Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-02-03

specal Correspondence cf Gazette and Journal
New York, Jan. 2S.--The New Yorker is
distinctly loyal. He makes for himself GER
tain traditions and adheres to them. Ger
tain streets, certain manners certain drives
and, most positively, certain theatres are
given the stamp OF his approval and from
that time on are recognized. 4 first night
at one of the approved theatres means, If
you are in the audience, the seeing not only
OF properly presented play, but OF Won
derful gathering OF people. Probably one
II the best first nights OF the season is that
which introduces the stock company at the
Empire theatre. la the first place. it is a
theatre admirably adapted, by its back
ground and drapings OF deep crimson, TO
bring out the gay Costumes and to intensity
the bright faces Of the fair sex. Women
understand this and eagerly accept an ~
vltation to be one of the audience. There
is always certain to be present at a first
night not only the fashionable but the
artistic set as well. There will be all Of the
critics, from Hillary Bell, with bis classic
face and silvery bair in Il periec, evening
get up, down to Willie Winter, with his sad
face, disarranged coltIure and duwdy np.
pearance. Each one knows that first
night at the Empire will mean inspiration
to his pen. Then the writers turn ou,-the
writer alike Of books, of editorials, as
well as OF plays. There is Bronson Howard,
who wrote ''Aristocracy," little man, keen
looking and with an air of brightness about
him that is wonderfully suggestive OF a
contented life. Why should he not be con-
tented2 He has been successful and his
wife the sister of Charles Wypdham. the
English actor, us she talks to him, proves
by her animation that he has beside him
always an interesting companion. There is
David Belasco, to whom we owe the "Heart
of Maryland" and many another good play
He looks like a Catholic priest of Spanish
"a HSn Nu Al IA. No Sc q,
deep student, but when a smile comes over
his face one wonders whether, after all, he
is not only happy boy of 20. Another
successful playwright certain to be at the
Empires first night il Madeline Lucetle
Ryley. Tiny of build, fair Of coloring and
dautily dressed, she is . living contradiction
of the idea that woman writer must be
ordinary to look upon and untidy in appear
ance.
How the fashionable women are dressed /,
There is scarcely u bonnet to he seen any
where. Brilliant bandeauX of Jewels flash
from acknowledgements heads, tiny aigrets
of feathers stand up high in the air, but the
big hat is ostracized. Never ut any time in
the history of dress, since the days of the
grand Louis, was there such richness, and
Tonight it seems as if every woman had put
on her finest frock, her richest laces, her
most elegant furs and then flashed all her
jewels upon the eyes of the lockers on so
them. Soon it is time for the curtain to go
up. Then there is silence, for this is d poitc
audience. There is time to look at the title
on the programme, "rhe Conquerors. =
What does this mean? Up, with Il certain
solemnty, rises the heavy curtain and
there before you is the picture that tells
what the name means. Have you seen the
picture before? 1t is the interior OF II great
French castle. The furniture, belonging 10
an era gone by, is magnificent in its an.
tiquity. Correct in every detail, all about
the room are various bits that tell of the
walls hang old family portraits; but, alas
though the castle is French, though the
pictures on the wall are those OF the old
French noblesse, yet sitting at the tables
drinking and smoking are the German con.
querors. Playing on the beautiful French
piano Is young unlan, who is singing. not
home pretty French chanson, but "Wein
Wefb nnd Gesang." The faces on the wall
have been made ridiculous by the chalk
held in the hand of an enemy. A French
duke has modern high hat put upon him
and holds in his arms an angry cat. A lady
of the time of Nine. De Pompad0ur is deco
rated with Whiskers and displays at Z
ridiculous angle tiny parasol. So the
mighty have fallen. After the first ap
plause few lines are said, and suddenly
there rusnes on the stage big, dashing
handsome German to protest because Ii,
cannot do as he wants, and he wants tt
make playhouse of the French chanel
Not a second elapses before the house i
filled with sincere applause. 1t is to vel
come Faversham, the Young, dislinuul
leading man of the company.
scarcely have the echoes died and he ba
just finished bowling his ACKNOWLEDGMENT
when IN from the rooms of the conuleret
there comes gentle priest, and then the ap
plause begins again, this time for Crompton
and somebody in the audience says with al
affection that all the audience feels, civ
an extra hand for dear old Crompton,u Soot
tiny creature, quantity dressed with he
falr hair arranged in stiff curls appears
who before she has time to enter her com
plant or can tell that a Frenchman, even i
ne We're the conaueror, would not take til
pet oil a lady, or can beg for The return o
her trained squirrel is looking into the eve
OF the audience, and everybody is LAUGHING
and clapmng and smiling u welcome agail
and again to liza Conquest, the clever it'll
soubrette who has the wonderful art o
never over or under acting her part. Their
is deal of ENTHUSIASM kent bncH, thOuvh ii
this great audienCe-this audience whict
represents all that is best in New York o
wealth and brains-and in time the applaus
that II has been holding for her welcomes
slender bit of u girl who advancing to pro
test with dignity, against the insults show
her family, and who stands confessed to th
friendly people before her, NOT only n
Mile. DE Grandpre, but also as Viola Allen
remembered as little child who has beef
trained by the best actors we ever have ha
r-BOoth and JefTerson-who never makes
mistake, and whose name-and to me an,
many another this is most beautiful-is n
pure aud free from the black touch q
scandal rs the snow when it first falls from
TIE heavens above. The applausesnrges Xix
the waves of the ocean. The "ction of IN
play is stopped, for the New Workers kno,
ana appreciate not only the clever actress
not only the talented woman, but tn
charming girl, and it is to her that they M
offering their tribute. A little later vine
the story IS Older, there stands upon til
stage figure clothed in the dress ola Rreto
peasant girl--that wonderfully picturcsati
get up. The face is tragic one expressive
and with eyes that flash wonderfully as ia
few words are said that hint OF intense fee
ing of the woman. A newcomer in thi
company-yes, but an old New York ia,
orite-handsome Blanche Walsh, wuma
in appearance, a girl in years a child of ia
city and one whom the theatre goers waite
with interest as each years improvement
noticed. Tonight she gets her greeting q
do the others,and her greetings seem TO sax
1--WE are glad to see you surrounded by goo
is allowed"
And so it goes on, this story of the cor
qnerors and the conquered, and there nj
the tragedy and the comedy, the scene i
death and the scene of loyemaking. nm
last of all, love triumphs over death. Br
underlying everything else there is the col
seriousness that between the people h M
audience and the people on the stage Their
Is close tie; that We on the other side a
the curtain love these stage folks We
enough and sincerely enough to wish tina
they may be successful in their work. mn
when it is all over and we drift ont into iii
wide corridors and stand chatting and wal
ing for the carriages tits inyariable Of iii
good points that we sueak herattee va l.,,,,,