The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-04-30
PRESS AGENTS ROUND TABLE.

1t is remarkable fact that players OF
experience allow themselves the greatest
liberty while on the stage and that the bits
of nonsense and the most apparent tricks
carried on between members of company
are rarely noticed even by the wide-awake
in the audiences before which these things
are done This is especially true of stock
organizations. and never more so than of
the troupe which held the stage at the
Columbia not very long ago. William In
gersoll, who was the leading man at the
uptown house, was a past grand master
in the art of putting his colleagues out
with what Stage Manager Bergman used
to call his damned foolishness" FIRE.
quently, too, the aforesaid colleagues would
take hand in the proceedings when re-
turn could be made quietly, but none of
these attempts ever succeeded.
Press Agent Award. who was here last
week in advance of the Lyceum Theatre
Stock Company, retails an instance of this
by-play which was related to him by John
Findlay, an erstwhile feature at the Co.
lumbia- According to the narrative il ap-
pears that when the combination was be-
ing seen in Innocent a Lamb the
comedian learned that Mr.. Ingersoll was
carrying out a little plan of his invention.
The last act of the farce took place in a
newspaper office and both pen did most
Of their talking while seated behind two
desks that fronted the footlights Realiz-
ing this each had simply neglected to learn
the lines that went with the scene. but had
spread out his personal manuscript behind
pile of books on his individual table and
so read the unfamiliar speeches. In spr-
1t of fun one afternoon, after he had dis
covered that his idea was being shared.
Mr. Findlay walked TO the other desk
when the curtain had risen and concealed
his friends copy OF the piece underneath
the volumes that had sheltered it. Shortly
after Mr.. lngersoll came in and sat down
at the place where he expected to find his
promptings.
For time the dialogue went on all right,
for the actor had become accustomed TO
the part and did not need to assist his
memory. Finally. however, recollection
failed, and he glanced down. Mr. Findlay
saw that his colleague was lost without
the manuscript by the flush on his face,
and nearly strangled in an effort to keep
back his own laughter. Gradually the re-
mainder CT the company learned what was
the trouble and everyone stopped to look
at Mr.. Ingersoll. The situation was one
that might have embarrassed the most
wary. But the Columbia's leading man
was not worried, On the contrary, he
walked quietly across the stage 20 the
other desk, and took Mr.. Findlay's prompt
book from its hiding place. I'm afraid
you'll have TO get on without this. John.
he said. Il need it myself now And.
turning to his next speech, he continued
with the play.
Mr.. Award says that Mr. Findlay pro-
fesses ignorance as to how his secret got
out. but all attempts to get even with
Mr.. Ingersoll were dropped then and there.
When Frederic Bond who is to be seen
this week at the Grand, came to the Ma
tional some time ago for summer season
he had with him Maclyn Arbuckle, a more
or less clever actor who is now in London
with why Smith Left Home" The two
men were of about the same bui,d and re-
sembled each other considerably. On the
opening night vast number of Mr.. Bonds
friends and admirers filled the theatre and
every one of them waited eagerly for the
entrance of his favorite. Men removed
their gloves the better to applaud and wo-
men arranged the flowers they had
brought. In the midst of these prepara-
tons the middle of the offerings first act
was reached and someone came on the
stage. A boy in the gallery cried Bond
and the newcomer was covered with bou-
quets and cheered TO the echo. Mr.. Ar
buckle. who happened TO be the arrival.
looked surprised but gathered in the nose
gays while bowling and smiling And then
the house saw its mistake and kept quiet
This incident was repeated twice during
the evening and finally the gathering
grew very tired Of making fools of itself
When this state had been reached the door
opened again and another player entered
On this occasion ii was Frederic Bond and
he evidently expected to be applauded. He
wasn't. The audience had made up its
mind not to be tricked third time and
the silence with which 1t greeted its IA
vorfte was the silence of the grave. Mr.
Bond was more surprised than Mr.. Ar
buckle had been, but he bore UP quite as
well. After the performance the matter
was explained and the second comedian re-
funded the flowers, but 1t Is not probable
that either has forgotten the episode.
At the Eleven O'Clock Club the other
night Frank Murray. manager Of the Fraw-
ley Company. waxed reminiscent and re-
counted a series OF palmy day incidents
that might have made him fayorite vau-
deyille performer had he chosen to take
Murray. in the old times OF stock COM
panies travelling star was generally ac-
companied by his leading woman and
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