The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-27
Stories of
The Stage.

Fred Du Bois, manager of "The Heart
OF Maryland" tells the following story:
j. X. Emmet was a hard man to ham
die. i remember when he was to- play
week with US in Fritz In Ireland we
received telegram from a manager In
Buffalo,where Emmett was then appear N
ing. The telegram SAID, II you want
Emmet for next week. you had better
come on here and get him i'm condition.
Our advance sale was very large, and
Mr. Albaugh told me To go ON 10 Buff
falo. find Emmet and bring himfto his
senses. SO I took the next train out
or Albany and hunted around Buffalo
until found him. He was In santta-
rum, lying in bed while some fool OF q
friend fed him whisky l sent tho
friend flying and the bottle after him.
Then Il said Joe, come along out with
me for sleigh ride He said. Fred.
I'll go you SO after the ride. when ho
was tolerably sane, i asked him IL he
was going TO fill his engagement with
us in Albany. He said: Fred. you've
Interrupted me in the midst OF a good
time, but bear you no hard feeling. I'll
play the Albany week and then--and
them
We'll. to cut long story short, Em-
met came on. and we did big weeks
business. He kept his head and con-
trolled himself. On Saturday night he
sent for me. I found him in his dress-
ing room eating peanuts Fred. have
some peanuts. he said. Help yourself,
old boy. AS / reached for the bag II
fell forward, and there behind II was q
big demijohn. Fred continued Joe,
Eav faf xx,;xb =
week out and now I'm going to finish
that good time you spoiled In Buffalo.
want you to keep the company right
here for two weeks and pay them their
salaries. Then I'll come back fit for
work again Argument was useless
with man OF Joe's temperament, 80 i
bowed my head and told him ia do a.
he asked. Directly after the Saturday
performance he disappeared. The COM
pany grew uneasy about the next stand,
but their anxiety vanished when they
/ found that they were to get their sal
aries while lying idle two weeks. At the
end of that period Emmet returned
fresh and blooming and continued hle
tour
Few actors and actresses In any line
OF the profession have as interesting
histories as Charles J. Ross and his
wife, Mabel Fenton. Ross began life
as Jockey, and, though he was con-
stant attendant at the theaters. no one
suspected that he possessed talent fot
the stage, not even Ross himself. The
discovery was made one night about Is
years ago at stag social of the New
York lodge OF Elks. Every man pres-
ent was contributing to the informal
programme, and the evenings fun had
begun to pail through too many clever
songs and recitations. A rank amateur
or a man who could do nothing at all
was needed to break the monotony. and
when some one spied the unsuspecttng
little Jockey tucked away in corner
he was jumped upon without delay as q
shining mark.
The chairman announced that Mr.
Ross would entertain" for few mos
ments. and the audience burst into ap-
| plause. They didn't know who Mr..
Ross was. but they felt sure he'd amuse
| if only because Of his expected embar-
| rassment. But Ross didn't embarrass.
| He had never attempted anything like
| an appearance before an audience. and
| he was for moment at a loss for what
| 10 do and say Then IL occurred to him
| TO give an imitation OF an actor he bad
recently seen at a Bowery theater. He
| forgot TO announce the actors name,
| but every one recognized the Imitation
at once as a splendid one of Gus Wiz
liams. They applauded in astonishment
and admiration, and Ross initiated Ed
ward Harrigan. They wouldn't let him
sit down after this, and for an hour
Ross held the floor.
All the favorites OF the day had TO be
Initiated. and Ross went through his list
until he couldn't recollect any other
actor he ever saw. The Elks said he was
the best fun they'd had in long time.
and one of them admired the boy 20
heartily he went to see Tony Pastop
about him.
Mr.. Pastor promised to awe tho
youngster chance, and he did. Ross
gave up the saddle and spur and took
10 grease paint. He dew Aped physical-
| ly as we'll as professionally. and within
| FIVE years he was standing at the top
OF his new calling. In certain bits Of hio
work he gives unmistakable evidences %
having in him the material for the MAXI
ing OF a good legitimate actor. but he
| prefers to remain in burlesque.
Mrs. Ross. or rather Miss Fenton, n .
| peculiarly gifted young woman. whose
| talents for travesty are but little b.
| hind those Of her husband. It II in her
1 aptitude for mimicl<ing voices and 60.
| centricities Of manner that she makes
her work remarkable. She is handeomo
woman, by the way. Ross 10 . striking.
/ Iy good looking man. and she II won.
derfulIy accomplished mistress OF facIa5
expression
Edward M. Bell r. at present the loods
ing man In the Frawlcy stock company
In San Francsco. OF him one Of tho