The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-12
HE'S A GENIUS.
Ezra Kendall One Of The CIevsTest
Entertainers Of the Day.
Began Life as a Reporter and Later Wrote
Plays For William MsstayeL

IL is practically unprecedented for n
monologuist 10 be retained for a second
week and as "headliner" at a vaude-
Vile theatre. as Ezra Kendall is this
week at Keith's: but Kendall is a ge-
MUS and is probably the most clever
monologue entertainer OF the day, sure
ly one Of the highest salaried. 1t was
he who recently broke up a minstrel or
ganization because he refused TO put on
burnt cork.
He started in life as a newspaper re-
porter on the New York Herald and
was glad to reel off few columns of
matter a week at space rates. One day
the late BILLY" Mestayer asked him 70
write piece for him and the result was
I'VE, Us a. Co." which was played for
% weeks TO audiences that sent cold
chills up the spinal column OF the act
ors and manager.
Butts it's long lane that has no turn,
as the saying goes, and so it turned out
with kendall's first stage work. When
the com 9any reached Cincinnati, which,
by the way, is considered one OF the
de9dest show towns in the country. bus
mess picked up. The same conditions
prevailed in Chicago, notwithstanding
that The newspapers gave IL an awful
tearing out, all of which Kendall ad-
mitted.
His contract with Mestayer was one
of the kind where the actor says 20 the
author: Don't worry. old chap; If the
piece is a success I'll see that you are
treated right Kendall was getting $40
week for playing part, and Mestay-
er made about 100000 out OF IL. When
Kendall hintedf that an adjustment
would be within the bounds Of reason,
Mestayer turned on him coldly and
said; so 1t has swelled at last, has it?
They all told me il would. They said
no head could stand it?"
Kendall asked II that was all he was
TO get, and Mestayer answered: You're
an ungrateful beggar; amt you getting
your 40 a week." Kendall said nothing,
but went to Washington and copyright
ed the piece. Mestayer was hot on his
heels, but was just too late TO win. So
he compromised by giving Kendall a
salary OF $3.50 week.
When the season closed Kendall went
into the woods 10 write a new play-for
himself this time. In three weeks he
had turned out "A Pair OF Kids" the
play by which he is always associated
In the minds OF the American people.
He played in this for IL years and
married one OF the members of the COM
pany. Jennie Dunn. the sister of the
has long since left the stage, and is now
living at Mt. Vernon, n. Y, the mother
of six children. Kendall says. Mrs.
Kendall is as young as ever and can
walk under my arm, and she only
weighs 80 pounds"
Kendall is "A capital story teller off
the stage: and here is a new one he told
last night OF country guest named
Culver at city hotel, run by Mr..
Henshaw. who came originally from the
same town.
Early I'm the morning the guest APP
peared looking as If he had passed the
night with a Welsh rabbit or the ghost
of Banquo. Mr.. Henshaw, noticing his
perturbed appearance, anxiously in
quired the cause.
WAL John" said Culver. Ito tell
the truth ] didn't sleep wink all night.
Them newfangled electric lights kept
me awake"
well. Silas. old boy, why didn't you
turn them out?"
Turn them out! Why John,
couldn't get at them You've got the
burned things in glass bottles!"