The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11


( recognized. But ! am not trying TO force
! matters When / have become worthier
! OF a loftier place my public viii realize
/ the fact. And when it realizes ! shall
/ be ready. Meanwhile I am gaining money
I and other valuable things in the popular
! priced theatres"
Says Mabel Maitland: Being rather
/ new to Washington. / am not sure vet
| whether Washngtonians recognize that a
/ man who claims this. city for his home is
| destined to be among the bestowed OF
| contemporary poets. Since / began re-
/ CituE-amateurly and professionally
! have studied dialect verse rather thor
I oughly. | have found none. whether by
Bret Harte or by viii Carleton. that
/ breathes the scent Of the soil aud the in
stincts of race more than does that Of
Paul Laurence Dunbar. And as | was
bred by a negro nanny on plantation
in Tennessee l ought to know whereof
speak"
While playing here in The Prisoner OF
Zenda three seasons ago / enjoyed the
greatest treat of my life. 90 remarked How
ard Could on Thursday evening as he
wiped the last yestige of grease paint
from his smoOth-shaven face and began
DOMINIC his street attire. YOU may know
that. in this profession, | commenced at
the very bottom Of the laddcT-as call boy
at the Boston Museum. Then Annie Clark
was the leading woman Of the Museum
Stock Company and the Localities loved
her as they rcverenced the memory OF
Abraham Lincoln and admired Bacon. We
fellows cared a vast deal for her. too, for
her success never had made any difference
in her and she always had a kind word
for us. Well, when The Zenda troupe
reached Washington Miss Clark was as
s.sting Miss Nethersole. who constituted
oar chief opposition. She came owe. on
enc night. when she was out OF the bill
and applauded our performance heartily.
I never have been so pleased at anything
as l was a. winning the appreciation of
her whom had been taught TO believe
was the most capable Of American
actresses.
Il recall my days at the Museum as
a tired old man recalls the years spent at
school. My experience after I left that
theatre was not calculated to breed fond
recollections. Still there are laughable
incidents that come to mind occasionally,
and that which strikes me row seems
worth relating II was while l was por-
trayiug Laertes TO the Hamlet of Joseph
Haworth and we were appearing in an
opera house that had been a big rink.
When the grave digger came to Ophelias
supposed resting place he found Il draught
that would have done credit to Kansas.
His short Danish tunic was cast over his
head. but he held the cloth with his legs
and continued the scene. The air kept
pouring through that open trap. however
and when Mrs. Eberle. our Queen mother,
dropped her tissue paper roses into the
yawning chasm the props did not fall.
but rose 10 the flies in a sort OF floral gey-
III, TrrHf. in ha
IRENE and, Mrs Eberle, blissfully uncon-
scious. repeating the business and the up
heavaI. the audience roared. As 2 matter
of fact ! think the cast Joined in the mcr
riment'
Nj. Gould is player Of great promise
and a most pleasant afiable gentleman
wiJhal.
stand still Bonner! We're going to be
Interviewed
The Times gossip gatherer had dropped
10 behind the curtain at the Grand for
the purpose OF seeing c. L. Edwards the
exhibitor Of the trained horse that was
so generally admired last week. and had
been taken 20 a corner Of the house. where
Bonner was tied. But the beast like
spoiled child. had determined upon show
ing of before company and the result
was series OF movements that effectualiy
check mated Mr. Edwards attempts TO us
play his fine points. A few words quieted
the animal however. and then the Wis
itors stood to one side and praised him.
Isn't he a fine fellow" observed his
master. considering that he has been
travelling over the country for over six
years Spine as right as right can be; legs
and ears small. eyes large and forehead
wide. Anybody could see that he is a
. no. D. A~rI hrr- d hwrI he
is-Of the real Black Hawk stock, His dam
belonged to my father and was a gentle
old girl. His sire was Andrew Jackson
Black Hawk. Hasn't he an intelligent face?
And look at his feet. Bonner never has
been shod in his life"
How many years" began the re-
porter
Nine" interrupted Mr.. Edwards. en-
Enthusiastically. Il began work on him when
he was two and half You see ] have
a farm in Wayne county New York. and
/ am very fond OF my stecds A Jealous
neighbor heard OF my Boosting what | had
done with them. and remarked that
couldn't drive a goat. / made up my
mind that I would convince him. took (
Bonner in hand and. within five months. /
hitChed him up without bride or reins /
and had him go where ever I pleased Bon |
neT can do just a hundred different tricks /
now And he's not my only pride. Another I
horse. called Dynamo. is being exhibited /
by my wife. Lillian Burbank, in summer /
parks"
isn't there some shrewdness on your /
part in the act"
"Oh. / don't deny that. replied Mr.. Ed !
wards, "Of course no person could eK-
pecJ the beast really to count heads and TO /
add and so on He has been trained to I
note small motions from me and TO idep-
tify each with a stipulated feat. For eS-
ample. after l had taught him to draw a
straight line on a slate, l gave him to I'M
derstand that the figure one must be made /
only when that slate was held vertically.
The figures four and seven followed, and
then Bonner learned to do curves. 4
touch or a position Of my body suggests to
him what he must accomplish But brute
hardly could be caused TO remember had
he no brain. and / think that Bonner's per
Torrance is ample proof that the power OF
thought is not confined to humanity"
The Times man stroked the silken name
of the horse and rubbed the long nose.
Then he thanked Mr. Edwards for his in
formation and turned 10 go. Wait a mo-
ment." quOth that gentleman And then
to the animal: Bonner, aren't you glad to
have met Mr. -2"
Bonner nodded.
And you hope he'll come again."
The nod was repeated.
Say gOOd-b
Bonner stretched his graceful neck and
laid his head affectionately on the shoulder
of the guest. His eyes did not turn from
Mr.. Edwards until the trainer raised his
hand Then Bonner resumed his position
and the reporter resumed his way.
THE LOUNGERS' LEAGUE.