The times., 1899-08-13
THEATRICAL ADVERTISEMENTS.
Some Quaint Phases of the Actors
Life In Old England.
tFrOm the New York su

From the New York SUM-
Theatrical life goes on in England in a
much more elementary fashion than in
this country. The companies playing in
the smallest towns of the United States
are not so modest in equipment as those
which visit the provincial towns OF Eng
land. The humblest troupe that performs
in village usually finds an opera house
or at least town hall. Otherwise the ar
tistic life OF the community would proba-
| bly, be compelled to languish without the
elevating influences of the drama. In Eng
land, where the profits OF the theatrical
business are uniformly smaller than here.
even the towns unprovided with theatres
do not escape the manager in search of
small profits, 80 he carries his theatre with
him. Thus the portable theatre survives
in England, although it has long gone out
of use here. These theatres are no more
large travelling vans in which the mana
geaand his family might live in the transit
from town to town. The portable theatre
of today in England is dragged about in
wagon usually from one place to another
and the stage, surrounded by a canvas
tent, is set up. on vacant lot in the viii
lage. The actors no longer live in the
wagon. as they presumably did when
George Sims wrote The Lights of Lon
don.' They travel to these small towns
on railroads when there are any near
enough. They ride at other times in any
available vehicle, and this is an advance
over the days in which old Charles CouI-
dock and Nine. Ponisi began their theatri-
cal careers. They were both accustomed
TO tell of their early struggles in the pro-
| fessiOn. and walking from town to town
was one of the most arduOus. The actors
no longer have to walk, but in most parti-
culars their lives are hard enough and
they endure privations which American ac-
tors in the least ambitious companies
would never undergo. They are more to
be compared In this respect with the
poorer class Of circus performers that visit
the towns. play in them during the after
noon and evening. and are then of to the
nearest village to repeat this round.
WANTED -Hamilton's Theatre Portable. wood
roof, Barnard Castle, full company TO open
Monday, June u; couples preferred; good shop
to steady people; lowest summer terms to above.
Bass Player write.
The mercantile as we'll as the regular
character of this phase of professional life
is shown by that notice None of the con-
ventienal freedom and careless gaiety of
the wandering players life is suggested by
its terms. Equally business-like is this
one:
WANTED-For frst-class Portable Varieties a
young, useful couple, TO play in drama and
| do single turns and parade at fair time only;
| Useful Lady may write; to open Monday; good
shop to good people; salaries low, but sure;
| old friends write.
| One duty OF the humble American actor
| is suggested by the reference to the parade
| Sometimes the smaller trOupes here have
! their street parade, although the women
rarely figure in them. An itinerant Uncle
Toms Cabin outfit sometimes shows Lit
| tie Eva and Eliza when il marches through
| the town with the dogs Marks donkey and
the band. Pages in English theatrical pa
pers are sometimes occupied by advertise
ments of which the following is an ex-
ample:
wANTED-For good Portable, gent for first low
comedy; sing between; money sure; open
all the year round.
The headquarters of these companies are
never in London and rarely in the large
provincial cities. They have their begin
nings in the small towns TO which their
efforts are usually confined. Some of these
advertisements are almost incomprehensible
even TO persons acquainted with technical
terms and their mysteries, such as this, for
| instance:
WANTED Engagement by Violin from theatre;
will join for boat or good pitching.
Pitch is an English term which has even
got into some of the dictionaries TO describe
the place in which strolling company puts
up its tent. So the violin player who wants
employment probably means that he is will
ing to play on q boat or In tent.
Not all these advertisements refer to the
darker side Of the actors life. Sometimes
they are grateful Acknowledgements OF hap
py moments. Such a notice as this, for in
stance was never heard of in an American
paper:
MISS s. BOOTH (Mrs. J. H. Clyndes), win con-
clude her very pleasant engagement, Alierya, in
''What Happened TO Jones'" at Prince Of Wales
Theatre, Birmingham, June 8; thanks, Herbert
Sleath, ESQ.,. for kindly releasing from three last
nights of tour; Miss B. also thanks Miss " Sa-
ker, Miss Jessie Burgwitz, and Mrs. Arthur Leigh
for their present OF an elegant afternoon tea
service; leaves Fenchurch Street at 9;I5 a. m,
June g. to embark on the Thermopylae, en-
route for Cape Town.
The same amiable purpose seems TO have
inspired the man who paid for this acknowl-
edgement of his feelings:
MR. j. W. MARSHALL Carpenter, thanks; Miss
Emma Hutchinson for comfortable engage
ment with Liars (South) and also for re-en-
gagement.
Less closely connected with the actors
art is the demand of the auctioneer who
wants an assistant. Such an advertisement
as this is unfamiliar in this country:
WANTED Smart Young lady who can play man.
dolins (amateur or professionally assistant