Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-07


The truth is now learned from A. Grune-
wald of this city, an adaptor of some note
of German plays, who has communicated
to The Star the following facts:
THE original by .LArronge was called
'Hasemann's Toechter,s and version
named Our Daughters was first played in
this country July 26. 1870, by the Forest
Dramatic Club at Waukegan, Ill. During
the season of 70 and ESQ, the Criterion
Comedy Company headed by f. +. Mack
ey, now dead; De Wolf Hopper, the comic
opera comedian now and Louise Sylvester,
produced another version under the same
title, and in it Mackey was Holden. Cranes
part today; Hopper, the young husband,
Parker and Miss Sylvester, Amy Holden
The other plays of 1tArronge' that have
been used on the American stage are: MY
Son CMein Leopold, played by John T.
Raymond; DIR. Clyde, Doktor Klaus.
played by John e. Owen; AS We Live
(Wohtlhaelige Frauen), Augustin DAILY. and
His Wife's Father der Compagnon), w.
II. Crane.
THE Village Postmaster has some strtk-
ingly realistic scenes in the play. one OF
these is the old New England farm scene,
with an old-fashioned threshing machine AT
work. The thresher is propelled by horse
power. The same old horse is still playing
the part. He made his first appearance on
the first night of the play in New York.
He is a character in his way, for an ami
NAL. He has not missed single perform
ance, and is more attached to stage work
and appearing before the public and listen
ing to the applause Gor he must hear these
sounds of approval, which he seems to ac-
knowledge by nod thar he would be TO
working on the street and propellinS an ex-
press wagon. Like old dog Tray. he is ever
faithful ever true, etc, and is universally
loved by all the members of the company.
Tom is this beasts name, who, it must be
understood, is usually brought into the
theater on the stage just before the begin
ming of the second act Ghe minister's dona-
ton party scene). to be ready for the third
farm scene. At the end of the donation
party scene the property man sets the ia
bic near the wall and, on one occasion,
near to the place where Tom was hitched.
The minister's supper consists of the old
fashioned. law-abiding peoples food. viz,
ginger cakes. mince pie, cider and dough-
nuts, not forgetting beans. Tom concluded
that everything smelled good, so he helped
himself to the human food. much to the
amusement of those who saw him. And
now the management have issued orders to
give Tom his lunch after every perform
ance. Mr.. Frank Mordaunt. who plays the
part of the village postmaster, very jocose
ly remarked when he saw the horse chew
ing the things on the table: BY Jove. that's
horse on the minister!''
Adelaide Hermann. the charming widow
of Alexander Hermann. is a great adj
mirer of dumb animals and carries with
her on the road number of pets, besides
the birds, doves, etc, used in the perform
ances. A parrot and an Australian magpie
created considerable excitement some
weeks ago at the Grand Opera House. St
Paul. where the Hermann the Great"
Company was playing. In leaving the the
alter at night the pets in their cages are
attached to a line and hauled up about
twenty feet above the stage, to keep them
out of the way of rats. The night watch
man was making his rounds Monday night
as usual, when to his surprise he heard
voice in the dark say How do you do?'
1t came from the parrot. He stopped short,
and. swinging his lantern ahead of him,
peered into the darkness. but he could not
see anything. Again the voice softly said
How do you do?' and this time the watch
man walked toward the direction the voice
came from. He brought to a sudden
stop by the voice of the magpie. who in
deep tones said, Who the HI are your
Dropping his lantern. the4 Waterman hur
ried to the street. and in a few minutes re-
turned with the patrolmani on the beat, to
whom he had confided the fact that bur
glars were at large in the Grand Opera
House. Silently they both wendell their
way across the stagei when the voice of
the parrot said, There are two of them
now. Sold again. Ha.Ha. Here I am. Ha
Ha, Ha" The patrolman held his lantern
up high, and there was the. parrot. With a
look of disgust on his face he turned on
his heel and made for the street remarking
to the astonished nightswatchman, I'll
take high ball in the morning when the
relief comes " + =
This parrot is a wonder and speaks four
anguages-English, German, French and
Spanish. Spanish WAS tabooed when the
American Hispano war broke out, much to
the parrots surprise. He could not under
stand why when he commenced to speak
the language in which Mrs. Hermann had
previously taken such delight the stage
carpenter should abuse him the way he did
But it did not take him long to learn that
something was wrong, and the Spanish Ian
guagc has not been utilized by him lately
One day Mrs. Hermann made a remark in
Spanish to Leon Hermann and the parrot
Immediately cried out. Look out you will
get 1t now When nothing was thrown at
ed to himself, Something wrong. some
thing wrong" The joke was explained to
Mrs. Hermann, who greatly enjoyed it
The parrot is now being taught magic, and
callers on Mrs. Hermann need not be sur
prised in the future If the parrot should
pull silver dollars out of their hair, or any
other feat in seight of hand which he sees
nightly performed.