Evening star., 1900-09-29


imitated-poiicemen politicians, capitalists
speakers. musicians and artists are given
attention, which delights the crowd. for one
of the things which most pleases an Amerl-
can audience is to see some one made run
Of"
Lewis Morrison enjoys the distinction OF
being regarded in his profession as one OF
the most eminent of American stage direc-
tors. Few people outside those who are
directly interested in theatrical productions
are cognzant of the responsibility involved
upon capable stage director. 1t is i'm
possible here to give but cursory resume
FIRST of all, do not confuse the stage direc-
tor with the stage manager. for they are
two distinctly different men. The former
creates. while the latter only initiates; the
one inyents business, situations. climaxes.
etc, while the other merely superintends.
Stage direction is business, profession or
art, If you care to call 1t so. by itself 1t
requires certain Unborn fitness. a con-
structive faculty and vivid Imagination,
that cannot be acquired by experience.
Stage directors are born, not made. Their
creative genius and intuitive perception
must come spontaneous and natural. The
character and disposition of a stage direc-
tor always have the earmarks of his work,
the more realistic and original the man.
the more so his stage business. These men
are rare, and those who make this their
exclusive study be counted on the
fingers of the one hand while the recog
nized actor-directors can be safely num-
bered upon the other. Many actors direct
their own companies in the business of
their own individual plays, but the men
who can pick up a manuscript and insert
the business to the satisfaction of the press
and public are very rare, indeed. To par
ticipate in a rehearsal presided over by Mr..
Morrison is like listening to some learned
professor expatiating to his class the intri-
cacies of some mathematical problem. He is
In all ha rtr ,tS
of the stage, from the gridiron to the tor
mentor. and from the manipulating of a
star trap to the setting Of the famous
| Brocken scene. He is an excellent electri-
clan. all Of the bewildering effects in
Faust being Of his own invention. He
Is musician as Well as a literary scholar.
when did you begin your work as an
! elephant trafner?' was asked Mr.. Lock-
hart, who has the trained elephants Trilby,
Wilhelmina. Hattie and 1.-The baby" at
Chase's New Grand this week and next.
Il commenced to train them in India,
think 1t was about 1879. 1 first got two
small ones, not the ones / have now, but
two others, 1 bought them in British India,
and l called them Jock and Jennie
trained them. and after 1 had given two
exhibitions in Calcutta 1 shipped them to
Europe. They walked on barrels, stood on
their heads, would lie down or sit down
the organ. l took them then from Cal
cGtta to Europe. going direct to London.
My first engagement was at Her Majesty's
Theater, and there / made a grand sue
cess, for an elephant that crossed his feet
| and played an organ was never heard of
before in London. l had also trained them
to waltz.
Now" continued Mr.. Lockhart. las to
your question to whether elephants diff
fer from other animals in training l would
say mo- You can take any animal you
like and do more by good treatment than
| you can any other way. I do not say that
you do not have to make them understand
that you are the master. If you own a
dog, you must be the MASTER.
He was asked if elephants were not more
treacherous than other animals, and he
replied: Il do not believe that. because
think / could teach these animals of mine
at any time without danger. Where the
trouble comes in is really with the male
elephant; you cannot always depend upon
him when he reaches a certain age. 1t Is
| the same as with dog going mad. He
will be sure to bite his best friend first.
| five years, one Of them is in America now
Jennie. The trio 1 have here with me
have had for some time. They came from
Burmah. l got two at Antwerp and the
| have is beauty. Did you see her? Will
| helmina. L have had about ten years. the
others from five to six years. l am con-
| tinually training them. After the first
| derstand my language when 1 speak to
| them: then 1 have one Of the other ele-
! plants do a trick in front of the other and
| teach one by letting him see the others
act, but it requires patience and perse-
verance. You never find two elephants
! alike. The quickest Of this trio to learn
was Trilby; she Is Isl more tractable a,le and and
| hours each day, but, of course. the present
! week they get very little exercise. as we
! are working them twice a day, and that is
sufficient to keep them In training.
Manager Alexander Hashim has a great
| artist among his entertainers for next week
in the person of Camilla Urso, the world
| renowned yioIinist. When the announce
| ment was made that Nine. Urso had accept
| ed propositions to appear In vaudeville
| everyone was surprised, and a prominent
! New York newspaper doubted her ability
| to force the attentions and applause of the
patrons Of vaudeville houses. OF course her
name and worldwide reputation would draw
| a new class Of spectators, but would the
great masses listen to her chaste and ele-
waited style? In accepting the offers Nine.
Urso had confidence in her past artistic life
and the great success achieved in all parts
of the world The criticisms Of the press
| from all cities where she has appeared
proves that the great masses can be i'm
| pressed and pleased with Intellectual work
| il presented in a happy form by truly
great musician. The execution of such
| pieces as Reverie (Vieuxtemps), Carnival
de Venice {PaganinD and the intermezzo
| from Cavalliera Rusticana by this cele-
brated artistic. are considered, beyond criti-
| c1ssn. She is said to retain in absolute per-
| fcction that full command of the bow, the
perfect tone, the exquisite effects of light
and shade-the tender. sympathetic interpre-
| tation that long ago made her mistress of
her art.
Thomas luther who during the early part
| of the present week played as support to
Miss Kathryn Osternsn IN her sketch at
| the Grand Opera House. died last night at
8 o'clock at the Hotel Regent. The young
man was sufferer from consumption, and
although he had been In III health for some
| time he continued to work, not taking to
| his bed until after the matinee last Thurs
| day. He was then seen to be in a preca-
| rious condition Relatives Of Mr. luther
/ live In Memphis. Tenn. and have been tele-
| graphed to. The remains will probably be
taken to the southern homa for interment.