The record-union., 1899-04-09

weary from long and unsuccessful wan
derings, he determines to burn his third
feather, and as he does so the good and
faithful Queen-his wife-falls dead in
his arms. 1t is only then that he COM
prehends that she was his happiness.
Sudermann's intention has evidently
been to show, in fantastic fairy tale,
that a man should grasp at once what
his happiness is to consist in, and then
cling to it,"
Late corners at theaters are a cause of
much aggravation to those who are in
their seats in time Not only are these
latter often obliged to rise in order to
allow those who are tardy in arriving
to pass to their seats. but they lose
portions of the early dialogue that is
important to the understanding of the
plot. American audiences are, like the
American people generally, patient and
long suffering. Only occasionally is a
voice lifted up against late corners
at the theaters. Now and then only
does protest find its way to the news
papers. Rarely if at all, however, have
those who have protested in this matter
made any reference to those who are
disturbed by it even more than the au-
dience-the actors. This gives special
point to a letter recently received by
Charles Frchman from the members of
the Because She Loved Him So'' Com
pany, at the Madison Square Theater.
New York. The letter is dated from
the theater and reads:
Charles Frohman, Eeq.-Dear Sir:
Could not some scheme be devised for
enabling the public to see first acts, in
their own interest, as we'll as that of the
players, either by commencing later or
Inducing the audience to take their
seats earlier?
Late comers naturally disturb those
who are already seated, and must have
some difficulty in picking up the thread
of the play when they have missed part
OF the first act We are, dear sir, faith
fully yours,
u. E. Dcdson, Edwin Arden. Ida Con-
quest, Arnold Daily. William B. Smith,
Kate Meek, Tully Marshall, Leonora
Biaham, Margaret Mayo
Coed for the companyl Their protest
Will be heartily indorsed by theater-
goers generally. The company that
wrote the letter to Mr. Frohman makes
snly q brief reference to itself, but it
motion caused by late arrivals must be
very disturbing to those en- the stage.
Yet Mr.. Frohman says this is the first
instance, to his knowledge, of a pro-
test on the subject having been made
by actors. AS to a reform in the mat
ter-that, Mr.. Frohman said, must
come from the public. Will the late
conner take the hint?
Way Down East" chief among the
money winners of rustic drama, is about
to make a tour of New England. the
section whose simple country life 1t
depicts with such poetic feeling and
graphic realism. The personality and
sympathetic charm of Phoebe Davies,
the California favorite, finds singularly
fine expression in this deft dramatic
blending of humor and pathos.
The presence of Irving, Duse and
Bernhard in this country at, one and
the same time will make next year a
decidedly important one. theatricaily
speaking.
Beginning next October, unlimited
time is being held at the Herald Square
Theater, New York, fer Israel zang-
Wills new play, The Children of the
Ghetto
Augustin Days latest fancy is to
present a new comic opera at his New
York house He has awarded the con-
tract to Reginald De Koven and Harry
B. Smith.
Lillian Russell declines to state
wherein she takes her preferred reere-
alton. We all know that she is a de-
votee of the wheel and how she start
led conservative Philadelphia in her
white and blue and gold bicycle. But
as to whether she prefers Emerson to