The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04

NJ Palmer had been the exploiter Of that
remarkable troupe. The visitor returned
to his seat. MIR. Palmer" uuoth he.
tell me something about the Union
Square Stock Company"
Mr. Palmer was not oyer-wilhng There
Is little TO tell. he plead. Doubtless you
know when the association was formed
1872. You must know. too. that. inhahiting
the Union Square and the Madison Square
Theatres il held together until 1890. Ten
years were spent az the former house and
eight at the latter. Popularity followed II
from one to the other This popularity
was Que to a wonderful esprit du corps.
The democratic principles maintained we're
not equally marked even in the Wailack
troupe. My people were cast for parts. not
because Of their position. but because OF
their fitness. / have had J. II. Stoddart
| impersonating a servant and speaking NJ
teen or twenty lines I stepped into the
management of the combination directly
from position in the Mercantile Library.
of New York. and naturally was both sur
prised and grathed at the success that at
tended my maiden endeavOr."
Yours was TIE honor of introducing
many players and many plays now Ia
nous"
Well" answered Mr.. Palmer. Il don't
think | shall be Boosting il | say yes
to that When the Union Square Stock
Company was got together its members
were comparatively few. Charles Thorue
was leading man, Stuart Robson was the
comedian. Mckee Rankin was our heavy
John PARCEL was the first old man. j. II
StOddart aud W. j. lie Moyne were charac-
ter men Mrs. lie Moyne was utility woman
and besides. the roster bore the names Of
Agnes Booth Clara Morris, Rose Eytinge.
Eliza Weathersby. Sarah Jewett, Kate
Claxton, Mrs wilkins, and Fanny Marratt
The biographies of these fifteen Thespians
would fill a great volume for all came 70
be celebrities in time. Later on. the Tn
ion Square Stock Company included also
Charles Coghlan. James O'Nein. Richard
Mansfield. f. f. Mackay. Mrs. Gilbert.
Maude Harrison, Katherine Rogers. Char
lotte Thompson, George Gibbons. !. B
Polk, and Maude Granger. Among the
pieces We produced we're The Two Or
phans. "A Celebrated Case a Partisan
Romance Led Astray,' Rose Michell
The Danichefs. The Bankers Daughter,
The Lights Of London. and others that
still are on the boards"
1T was under your direction that Rich
ard Mansfield made his first notable hit?'
His first notable hit in a dramatic
line" corrected Mr.. Palmer. Mr.. Mans
Il d
comic opera when he came to the Union
Square. No one had ever seen him in
straight work however. and he began
with us in the smallest and least eonse-
quential Of roles. J. II. StoddaTt, who is
in town with Henry Miller. was cast for
the part Of Baron Chevrial when "A Pa
risian Romance was put into rehearsal.
but he did not feel fitted for the charac-
ter and threw it up. Mr. Mansfield had
given evidences Of intelligence and ability.
so the portrayal was assigned to him. He
had been about to attempt the role Of the
tired mana short comedy bit-and was
much delighted at his increased oppor-
tunity. The result Of that opportunity you
know. Never have ! seen 50 complete a
triumph. To me the art of Mr.. Mansfield
is best shown in the fact that except for
a little Tightening. his conception has not
changed since. Mr. Mansfield is not an ac-
tor Of impulse. He understood what he
was doing on that first night and has had
no occasion to alter his ideas"
The reporter had gone back to the door
He waited until Mr.. Palmer. whose voice
had taken a confidential tone, had finished.
Then he remarked: Thank you. think
that will make an interesting story"
A look of real surprise on the face Of
the manager dissolved into a smile.
Dear me-" said he. I've been inter-
viewed"