The times., 1898-09-25
PRESS AGENTS ROUND TABLE

In the theatrical business q man who
was no one yesterday may easily be a
great artist today, and IL is because of
this that many of the best-known peo-
pie on the road can tell excellent stories
on themselves. John Morgan. who will
play Storm tomorrow night in The Chris
tian.'' had a hard time of ii during his
earlier life, between ambition and reality.
While still novice his energy carried
him, however, into the desire for chance
TO do something worthy of him. But, un-
fortunately. such matters were not easily
adjusted for player who had yet much
TO do before reaching the first rung of
the ladder of fame. Mr.. Morgan had
never been especially successful in any
thing, and his record faced him every
time he began search for employment.
Newspaper notices were especially de-
manded, and he, having reached the dig
nifty Of speaking part, was unable to
produce them Finally, however, the loss
of an opportunity that would have been
a reality had he only been able to have
shown evidences of former work, made
him desperate, and he determined to man.
ufacture what he needed.
Accordingly the leading man-to-be sat
up all one night writing favorable notices
of himself and on the next day he took
them to a neighboring printer with in
struetions to strike of a hundred or So
This was done and shortly after Mr.
Morgan and his bogus bits of notoriety
visited well-knovn manager. con-
gerSattOn of some import followed and
after a brief period, the anxious actor
was asked TO leave his clippings and hie
himself to his home, there to await an
answer to his quest This he did and
spent three hours in feyerish worry re-
garding his looked-for engagement FL
nally he heard from the manager and
opened the letter with trembling fingers.
To his horror the clippings were returned
but with them a note that might mean
much-that did Mr. Morgan looked at it.
read and reread the lines. His eyes
gloated in particular over one sentence
The next time you endeavor to counter
felt newspaper notices you would do well
TO remember that such stories are print
ed on both sides of the shetland rest
ed there. And now, distant as the in
cident is, the player says he never eats
pickles without the fear of awakening in
the night from dream of the minutes
following that experience.
Creston Clarke's press agent is telling
al dAAA5lIS SltTg OF an adventure ne
had the other day in a theater in which
his star was appearing. Two girls were
sitting directly ahead of him busily en-
gagged in munching chocolates and talk
ing over various and sundry beaus Fin
ally, however the attention of the older
was turned 10 curtain swinging from
the proscenium. It was fire-proof af-
fair and across its surface was painted
picture of an old hunting scene with
q
That represents Asbestos" said one.
so 1 see replied the other and then,
after a moments silence she remarked,
Say, Anne, who was Asbestos
Anne turned aside with a look of in
dignant scorn- Asbestos" she answer
ed Kate, L thought you knew that
Why, Asbestos was a Greek god" And
they returned to their chocolates.
Johnstone Bennett who is at present
assuming the title role with Blaney's
Female Drummer" has features of
decidedly masculine order, and her dress
and makeup so add to this effect that
frequently she is the victim Of any num-
Der Of laughable mistakes in towns where
theatrical names are not bywords. Only
a few months ago the organization that
laid claim 10 her services played in a lit
tie Virginia village and was rewarded by
the presence OF very fair house at its
performance in hall over the hotel. Miss
Lee. who is at present the press agent
OF A Female Drummer" says that there
were nearly q hundred persons present
all of them gathered in a sort of group in
the middle Of the floor. The piece was
vociferously applaUded, Miss Bennett be-
ing especially honored, and when the f.
nal curtain had descended the audience
seemed loath TO leave. 1t made a prodi-
gous noise-numbers considered-and fl
nally succeeded in having the drop re-
lifted. And then. as the company was
standing before the house, one long-hair-
ed sorry looking giant in high top boots,
who had evidently been selected as the
spokesman for the crowd stepped to the
front. and. after hemming and having a
moment, remarked: 'Yer'n 'scuse me,
hops. folks, but this yer crowd has been
lowing one way an mother fer long
spell, an now they want me ter AK yer
ef thet young gentleman thar is er man
er a woman" Miss Lee says that il was
only after the stage manager had salts
factorily explained matters 10 his delez
cation of one that the audience left the
hall