The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-06

Moore being responsible for the lyrics.
Edwardes was enthusiastic. He expected
10 create a colossal sensation. 1t was
of course, his opinion that after the first
or second representa- ton the making up
OF the characters to represent the Prince.
the women with whom his name had
been associated, and many prominent
persons IN the highest society. would be
pelemptorily forbidden: but he argued
that the royal veto as to costume ana
mako up would cause such a rush 70
see the piece that il would prove extreme
ly profitable. even when, afterwards, as
he proposed, the actors and actresses APP
pearing in it should wear only their own
ordinary walking dresse and no mako
up whatever.
copy of the manuscript was care
fully compiled, so that no hint of the
actual intention as to make up" etc,
should appear In the text, and it was
sent to the examiner of plays j. s.
Pigott representing the Lord Chamber
lain, who is the official censor A few
days later George Edwardes received
an animation from st. James Palace
that 1t would be wise for him to with
draw his application Tor license for the
extravaganza, polite way of absolutely
prohibiting the production. The type
written manuscript was returned, and
within a year an oquerry of the Prince
called on Mr.. Edwardes with a request
a royal request which is tantamount to
a Command-that the manuscript of the
prohibited play be delivered to him. It
probably rests at the present time in
some corner of the Prince OF Wales pri-
v9te library.
Thet same night His Royal Highness
occupied box at the Gaiety Theater, a
graceful indication TO Gdwardes that he
had not incurred the royal displeasure
and, indeed, during an interval between
acts Albert Edward iokingly intimated
that nc had read the suppressed satire
and had been much amused by it. The
prince still continues q warm supporter
of all entertainments provided by George
Edwardes. In spite Of it's non-production.
Edwardes paid Moore and myself hand
some sum for the work Whether the
astute manager was actually out of
pocket by the transaction or not / am
not in a position to state.
When the Prince of Wales. usually ac-
companied by the Princess, officially
honors a London theater with his pres
ence two huge bouquets are provided by
the management and placed conspicuous
~ in front of the royal box. But there
arc many Ollitl OGCdNlODS NUen England 8
future king hobnobs with those whom an
unrepealed old law designates as "Rogues
and Vagabonds," although his presence
is entirely unknown to loyal subjects in
front of the foothshts and only guessed
al by the majority of those behind. BY
the experienced, an extra air of import
ance, unusual fuss ness and faultless eve
ming dress exhibited by the manager
combined with rlgid enforcement of the
rules prohibiting loitecng in the wings
or outside dressing rooms, are recognized
as indications that somewhere in some
carefully guarded nook in the Kingdom
Of Make believe. the first gentleman in
Europe is making merry after his own
lenguid but always dignihed style.
HIS peeps into the play-actor's world
are kept a profound secret, and woe be-
tide the simple chorus girl so devoid Of
tact as to so much as intimate by word
or look that she recognized her future
king. Such an iniudicious act meant in
slant dismissal Those who were sufi-
GENTLY clever to act in the royal presence
as ingeniousy a upon the stage were
sure Of a valuable present sent anony-
mously the following day while higher
favors were bestowed upon those who
became special favorites.
While singing at the Savoy Theater
during 1881 and 1882 | frequently saw the
Prince of Wales behind the scenes, but
there was less mystery about his visits
there than elsewhere, He would drive
up in a private hanson. dive into George
Grossmlths room and there spend a quiet
hour or two smoking and chatting with
the comedian Of 4he Gilbert and Sullivan
operas for whom he had long cherished
a warm personal friendship. II was main
ly through Grossmith that in 1882 His
Royal Highness invited a party of promi-
nent actors and singers to dine with him
at his London residence, Marlborough
House. There was little formality about
this royal stag party and all went merrl,
ly until a certain well known actor, more
famous perhaps as the husband of a
charming emotional actress, one who has
striven nobly to uphold the position OF
her sex upon the stage, than for any of
his own achievements, ventured to sins
song that would have been voted off
color in any but the most Bohemian Of
clubs. The Prince rose from his seat
before the offensive song was finished
This, Of course, was a signal for all pre-
sent to rise. With courtly grace he ex-
tended his hand TO all hds guests, with
the single exception of the now thorough
~ embarrassed singer. and the party was
suddenly broken up. That actor has never
since made a successful appearance IN
London.
Walter Brown
A stafue Of Rev Adm Ballou, the