Evening star., 1899-03-13
Theatrical GOSSIP.

The manufacture of comic opera is an un-
| protected American industry. which has
fiourished and developed in spite of the
fact that there is no tariff on the imported
| article. American comic opera was pracu-
cally unknown ten years ago. when the
late John A. McCauH produced The Be
gum" the first work Of Reginald DE Koven
and Harry B. Smith. At that time mama
gers produced nothing but German ami
French importations but since the success
| of Robin Hood" nearly all the popular
operettas have been OF native manutac-
| ture. Suppe and Genie are dead. Milloecler
and Dellinger have not written anything
successful of late Strauss retains even m
his old age his wonderful gift OF melody,
| but fails to find inspiration in the librcttos
submitted to him. Sultvau's later works
have failed TO hit the mark OF popularity.
Since La Cigalc' there has been no sue
cessfu French operetta. The result has
been the development of a class of Amcri-
can light opera which suits the taste -
the public The American composers ana
libret.ists have the field to themselves.
Among these MessrS. Smith and De hoNsn
have been more prolific and more success
ful than their cnmpeerrS, and number 10
their credit over ten successful works
Those who have seen Estelle Wellington
know that her suppleness Is OF nature
that almost passes belltI. t1tf HlllllllfI'SS
of foot is Just as remarkable. and Il Is said
that the dance has not yet been designed
which she cannot perform instantly ana
easily. Every now and then a story IS
heard to the effect that Miss Weliingtons
graceful facility Of movement is due to the
use Of ointment; other fables declare that
she has daily for years past rubbed herself
with peanut oil This Is new virtue 20
ascribe to the toothsome nut. and as far as
Miss Wellington Is concerned has not been
tried. The manner in which the story orig
| mated may be interesting. however.
Miss Wellington has been paSsionately
fond of peanuts all her life and would
rather dispense with her regular meals than
'ye without suppl" Of them. She eats
them at al times. morning. noon and dur
ing the performance al night. couple Of
seasons ago she was standing in the wings
waiting to go on in her dance. She had
Just been handed a supply of peanuts
dressing room, and was induStriously
munching the kernels when her cue came.
The cue took her by surprise. and without
moment she Sprang upon the stage. The
next minute she RENE mbered that she held
the sack Of peanuts in her hand ana 10
making one of her spinning steps she couN
trived to thrust the package into her cor
sage. Then she continued her dance. Pres
emily she was Mortified to hear a popping
and crunching under her feet. The req
son was plain. As she danced the motion
looSened the sack. and one by one the pea
nuts We're shaken out onto the stage Be
fore the dance was ended the bag was al
most emptied and the space in which the
dance had taken place was literally cover
ed with peanut shells.
Mr. Kingsley Benedict son Of Mrs. Col.
Haskell CT Capitol Hin. left Washington
last Thursday for New York where he VIII
join the Kendall-Weston company for A
spring season through New York state
Mr. Benedict has had varied experience
in the west. playing leading juveniles for
several prominent stock companies IN San
francisco, Omaha and Milwaukee. and had
the honor of playing Little Billie" i'm
.'Trilby" the first time ii was acted on the
Pacific coast.
The regular monthly musicale was held
at the studio OF Miss Emma l.. Minlle 1880
Iuth street northwest on Friday evening,
March 10. Vocal selections were given by
Misses Motto, Craigen, Adams Edmonston,
Notaw, Tufts, Goddardt Nelson. DE Groot
and Mesars. Webster, Post, Sabourin and
Craigen.
The piano pupils of the Columbia Corr
serVatory of Music are preparing "A program
to be given in April. Selections from mod
ern and classical composers will he heard
The Columbia Orchestra and other we'll
known talent will assist.