The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-07
CHATS WITH THE PLAYERS.

"Does this car reach the Grggs Hotel. st
4 Times man, coming from the Congress
ional Library on Tuesday evening. heard
a voice say.
What Hotel?'' asked the conductor.
1.-THE Griggs"
Don't know OF such a place"
| 1t was just before o'clock and the We
hicle was well filled with people returning
from their labors. The official had passed
on. and no one Volunteered the informa-
ton desired After a moments pause. the
reporter worked his way up to the throug
/ held by the first speaker. Pardon me-
he remarked. DO you mean the Riggs
! House?"
And then he recognized jefferson de An
CELLS.
| Il believe that is precisely what l do
mean.' quoth Mr.. De Angels. shaking
hands. Singular! I've stopped there
three or four weeks and / never can re-
member the name Of the building. Have
! a strap?''
Thank you" returned the fellow pas
senger. And. moment later he added
We'll. see that you have scored sue
cess with The Jolly Musketeer'"
| The comedian smiled. Despite your dis
4
proud of the fact that have rarely made
a mistake in prophesying the fate of a
work-llterary or dramatic. This state
ment may sound euRceited. but | assure
| you that 1t is truth. On dozen occasions
| this year / have expressed pronounced
opinions regarding certain books, and inva-
riably l have been right. The Wedding
Day was the first OF semi-romantic operas
| since the period OF the real opera comique.
1t was more like The Chimes of Normandy
or The Bohemian Girl than Wang or
| The Merry Monarch. My friends. who
we're not used to that sort of thing. shook
their heads. "a hit said /. And the piece
was hit"
"You should be able to build reputation
in my position laughed The Times man.
But your guess on The Caliph was
| wrong"
Not at ALL" was the reply. II heard
the llbretto OF that product read and lis
tened to the music. Then | told Julian
Edwards that he had wasted his. ink and
paper No vehicle with such a dearth Of
humor as was in The Caliph' could bling
| money. I was forced to make my stellar
debut with the presentation | did not do
it through choice
"The score was charming, l Am inform
ed"
Is the least important thing about such an
output. or course, catchy airs please this
ear, and when they are whistled on the
street the resultant advertising is bene-
fetal People 20 to comic opera for the
purpose of laughing. though, and they are
disappointed II they do not get the oppoI-
tunity. That accounts for the sudden de-
terioration-the jump from The Grand
Duchess to The IDOLS Eye There is
much Of the romantic school in The jolly
Musketeer,' but considerable horse-play.
too. what would you have? We must
live
This Is the second season Of The Mus
keteer?' -
And another example OF my luck or
good Judgment. In September my council
ors told me that was fool il tried the
production another year. 'You made moth
ing last season. quoth they; what can you
expect this?' 1 replied, I lost nothing l
have not had return date since October
that was not profitable. The Jolly Mus
keteer has redeemed ITSELF
And next Sectember?"
Then" said Mr.. De Angels. 81 shall
provide new Offering. The book. which
is now being finished. really could be acted
without note Of music. and would be up
roariously funny. 1t has not been named
as yet, and / am not at liberty to tell you
who is the author. Julian Edwards Srob-
ably will write the score | expect to make
a great hit in the work. Certainly. il will
be the most pretentious affair | have ever
tried"
The car turned OF Pennsylvania Avenue
and familiar white structure came in
sight Mr. De Angels shook hands with
the reporter and prepared to walk away.
Good evening he remarked. II must
leave YOU now. Here is the Briggs House."
The story of Mathilde Preville. the con-
traito of THE Princess Chic company. is
the one dream and hope or nineteen out
of twenty young women who enter the
chorus of an operate organization for
career behind the footlights Up to the
hour of the New Year matinee at the La
fayette Square. Miss Preville had been only
a rather unimpOrtant member of musical
ensembles. first at Days Theatre, and las
err with Francis Wilson, whom she had 50
impressed that. when she sought to leave
his troupe with the idea of joining the
Kirk La Shelle forces. the star endehyored
to restrain her by process OF law. Mr. VIII
son WIS unsuccessful, however. and the
native stage is graced by another aspirant
of looks. intelligence, and voice.
In Speaking of her early work to n Times
first determined upon Thespian venture.
she went into the chorus ut the Metropoli-
tan. but that, after two weeks rehearsal.
she came to the sensible conclusion that she
could never become grand opera prin-
cipal. She didn't want to continue In
small positlon. and so concluded TO try the
comic field. with the result that her name
soon aupeared on the Augustin DAILY pay
roll Two wears under the guidance OF the
late manager gave her a very desirable ex-
nerience. which stands her in good stead |
now that she has risen TO the dignity OF |
leading contralto ia a representative com
bnation Miss Preyille is very sensible |
girl and If composers will write such parts
and she has the opportunity Of interpreting |
them. undoubtedly she soon will rank with |
Jessie Bartlett Davis.
Jimmy" Barry. who was seen last week !
at the Grand is one of the most genial and |
of persons. But according to |
his own statement he is not from the stuff !
of which heroes are made. Mr.. Barry be-
came convinced of this by an episode OF |
less than n month age. My wife and /.
he explains. were playing short engage
ment in u small Western city. After an |
kind reception on the part OF our
audience. we went to the hotel and retired. !
IL seemed to me that had barely laid my
head on the pillow when I was suddenly
and vigorously shaken. and heard my
scared spouse whisper: Ssh. Jim. Get up
quietly. There is man in here My hair
Immediately assumed standing room