The times., 1899-03-12
PRESS AGENTS ROUND TABLE.

In reading over "Cyrano de Bergerac,"
the play which Richard Mansfield is to do
here this week, one is struck by the i'm
portance of the insignificant ones of NJ
Rostand's characters In two instances
the author has been generous to degree
that suggests an all-star cast had he only
persevered in that line While the great
crowd of Partisan citizens mobiles. and SOL
diers is gathering at the Hotel de Bour
goyne in the first act the general buzz of
gossip and motion is suddenly stopped
lie Bret one of the writer's creations. en-
quires: This rapid silence?" A spectator
and then the assembly whispers, the Car
dinal" And there behind grating, as
was the custom with clergymen attending
the theatre in Cyrano's time. sits Richie
lieu. modest and retiring, just as though he
had not been immortaliZed by Bulwer and
history and hadn't starred with every i'm
portant actor in forty years.
A little later, when the knight of the
nose has accomplished the great feat of
the duel and the improvised ballad. every
one presses forward 10 congratulate him.
Among the number is a smart cavalier in
buff and red: Permit me, sir. 1t was
splendid. and l ought to know" AS he
passes Cyrano asks: Who was that"
Cuigy replies: "D'Artagnan." Sure enough
and almost as inconspicuous as Il figurante
| or walking gentleman in the midst of
Mr.. Manstields $50, obliterated about. is
the proud and fiery, the brave and tenn
! pestuous ex-star and Dumas best hero,
| D'Artagnan.
| In the swiftness of action attending the
coming of all Paris to Ragueneau's cook
shop to congratulate Cyrano on his con-
quest~of the one hundred an indicative
| bit OF dialogue is apt to be lost. De Ber-
gerac is besieged with lauds. Among 9TH
ers about him is a man who asks: May
have the details? No" says Cyrano.
iercely "It is Theophraste Renaudot.
/ inventor of the gazette" prompts lie
Bret His sheet tells all the news. His
idea promises to be important in the fu-
ture." So there. lost in the crowd. is the
inventor of the newspaper-the original
reporter He was enterprising and alert,
on the spot directly Cyrano had accom-
plished the marvellous deed which had set
all Paris wild with delight.
Richard Mansfield is credited with n bon
| mot which is said to have passed over the
| wine and walnuts the other evening at the
| Holland House. The discussion related TO
the evolution of the Thespian. The actor,
| like the poet, is born" contended one. 'On
| the contrary, the actor. like the musician,
! is made" argued another. They finally
| appealed to Mr.. Mansfield, who is said to
] have remarked That an actor, like IZaak
| Waltons angler. is born and then made. -
| The Jest was accredited as a verdict and
| ended the discussion.
Mr. Mansfield is mentioned as having
| a very sharp wit at all times-by the
way-and one of the best anecdotes
| that has reached here concerning him
relates the manner in which he once
| quieted a bOor who had been making
things very unpleasant all during the
| evening. This individual was a repu-
| tably bad actor, and, realizing the pres
ence of the great star. had been trying
| continually to exhibit his superior knowl-
| edge AS is usual in such cases. the fellow
had begun to discuss the authorship OF
| Shakespeares plays and wound up by an
nouncing in a loud tone OF voice that he
| could prove who had written them.
Mr.. Mansfield is said to have waited an
! instant and then. as everyone was looking
at him, TO have replied: Certainly. Pro-
| duce them. Open the graves of Bacon and
| Shakespeare. The man who has turned
| over is the person you are seeking
And the boor sat down.
| No one in this country writes more jing-
| ling lyrics than does Harry B. Smith, and
\ IL has been said that even Harry B. Smith
| has never before written such rhymes as
] are in THE Three Dragons" A sample