The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.

MISS CfSSle Lotus was IN washington
last week, rehearsing for "a Man Of For
ty,' the play il which Daniel Frohman
will present his company at Days The
atre, New York, week from tomorrow
night, and in which Miss Lotus will make
her re-entry upon the legitimate stage.
Those who have seen her over the footiignts
Of the vaudeville stage know her and think
of her as the personifcation OF grace. The
artist and the woman are one and the same,
and the charm of her personality is as ap-
parent and as undeniable in the drawing
room as in the theatre. Miss LOTUS seems
to diffuse an atmosphere about her that
| may best be described as dainty--if this
use Of the word may be permittei-and in
talking over her plans to Times repre-
sentative the other day her manner was
as simple and unaffected as when she used
to say in her quiet way, Ladies and gem
tlemen, l shall endeavor to give you an
imitation OF -" That Miss Lotus has
decided to discontinue her clever drawings
of fellow-artists for the sake Of the dra-
matte stage is undoubtedly a proof of her
high artistic temperament. but by this
same decision one OF the greatest mimics
America has ever known will be lost-but
to the higher cause of art.
Yes, l am going back to the legitimate
stage she said, in response to query. Il
have been in vaudeville now for six years,
and must confess to being tired Of it. You
know, when you have had quite enough OF
a thing there is sure to come time when
you Will stamp your foot and say, L WON'T
That time has come for me. or course.
have made many friends in vaudeville; /
have had great success, and then. you
know, the salary isn't the least consdera-
ton. / do not say that I am out of it for
good, because the chances are that I may
go back for few weeks each season.
About the new play. Miss Loftus?"
We'll, / am delighted with my part. 1t
is not the leading feminine role. as that is
an older wOmans Part than the one l am
going to play, which is the leading Juvenile.
The piece has been given in England. with
George Alexander in the lead and Fay
Davis in the part which am to enact here.
/ am sure that / shall like legitimate work,
because lave tried it before, in America
and In England. 1t is quite different,
though. playing in the two countries. In
England they manifest so much enthus asm.
Over there We look to the pit and the
gallery for our support, and We are rarely
disappointed. In addition to clapping. they
shout Bravo continuously if you have
made q hit, and it is glorious. Now in
America. where ones work may be just
as highly appreciated-and 1 haven't a
doubt but that it is-the people confine
themselves solely to the clapping OF hands,
which is very pleasant music to ones ears.
but at the same time. ii is so encouraging
and SO delightful to be made TO understand
in that dsmcnstrative way-the English
way-that you have pleased your audiences.
AS TO my success in the legitimate, l can
only say that il the public continues to be
as generous to me as hey have in the past
| certainly shall have no misgivings as re-
CARDS my future. l am just now consider
ing a proposition to change my name. Ca.
| only mean my first name. If you please.
My right name is Cecilia and by that
am known to all my friends. but | haven't
quite made up my mind Just what l snail
do about II vet. Still 'Cissie' will not be
particularly dignified when l get TO be
middle aged. Will it?
Miss Lotus was assured that events in
the remote future were not under dis
cusson. and with a bright smile and
cherry Good morning" the interview was
over.
81 made my first appearance as juggler
in the city of Washington during the war.
1t was in the early days of such entertain
ments and OF course the art was nothing
like it is today. l remember, while play
ing an engagement in Charleston, S. c.,
of picking up a cannon ball in the theatre
and tossing it into the air, and thus hit
upon the idea of juggling objects of widely
different weights"
The speaker was August pere. and he
was discussing the performance given by
his two sons and daughter last week at the
Columbia Theatre in The Star and Gar
ter" He continued:
1T was while | was the director of
theatre in Paris that | developed the idea
that you have just seen so successfully
carried out The boys were imbued with
tt,ot Tod IN he tItrfn
from their childhood and l gave them all
the training they required, although Sc
cretly hoping they would never adopt the
stage as profession. Later. while was
the stage director at the Alhambra. the
noted London music hall. placed my sons
in the ballet and pantomime and gave them
excellent opportunities for acquiring grace
and finish. Three years ago I first pre-
sented the performance that We give in
the restaurant scene in THE Star and Gar
ter" and the novelty OF the act at once