, at
which Struck Cas- will be presented.
arabian Nights will be tonight's bill.
The program will be changed at each per-
Torrance, The company. it is said, has
been both enlarged and improved since 1t
was last seen here and the repertory in
cludes a number of new plays. Edison's
improved magniscope will be introduced as
a special feature at each performance, a
series of new pictures being presented.
paul Dayent' viii be the Tuesday bill.