Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-04-29
EDWARD VII. AND THE ACTORS.
New Monarch's Former and Future
Attitude Toward Theaters.


Attitude Toward Theaters.
Edward VII, says the London cor
respondent of the New York Clipper,
is thorough man of the world, and
SO good a patron of the theater that
he is apt to fully realize the serious
nature Of the damage that might be
caused to so important a phase of
| commercial enterprise as the catering
| to the public amusement if any large
section of society abstained from
| patronizing the theaters out Of respect
for the formal mourning of the court.
He is man of the greatest tact, com
bined with much kindness of heart,
and he is pretty certain to let it be
known that he does not wish that
playgoers should abstain from visiting
the theatres because Of respect to the
memory of Victoria. Such an intima-
ton can be given quite informally,
and it is more than likely to be put
nature of the new sovereign is we'll
summed up in a paragraph written.
think, by another Edward, who is
the business manager for Mrs.
Langtry. AS he puts it: mo one will
be more missed at theaters than the
king, who was not only an inveterate
theatregoer, but who set an example
which is unfortunately not often fol
lowed by the occupants of stalls and
boxes. Not only did he make it a
point never to be late, but he never
left his box until the curtain was
down, and directly it went up on an
other act was always in his place
But further example Of his courtesy
and consideration is offered by the
fact that, no matter whether he liked
the play or not, he never gave it a
social damning by leaving until the
final curtain, and never expressed an
adverse opinion
4 have heard several American pro
fessionals relate their meetings with
and they have in every case shown
by their candid remarks that his man
ner was such that they were made tC
feel thoroughly at ease, and that
while the tremendous Importance OF
the parsonage from an English point
of view existed, he was, so far as
the meeting of the moment was con
cerned, simply a courteous gentleman
who desired to say a kindly word tc
one who had entertained him.
The instances of American pro
fessionals who had met the Prince Oh
Wales in connection with his visit
to places of entertainment, and which
they had related to me, occur to me
as | write One was very recently in
Paris, where / was dining with a
prominent American circus manager
and an English actor. Something was
said about the Prince of Wales and
the Englishman said that he had been
presented to his royal highness.
''And SO have l." said the American
"and you can take it from me that he
is good old pal"
The Englishman stared in blank
establishment at such a familiar state
ment, but the good old circus man die
not notice the result of his remark
nor mark the amused grin of your cor
respondent at the actors amaZement
He had acted as guide to the prince
during the visit to famous American
show, and his opinion was the result
of the way his guest had acted while
under his guidance.
In the other instance the prince had
asked that a very well-known Ame"i
can actor should come to bis box to be
presented, and to be thanked for the
pleasure the performance had af
forded the royal visitor. The actor
was somewhat embarrassed, as he die
not understand the simpucity of the
incident, and he said in telling of il
an hour later. that he was ratified
"All I noticed was" he said, that the
prince talked such broken English
that at first though he was having g
game with me, and I'm hanged if
could more than half make out what
he said"
AS a matter Of fact, Edward VII
does speak English with very de
cided German accent, which is politely
alluded to by his friends as q
peculiar rich burr in his voice."