Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-01
RecoNectionS OfROSe Eytinge

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS uuulnTIulutnT
room, which was fitted up as a sort Of
den and writing room, were coored
dark blue, and there were little plas-
ter casts and small pictures scattered
about. and everywhere there We're EVIL
dences OF his reaching out after liter
any and artistic atmosphere.
The result OF this visit wac that
agreed 10 originate the part Of Laura
CORTLAND.
Again DAILY surrounded himself with
an exceptionally good company, J. X.
Mortlmar playing the character part
and Dolly Davenport the lead. ! con
fess / do not remember the story
only remember that the situation Of the
piece Is where break down a door
with an axe which / oppouuuely find
and rescue somebody who Is dashed
down on a railroad track, and that
this business was preceded by my
frantic exclamation, "the axe. the axe"
This exclamation OF mine became
sort of catch-word, ana Davenport, who
was an incorrlgible guypr used to serve
Il up 10 me on all possible and impossl-
bic occasions with the result that there
was a great deal TOO much giggiing and
guylng during the performance.
Mr.. Daily who was then the same
Watchful. ubiquitous manager he all
ways was. tried every available means
TO check us, with, | am sorry to say
very little success,
one night, In sheer desperation, he
threatened Davenport, whom he with
how much justice ! viii not say looked
upon as the ring-leader with immedi-
ate discharge, II he did not on the fol-
lowing night and every performance
thereafter play the part seriously
The next night Davenport made his
appearance dressed completely in black
even wearing through the entire per-
Torrance black Kid gloves, and he
played the part throughout without a
smile. investing II with unbroken lugu-
briOus gloom.
The result was that every scene I'm
which he appeared, even the most seri-
Gus ones, went with shouts Of laughter
and the more the audience laughed
the more solemnly serious Davenport
became.
When the final curtain fell DAILY ap-
peared and fairly and frankly gave up
the fight lie begged Davenport TO
dom his suit Of solemn black and play
the part as he had always played g.
The magnanimous action OF our
young manager had the effect Of max
ing US all feel heartily ashamed OF our
selves, and from that night. by unani-
nous decision. there was no more guy
Ing
These two engagements under Days
management resulted In a friendship
between him any myself that only end
ed with his life
We became good comrades, His duty
as dramatic critic made 10 necessary for
him sometimes to make flying visits 20
several theaters In one evening and |
was always glad TO accept his invita-
ton 20 accompany him on these little
expeditions.
Thus with DAILY I witnessed the first
performance Of French comic opera
that was given In this city. II was la
Grande Duchesse, with Tostee as the
Duchesse
As an indication OF the change IN
public taste. both DAILY and } were
so far from pleased with the perform
ance that we left early In the second
act. finding II rather-wel, rather.-
for our taste. Nowadays the perform.
aucc would be- rated rather slow.
And with DAILY ! witnessed the per-
Torrance of Caste, which was produced
by W. J. Florence.
The piece had been secured from Tom
Robertson 10y Wallack for production
az Wallacks Thoater during the fol-
lowing regular season But Florence
brought over a-shall We say an an
neYed?-copy OF the piece In a Summer
season IN advance OF Walack. with
himself, his wife owen MurloWe. Day-
idge. Mrs Chanfrau. and Mrs. Gilbert
In the cast.
! was particularly pleased with Mrs
Gilberts Performance Of the MarQuise
and | said 10 DAILY when YOU get your
theater. there is a woman YOU ought
10 engage" he replied, u viii How
wcn ne kent his word we all know
n was somewhere about this time
that ! was often invited TO star here
and there Among the offers was one
from Washington and one from
Newark These two I accepted. The
thaater In Newark was under the man
agemeut of Mr. and Mrs Waller, de-
lightful people 10 meet, both personally
and artistIcally.
OF that week retain most pleasant
recolloctions To both these engage
ments naly accompanied me, producing
my pieces for me-
I remember a Quaint Incident which
Al NN'l Nll lIIHlNN 90 N''lf 70 NhI
ing the last act OF Griffith Gaunt
In the most intense situation there
arose. ] could scarcely say from
whence. ne most awful din I-being
IN the prisoners box undergoing trial
for my life-was very greatly distressed
over what seemed 10 be- a wanton ef-
fort 10 disturb my performance.
smoke on the wing several dimes i'm
ppratively demanding that Il should be
stopped NV demands We're quite uu-
availiug and my Annoyance was great
Is increased by observing that MY re-
monstraces We're met hy o. helpless
shrug or shake OF the head accom-
panled by q suppressed smile.
The moment the curtain fell ], intent
upon visiting dire vengeance on the
head OF the offender. was hurrying from