The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-04

returned as worthless. When he handed
out a third coin Of spurious character,
the long suffering cigar man said in no
kindly tones:
Now you Just give me back that cigar
and get out O. here, and IL there were any
policemen around I'd have you arrested.
You can't get rid Of your queer money IN
this store-see?'
Robert took the rest of the silver out
Of his pocket and found 1t all to be coun-
terfeit With O word Of explanation TO
his friends. he hurried down the street
in search of the wicked fruiterer who had
put him so to the blush-but, OF course,
without finding him.
1.-THE bad money is now used IN the
fourth act of Lost River in the little
shell game"
Olive Wallace, the erstwhile Nam seile
Awkins," who has been confined TO the
Garfield Memorial Hospital with pneumo-
mia for the past month"; has suffered re-
lapse and is again in a serious condition.
Empyema was suspected during the week.
but aspiration failed to reveal any evil
dence of the complication. There is still
little doubt OF her recovery, yet the con-
valescence is delayed for possibly fort
night. Miss Wallace has been generously
remembered during her illness by pro-
fessional friends with presents of flowers
and other evidences Of esteem.
There is e feeling Of great relief in
the theatrical world. for last week
James X. Hackett finally decided what
his plans will be for the future. 1t VIII
be recalled by those who follow the DRIFT
of dramatics that when the actor an
nounced that the present would be his last
nf I'm oil
Frohman. who. let it be said. had great
deal to do with making the young player
the success he is, he announced that in
years to come he would appear under his
own management. The latest bulletin
from the Hackett headquarters Is to the
effect that he will conduct his own affairs
in so far as the choice of his company.
his business manager, and the plays in
which he will be seen-and Klaw &: Err
LANCER will do the rest. Hackett will play
New York engagement Of ten weeks at
the beginning of each accompanying
he obtains good plays and the public
shows an inclination to patronize them.
This arrangement with KIaw C Erlan-
ger will give Mr. Hackett the benefit OF
what is perhaps the best management in
theatrical life in this country. His
plays will be adequately produced
and everything done TO provide first class
performances. and upon Mr.. Hacketts
own shoulders will rest much Of the re-
sponsibility of his retaining his present
hold upon the public.
1t is understood that Mr.. Hacketts
play for next year will be written by Ed
ward E. Rose, who made over Richard
Caryel' for John Drew's use this season.
The Alice Nielsen Opera Company has
begun a grand tour Of the country. start
ing it's trans-continental trip from Pitts
burg last week. After playing st. Louis the
aggregation will make straight for the Pa
cific Slope. opening in Frisco the latter
part of the month of November.
This return of Miss Nielsen as star to
the land where she was known only as
member of the merry. merry chorus will
be very gratifying to her and to her man
ager, Frank Perley. Soon after the Cali
fornia engagement the return trip will be
begun. playing Los Angeles and the South
ern Pacific route, reaching the New Ma
tional this city. Inauguration week. So
far this season the Nielsen company has
been playing to record breaking business.
A complete orchestra is carried, something
unique in trans -con tinentaf trips.
Notwithstanding the recent confinement
of Charles H. Hoyt, on account OF mental
troubles, friends of the unfortunate play
wright confidently assert that he will pro-
duce a new play along the familiar Hoytian
lines some time this season. Those who
witnessed "a Dog in the Manager" at the
Square Theatre two years ago.
believed at that time that another contri-
button from the pen OF Mr. Hoyt vas not
to be thought of. Some of his admirers.
however, were of the opinion that had he
been in even ordinarily good health Mr..
Hoyt would have been able to whip "a
Dog in the Manager" into shape. as he had
done with so many of his earlier pieces.
Notwithstanding their seeming joyous
spontaneity. Mr.. Hoyt's farces were the
result OF the most concentrated labor. He
spent year On each of his proiuc-
lions before bringing it to New York, de-
voting about half of that time to making
1t ready for the first performance. and the
rest on improvements while using it On
tour of minor towns. He did not begin
writing play with definite outline in his
mind, but would merely take an incident
or character that had come under his per-
sonal observation and proceed deliberately
to develop this nucleus into a full-hedged
farce. This process was slow ami pain
fully labcrious. He had a keen sense Of
the ludicrous. but was alive to the Difficult
ty OF delivering fun across the footlights.
Tha farce. as it appeared on its first
presentation, was really only half evolved.
The first performance was to him only the
beginning of the polishing process. Every
night during this period he sat in the
audience to observe the effects, appearing
at the rehearsal the next day with hun-
dred and one little alterations, interpoll-
tions examinations. and changes in action
and diction. Six months OF this work
usually brought the work to its perfection.
and then only did Hoyt bring it before o
audience.