davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

ana journalist before he finally
abandoned all thought OF other work
and gave himself up to music. He
began to study, as Jean de Reske did,
to sing baritone roles, and 1t was not
until he had devoted himself to work
for some time that it was discovered
that he possessed tenor voice. 1t was
through chance meeting with Jules
MasSenet at a musicale that he took
up music as a profession. Even before
the Wagner performances in Paris led
to Van Dyck's success there. he and
Massenet were intimate friends, and
for that reason the French composer s
operas found as nearly as congenial a
home In the Imperial Opera House OF
Austria as they did in Paris. Indeed,
one of them was sung in Vienna before
Paris heard it. Another French singer
the other day called attention to his
musical preparation for the stage. This
was Jean Note. who leaped on train
of cars that were running down an in
cline, with the certainty Of colliding
with an approaching express, got access
to the brake, and prevented a serious
accident by his bravery. More aston
ishing even was the physical strength
he showed. That was understood,
however, when it was explained that
he had long been a machinist and was
noted as one Of the strongest men in
the shops before he discovered his voice
and became a baritone.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

~. but. ~ his neglect 10 secure Am,
erican copyrights Rpstand cannot
draw 50 much from "Cyrano." Rich
ard Mansfield, who manages himself,
is making at least 5000 week out Of
sCyranu. y
Adolf link Of the Iiliputians, has
brought his family, consisting of faith
er, mother, two sisters and brother,
over to this country, and has bought
them a house at Fordham He an
nounces his intention of becoming an
American citizen and voting the Demo-
cratic ticket.
There is a plan on foot for an call
star" cast of "Erminie" to play the
large cities next April on the same plan
as the big success OF two years ago
with "The Rivals" Pauline Hall, now
singing in vaudeville, is booked for Err
MIME; Francis Wilson will play Cad
eau and De Wolf Hopper the opposite
comedy part. Barnabee. of the Bos-
tonians, and Frank Daniels are also in
the cast, and Janauschek has also con-
sented to play part; Francis Wilson
is engineering the scheme.
Sarah Bernhard designs her own
costumes and they are almost invaria-
bly, of inexpensive stuffs. yet no actress
of these times arrived at such success
full effects in gowns as are achieved by
the great French woman. 1t is not
cost, it is taste that pleases the eye.
During the recent season of "The Med
der" Marie Burroughs displayed
gowns that cost a small fortune. Yet
they brought grief to the spectators.
The secret, of dress is forever conceal
ed from some women. Annie Russell
a dramatic genius, is dullard in dress
Minnie Maddern, dramatic genius
knows nothing Of the art of gowning,
Georgia Cayvan was a famously bad
dresser. SO is Viola Allen. So is Vlr-
ginia Harmed. The best dressed wom-
an that our stage has known since
Miss Dreher left it was Julia Opp, but
her gowns were designed by one OF
great cunning in taste.-Hillary Bell in
New York Press.
'Sir Andy De Bootjack," burlesque
on "Cyrano De Bergerac," was intro
duced in the second act Of in Gotham
at Roster & Balls last week. II was
an amusing twenty minute skit by
Richard, earle. Sir Andy was played
bv Richard Carl and Rosiana Reehan
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

Marie Jansen will make her vaude-
vile debut tomorrow.
J. H. Barrie is to dramatic George
Meredith's Evan Harrington"
Stephen Grattan has joined AL
baugA'z Baltimore Stock Company.
Z. H. Sothern will produce The
Kings Musketer" in Philadelphia on
November IS.
Companies that have gone to pieces
include Williams and Walkers Sene-
gambian Carnival and The Purser"
Miss Yaw, the vocalist. with voice
of record-breaking range, has altered
her name to Yew for her London ap-
psar2Ece.
Attalte Claire, the opera singer, is
about to sue for absolute divorce from
her husband, Dr.. Alfred kayne, on
statutory grounds.
Mansfield settles the problem author
itatively by proaouncing ''CyraRo" as
though il was spelled Sirrano, with the
accent placed squarely On the first
syllable.
William Courtleigh has replaced
Robert Hilliard in Sporting Life"
The latter is in vaudeville. playing
the "Littlest Girl"
Nine. Ristori, the great italian ac-
tress, whose Elizabeth and Mary
Stuart and Medea and Larry Macbeth
electrified the country in 1895, is lying
critically in at Rome.
Louis Baudet, who is playing the
French girl in The Belle Of New
York" used to pose as q t-agedienne in
the company Of Daniel Ba-dnan, the
German Tragedian. She married
Randman and played Ophelia and other
roles
Clyde Fitch ard Charles Frohnan
have signed a ccn-1'.t whereby tire
next play upon witch Fitch is to set
to work IS 70 be produced by Julia Mar
love. Il WIKI probably be ready fer
the star the beginning Of next season
Potter earned sSe.000 from .'Tril
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

