The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-06

certain manners. certain drives, and
most positively certain theaters are given
the stamp of his approval, and from that
time OH are recognized. A first night at
one of the approved theatres means, if
you are i'll the audience, the seeing not
| only of a properly presented play, but
of wonderful gathering of people
Probably one of the best first nights of
the season is that which introduces the
stock company at the Empire Iheater
In the first place ~ is a theater adj
mirably adapted, by it's background 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
invitation 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 his classic face and silvery hair,
in perfect evening get-up, down to Will
lie Winter. with his sad face, disarrang-
ed cclffure and dOwdy appearance. Each
one knows that IL first night at the
Empire will mean inspiration to his pen.
Then the writers turn Out-the writer
alike of books, of editorials, as we'll as,
of plays. There is Bronson Howard,
who wrote "Aristocracy," a little man,
keen looking, and with an air of fright
ness about him that is wonderful sug-
geStive of a contented life. Why should
he not be contented He has been sue
cessful, and his wife, the sister of
Charles Wyndham, the English actor, as
she talks to him, proves by herr anima-
ton that he has beside him always an
interesting companion. There is David
Beasco, to whom we owe the Heart
of Maryland" and many another good
play. He looks like a Catholic priest
of Spanish descent, and suggests, while
he is quiet, the deep student, but when
smile comes over mis- face one wonders
whether. after all, he is not only a hap
py boy of twenty. Another successful
playwright is certain to be at the EN-
pire's first night $ Madeline Lucette
Ryley. Tiny of build, fair of coloring
and daintily dressed, she is a living con-
fradiction of the idea that a woman
writer must be ordinary to look upon
and untidy in appearance.
FASHION IN HE BONES.
How the fashionable women are dress
ed! There is scarcely Il bonnet to be
seen anywhere. Brilliant bandeaux of
jewels fash from beautifully dressed
heads. tiny aigrettes of feathers stand
up high in the air, but the big hat is
ostracized. Never at 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 wO-
man had put ON her finest frock, her
richest laces, her most elegant furs, and
then flashed all her jewels upon the
eyes of the loOkers-on so that every
thing might gain by contrast with them
Soon it is time for the curtain TO go
UP. Then there is silence, for this is
a polite audience. There Is time to
hook at the title on the programme.
1.-THE Conquerors.' What does this
mean! Up, with a certain Solelnnlty,
rise the heavy curtain, and there before
YOU is the picture that tells what the
name mean. Have You seen the picture
before? 1t is the interior of a great
French castle. The furniture, belonging
TO an era gone by, is magnificent in its
antiquity. Correct in every detail, all
about the room are various bits that
tell of the luxury enjoyed by gentle
women. On 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 conquerors.
Playing on the beautiful French piano
is Il young uhlan. who is singing, not
some pretty French chanson, but tWein,
Webb, und Gesang." The faces on the
wall have been made ridiculous by the
chalk held in the hands of an enemy.
A French Duke has a modern high hal
put upon him and holds in his rams an
angry cat. A lady of the time of Mime
de Pompadour is decorated with whisk-
ers and displays at a ridiculous angle a
tiny parasol. So that the mighty have
fallen After the first applause a few
lines are said, and suddenly there rushes
ON the stage q big, daShing, handsome
German to protest because he cannot
do as he wants, and he wants to make
Il playhouse of the French chapel. Not
a second elapses before the house is
filled with sincere applause. 1t is to
welcome Faversham, the young distingue
leading man of the company.
WELCOMING THE ACTORS.
Scarcely nave the ecDOeS uleu ana ne
has just finished bowling his aclznowl-
Judgements when in from the rooms of the
coquered there comes Il gentle priest.
and then the applause begins again.
this time for Crompt0n, and somebody
in the audience says. with an affection
that all the audience feels, "Give an ex-
ira hand for dear old Crompton -
Soon a tiny creature, quantity dressed,
with her fair hair arranged i'm stiff
curls, appears, who, before she has
time to enter her complaint or can tell
that a F'renchman, even III he were the
conqueror, would not take the pet of a
lady, or can beg for the return of her
trained squirrel, is looking into the eyes
of the audience, and everybody is laugh
ing and clapping and smiling a welcome
again and again to Ida Conquest, the
clever little sOubrette,, who has the Won
derful art of never over or under act
| ing her part. There is n deal of en-
Enthusiasts kept back, though, in this
great audience-this audience which rep
resents all that is best in New York of
! wealth. and brains-and in time the ap-
plause that it has been holding for
her welcomes slender bit of girl who
stands confessed to the friendly naonla