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

NJ. Palmer had been the exploter of that
remarkable troupe. The visitor returned
to his seat MIR. Palmer" quoth he.
tell me something about the Union
Square Stock Company"
MIR Palmer was not over-wiliing There
is little to tell" he plead. Doubtless you
know when the association was formed
49, You must know. too. that. innabiting
the Union Square and the Madison Square
Theatres. II held together until 1880. Ten
years were spent at the former house and
eight at the latter. Popularity followed it
from one to the other. This popularity
was Cue to a wonderful esprit du corps
The democratic principles maintained were
not equally marked even in the Waiiack
troupe. Ny people were cast for parts. not
because Of their position. but because OF
their fitness. / have had J. III. Stoddart
impersonating a servant and speaking NJ
teen or twenty lines ! stepped into the
management of the combination directly
from position in the Mercantile Library.
On Kew York. and naturally was both sur
prised and gratihed at the success that at
tended my maiden endeavor."
Yours was tbs honor of introducing
many players and many plays now Ia
nous.
Well" answered Mr. Palmer. 81 don't
think shall be boastins IL l say yes
% that When the Union Square Stock
Company was got together its members
we're comparatively few. Charles Thorne
was leading man, Stuart Robson was the
comedian. Mckee Rankin was our heavy.
John PARCEL was the first old man, ]. II.
Stoddart and w. ]. 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 Thespans
would fill great volume, for all came to
be celebrities in time Later on. the I'm
ion Square Stock Company included also
Charles Coghlan, James O'Neill. Richard
Mansfield. f. f. Mackay, Mrs. Gilbert,
Maude Harrison. Katherine Rogers Char
lotte Thompson, George Gibbons. J. B.
Polk. and Maude Granger. Among the
pieces we produced were The Two Or
phans.' "A Celebrated Case a Partisan
Romance Led Astray,' Rose Michel,
The Danicheffs. The Bankers Daughter
The Lights Of London and others that
still are on the boards
ut 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
field had quite a reputation as a singer in
comic opera when hi 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 conse
quential of roles. ]. II. Stoddart, 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
tanity. The result OF that opportunity you
know. Never have / seen so 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 hal finished.
Then he remarked: Thank yoI,. / think
that will make an interesting story"
\ look OF real surprise on the face of
the manager dissolved into a smile.
Dear me-" said he. I've been inter-
viewed:''