The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-10
Icopyright. 1881


Occasionally In ordinary life, for one
reason or another, person becomes dis
satisfied with his name and changes II.
sometimes by an act OF legislation, but
more often by simply deciding upon his
new designation and using and answer
ing to no other. Ladies and gentlemen
In the criminal walks of life are given to
most confusing changes OF this sort.
Literary people often take noms de
plume. and when the work of their i'm
agination has brought fame to the name
of their fancy they are eager to have
their identity known. No class is more
generally given to assuming imaginary
names for professional uses than the
people OF the stage. but unlike the
knights of the pen they seem willing
that their original identity should re-
main permanently unknown.
| A list OF stage names that are as
sumed would almost amount to the
atrical directory. They are the rule
rather than the exception. In London
/ knew a stage carpenter named Brown
who, when at work behind the scenes in
his shirt sleeves and overalls. was
known as Brooks. and his wife. a very
/
| ing. sewing and keeping the general
| wardrobe in repair. while enveloped in
the histrionic atmosphere OF patched
tights. musty fauberks and court dress
es in the large storeroom under the
stage was known by the nom de theater
! of Hiss Mabel Mossgrove. The man who
looked after the baggage and properties
OF a company was with a few seasons
ago was known TO history as Browning,
while in private life his name is Cham
berlain.
OF course 1t is the artists whose names
come before the public who set the ex-
ample to those worthy IL less famous
servants of Thespis. Assistant POST
master Conlon, in charge of Station ",
Brooklyn, is brother of the late w. j.
Florence, as Is also ex-Superintendent
OF Police Conlon of New York city. John
T. Raymond was born O'Brien, but he
went to the trouble of making his
change OF name matter of state legis-
lation. The late Frank Mayo's name was
Mcclure, and his son Edwin. finding the
name his father honored for so many
years a valuable heritage, has no
thought OF changing it.
The third husband OF Lillian Russell
(who was born Leonard) was Signor
Perugini. whose name is Chatterton.
When Charles Dickson. the light come-
dian. was starring a few seasons ago.
his brother. a Mr.. Doblin, was his finan-
cial manager, and another brother, Sam
Dougherty, was his property man.
Charles Dickson's wife is Miss Lillian
Burkhardt.
Maurice Barrymore did not assume
that very picturesque stage name in or
n l. T. L. u
Alfred Klein, De Wolf Hopper's genial !!
little comedian, because Alfred is not /
his brother. although the name of both
is Klein. Alfred Is a brother of Charles |
Klein, the successful playwright, and |
playwrights seldom change their names, |
although c. M. S. Mcclellan calls him.
self on the bills Hugh Morton.
Two sisters, Anna Belmont and Kath-
ryn Ostermann. were members OF the
same company last season.
Selma Delaro, n burlesque actress
who came to this country long years
ago. had a name that seemed desirable
to three different women in the same
line OF stage work. One of them. whose
maiden name was Smith, changed IL to
Hattie Delaro. The other two. whose
family names / do not recollect. are
known to stage history respectively as
Dickie Delaro and Elma Dearo. A GU
rious fact concerning these ladies is
that all three, including the original
Miss Smith, married men OF the name
Of Smith, so that, preserving harmony
Of taste i'm the matter of names to the
md, the three Misses Delaro became the
three Mrs. Smith.
Colonel T. Allston Browns History OF
he American Stage" published in 1870.
begins a short biography of the late
.ewrence Barrett in this way: Barrett,
lawrence p. Right name Larry Branni-
ran. born in New York in 1885," etc.
rhis was an unintentional injustice to
dr. Barrett, whose real name was Bar
EFT, and as he was man whose sense
Il personal dignity amounted to
the publication OF this error.
which has been often copied since. pain
d him deeply. IL came about In this
ray: When Colonel Brown was compiI-
ng his history. he sent blank forms to
II the actors whom he wished TO men,
ion in his book, asking them 10 fill out
hese blanks with the important facts
Z their personal or professional history
nd return to him. These forms were
ent tO the different theaters through
ut the country at which the actors ad-
ressed were at that time engaged. The
ne intended for Barrett must have fall
n into the hands of some o'aF with
rievanoe against the prcdd ,.'agedian.
Yr II was returned 90 rolone. Brown
18th the biographical nOti,e that subse-
ucntiy appeared I'm his book. Beyond
be Larry Brannigan" part OF IL the
kctch was a truthful and not uncom-
limentary summary OF Barrett's histo-
y up 10 that period, and 80 aroused no