The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07

a herd of cattle. The alkali would blind
them in five minutes If it got into their
eyes. and puncher working on a round
up with thousand or two excited range
cattle hasn't any time to go digging for
his pockets when he needs a handker-
chief. Twist them around the other way.
dirty them up a bit, and those fellows
can get this side of Texas.
II was born in Stratfor1 on the Avon.
where Shakespeare first saw the light Of
day. and where his remains now rest. In
fact, | was christened in the church
where his funeral services were held, and
have been reared in the atmosphere where
the bard and his life are matters OF every
day conversation"
So spoke dainty Maud Warrilow. the boy
Stephanus in THE Sign of the Cross.
during performance at the Columbia the
other evening. At this iuncture dark
change on the stage below necessitaied the
extinguishing OF all the lights behind the
curtain. and interviewer and interviewce
were left to struggle with their own
thoughts while the not unemphatic pro
tests of actors and actresses completing
their makeup were brought to their ears.
W hen the dressing room was once
more filled with light Miss warrilow in
dulged in a very English courtesy by in
wiling the newsgetteT to have tea from
dainty outfit on an improvised sideboard.
Not yielding to temptation in this respect,
Miss Warrilow was queried regarding the
bard Of Avon and his birthplace.
I'VE always thought we knew all
about Shakespeare when | was little tot
in school, but as | grew up l found that
the visitors to Avon We're much better
informed than natives OF the place. Near
my nome Is an immense and shady ului-
berry tree where the poet used TO sit while
under the influence of a more potent spell
than that of the Muses.. and sleep 1t on.
Visitors often take leaves from the tree as
suggestive souvenirs and even the Shakes
peare cottage was for a time in great dan-
ger of disappearing piecemeal- tlnaiiF
one of your enterprising American show
men aroused all England by PROPOSE
ton to bring the cottage to America. and
since then it has been better protected and
cared for. American actors are very Dli-
merous there in she summer.
NO, l can't say that my stage career
was at all influenced by being born at
Avon. but about my first experience was
in playing walking ladies and page parts
in the bards comedies. My abbreviated
stature soon caused me to be cast for boy
parts, and after a great struggle l sue
ceeded in acquiring boyish gait, and
since then have been accounted generally
successful. The role of Stephanus is the
best | have ever had; in fact, | doubt If
any better boy part has ever been written.
Modern boys suit me well, and would ike
a series of stock enE1gements here TO Try
Then Mr.. Electrician pulled a switch,
cutting out the lights again. and when
they came on in full bloom the newspaper
man excused himself and Withdrew
Now that the winter season of the La
fayette stock company is nearing its
close, the many friends of the organiza-
ton, which means the public of Washing
ton, are anxious to know just what their
favorites are planning for the future
whether they will remain here with the
Berger summer company or will take
themselves off to new fields and friends.
Washington is not unlike any other city
in manifesting an unusual interest in its
stock company, but it is safe to say that
never has an aggregation of players
taken a stronger hold on the affections
of city's people than have the members
of the Lafayette company.
The management has spared neither toll
nor expense on their productions. and the
interest has been steadily increasing.S since
some necessary changes Were made IN
the personnel of the company. The pro-
auctions have been on most elaborate
scale, and although but week has been
allowed in preparing them, many OF the
plays have been put on with an equal
degree of excellence and attention to de-
tail as marked the original road produc-
lions. ''Cyrano de Bergerac and The
Only Way" are two noteworthy examples.
Stage Director Bellows. who is respon-
sible for the splendid work of the com
pany. and Mr.. Thomas ID. Long. who I
looks after affairs in the front of the
house. will have summer company IN
Denver. Col, at Glitch Gardens. one OF
the most picturesque spots in that part
of the country and famed throughout the
West as a model amusement resort This
will not be their initial venture in Dem
YER as Mr.. Bellows had a stock com /
pany there last year, and MIR. Long has
been business manager of The Gardens
fr,,- I1x1Ta ~lr- he
season will mark an epoch in the history /,
of Denver stock companies. for 1t is their /
intention to engage company that with
the exception of one or two of the larger /
stock organizations in New York City, |
will not be equaled by any in the United /
States in point of artistic status. 1t Will !
be a permanent company ana the an !
nouncement is of particular interest in |
Washington in that it may be brought /
here intact next year. Mr.. Bellows ana |
Mr.. Long have an option on a local thea |
tire for the season of 1912 and are also |
offered time in another Eastern city. In I
of the quite phenomenal |
success of the Lafayette company their |
preference is naturally for Washington, !
and while their plans are asyet incomplete !
it is the hope of everybody that the Cap !
ital will be their choice for next season /
The present season of the Long-Bellews |
company at the Lafayette Will terminate
on April q.
Miss Percy HaswelI, the leading woman +
of the Lafayette organization, Will re-
main here for a few weeks in the same
with the Berger company, ard
will then go to her home at Nantucket
for a much needed rest. She has Just re-
fused an offer to head No. Janice
Meredith" company next season. and is
considering a flattering offer to create
the leading role in big production which
will be made in Chicago during the sum-
mer Miss Haswelis local friends are
legion. She has won them by her charm
ing personality. her splendid work, and
the womanly and lovable qualifications
which have invariably characterized her
MIR. Ormonde, who has
claimed the adulation usually accorded
leading man. will, with Walter Craven
head a summer company at Syracuse. N
Y. John 7 Sullivan has not fully decided
on his future plans. He is considering an
offer to go to Denver and one to remain
with the Berger company. The current |
week will be Miss Grayce SCOTS last one |
as the Lafayettes ingenue, and her de- |
parture will be a matter of general regret. |
Miss Scott goes to Richmond for the sum-
mer. She joined the local company when |
1t was sadly in need of a clever ingenue, |
and her work at all times has been ex- |
cellent.
1t is a genuine pleasure to know that |
Miss Louise Macintosh and Robert /
Rogers will remain in the city. They have |
heen responsible for many a good hearty /
laugh, and their engagement by Mr.. Ber- !
ger Is cause for conSratulation. Charles !
Wyngate and John DAILY Murphy will go |
to Denver, and will undoubtedly repeat |
their Washington successes. Miss Agnes |
plans are still in allegiance. |
Miss Katherine Field, who is, in private
life Mrs Walter Clarke Bellows, will of
course go to Denver. as will Frederic
Sullivan the assistant stage manager |
whose clever handling of minor parts has
been one of the features of the company's
productions
1t seems superfluous to add that all the
players may feel assured of the heartiest
" welcomes when they elect to reappear
here, whether individually or collectively. |
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