The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-03

wen remembered By her earthly adherents,
including the peculiar accent. the cigar
cite the fheoscphfst was % fond of and
the black scarf which Blaratsky habitual-
" wore about her head. This 10 the first
time that theosophy has figured seriously
IN dramatic production In this play
the theosophicai power Is used for unholy
ends. and the caricafure OF Hlavatsky Is
especially displeasing because. instead Of
adhering 10 the teachings Of the sheoSo-
ph-sts. Nine. Janauschek resorts TO the
usual stage forfune-teiling tricks. and also
serves as a diplomatic spy for Russia IN
both England and India. The theozophists
or Washington. who believe that R.ayas-
sky was a true adept. do not relish the
iconocisss manner in which the author
and star deliberately pervSrt the theoso-
phieai teachings and principles. and make
the high priestess Of thecsophy a woman
OF doubtful morals and practices. who uses
her religion a. q means for unholy ends
q q q
Mr.. George Backus tells IN amusing
story OF how q previously prepared i'm
pfomptu" speech went wrong. 's5ome
years ago 1t fell 10 my lot to play In a
orama remarkable for its advances into
the realms OF realism. 1t was called The
Dark Secret was never very proud OF
this engagement, but as IL came under the
head Of experience I tried to endure Il.
In this play We had tank OF real water
with real boats upon it--one OF them being
rowed by George Hosmer. the celebrated
oarsnan. A couple OF weeks before our
appearance In Boston Mr.. Hosmer told me
corfidensially that he would like to be pre-
pared with little speech in case his
friends should be foolish enough to
call upon him on his first appearance In
his native city as an actor. Couldn't
write out few remarks and teach him
how TO repeat them impromptu-like? Well.
l wrote out what thought to be very
neat acknowledgment Of their kindness:
I used boating metaphors and aquatic al
legories, and each day for two weeks We
went over the speech together. BY the
time we reached Boston was quite proud
of my pupil and very we'll satisfied with
my Grafton. We opened 10 a packed house
and the enthusiasm ran high at the end
OF the third act. where Hosmer wins the
race. He was called in front Of the cur
tain and a speech demanded OF him. The
supreme moment had arrived; / stood
within hearing distance. eagerly listening
for my eloquent words to fall from his
lips. He stood for a moment staring at
the audience. and then said: Ladies' and
gentlemen-I can't maoe a speech. but IL
any OF you ducks want n ride. come up
here and Tn row you on the tank?'
q q q
The bookings at the Seattle theater for
this month are "A Stranger in New York."
THE Nancy Hanks 'Delmonico's.
at G." r. Marion Crawford. lee
turer; Frederick Warde, tragedian; Jo-
seph Holland. in THE Mysterious Mr.
Bugie:' Hoyt's "A Texas Steer" Tim
Murphy. In "old Innocence:" James A.
Herne. In Shore Acres" Jas ONeil, in
THE Dead Heart and Monte Cristo."
The bookings for Apri! at the Third Av-
enue theater are al week stands. and in
clude Town Topics" r. E. French. in
The Ensign Harry Blaney's "A Boy
Wanted company. and "A Jay In New
York." THE GALLERY GOD.