The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-14
Mr.. RICE'S HEADGEAR.
The Comedian Has a Wonderful silk
Tile in Nile Green. (
Wore Il by Mistake on The Street and
Created a Big Sensation

III the hat stores OF Providence soon
display in thsfr windows stylishly
shaped silk tiles" of "a distinctly Erin
hue. there need be no surprise.
John G. kice. the popular comedian.
has recently returned from England
with an interesting wardrobe OF the lat
est ideas in male apparel and OF the
most ultra-fashionable colors and cut,
and " Is said that some OF the New
York tailors and haberdashers eagerly
await his return from Europe every fall
TO get the latest ideas.
BE that as II may, there seems to be
fair prospect that the favorite como
dian may yet attain to the proud dis
tinction Of having set the fashion In
Providence
Among the fashionable headgear Mr.
Rice brought with him from England
was a stunning silk tile OF Nile green
intended expressly for use in his new
farce. The Kleptomaniacs." and those
who have seen and admired IL at
Keith's this week can fully appreciate
it's pronounced characteristics, espe-
cially its brilliant hue. 1t may be that
he was a trifie i'm advance OF the fash-
ion; but the announcement that tne
Prince OF Wales wore "A green soft felt
har at the races last week would seem
10 indicate that the American comedian
IN perhaps only at the head Of the pro-
cessiOn after all.
Now Mr.. Rice has long been famous
for the elegance OF his headgear, the
stylish shape and glossy smoothness or
his tall silk hats: and IL there is any
thing on which he prides himset IL rs
the beauty and stylishness OF his
tiles"
E After he had finished his 'tmn" at
Keith's Tuesday afternoon he received
a message that some friends whom ne
had not seen for a long time were
waiting for him at his hotel. He had
n number of things TO look after az
the theatre. however. and SO urged his
Jolly wife Sally Cohen. IL hurry ahead
apologize Cor his delay and entertain
their guests until he should be able TO
get TO the hotel.
Anybody who has ever seen the en-
ergy and celebrity OF his movements and
noted his temperament across the foot
lights can readily understand the bustl-
ing and nervous way in which he re-
sumed his street dress and then expe-
ditiously attended 20 the other matters
growing more and more nervous I'm his
anxiety not to keep his friends waiting.
Finally. he turned out the electric
light I'm his dressing room. grabbed his
tile" and FASTENED out OF the stage
door at a rapid pace for his hotel He
had not gone far wfrefr- he became
aware that he was attracting unusual
attention from passersby. He has been
so long before the public and has be-
come so we'll and SO favorably known
that, like other famous actors, he has
become accustomed To being stared az
on the streets and overhearing COM
ments on his personality and acting but
he realized that the attention now paid
TO him and the interest he seemed 10
arouse was just a little more pronounce
ed than anything i'm his previous expe-
rience.
There Us not a drop Of self -conceit In
John c. Rice's veins; but he is human,
and he couldn't help thinking. especi-
ally as be noted the smiling faces and
heard the frequent explosions OF laugh
ter as he passed along. that perhaps he
had really made the hit OF his life at
Keith's and was destined TO enjoy fame
and favor beside which those OF the
past were but as drops Of water.
Ii seemed to him as If the interest in
him increased rapidly as he proceeded.
and he began to wonder IL perhaps he
were not really as great man as John
l.. sullivan. or Fitzsinimons, or. Jeffries.
and II Is barely possible that visions OF
a big jump upward I'm salary and only
"one-a-day" fitted through his mind.
Reaching the hotel. he rushed up to
his bed room. hastily threw his hat and
the bundles he carried on the bed and
went into his private parlor TO greet his
friends.
"Well. Sally" said the comedian. aft
er few moments, II guess we've hit
Providence hard this time, and it'll
mean a return engagements. sure. I've
been stared at and had people laugh
and snlcker as / went along the street
before now, and I'm used 10 It: but
gee. Sally, never anything like this aft
ernoon. And quite crowd actually
followed me from Clemence street over
here. Why. you'd thought I was JEFF
fries or Dewey. I never saw anything
like it--not in my experience. ] never
supposed Provide nee could get SO wax
d UP over vaudeville act"
OF course. congratulations followed.
and then Mr.. Rice asked his wife to
bring in ono of the bundles he had
thrown on the bed.
Sally Cohen had hardly passed into
the adjoining room when she uttered a
shriek-not just like that heard In
The kleptomaniacs." though Ii was
the same musical voice. This was n
shrek of laughter. followed immeosate-
ly by the return OF the merry little
comedienne bearing alsft in triumph
Mr.. Rice's gorgeous green silk ,'tlle"
Before the astonished comedian had
time to speak or recover from his as
tonishment. his wife rushed toward him
and shaking the hat i'm his face shouted
between her outbursts OF laughter:
why. YOU great big nlnny. you. 81
YOU thought YOU had made "a hft I'm
Providence did you? ia thought YOU
were Jeffries or Dewey. would II
you made hit? Well. I guess
you did. wearing this thing through the
streets. Wanted To be the Prince OF
Wales and set the fashions. did your
Very appropriate color for you. should
sayl'