IL arrangements can be made with out
o3-t0wn managers with whom Mr..
Mansfield Is already booked he viii
not only be able to remain at the Gar
den theatre during this season, but well
into the next The play is a gem, which
while one highly appreciates upon a
first visit, increases markedly in bril-
lance with the lapse Of time; its beau
ties cannot all be grasped in the three
hours and half required for it's pre-
sentation.
Mansfield has achieved the most
marked success of his career with "Cy-
rano de Bergerac." He has made a
number of pecuniary failures in his
time, but in this case the happy con-
junction of artistic and financial sue
cess is no more than Americas greatest
actor richly deserves.
There are few weak spots in the cast
of "Cyrano de Bergerac' as presented
by MIR. Mansfield, and while outside OF
the star and Miss Anglin there is no
one whose work is worthy Of especial
mention there is likewise no one whose
performance is sufficiently common
place to merit unfavorable criticism for
marring the magnificent tout ensem-
ble."
It seems almost superfluous to at
tempt to tell the story Of 'Cyrano de
Bergerac" The hero is a Gascon who
is a member of the famous cadets. He
is a philosopher as well as roisterer,
a. man who jests while his soul is
teeming with sentiment, a fellow who
Jokes even while death has his icy
grasp upon his throat. Brilliant to a
degree with a voice which cannot be
resisted by ordinary mortals and with
an aptness of expression that makes
his tongue as much to be feared as his
sword, he might be considered NOR
tai to be envied were it not for the
fact that he is afflicted with an abso-
lutely impossible nose, at which the
people laugh in private, though they
dare not express their ridicule where it
will reach the owner Of the aforeald
generous proboscis.
CyTano has a cousin, the beautiful
Roxane, with whom he is madly in
love, but keenly sensitive as he is to
his deformity, he does not nope that
any woman-much less RoXane-will
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

certain to shine prominently in the
American theatrical armament as day
is to follow night. Miss Angiin is a
Canadian who a few yea S ago was the
ingenue, and a little later tie leading
woman with Charles RohlfS, who was
at the time starring in the Leaven-
worth Case" and MERCHANT OF Venice"
Her work at this time gave promise OF
better THINGS, but even her warmest
admirers did not dare hope that the Op-
pOrtunity would ever be given her TO
demonstrate what really marvellous
actress she is. Her reading Of the lines
allotted to Roxane is delightful, and
practically without flaw. Her voice is
peculiarly pleasing and her gestures are
natural TO q degree not 10 be looked for
in one whose stage experience has been
so limited. She can be sympathetic
without whining, and intense without
ranting. No theatrical gasps ever es-
cape her as a substitute for emotion;
the face shows that without resort to
such time worn devices.
But to return to the play. A certain
manager has announced that he VIII
send half a dozen companies On the
road at once to present Rostand's
drama. MIR. Manseld, however, need
feel no alarm. "Cyrano de Bergerac'
is possible to but one man in this coul-
try. ard that man is Richard Mansfield.
There is no other actor on the Ameri
can stage who can even begin TO sug-
gest the possibilities of the character
as they are so fully developed by Mr..
Mansfield. The swashbucyler, the roist-
ering Gascon, the poet. the self sacri-
fcing friend the lover, the philosopher
and the brave man at the moment when
the final summons arrives all are p0T-
trayed by him in the most positive col-j
ors with nothing left undone which
should be done and nothing done which
should be left unG0ne.
To sum up. it is no exaggeration to
say that "Cyrano de Bergerac" is the
sensation of the present generation, and
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

