The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-03-17

theatre, concert and lecture halls numerous
offices, ante-rooms and assembly rooms besides
the great amphi-theatr where the horse and
similar shows are held. Ealf dozen different
affairs are often in progress there at the same
time, and usually quite unaware of each others
existance. An amusing incident occurred,
however. while Richard Mansfield was paying
there last fall in "Cyraro de Bergerac." 1t
was the matinee of the week before the Horse
Show, and Il number of workmen were still
busy completing arrangements for the great
event. An unusual amount of shouting and
hammcring was in progress, and the la ter
especially resounded through the walls, de-
cidedly marring the artistic effect in the theatre
beyond. Mansfield, whose supply of patience
is well known to be dec dedly limited, sent
word to the work men to stop all noise until his
performance was over. The men however,
took into consideration the fact that they were
neither engaged nor paid by Mansfield. and the
noise continued. 1t happened that this all took
place during the duel scene. Mansdeld's wrath
had evidently been accommodating. and when
the curtains dropped he rushed back to the
mphi-theatre-16th century costume, huge
nose, sabre and all and burst on the astonished
workmen with such u harangue that, actual
ted as it was by his strange, almost savage al =
pedrance, they were glad to agree to leave the
work and make up the time after the matinee
closed. 1t is really probable, however, that the
accomplishment of this unusual arrangement
was due quite as much to Mar sfield's personal
magnetism as to the terrifying threats of the
wild apparition. Mansfield is now in Baltimore
giving the same play-the only one. indeed, in
which he has appeared this season. 1t is the
luct oi fo 1ubi nd
the widest variety of types. each one of " hich
he presents faithfully, ideally, and while he
runs the whole gumut from the william and
outcast to the moral hero, his strong PERSONAL
ity emphasizes always what is wholesome in
the part, and calls into play the sncerest SYM
pathy of his audience, as only a true artist can.
An intelligent critic ssid of him not long since,
that he had done more for the American stage
than any other American actor, in that his
choice of plays was always made with true
ethical insight and in his presentation of char
acter he did not compel his audience to ex-
perience single emotion of which they need
feel ashamed if echoed in their own daily lives.
One secret of his powerful influence over his
audiences lies in the fact that he throws him
self absolutely for the time being into the
he is portraying. In giving Steven
sons we'll known drama of HT. Jekyle and Mr..
Hyde, the tax of the dual personality is so
severe upon bis nervous system that his physi-
clans have been compelled to limit his presen-
tation of the play. "Cyrano de Berzerac, which
is really his master piece, is the story of
beautiful soul housed in a homely body, that
theme which is as old as human interest and as
dear as human sympathy. The drama is
founded somewhat upon history, there really
having been a character of this sort in Paris
during the 10th century. and who really had
m ost prodigious ard unsightly nose, which de-
barred him from the enjoyment of most that is
dear to man in this world. Mansfield's work
in this is of the highest artistic quality and real
ethical value.
E. H. Southern is now playing at the Knick-
erbocker in 1.-THE Kings husketeer:' Henry
Hamilton's adaptation of Dumas famous and
fascinating tae. Fifty years ago Lester
Wallack's brilliant play of the Three Guards
men, based on the same moral, was presented
in this city. at the Old Bowery Theatre, at once
meeting with great success, and that was the
beginning of the subject on the American
stage. II has had periods of rest, of course,
but since then it has practically been. in come
form or other, before the foot-lights. This
latest version is chiefly notable for the intro
duction of new material in the shape of
special sweetheart provided for D'Artsgnan,
and the re-arrangement of some minor details
The scenic effect is fine; the acting really good
and the general impression of the whole per-
decidedly pleasing.
Mrs. Minnie Madden Fske is now at the Fifth
Avenue Theatre in two charming pieces "a
Bit of Old Chelsea" and Love Will Find n
Way" Last week she appeared as Magda in
morbid drama of that name. No
one doubts. of course, that there are number
of disagreeable people in the world, or that
some women excel in this particular, but even
that hardly seeTs an adequate reason for
emphasizing and perpetuating such types in
dramas. Magda is an irrespons-
BILE. selfish. unwholesome woman, and though
Mrs Fiske did all that was possible with the
part, it must still remain question in the
minds of many why she should have chosen il,
when she can be so charming in better things.
Mrs Fiske is one of the most intelligent women
on the American stage, and her dignity of
motive, strength of character and infexibility
of worthy purpose make her point or unusual
interest and admiration for all tho who be-
lieve in the ultimate triumph of "art for truths
sake" in the dramatic world.
Several minor but really good plays are also
running now. Some of these draw largely by
their titles, such as THAT Man." "Her Atone
ment," because She Loved Him So, :" etc. The
famous Drury Lane sensation, 1.-THE Great
Ruby" is on at Daley's Theatre, with Ada
Rehan, of course, in the cast. The American
Theatre continues to give Eng ish opera, with
good voices and good setting, for IS and so
cents, and the Metropolitan Opera House con-
tinues to give the same in German and Italian
for five and ten dollars. The season closes at
the latter on the twenty fifth of this month, and
completes one of the most successful winters
the music world of New York has known. The
Sunday night concerts at the Opera House have
also drawn unusual crowds. and the artists who
meet the popular demand on these occasions
hold a very real place in the hearts of the
people they sing to. The prices are very
reasonable for these concerts and the house is
filed, and largely by people who care enough
for the music to stand during much or perhaps
the whole of the programme. Nine. Sembrich
is great favorite on these occasions Her
vivacity and magnetism, as well as her won
derful voice, have much to do with this. She
is also greatly in demand for drawing-room
concerts. Some little time since, having been
engaged for one of these by one of New York's
multi-millionaires, she was surprised to receive
a dainty packet containing samples of wall
paper and draperies from her hostess. The ac-
companying note, however. explained the
matter by requesting her to select her gown
ornaments. etc, to harmonic with these SO
that the effect of the whole would be quite
artistic. The last, but one of the Kneisel
Quartet, concerts was given last week. These
have become feature in the musical life of
New York, and have steadily grown in interest
and appreciation. AS one notes all these iu-
roads on ones time, made by the really good
things, ones life must be the loser il passed by,
not to mention the demands of making ones
living" which are at least incidental with the
large majority of us. One necessarily smiles at
the claims of the HUNDRED Year Club" lately
organized here, and N hich counts among its
members such men as Theodore Sutro. J. w.
Grover, Walter S. Logan and others. That
here, of all places, in the midst of this Metro
politan whirlpool, such scheme should spring
into being is in Itself a marvel. The men and
women composing this club propose to study
longevity from both the scientific and practical
standponts, so that vitality may be conserved
and middle age prolonged: so that in fact man
may make the most of every faculty while nc
stays in the world and leave it only when, Ii Il
| the "one-hoss chaise," he has reached the lin j.
| of his usefulness and possibilities in evecy
direction. In this CONNIE ctiOn il is interest u
| to note the proposition, now before the Leg :
lature at Albany, to establish a State "Scht .
| Of Public HEALTH" This will cover in !tructi :
| in all sanitary matters Investigation in b: :
teriology and cognate sciences, and practic !
| observation and guardianship of the water a "A;
food supplies with all genera conditions flo :
i ing public health. The promoters of tn,