The times., 1899-08-06

US S'au tndl the eHSfE mas been added to |
ner steadily growing list of premieres for
the coming season.
An Overwhelmingly sad bit OF news
comes from Baltimore-Eleanor Brown
ing mas been engaged for the Lyceum Stock
company. When Miss Browning was in
washington with the Columbia's players
ner apparent energy and ambition made her
many friends. All of these regret that
both energy and ambition should come to
so pathetic an end as the Baltimore Ly-
ceum.
w Maurice Hale, who was ahead" of
Alice Nielsen last season, Is spending the
summer at his home in this city. Mr.. Hale
is localite, and has probably come to re-
semble the individual who died in Alaska
Oh EMIL, had been sent to a crematory,
ana was about to be removed from the fur
mace when he was heard calling to the
undertaker's assistants, For heavens sake
close the door. | can't stand the draft"
Among the productions to be made rext
month will be that OF "A Coming Metrop-
oils. a musical comedy which Is to be
taken on the road by A. C. West. a native
OF TINS city. The piece is in three acts. is
described as being unusually clever. and
will be done by a strong company.
One of the biggest hits ever made in
London variety theatre has been scored
at the Palace by Wills and Loretto, who
hali from Washington. The team was re-
ceived enthusiastically by critics and
crowds, both of which classes exerted such
influence that the clever entertainers will
PROBABLY remain abroad for some time to
come. Wills and Loretto have been seen
here with the Roster & Bial Congress of
and uf h.
Charles Shaw, brother of genial Jed
Shaw, of the National, has returned to
the Capital City and will remain here
until the opening of the season at the
American, where he is to serve as treas
urer Mr.. Shaw was formerly assisted bv
Edgar Disney, also of Washington. in di-
reeting the financial destinies of Augustus
Pitou's Grand Opera House. in New York.
but recently received such an offer from
the management OF the American that he
deemed it wise to sever his earlier con-
nection
1t has been announced that Nora O'Brien.
who played ingenue roles with Eugenie
Blair at the Columbia has been re-en-
gagged for the part of the Queen in the
James O'Neill presentation of The Mus
keteers." Miss O'Brien is a reasonably
clever woman, who might be very sue
eessful if she could learn to forget that
she is an actress
Fred Bond mas just terminated profit-
able season Of nine weeks at Proctor's
Theatre, Albany. Mr.. Bond took his or
ganiZation into that house late in May
and made so instantaneous a hit that his
engagement has determined the manage
ment upon an entirely new policy for their
place of amusement, which was once given
over to vaudeville. A clever fellow-Fred
Bond.
According to the New York Telegraph
pretty Elfe Fay, who was once the lido.
of Bijou audiences, has waded shoulder
deep in luck at Chicago. 1t is reported
that Miss Fay attended the races in the
Windy City with deal less than $500
in her possession and that after weeks
plunging she returned to Gotham with
something like $500. Which is real luck
if true.
Mark Bennett. of the firm of Bennett &
Rich, song illustrators, hass5sen devoting
fortnight OF his vacation to Washing
ton. Mr.. Bennett will be seen next season
in the revival of E. G. Corbett's success,
Wine, Woman. and Song"
In glanclng over the announcements of
the preparations now being made for the
coming season Of grand opera in this eoun-
try one notices that Washington seems 70
have been left out of the list OF cities to be
visited. This is not inexplicable, for dur
ing the past few years the local engage
ments of the more expensive organizations
have been the occasions of considerable
loss TO their proprietors, but nevertheless
the omission seems odd. This city is per-
haps the one of all others in which first
class renderings of first-class music should
pay. The fact that they have not done so is
rather reflection upon the manner in
which they have been handled thar any
thing else. When Congress is in session the
field here ought to be an excellent one, and
probably would be with sufficient cultiya-
ton.
After the date played by the GTau
Company last spring at the Grand some
thing was said about following it with opera
in small doses-that is to say in shorter
seasons than hitherto. The idea put for
ward was that three or four performances
given during the year, one at a time and
at intervals of few months should be
profitable. Notwithstanding the expense Of
bringing a large combination from New
York for a single evening, the plan seems
feasible and deserves consideration. But Ia
whatever fashion ii comes, the opera-lovsrs
disastrous attempts to make the local sea-
sons yield well have not discouraged Man
ager Grau and that the Capital is not 20
share the fate of Chicago. the music bereft.
Scions of the fourth estate" are so gen
orally and notoriousiy proud TO be des-
ignated as newspaper men"-so tempted
to ridicule the claimants to the term jour
nalist''-that a little anecdote now going
the rounds among professional people car
ries with ii double point. The tale.
which Is really a true one, concerns a local
dramatic critic of some reputation, VINO
visited Eugene Blair last week at her
delightful country home near Benning
He was more than well received and re-
mained for so extended a period that when
he finally rose to go the last train for
Washington had departed and 1t became
necessary for him TO ride into town. To
this end two horses, one mounted by lit
tie colored boy, were furnished him and he
set out.
Hardly had the duo left Miss BARS cot
tage behind when the escort waxed iEquisi-
tive and began asking questions. Many OF
them were very funny, and ali were so In
nocently put that the guest copid not have
been offended The queries. without ex-
.ceotion. were personal. aud when the lad
had learned all there was to learn regard
ing the shop at which his companion Iur-
chased wearing apparel. his age and gen.
eraI history, the conversation turned to
professions, and the small negro. without
hesitating suggested is yo' a membah
OBJ Miss 'Genie's comp ny
The visitor assured the inqgisitor that
he was not. There was a moments si-
lence and then
"Is yo' a nacter?"
The critic denied "the soft impeacl-