Evening star., 1900-10-06

lin All
the handles. chewing a straw. Nothing
odd or peculiar was noticed about the draw
Ing until 1t was published. when wave OF
horror swept over the office The green
looking farmers face was that Of James
G. Blaine, the likeness being remarkably
good. 1t was a common occurrence for
drawings to be returned to Murphy with
the comment that they were all right ex-
cept as to the faces, which would have to
be changed. He deliglltd in putting a cab
met officer or military hero at work
driving new style Of harvest machine or
operating patent churn, and the patent
lookout for him .,
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Sidman, who are the
principal features with Fulgora's Stars
which will appear at Chase's New Grand
next week. are about to abandon vaudeville
and tempt fame and fortune in the legiti-
mate Mr.. Sidman has written a rural
comedy somewhat similar to the Denman
Thompson dramas. which he calls by the
nrs sovfvS n1 ,,,f1,
Folks" Those who have been permitted to
read the manuscript are loud in their en-
thusiasttc praise of its merits and predict
rosy future for the talented actor and
his accomplished little wife. 1t Is remem-
bered that the Sidmans are pioneers In
vaudeville. all their sketches having a brief
but coherent plot and commanding serious
attention because Of their artistic develop
ment and natural qualities.
An interview with Daniel F'rohman which
recently appeared in the Dramatic News
has the merit of candid expression. 1t is
probably the first time that an eminent
manager has ventured to print a fair and
square expression OF his opinion of native
dramatic authorship.
my brother Charles and have spent
thousands Of dollars on American drama
lists within the last few years, only TO find
that they can't write good plays" So re-
marked Daniel Frohman to a Dramatic
News man one day last week. 1t was dur
Ing a rather lengthy conversation relative
to the American and foreign stages. May
print that statement?' was the query. Mr..
FrOhman reflected moment and said:
You may; It's perfectly true; We have to
go abroad for our play material. Other
wise We couldn't keep our theaters open.
No one has been more willing than Charles
Frohman or myself to foster native talent
in the matter of play making. 1t simply
won't foster"
Mr. Frohman furthermore drew attention
to the fact that both his brother and him
self have expended large sums In forfeit
money for plays written to order and not
worth even rehearsal-thts, too. in spite
of the fact that a well-known name was at
tached to the title page.
One Of the big topics of talk in theatre
Gals last week in New York was the cap
ture Of those two legitimate stars. Elita
Proctor Otis and Dorothy Morton. by Cen
eral Manager Hashim for his circuit Of
theaters In New York. Philadelphia and the
Academy Of Music, this city. 1t is said that
the salaries with which Mr.. Hashim tempted
these two celebrated actresses to forsake
the legitimate for vaudeville. were some
thing fabulous, as 1t has been known that
they have been much sought after by other
vaudeville managers in the metropolis.
While on visit to the Academy last We'd
nesday a week Manager Hashim received
a telegram from his New York house stat
considering offers to enter vaudeville. Mr..
Hashim lost no time In getting to New
York, where after a three hours interview
he succeeded in having their names at
tached to contracts to appear in his thea
ters exclusively, both of them appearing
on the same bill at Mr.. Hashim's New
York house Gxoster & Biars) last week,
and each scoring hit
William Faversham. the leading man of
Charles Frohmans Empire Theater Com
pany, which will be here during the coming
week. Is Of English birth, but has received
all his dramatic training in this country.
Nearly all Of 1t has been with his present
manager, and quite the rest of it with that
gentlemans elder brother, Daniel Frohman.
The writer has watched Mr.. Faversham
since the time he went on the Lyceum
Theater stage in New York, about dozen
years ago, to speak the most ordinary an
nouncement, through his gradual advance
ment in all kinds of roles, until he reached
his present position five years ago, and
knows his has been no royal road to emf
nence. Throughout that time he has
worked steadily and earnestly. That his
manager has been ready to appreciate his
efforts and reward them with advancement
has been fortunate for Faversham and has
cleared his path Of heartburnings which are
SO frequent and hard to bear. But his ad
Vancement has been slow, though steady,
and accompanied with a vast amount Of
that Faversham will soon graduate from
leads to stardom, and there are rumors
that it will be next season, and under
Charles Frohmans management. That was
the way with his predecessor. Henry Miller.
But one thing is sure. 1t will not be until
Manager Frohman has found his successor
for the Empire Company.
"welI, 1t beats me how the vaudeville
managers continue to pay the price Of
meal tickets Of some Of the artists you
see In those continuous performance houses
over in New York. said a Washington
man recently returned from the metropolis.
He was chatting with number Of friends
in the lobby Of the Grand
There will be several rattling good
turns" he continued, ,-"and then the pro-
gram will spring some one on you who will
set you wondering why they ever left the
old New Hampshire farm The fodder rack
would seem to be their happy home, rather
than a New York stage. 1t all goes to
show that the people Of Manhattan are
just as tame as the provincials."
MY boy. my boy" spoke up a fellow
in the crowd patronizingly. IF you were a
more frequent visitor to New York you
would cease your wonderment. Those bad