Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-27
HEIGHT & COMPANY, 513515 SEVENTH STREET. lT@

arena. where the struggle is on for suprerr-
acy between the characters. Ben Hur
drives the four Arabians, while Messiah
chariot is drawn by the two blacks and
the two whites This scene will rival any
thing ever before presented on the stage.
Eight horses actually run at full speed be
fore an excited multitude. The smashing
of Messala's chariot wheel is shown. the
act ending with Ben Hur's triumph and
his browning as the victor.
Messiah, his enemy, now crippled in body
and broken in spirit and funds, Ben Hur
CnCe more resumes his search for his
mother and sister. The first scene of the
last act brings the audience once more to
Jerusalem to the interior Of the Palace Of
Hur. Ben Hur, Simonides and Esther are
there. The barrier between Ben Hur and
Esther removed, their love is unalloyed.
He relates to SimonideS the miracles
wrought by the Nazarene and learns for
the first time that his mother and sister
are lepers, cntombed in the Vale of Hin
nom. He rushes away to find them, IN
mindful of all danger TO himself
The second scene shows the Vale Of Hin
nom, with the cave of the lepers before
which Ben Hur falls exhausted. The tab
lcau changes to the Mount of Olives. In
this scene 80 people are utilized. The
multitude bearing palm branches, come to
greet the NaZarene, the presence of the
Savior being merely suggested by a shaft
of wondrously brilliant light. great
chorus sing Hosannas, and the miracle of
the cleansing of the leprous mother and
daughter Is performed. This incident IS
quickly followed by the reunion Of Ben
Hur and his mother and sister and Esther
AS the curtain falls song OF thanksglV-
ing swells out from the hillsides IN all d.
Tcctions.
There are few more agreeable raconteurs
in the theatrical profession than Joseph
Holland. Born in the profession, his early
days were spent in the company Of many
famous old actors who at one time or an
her had been associated with his diStin-
guished father He has a great fund Of
anecdotes connected with these people, es-
peciaIly of his early experience as an actor
spent in California about fifteen years ago
in a company which included such sterling
nld-ttners as Mckee Rankin, Dan Harkns,
Charles Bishop, Frank Mordaunt and few
more In the same class. They took an af-
fectionate interest in the progress of the
young man. and he got a thorough training
in every variety of drama, tragedy, come
dy, burlesque. &c. On one occasion the
company put on a burlesque Of THE Forty
Thieves" There was no special part in 1t
for Holland but he was put down in the
cast by Mckee Rankin. who was manager
| of the company, ana told to go on and do
| anything he liked that he thought would
| prove diverting to the audience. After con-
| siderable thought the young actor decided
| to wear Roman costume that was much
| too small for him in the arms and sleeves
| and as he was a tail and lanky young man
| in those days the effect was very comical
| At that time Henry Irving had come into
| prominence in England and was already
| greatly discussed in this country. Holland
| had a special picture of irving sent from
| England. and it occurred to him that as
| the contour of his face and the shape Of
| his nose were not unlike Irving, 1t might
| prove a happy idea to make up to re-
| semble the great English actor. He did
| So and was heartily complimented by his
| elder associates. He had never seen irving.
| but Rankin and Harkins had, and they
gave him pointers to the peculiarities
( of Irving'S walk and voice. To add to his
| grotesqueness, he wore a huge Spanish ruff
| fle around hts neck. The Irving make
! up" was new thing in California. Hol-
| land made q hit and felt very proud of Il.
On the second night of the engagement he
had occasion to go to the box office after
his part In the performance was finished
Just as he got there the audience was COM
Ing out. With the modcsty and dignity of
the true actor. he tried to escape the at
| tention of the people. but as he was hur-
rying away he was hailed by an old friend,
| Major Bowling, who was in command of
the garrison at Fort Black. MY boy, L
| want TO congratulate YOU, said the major,
ehusively Your makeup is wonderful,
| wonderful"
Holland felt very much embarrassed and
| deprecated such exceptional compliments.
| NO, no. my boy" said the major. You
| deserve il. The resemblance was perfect
| My friends here all bear me out in my opin-
ion"
He thereupon introduced the young actor
! to several captains and lieutenants, and
NneS reiterated the mayor > warm words of
praise. But it suddenly dawned upon Hol-
| land that Major Bowling had been sta
| toned on the Pacific coast for fifteen Years
or more, and that Irving had never visited
San Francisco. So ii was with some an
prehension that he asked the officer:
| did you ever see the actor?"
| Certainly. my friend; many times" re-
piled the major. why, / saw him only
| four weeks ago
-Four weeks ago?' echoed Holland
| why. whom do you think l was made up
| for?'' -.-
| why. Lawrence Barrett of course" re-
| piled the major lit was great: ii was
great
With the righteousness of youth the
| young actor told Rankin. Mordaunt and
the other old actors of the Incident and
, thereby subjected himself to a course OF
| guying which did not end for many days
Lionel BARRYMORE renrnsenfs tia fo,,rth