The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26
STUDENTS AT REHEARSAL.
VERY SERIOUS BUSINESS FOR
COLUMBIA COLLEGE BOYS

They Are Preparing to DO Honor Again to
Cleopatra-The Debut of n College stu
dent on tho Stage No Light Matter-Sub-
mission to an Autocratic Stage Manager.
The Columbia University students seem to
have q tender spot In their hearts for Cleopatra.
Two years ago they gave a comic opera In her
honor. This week they will give another series
OF performances relating to her. For several
weeks. sixty OF them have been getting ready
for Claopatra's debut at the Carnegie Lyceum.
Julian Mitchell. whose customary lair is the
stage at Weber Il Fields's. has ruled the
boards up at the Carnegie Lyceum and turned
threescore college students into the same
number OF actors and actresses. with a hun
bred per cent. more gracesand a few thousand
per cent. more meekness than they over had
before.
People have an idea that a rehearsal for q
college bows theatrical performance must he
a hilarious event; a mixture OF horse play. coon
dances and scutiiing, with a little attention to
the business on hand thrown in as a side Is
sue. That's one Of life's little ironIes. that
particular impression Is. Nobody. not even
the Hon. Billy Mason. can begin to take him
self Sc, seriously as a college boy getting ready
for his debut on the stage. Tho reporter went
down into the bowels OF the earth, otherwise
known as the Carnegie Lyceum. the other day
when a rehearsal was in progress. 1t was
about as cheerful as a funeral In the GAIA
combs.
Perhaps that was:because the afternoon was
on the wane and Mr.. Mitchell's customary ur-
banity was declining with the sun. Mr..
Mitchell may not realize the fact that he is a
hero. He may be content to sit In the seats OF
tho mighty. which. being interpreted. means
the chair Of the stage manager, But a hero
the reporter hereby proclaims Mr.. Mitchell To
be. Any man Who dares TO brOwbeat sixty
healthy college fellows. can't make an outsider
think that he knows the meaning OF the word
Come on" shouted Mr.. Mitchell. Al on
for Maize Hurry up! Hurryhurryhurryl"'
Most OF the threescore -eolleRians cast for
when this cal! came, They we're as quiet as
little mice. they putfed solemnly at their
pipes and that was all the solace they had. At
the clarion sound Of Mr.. MitchelPs voice they
like the agile ga2elle, stamped through the cor
ridor leading. to the stage. and Teappeared a
moment later In a cloud Of dust and language.
the latter being furnished by Mr.. Mitchell,
back further. | say" he commanded IN
crescendo. sforzando. fortissimo tones. Get
In line there. please! Now. then. young man
! mean you, yon young man therel How are
WIN you tell me that, p~leassH" The please was
SO ironical that it wilted the collars III the front
row.
The guilty young man who had forgotten his
tried TO- stick IL into his coat pocket only to dis
cover that he was In his shirt sleeves. SO he
thrust il into hiS trousers pocket, live Goals
and all. which accounted for the subtle per
June Of burning cloth which soon stole through
the tobaeco-scented atmosphere.
Maize" Is one OF the many new features OF
the opera. 1t is a serenade with the kind OF air
which takes q ninety-day lease OF your mem