While we have been commencing the
Englishman, we have somehow or 9TH
er come to overlook the genius who is
one OF us. Mansfield has never made
production which was not as care
fully and, when the occasion demanded,
as deliberately staged as any thing that
Irving has done, and in "Cyrano de Ber-
gerac" there is some stage management
which l do not believe has ever been
ex elled. at least in my day and gener-
alton. When the Sake Meiningen COM
pany came 3ver here. bringing their
supeIs so that the production of Jul
ius Caesar" might not be marred by an
uadrilled mob, saw the play with the
idea T. st there would be a revelation
in the war OF stage management, but
in my humble otinion it cannot be COM
pared with Manstield's handling of the
crowds in "Cyrano de Bergerac" in the
scene at tie theatre in the hotel AMI
during the battle with the Spaniards at
Arras.
"Cyrano de Bergerac" is one of the
few plays ever given in New York in
which large and moving events are
made to appear like bits taken from
real life The slightest detail is work
ed out in the Man~1eld production as
carefully as the business Of the princi-
pal performer, and it is to this phase
of the representation as we'll as tt the
excellent work done by Mr.. Mansfield
and his assistants in the rendering of
the lines of the gifted author, that the
marvellous success achieved by the play
may be attributed.
The history of "Cyrano de Bergerac"
before it was attempted in England is
almost as interesting as the story Of
the play itself. It was produced at the
Porte St Martin theatre. Paris, Decem-
her 2S, 1897. with Coquelin in the title
role. On the morning of December 20,
1897. Edmond Rostand. the author, was
famous, and Coquelin had added an
ether to his long list of triumphs.
About six months later the same actor
took his production intact to London,
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

tire act he shows the art that Is g.
an Unborn spirit Miss Adelaide rxi
who plays the leading female ID
Marco. is well known throughout r
entire country as an actress OF e.
abiiity. Brought up in the school
tne famous Augnstin DAILY, she has
veloped into one of the leading actr6S
es Of the American stage. C0mbiIII
with her art Miss Prince has a Dear5
natural in the extreme, that CANNOT
surpassed. Tall, fair, handsome, 4
Is picture that one would rememh
Tor all time. Her gowns, made esp&
Tally for this production, are Deyol
description. Mir. Clarke will prese
The Last of His Race Saturday eve
ing, and "Ruy Bias at Saturda1
matinee.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

Arthur Crispin Reviews Mansfield's Production Of
sCyrano de Bergerac.''

where it was presented-of course in
French. Henry irving had meanwhile
secured the English rights for the
United Kingdom; but, possibly discour-
aged by his recent non-successful ven
lures in production during the past
winter, he was according to report,
about to give it UP, when Coquelin ar
rived upon the scene. His success in
the British capital caused Mr.. Irving
to change his mind.
Mr. Mansfield had read of the won
derful play, and he succeeded in Sc
curing the American rights, but not I'M
til after it was toe late for the author
to protect himself under the copyright
law in this country. A number Of Eng
lish TRANSACTIONS had already been
made, and they were public property,
so far as the United States was con-
cerned. Mansfield, however, determin-
ed to keep faith with the author and to
send him his royalties as they became
due, an agreement which ne has relig-
iously kept, as in fact he does all OF his
undertakings.
Augustin Daily had one of the trans
vi SyIduO Qc del anu liz
announced that he would produce it at
an early date. AS a matter of fact he
did produce it in Philadelphia on the
night that it was first made public in
New York by Mr.. Mansfield, and
whereas, as has been stated, the latter
created 3 veritable sensation here, Mr..
Days presentation Of the piece has
been received in a not-over- thusias-
tic manner, despite the advantage
which he at first blush appears to have
in the possession Of Miss Rhean, to
whom was of course assigned the role
of Roxane, the heroine of the play.
This advantage, however, IS not SO
marked a one as every one had a right
to believe it would be-
Mr.. Mansfield has as his leading wo-
man Miss Margaret Anglin, who is as
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

