The times., 1898-11-06
TINY TALKS.

Some little time ago Tim Murphy. who
was then appearing in .Old Innocence
startled the theatrical world and some
portion of the outside clement bye an
nouncins that he proposed to change hts
name to Wilkes Barrie. II seemed incon
ceivable that man who had. by dint o.
hard labor. made a reputation for him
self should -of his own accord drop the
coSnomen that distinguished him from
the rest of creation for one unknown and
unhonored- A great deal of talk came OF
the matter and then it died out complete
ly But The Times critic mad some Gu
riosity to know the why and wherefore
of the matter and so approached the star
upon the subject one afternoon last week
when that individual was standing in
front of the Columbia Theater. 1T may
seem strange to you. said Mr.. Murphy.
but that rumor started in a joke. A
friend and / were discussing the proba-
biiity of "a rose by another name smell
ing as sweet one evening, and both of US
agreed that the flower in question was
not fair criterion. The gentleman to
whom / was speaking remarked that my
own handle did not look well on a bill
board. and that there were any number
of people who would glance at my ad-
vertisements. make up their minds that
/ was an Irish song and dance artist and
then stay away. He thought that a
change would result to my pecuniary If
not to other advantage. The suggestion
touched my sense of humor and so 1 told
of it in front of the curtain that evening.
remarking carelessly that thought after
date 1 would call myself Wilkes Barrie
~fa
designated in honor Of two men known
respectively as Wilkes and Barrie. and
the idea struck me as being laughable
one. Evidently my chum-a newspaper
man-did not take It that way FOR on the
following morning his sheet printed a col
umn regarding my new name. From there
it drifted to New York, and big dailies
like the World took the matter up and
published great deal about it. The Dra-
matte Mirror got the story and from the
pages Of that weekly it went all over the
world The tale proved excellent adver-
tising. although l had never intended it
for that purpose, and had really thought
of it seriously at one time For Tim Muir
ply does put one in mind of bagpipes
and jigs. you see-twO things that would
never do for a man who asDired to high
comedy. And there is a great deal in
appearances A man named Pat Donovan
could never play Hamlet if his ability
were transcendant. Still it would have
been idiotic for me to have lightly cast
away a title which 1 had made famous
to the theatergoing public, and my con-
science does rot prick me when / inform
you that the whole story had its origin
in a jest-and not a very bright one,
either" So the Times man left and Mr.
Murphy continued in mis- efforts 10 sup
port the posts in front OF the Columbia
I'm a LITTLE late this afternoon, and
will have to hurry to get into make up BY
the time for my entrance You can talk
to me while l work. II you will You may
notice l paint a little different from
most of the profession l learned this
trick from Charles CoshTan when l sup
ported him in Philadelphia, away back
I in the early Sos First l apply layer of
wig paste and over that place any rouge
or penciling. This makes an excellent
foundation for natural appearance. 1
consider Mr.. Coghlan the greatest Eng
I lish speaking actor living today. exc pit
| ing none. Now. I'm about ready. Come
down and you can see me accomplish one
OF those changes which seem to interest
! you. There's my cue"
| And a moment later II. Resyes-Smith
was making his initial entrance as the
Hon. Arthur Partridge i've minutes
/ thereafter he stroiled out with dlSni-
fled air When past the au1ience's range
I of vision the leisurely expression left
I him. His trousers did likewise Another
| pair were snapped about him instantly.
! and he dashed wildly for the left wings.
| Here another attendant assisted him mt
/ a coat. third put a golf cap over his
/ ewes and a fourth turned his necktie
/ around and applied a monocle - his e. c
| Seven seconds after the exit of the Hon
/ Arthur Partridge Alfred Partridge en-
tered with a marvellous appetite- 10 ue-
YOUR the breakfast prepared for his long
distance cousin. After his next exit, Mr
Reeyes-Snaith had an opportunity TO tax
for moment.
made" he said. They are the result OF
long and persistent rehearsal ana STUDY
Take. for example. my cravats, which ap-
near to be a source of wonder to the or
,iinarv audience You see they are double
faced-the ties l mean-and are fastener
about my throat with an elastic band
When come off. l simply turn the DO"
and have another. See2 Looks sinp4e'
but three weeks were consumed IN m
venting the plan. Actually, laid awake
for twenty-one nights thinking how to
| make these changes of raiment without
resortine 10 the use of the trick clothes
in vogue among vaudevillians- MY at
fire consists of good, substantial gar
ments. such as one would wear on the
street cut loosely to be sure. as Is an
English apparel. l simply tear nysell
out of one suit and dash into another'
then sprint for the next entrance ms MS
isn't nv real line of work. do straight
Darts generally. There's my cue again
AMI Arthur or Alfred? Is my necktie
rod or gray? Red? I'm Alfred Good
by
. Saws Ezra Kendall: 81 have an ide'
that money could be made in this cit!
with a vaudeville house of bette
class. The speciality artist has come U
: stay. his labor having reached ootn IL
b;rhest and its lowest value, and Wash
: inrton should be an ideal place in wnicl
TO introduce some of the methods ina
have been so successful IN New horh
Boston and Philadelphia The manage
5 who tried 1t here would have TO posses
5 plenty of nerve and should be abe Z
t bring only the best of attractions L.adie
. and gentlemen not only will not stan
: coarseness and yuigarity in an act. fu
5 the performer must have sufficient lie
= hnement and intelligence to interest tner
: and will not be injured by little educl
= tion in the bargain. One can't olam
0 audiences for refusing to listen to a lbs
: barous use of the language. and II a mis-
( | placed seen or an outrageous mistAS
Z | in pranounciation viii keep them ava
= care must be exercised IN the se!ectio
: of entertainers There may be b
more ploue in the matter than sensitive
ness. too. as l have often. thought Ce'
: taiuIy a college-bred man can derive n
comfort from seeing an ignoramus draH
a inc slO0 A week for a few minutes wor