The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-24

Henry and Miss Terry were unavoidably
detained at their homes by preparations
for the holiday of the year. Otherwise
there is little doubt that there would
have been q larger house, although in
other respects lit would have been inn
possible to improve the audience. The
majority of the boxes were filled with Sc
lect theater parties in regulation cos
tune, while down in the parquet and
even back in the circle, evening dress was
the rule.
All in all, it is doubtful if in all it's his
tory the Metropolitan theater has ever
held more swagger assemblage than
last night. Especially gay were the NJ
| merous theater parties, the men in de-
corous black, and the women eXcellently
gowned and the bright jewels lending ad-
ditional gaiety to the gay scene that
adorned the edifce.
One of the most pleasing features OF tho
audience was the number of young girls,
who formed very large proportion OF
those present. For the most part they
were arrayed in gowns of girlish sim
plicity that forcibly c0ntrasted their bud
ding youth when compared with the more
lavish and exquisite toilettes of tlNr elder
sisters. For many of these it was the
first time that Sir Henry and Miss Terry
had acted, and admiration and wonder
ment the play began, and in many in
stances their appreciation was evident
even when they had left the theater be-
hind. Each movement, each gesture, and
each infection of the voice was eagerly
followed by these young girls whom years
of theater-g going had not taught to ap-
pear Indifferent, whether they felt so Or
not. They allowed their emotion to have
full sway as either of the principals
Gathered tbPD1 in their pDonfiOnG M
bore them along towards the climax.
Added to all this was the fear that
this would be their last opportunity to
witness a performance in which these
two great eXponents( of dramatic art
would take part. 1t is safe to say,
that in all their travels, neither Sir
Henry or Miss Terry have ever found a
more enthusiastic or appreciative aud
ience than the younger members of soci-
ETY. VINO We're present last night.
By no means was the appreciation and
enthusiasm confined to the younger set
last night but in them it was perhaps
more noticeable than In the elders, who
are supposed to be so in the presence Of
such art. Sir Henry Irving and Miss
Terry have long since captured ST. Paul,
and their opening performance last night
found many present who were not there
to be surprised, but to be profoundly
flied, as was frequently demonstrated by
the attention given to the enunciation of
each verse There was no chatting in
the boxes or bored attitudes as is fre-
quently the case, there wasn't distract
ing element in the entire house.
When the last lines had been spoken
and the curtain slowly began to descend,
there was a breathless silence in the
house, a silence that spoke far louder
onT1Ia
power Of the English actor and Miss
Terry Even when the curtain had
reached the floor, the silence continued
deep, as the audience gradually were dis
illusioned and returned to real life, and
to consciousness of the fact, that after
all, what they had seen and heard was
but the portrayal of the scenes which
they had gone through.
Then came the applause, applause that
had been pent up, and which rushed forth
with a spontaneity that must have been
convincing as to its sincerity. The ap-
plause grew louder and louder as It
progressed, and would not cease until
Sir Henry made his appearance before the
curtain. The demonstration on the part
of the audience had lasted SO long that
Sir Henry had ample opportunity to
change from his stage makeup to his
evening dress. His advent before the
CuIldl UdS Tic 0i6ldi LII ohOthSA IVA
tion that did not subside until it was evil
dent that he was trying to make his bow
to retire.
The boxes last night were occupied by
the following box parties: Mrs. James
J. Hill, Mr.. Francis B. Clarke, Mr.. and
Mrs. Louis Hill and Miss Hill; Mr.. and
Mrs Theodore l.. Schurmeier, Rev. The
odore Sedgwick, Miss Virtue, Mrs. Schur-
meier and c. C. Jones; Mr.. and Mrs.
L. A. Wood, Mr.. and Mrs. F. B. Wood.
of Minneapolis, and Mr.. and Mrs. George
Wood; Mr.. and Mrs. Theodore L. Hayes,
Mr.. and Mrs. George A. Rose; Mrs Frank
lin Floete, Miss Meades, Miss Mann DR..
McClumpea and Mr.. G. II. Willard. Of
Minneapolis: DIR. and Mrs. E. v. Apple
by, Mrs. Wilder and Mrs. Spencer. 9th
ers noted were Richards Gordon. Miss
Katherine Richards Gordon, Mr.. and
Mrs E. w Peet Mrs. John l. H Field,
Mr.. T. G. Field, Mr.. and Mrs. Denis Fol-
lett. Miss Roxana Smith. Miss Gotzian,
Mr. and Mrs. jesse Gregg.