by Rishard Carl and Rosiana Rcehan
by Miss Josephine Hall. Augustin
Dooley (Mr. Lang, and R!shard Mans
cid CMr Guise), were also introduced
any one familiar with "Cyrano' can
extract considerable amusement from
the burlesque 1t is a persihage on
the first three acts Of Rostand's play,
doggerel being substituted for the
stately Alexandrine's of the original.
Both Mr. Daily and Mr.. Mansfield are
introduced as characters and side hits
are made at Mr. Days version Of the
play. Miss Josephine Halls make
up is intended to resemble Miss Re-
han, but she acts and sings like Sister
Mary Jane" Sir AEdy's nose is play
fully referred to as an awning.
Mansfield is first and last an i1rle-
fatigable worker He has absolutely
no use for the popular actor about
town. who does everything but re-
hearse. who can remember and repeat
irnumerable good st2ries. but always
forgats his lines; who goes to suppsrs
ard clubs when he ought to be study
ing rev part by the light of a candle
with a wet towel round his head. Per-
haps Mir. Manifold goes little too far
in this respect. He is always ready to
denounce with some vehemence such
Institutions as ''The Players" and "The
Lambs" in New York. These clubs are
in lis eres a hare TO the profession,
thew keep a man away from his work,
ard they lead him into all sorts Of bad
/ habits. The men who sit up all night
Ell the Lambs. says the great actor.
with some truth, are always most bril-
Ner. about 3 a N. They can invent
the most original plots, conceive the
r7cs+ brilliant dialogue at that hour.
/ Put they are apt TO be late for rehearsal
in TIE morning IF You sTgue tt2t
Mr. Drew. Mt. willard. Mr.. Goodwin,
ret 10 speak Of the comic opera EXPO
merits like Mr. re Wolf Hopper. are all
lambs" men, Mr. Mansfield has q
ready answer. In the first place these
men ere not great actors, and If they
were they 90 not produce more than
ore or two plays q season. The real
actors work is neTer erdIng. ~ has
no sconer completed the creation o.
one part than It is time to begin n
another. Rehearsals every day and
performances every night leave little
tine for the lighter pleasures Of life.
Soeiabilitv and good fellowship are *
cellert things In their way, bit they
must re entirely subordinated 10 the
naia Cbiect in view.-Caica Tribune.
The previous occupations Of tencrs
are not always Of a kind that might be
thcu9lt to prepare them for the senti-
mental duties which they subsequently
have to assume. Ernest Kraus was
emploTed In a Tunish brewery before
he decided to take TO the stage. Sig
nor CeDpi was 4 strong man in va
rietv show. Salignac played the vio'in
in an orchestra. ard another fisting-
uished teaor drove cab. Pit there
was never EuroDean tenor before who
included the duties Of reDorter In
his previous career. This is true Of
| Ernst Van Dyck, who was a lawyer
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23
KILLED AT GLENDALE.

John Yenski, a Polander. employed
in the Glendale coal mines, was in]
starsly killed yesterday morning. Thd
accident occurred at about O'clock
and happened in the following manner3
YenN was engaged in shoveling th3
coal, which had been dug by the cleo
trical machine, when large stone bel
came loosened from the roof and fell
striking him directly on the head. Tho
blew was a terrible one, and the un1
fortunate man was pinioned TO the
floor. his head being badly cut. Al
soon as possible he was released from
his position, but he was unconscious,
and died before medical aid could be
summoned He was an unmarried man
and his age was about rs years.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

Richard Mansfield has made many
commendable productions in his long
and honorable career, but he has never
been connected with one which was in
any way comparable with that of
"Cyrano de Bergerac," which is the
current attraction at the Garden thea
ire. This famous play by Rostand has
created veritable sensation in this
city, where, as is well known, it is very
difficult to arouse the theatre going
public from their habitual apathy.
New York very often condemns g play
that is really worthy, but when it be-
comes enthusiastic over production
it is safe to assert that the piece will be
more than a success d'estime" in the
rest Of the country.
Seats at the Garden theatre may
uominally be procured three weeks in
advance, but those persons, outside of
q few early birds who seem to be al
ways able to get in on the ground floor,
who attempt to buy seats in the usual
manner are invariably doomed to dis
appointment, for the demand is so
enormous that there is constantly a
long line at the box Office window.
And indeed so great is the interest
aroused by "Cyrano de Bergerac" that
the gallery is occupied by class or
persons who go to the theatre intend
ing to pay So apiece for their seats and
who are literally forced in spite OF
themselves to save $1.50 by ascending
to the gallery, where the view is equal
ly good, and where, with an actor like
Richard Mansfield, whose enunciation
is as clear as the tones Of silver bell,
the beautiful language of the poet may
be heard with practically the same dis
Effectiveness as though one were in the
second row of the orchestra.
1t is like saying that the world is
round to assert that Richard Mansfield
is the best actor in this country. For
many years we have had no stage fig
ure who could be justly considered any
thing like his equal. Just glance back
at some of his productions with which
the public is most familiar: 1.-THE Par
isian Romance" "Prince Karl" Or.
JekyIl and mt. Hyde Nero" Erich
ard, the Third" Merchant of Venice, 3"
the i'll fated Don Juan" which Mans
field admitted that he wrote, and Beau
Brummel" which he made possible,
although Clyde Fitch was the author of
the piece, "rhe Devils Disciple" the
"Scarlet Letter" and "Cyrano de Ber-
gerac"-what list.
Where, aside from Mansfield, is there
an actor in the United States, or, for
that matter in the world, not excepting
the great Coquelin himself, who could
enact the principal roles of these plays
and do each of them as we'll as they
could be done by any living performer
who makes a speciality Of the. class of
work most prominent in each OF the
characters
Henry Irving's stage management has
been praised "ad nauseam" by the press
of this country, and it has deserved
most of what has been said OF it, but
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

