The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-29

that Otis Skinner will revive IL by the late
George II. Boxer. 1t is generally sup
posed to have been produced originally
by Lawrence Barrett, but that idea Is In.
correct. Ethelbert A. Marshall staged 1t
at the old Broadway Theatre in 1855, p.
l.. Davenport was the LdRcioho, Charles
Fisher the Jester, Monergan the Pdotd
and Nine. Ponisi the Frdncescd. Later
in the season Julia Dean played the heroine
with Davenport, n there is a tradition
that Mrs. John Drew acted the part. with
him, though no mention is made oil this
performance in her "reminiscences; Inc
first production was not successful, u
Mr.. Boxer rewrote his work for the Barrett
experiment, which was made at the star
Theatre on Aug. %, 1883, and was bril-
liantly prosperous. louis James and Marie
Wainwright were Mr.. Barrett's chief as
s~istants.
As two Of the three foreign plays are sure
TO be brought 70 US they are worth gl%nolng
at. Stephen Phillips's "Paola and Fran
cssca" l. the one that Is doubtful about
coming, but IL has been widely read here.
George Alexander il about To put 1t on at the
81. James in London. Sarah Bernhardt
Is preparing her production Of the Craw-
ford drama, of which she il reported to
have said. 1T isn't very good but 1t Is the
best | could get. and certainly far better
than D~'Annunzio's." The hit at Duse IN
this Is obvious. The Italian actress Will
make D'Annunzio's Francesca ola Rlmihl
the principal play In her American tour
next season. II wa produced In Rome
on Dec. q, and the cheaper parts OF the
house kept up such an insulting hubbub that
much of the play could not be heard. But
this was credited 10 the public dislike 9l
D'Annunzio. The critics We're enthusiastic
about the tragedy. Adelaide kistOri, once
the accepted Francesca of the Italian stage,
occupied a box TO see Eleanora Duse on the
opening night. It has been reported
that Tommaso Salvini would come TO
America with Du@e in Francesca ola Kim
mi" hut that is quite absurd, as he has
retired from the stage. II Is his son, Gus,
tavo. who i acting PdOld with her, and
who will probably come here.
Few actors ever talk about themselves
without a sad or comic display Of egotism.
But Henry Irving never shows that pe-
culiar weakness Of his calling when he
speaks or writes for publication. Il make
no apology for telling this story he saws.
because il illustrates the brotherhood Of
Christmas by one Of { hose experiences no
man should forget. This poor actor went
10 dine one Christmas Day AZ the house
Of a CumTade who was far from atllucnt
except in native kindllncss The invita-
ton was u godS"ud TO the guest, who had
no other prospect OF a satisfying meal
or even II a generous iift~ld". He found
the temperature just then most undeslrably
keen. FOR somehow his salary had left no
margin for winter garments. IL" sllV-
cred on the Journey 20 h- Trend = house
and he ~hiverci when he went in. though he
made believe hcroically 10 have stirred up
his circulation with an inVlgurating walk.
His host ra2nd az him and fidg"tcd a little,
and SEEMED un~accuuntahly absent dried
up. a. We actors say IN she most element
ary conversation. Then lac looked at his
watch. and said. Nearly diun"rtime, by
JOye. you'd like 20 70 uIStdlr, aIu have a