The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-11
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.

1t was Tuesday night last, and in his
dressing room at the Columbia Theatre
Otis Skinner was making up for Prince
Otto" when a Times interviewer promised
he would not occupy more than five min
utes OF the actor's-at that moment, any
way-very valuable time. Mr.. SINNERS
remarks we're uttered as he applied touches
of rouge with the aid Of a rabbits foot.
About my prospective Australian en-
gagement? Well, you know. it's not at all
definite. Mr.. Williamson, who is the most
important OF the theatrical managers
of the antir.odes, has made me very fiat
tering offer TO play season in Australia,
but l have not finally decided to accept it.
1t would necessitate my leaving this coun
try next March, playing couple of weeks
in Honolulu route, and would keep me
away from the United States until next
October. No, Of course, il wouldn't exactly
interfere with my regular season in this
country, but it would mean a vast amount
Of hard work, and don't know whether 1
care to undertake such a big undertaking.
l have Just arrived as our friend, Foxy
CUTLER, would put it, and it's a puzzling
question to decide, this going to Australia.
1t would mean my putting on a repertoire
of pieces. the prominent one Of which would
be Prince Otto / might try some of the
old Fletcher plays, too, ami Mr.. Williamson
wants me to do Hamlet"
And you don't want to show the Aus
.ralians your Hamlet queried the news
paper man.
No, to tell the truth. don't. l want to
get away from Hamlet. l have had my
fling at it and everybody who saw it was
good enough to praise my work extrava-
gantly. The only trouble was that not
enough persons saw the effort to make il
pecuniarily successful. and / am getting to
be too good a business man 10 endeavor to
give the theatre-going public something it
does not wont i guess l am through with
the Shakespearean dramas for good. l am
for the present. at least
Mr.. SINNERS dresser at this moment
came into the room and announced that the
Columbia contained a standing room only"
audience.
That's the best election news I've ever
actor to The Times man over the departing
handshake.
Maclyn ArbuckIe has jumped from the
heavy villain in Pete Bakers THE Ger
man Immigrant to the titular role in
Inc Sprlghtly Romance OF Marsac," seen
at the National Theatre last week. in lust
twelve years. In discussing his work in
his dressing room the other evening with
a Times representative, Mr.. Arbuckle
said:
You may know that l used to be
lawyer: that is to say, ! had tin sign
swinging to the breczes in Texarkana in
IS. announcing that Maelyn Arbuckle was
an attorney at-law. l was only young
fellow then-in fact. had just celebrated
my twenty-second birthday and, like Mr..
Bryan and a few other gentlemen Of TO-
day, had suffered a raiher crushing de-
feat in an effort to be elected Justice CT
the peace. My opponent was grocer
who didn't know anything about Black
stone. but he was able 20 offer credit at
his provision emporium 20 the honest COL
ored voter. something that | couldn't do.
] was pretty well down en- my luck when
Pete Baker happened along. with his /
German Immigrant" had won consid-
cradle local reputation as promising &C
tor by reciting scenes from the immortal
bard's works for the benefit OF the home
fire company. and had an idea / could do
almost as well with Mr. Bakers com
pany. I'll never forget my first appear |
ance. 1t was at Shreveport. La. on
Christmas Day, in 1883. and a special (
train brought over lot of my friends and I
relatives from Texarkana. am not so !,
sure now that made a pronounced sue /
cess OF my initial effort but evidently
WIS good enough to suit the requirements