FRANCES NATIONAL THEATRE

Sarcey writes appropos of the Frencl
national theatre: Where is the thee
tre-l do not say in France, but in EanI
rope and the whole worlG-which ca
so vary lis attractions, play old and
modern plays, IN turn, in verse and
prose and send away the audience cd
ways satisfied, sometimes Charmed
Without doubt there are abuses In thi1
organization, but where q
the perfect thing? The Coincide Fran
eaise is no more perfect than other ~
ganizations-less perfect, II you wish
but it has one great merit. and that Il
TO exist. If it We're destroyed, it woult
be impossible ever to rebuild 1t, Lei
us keep 1t, then, without thinking tod
much of the small or big abuses thai
one sees in it. There is no homes
man without one or two vices"
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

ever regard him with more than toler-
alton. She in turn sees and falls in
love with a handsome and brave youn g
soldier, Christian by name, who is as
duA as he is good to look upon After
a time meeting is oortrived and RoX-
ane so works upon the feelings of Cy-
raao that he promises to protect the
young man, who has that day joined De
Bergerac's regiment. When Christian
appears al the barracks, he is informed
by his new comrades that to refer 10
De Bergerac's nose is equivalent to Civ
ing ones order for a grave, but W4en
the terrible duelist appears the your g
man, net at all awed by the warnings
he has received, makes pointed al,us-
ions TO his Disagreement in order to
demonstrate to ms fellows tat he does
not fear him. De Bergerac with diff
ficulty controls himself, and wnen TIE
other Gascons retire. expecting TO ,e-
turn after a few minutes to find Chr B
tian stretched ont cold in death, they
are astounded by seeing the two men
with their arms about each other. One
Of them remarks that the wolf has be-
come a lamb. and makes an insulting
allusionNto De Bengerac's nose. There
upon he is promptly slapped upon his
own.
Later De Bergerac does Christians
wooing for him, and SO successfully
does he act in the capacity OF agent
that Roxane accepts him and q hasty
marriage is celebrated. De Guiche, the
evil genius Of the play, who is nephew
Of Cardinal Richelieu, is in love with
Roxane. Finding that she has slipped
forever from his craps, he orders her
new made husband away 70 the war
against Spain. Dr.. Bergerac gees along
as member of the Gascon regiment,
ard as is developed later. takes 80 writ
ing two letters a day to Roxane. sign
ing Christians name. Roxane, moved
strangely by these eloquent epistles,
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-10-23

Ihastens to the camp with food Tor The
starving men, and shortly AFTER her ar
rival there. Christian, learning that she
loves him for his supposed qualities Of
mind and not for himself, implores Cy-
rano to tell her everything. He leaves
for another part OF the defenses at this
moment and within few minutes is
brought back dead. Cyrano OF course
Goes not reveal the secret
The last act occurs Ia years later.
During all this time Roxane has been
in convent where Cyrano visits her
every Saturday afternoon. On this
particular day Cyrano has been injured
by the servant of an enemy, who hurl-
ed heavy fagot upon him from a win
dow as he passed, but true to his SOL
derry idea Of punctuality, he limpet
in at the appointed time, and again ex-
pressing desire to read the last letter
which Roxane had received from Chris
tian, he is handed the paper. Night
falls, an6 the letter in Cyrano's nerve
less grasp drops to his side, but he con-
tinues to read in the most imprisoned
manner. Then Roxane for the first
time realizes that he was the author of
the letters and that it was his mind
that inspired them and his tongue that
uttered the eloquent words of love
which had won her heart for Christian
Two friends arriving at this moment,
Cyrano's serious injury is made known
to Roxane, who implores him to live
for her sake, but 1t is too late, and ris-
ing and scorning support except from a
sturdy oak Cyrano recites his own cpl
taph, grasps his sword ,lunges wildly
at the grim destroyer Death whom he
in imagination sees approaching, and
falls to the stage-dead.
This is the end of the play, excepting
only the curtain call, which invariably
follows.