Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-03-19
STORIES OF THE STAGE.

CIV NOiISl VI tHS SloSc nave coIdD-
lished themselves more nrmly in the al
fections OF their associates than Mrs.
James Brown Potter.
Miss Maude I1osford, who figures
prominently in the production of "Red,
White and Blue was for several years
associated with Mrs. Potter and Mr..
Beilew land she has a goodly store OF
these anecdotes OF their careers. MRS.
POtters experiences IN Japan, MISS
Hosford says, are worth While recount
ing. The japanese are great students,
and when the emperor heard OF the
presence in his domain Of Mrs. Potter
and Mr.. Bellew he commanded them to
give q reading of Shakespeare.
Upon their arrival at the Royal the
atre they discovered that the perform
ance began at Z O'Clock in the morning
and concluded at 10 p. IN. Mrs. Pot
ter explained that Romeo and Juliet"
the play selected by the royal host,
would not be long. enough. She was
treasured that this circumstance made
not the slightest difference. They could
play it owe again and again until the
time was consumed. The order Of the
performance was unique II was as
follows: First an English secretary
read an act in English, then a Japa>
nese interpreter read it in the home
language, and finally Mrs. Potter and
Mr.. Below played it in English. Be
tween the acts the audience sWarmed
on the stage ard surrounded the bam-
boo cage used as a dressing room.
Many of them stood upon stools and
calmly gaZed over the top Of it.
Mrs. Potter sent for the interpreter
and requested him to ask the people to
move away. He explained to her that
was the custom and that the audience
would not mind her undressing at ALL"
Mrs. Potter and Mr.. Bellew were in
consequence compelled to play the roles
without a change of costume. Another
peculiar custom in that country is the
manner employed by the spectators 10
show their appreciation for the artists.
While the players were resting between
acts their admirers, forbidden to gaze
upon them in their DIRE ;aing rooms.
showered them with flowers, candies
and small preserved fishes, the latter a
much priced Offering, but of unsa vory
odor.
Mrs. Potter invariably alludes to her
japanese Juliet as the most trying and
at TIC SdulC llIAC luOSl oIluSluS VI uSl
stage experience.
"Well, leave the manuscript with
me-" said Charles E. Evans of the Her.
aid Square theater, New York, to a
young playwright, "and I'll read it
over"
I'm afraid you'll lose it. It's the
only copy | have" said the author.
Never! Busy as | am, I'm the
most careful man on earth" said Evans.
Il don't usually have time to read a
play on short notice, but I'm going to
Chicago, and I'll read yours on the
train"
The manuscript was handed to him.
The next morning as Evans was
boarding his train at the Grand Cen
trail station the young man touched
him on the back and said: Here's the
scene, plot and costume ideas of my
play. You may take them also"
by heavens," cried the busy man
ager, grasping the little playwright by
the arm. I've left the play in the ele-
waited car. Who could have thought
it of me? Got off at Forty-second
street. You go to the elevated COM
pany's Office and recover the manu-
script. They'll surely have it. Go
quick. That's a good fellow. I'll wait
here for you and take the next train.
Myi l never forgot myself before!"
Mr.. Evans saw the young man was
a little nervous, perhaps angry. at
having been fooled into the belief that
his play was in safe hands, and the
manag exerted himself a trifie to set
himself right with the little fellow.
This he succeeded in doing, for away
went the playwright after his play,
and Evans, lighting a cigar sat down
to smoke and read until the young
man came back.
In three-quarters of an hour the lit
tie playwright returned.
Did you get it?" asked Evans and,
seeing a bundle in the young mans
hand, reached for it.
why, what's all these?" said the
manage as his eyes fell upon four
rolls of manuscript equal in size TO
that OF the one the little ma had gone
for.
They're all manuscripts you were
careful with. The man down there in
the lost department said he guessed
they'd been there three or four years;
that they evidently belonged to n
and the same man. Ones The Girl
From Paris the ether The French
Maid and the other Hotel Topsy Tur-
W."
Say, young man." said Evans.
sdon't tell Ed Rice, and I'll read your