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

was Increased as my position was bettered
and my salary enlarged. ! borrowed mon
ey and. part by part. secured control Of
the troupe. Though Henry Tesla is the
only member OF the aggregation who re-
mains with me, that company practically
is the one I have today So. with time
and industry, l intend to get into the best
houses OF the country and make myself
recognized. But l am not trying TO force
matters. When | have become worthier
of loftier place my public will realize
the fact. And when it realizes | shall
be ready. Meanwhile | am gaining money
and other valuable things in the popular
priced theatres"
Says Mabel Maitland: Being rather
new to Washington, / am not sure yet
whether Washingtonians recognize that a
man who claims this city for his home is
destined to be among the bestowed of
contemporary poets. Since l began re-
citing-amateurly and professionally
have studied dialect verse rather thor
oughly. l have found none, whether by
Bret Harte or by VIII Carleton, that
breathes the scent of the soil and the in
stincts of a race more than does that of
Paul Laurence Dunbar. And as | was
bred by a negro nanny on plantation
in Tennessee | ought TO know whereof
speak"
While playing here in The Prisoner Of
Zenda three seasons ago / enjoyed the
greatest treat of my life" remarked How
ard Gould on Thursday evening as he
wiped the last vestige of grease paint
from his smooth shaver 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 reverenced 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
sisting Miss Nethersole, who constitute
our chief opposition. She came owe. on
enc night when she was out OF the bill.
and applauded our performance heartily.
| never have been so pleased at anything
as l was at winning the appreciation of
her whom l 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 dlleT ltIl Ludt
theatre was not calculated to breed fond
recolleetions. Still there are laughabie
incidents that come to mind occasionally.
and that which strikes me now seems
worth relating. II was while l was por-
traying 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 Ophelia's
supposed resting place he found 4 draught
that woul 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 to the flies in a sort of floral gey
ser. The effect was ludicrous in the eN-
IRENE and, Mrs. Eberle. blissfully uncon-
scious. repeating the business and the up
heaval. the audience roared. As 2 matter
os fact. think the cast Joined in the mer-
riment"
Mr.. Gould is a player of great promise
end most pleasant afiable gentleman
Sithal.