The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-04

siberia still more completely, entered the
lecture held. Last evening. Mr.. KEENAN,
was roundly applauded as he arose. The
lecture was delivered in clear and pena-
tratng voice. but with few gestures and
no oratorieal effort.
The prevailing public mood has much to
do with the success or failure of a play.
Rupert of Hentzau' has not exactly fail
ed at the st. James Theater, in London,
but il has had far from an enthusiasts
reception, and the closing tableau of The
dead hero lying in state was emitted after
the first representation in Difference to
pubic feeling. Heroes lying in state are
not eXhilarating objects in the mimic
scene just now in the view of English
playSoers. The reviewers, of course pick
all the flaws in play, but do not seem 10
appreciate the originality and fine poet
&c quality of the great scene Of Rassen-
dylls temptation in its last act
10 call an actor Tommer is to rate
him low, says the dramatic man of the
New York Sun. 1t is the same as saying
that he is, or ought to be- in company
playing Uncle Toms Cabin" The drama
made from Harriet Beecher Stoves book
has been acted more times than any 9TH
er American piece. 1t was made without
the consent of the authoress or publish
err as the law permitted in those DAYS
and Mrs. Stowe never got a dollar from
the theatrical use of her work If she
had received such royalties as are paid
now she would have died very wealthy
The play has never been out of acting
since its first production at. Troy, N Y,
half century ago. Substantially the same
version is still used. Bood-hounds and
donkeyS have been introduced bands of
negroes singing ragtime tunes in the cot
ton field, steamboat is blown up with
modern dynamite, and Little Eva leads
with Uncle Tom in a cake walk, but the
piece itself is a classic which habitual
audiences regard highly. Better versions
have been made from time to time, but
their departures from the standard have
not been liked. 1t is not in the large cities,
however, that Uncle Toms Cabin holds
on to popularity. but chiefly in small cities
and big villages.
William Favorsham, the favorite of mat
lnee girls ana leading man of the Empire
nheater Company of New York, may be
lost to the stage if the South African war
continues long. Mr.. Favorsham is a
WarWickshire Engiishman, and a member
of the yeomanry there. Before he came
to American he servel his time in the
militia organization. When war was de-
clared, he sent his name 10 his old com
mander 20 assure his Colonel that. if
needed, the actor was ready for service
My name is on the list,". said he to a
New York newspaper man, land if 1 am
called l shall promptly respond and go TO
the front"
1t is said that for the first ninety-two
performances of ''Ben-Hur'' at the Broad
way Theater. in New York city the re-
ceipts have reached the enormous aggre-
gale of 1854, S29. This lis an average of
over 5000 a performance.
One of the neatest of the authenticated
stories of the stage relates to Richard
Brinsley Sheridan and the dramatist.
Cumberland.
Sheridan being anxious to collect the
opinions of the acknowledged judges of
dramatic merit concerning his comedy,
"The School for Scandal" asked friend
what Cumberland said on the night of the
first performance.
mot a SYLLABLE was the answer.
But did he seem amused?"
Why, faith was the reply, 'he might