Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-02
STORIES OF THE STAGE.

STORIES OF THE STAGE.
Hassler tells good story connected
with his very first night, his introduo-
| ton ito the mysteries Of the theatre.
| He had listened with open ears and
palpitating heart to many stories OF the
stage and descriptions of the men and
women to be seen there and the Won
deTs OF the shifting scenes told by his
father at the family board.
Che neyer-tO- be-forgotteQ day his
father promised to take him to see a
great actor. He was told in the Ian
guage Of the day that the chief actor
was to take benefit, and in conse-
quence something unusual was to be
| expected. The play was then very pop
ular. lJ was king Richard Ill"
which young Hassler was solemnly and
impressively informed was the very
greatest piece written by William
Shakespeare.
The tedious hours at last wore away
and the lad found himself in front Of
the fcotltghts Gu a stool near his IA
theirs chair In the orchestra. 1t is IN
necessary to attempt to describe the
wonder and delight Of the scene to the
eyes of Simon. He soon became con-
WINGED CT the identity of the chief char
acter in the play. He was no other
than the elder Booth, in the very full
ness Of his power.
Having satisfied himself Of this, ST.
mo- wirh characteristic desire to see
the material as well as the romantic
features OF the programme, began TO
lcck cut for that special feature which
his father had described to him as "the
benefit" He kept his eyes open to
catch the moment and 10 see the thing
when the great actor was to take his
benefit, but he could not make up his
mind that the time had arrived until
the scene opens in which Richard ap-
pears in all his kingly robes. surround
ed by his court and holding a beautiful
staff, all giided and beTibboned, which
made great impression upon the boy.
The staff was the kings scepter.
This, then, was the time and the
thing, but to make assurance doubly
sure Simon plucked his fathers sleeve
and asked with an anxious voice: "Fa-
Their, is th5t the benefit ne was going
to take? It's fine"
When Booth was told the story, he
laughed and remarked, for the receipts
had not pleased him, II guess 1t was
worth as much as the real benefit got
out Of the performance"
If the United States is to keep Ma
Mia, he musical talent there may be of
use in raising the average of our stand
ing as a nation, at least in musical mat
t'etS! A correspondent in that country
writes:
no 9 lover of muse Manila is a charm
:ig place. The natives have wonderful
tnusicai talent, ana there are numerous
bands. Those of the three reg rents sta
Eioned here in 1882 were remarkably good
and four afternoons each week they play
ed in turn on the Luneta, a sort 81 plaza
on the shores Of the bay, just outside the
old walls Nrecall vividly the open air
concert given M homo of Prince oscar of
Swef3en. The g3orlous full moon of the
tropics, far brighter than in more north
ern lands, shining on the quiet waters of
the bay: tie innumerable lights, the bril-
liantly 4ressed crowd and the thrilling
muse of the mighty bands combined TO
make it an occasion 10 be long remember
ed. The Battle of Castallejps which
they played was inspiring, and the eff act
was heightened by the repetition of the
trumpet calls by soldiers who. We're sta
toned al intervals far off upon the plains,
while the guns of the city walls added
touch of realism"
When Macready was an actor manager,
he produced at his theatre a piece called
The Spy" the early acts of which show
q it must prove a failure. So when at
certain point a character had to rush on
and shout. Eve hundred pounds for the
spy!" the autho" actor, who was con-
cealed behind a rock arose and cried: IT'S
yours-cOpyrigh manuscript and parts!'
That was the end of the performance.
Bismarck preferred the music of Bee
thoven to that of any other composer. AS
for Richard Wagner. he said late in life;
Yes I knew Wagner but it was impos-
sible for me to care for him. AT breakfast
and lunch, at dinner, every moment Wag-
her demanded admiration. He would be
first. l found myself too busy for that
As to hearing music, now l have to give
that up. 1 cannot get the melodies out
of my head, and, too, music soon brings
tears to my eyes, and it tires me to be
so much moved"
Miss Effie Shannon, Mr. Herbert Kel-
cey's partner in The Moth and the
Flame is on record with q preference
for playing adventures on the stage She
recently said to an interviewer: Il think
we make a mistake. with all our splendid
realism on the American stage, in our
idea of an adventures. She is always a
bold woman who wears a red dress Now
a real adventures never looks like that
at all. She IS more apt 10 be delicate and
innocent looking. We know that it is so
now, and l am sure it has always been
so. Once newspaper man told me-and
newspaper men know everything, you
know-that the wickedest woman he ever
met with in his experience was a little
blond with baby face and the babiest of
blue eyes. No one would invite the ad-
ventures we put on the stage into
drawing room. You know her the minute
you see her. She couldn't deceive a boy"
FOOTLIGHT GOSSIP.
Loie Fuller is in France.