The times., 1898-06-12

ness in 1880 as an usher in the Holiday
Street Theater, which was then control-
ed by Manager Albaugh His father had
been employed in that house for forty
TWO years and 1t was only natural that
the son should have begun I'm the same
place The old gentleman was anxious
that his boy. should know every portion
of the trade, and so, after a year in the
front of the house, Mr.. Ballauf began
work on the stage, serving his appren-
ticeship as property master. electrician
and carpenter. After a period he again
returned to the business portion of the
work and acted for time lithograph-
er, leaving this to take the clerical posi-
ton of assistant in the box office. He
then became treasurer, remaining in that
position when Manager Albaugh left the
theater to Herman and Rife.
Mr.. Balauf was afterward assigned to
duty in this city for one year but did
not reside here until 1893 when he came
from the Worlds Fair in Chicago to fil
his present office. Ridge Waller. then
treasurer of Kernans. had gone on the
road with Sam T. Jack and the vacancy
was filled by Mr.. Ballauf, who has been
located there ever since.
All of Mr.. Ballauf's family are theat-
ricaI people. Besides his father nearly all
his relatives are either intimately or dis
family connected with the stage. His
aunt. Mrs. Linton. made the first costume
ever worn by Mary Anderson. and his
wife. professionally known as 'Guerand.
is noted for her ability. She was with
Verona Jarbeau few seasons ago and
succeeded in making a great hit Nr Baul-
iauf IS also related to John T. Warde
the able local correspondent for the
Dramatic Mirror
Besides his work as treasurer Mr.. Bal
lauf has In recent years made something
OF reputation a writer of burleSques
Much of his matter is now being success
fully used. and his income from this
source Is by no means small. Next season
| he will act as manager for Fred Irwin
and VIII also devote much of his atten-
ton to outside labor. Whatever he does
and wherever he goes he has not only the
best wishes of his many friends, but their
confident expectation of his success.
Louise Douglas. a local amateur Of
! some ability. was seen all last week in the
| role formerly filled by Caroline Shirley
| in Brother John" Miss Douglas is really
clever woman, and was a great i'm
provement upon her predecessor.
Edgar Disney, formerly treasurer of
| the Grand Opera House. arrived here last
| Sunday from New York where he has
| been in the employ of Augustus PitOu-
| Mr.. Disney is we'll and favorably known
| in this city, his congenialty and affabihty
| having made him many friends. He has
| no superior in his line of work and has
achieved much since leaving Washing
! ton. Mr. Disney viii be with Mr.. Pitou
again next year, but will spend his vaca-
| ton under the shadow of the Capitol.
In next weeks cast at the Columbia
will be seen Marie Goldsmith West, a
new devotee TO Thespis. whose ability
and intelligence promise great things A
| really bright woman can do anything
| and Miss West has proved her claim 10
| that title so conciusively that those who
| know her or her work can have no doubt
| of the result of this latest experiment.
| For some years her writings have stood
/ at the top Of that class of literature in
! this city, and her special newspaper sto-
| ries have provoked widespread atten-
/ ton. They have not only been copied
| to a great extent, but have been com
| mented upon critically by journals noted
| for their high standing in such matters.
| and for their exclusiveneSs In the pros
/ pect of her appearance tomorrow night
/ may be cited the facts that she is per
! sonally very attractive. and is further
| possessed of voice and manner that
| should make her stage appearance mos
| pleasing. She has already shown consid-
/
| be little doubt OF her ultimate success.
| Mary Helen Howe. local girl whose
| talent as a singer has won her no end
| Of prominence in other cities, is spending
| a brief vacation with her father, DR.
| Frank Howe She has been IN New York
/ all this year studying music and giving
| occasional recitals that have provoked
| general newspaper cOmmendation. Pos
| sessed Of 4 voice of rare sweetness she
! has been successful in all her efforts and
| may look forward TO a brilliant future
Miss Howe has been professionally heard
with Sousas band and with the MetropoIi-
tan Opera Company.
| Now l see what is wrong with these
! people, quoth George Broderick in "Ol-
ivette," upon discovering what he
thought 10 be an insane household but
| what was really a family that had been
! deceived by his nephew's masquerading.
| Door open-full moon-last quarter-au
| moon struck"
Frank Deshon ignored the insult to his
| friends and took up what he thought 10
/ be gibe at the planet. How" he asked
| Indignantly. How could the moon get
| full on its last quarter?' And the audi
| ence found the jest 50 expressive thar il
| laughed uproariously
| Another coarse and vulgar imitation Of
! the Charmion act was presented last
week at Kernan's in the sensational turn
| of Mile Renea. This time a bath tub
| was the motive instead of a trapeze and
| If there was less art in the performance
! there was an equal amount of lewdness.
The act in itself was inane and stupid
but in the light of what it was intended to
| seem il became disgusting and revolving.
There was absolutely no daintiness or
| deiicacy about the woman's work. and
her personal appearance only aggravated
| the unpleasantness of the whole affair.
| Mile. Renea appeared earlier in the even
| ing as Kitty Clements and did a very
| creditabIe rope dance.
| come back from a six months tour of
England. has signed for next season with
Stella Beauchamp. Previous to his tour
abroad he played the Keith. Proctor and
| Moore circuits. He will spend the sum
| mer at Mount Clemens Mich.
John T. Dwyer. of the Richard Mans
| field Stock Company. has returned 10 his
home in this city for the hot months He
| is at 1915 Twenty-first Street northwest
where he will be glad to see his friends.
Cheever C. Contee. a local newspaper
man. last week obtained from Frank ]
| Campbell, author and proprietor of the
| drama, Gettysburg" which appeared at
| the Grand Opera House two weeks ago
the sum of $3.50 as a compromise for the
use Of a title copyrighted by the first
| named gentleman. Mr.. Contee claims to
| have written a melodrama of that desig-