davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-01
ASK FOR A RECEIVER
Stockholders Oppose Sale of
Mobile and Ohio.
Refuse 10 Concur in Sale Of The Properly 10 The
Southern and Want That Road Restrained
From Operating Il.
(By the Associated Press }

Meridian, Miss. July -30.--An applica
tion has been filed in the chancery court
here for a receiver for the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad Company. The application
and George L. Venner, of Massachusetts,.
These are the stockholders of the Mobile
and Ohio who refused to concur in the
sale to the Southern and they desire to
restrain the management of the Southern
from operating the Mobile and Ohio They
ask that. a receiver; be appointed to: take
charge of the latter property and con-
duct or operate the same under the direc
tion of the court. They ask further that
persons now acting as officials of the Mo-
bile and Ohio be prohibited from operat
ing the road and that the receiver, when
appointed, advertise the names of all
Mobile, and Ohio stockholders SO chat it
can he ascertained a to who are the
owners of the road. When this is ascer
tanned the receiver is to.sbe, directed to
call a meeting Of the stockholders for the
purpose of electing new officers, and de-
termining the future conduct and policy
Of the road and when directors and Off
Gers are soielected the receiver is to be
dismissed. III
NEW RAILROAD CHARTERED. "
Atlanta, Ga, July Boa charter for
the Arlington and Columbus, Railway was
filed in. the office ofathe Secretary of State
today, the capital l.stock to. be-. $500, 900.
The incorpora tors Of the road are: j. Il.
Hanson, John NJ Egan, e. d.. Cline, NJ.
.CunhinghamSsA. r. Lawton, George j.
miles, E., H. 4 Hinton, W.;..AstWinburn, H.
IA. Dunn and II. C. Cunningham. The
road will ruh:froma Arlington, Ca, to Co
lumbus, Gas through the counties of CAL
houn, Randolph, Stewart, Chattahoochee
and Muscogee. The principal office of the
road will be in Columbus. 1t is believed
that this road will be a branch of the
Central of Georgia Railroad, as the incor-
porators are capitalists largely interest
ed in the Central.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-01
BLOWING ROCK
Green Park Hotel.
The Atlantic Hotel.

zi VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. G
Now open under ENTIRE NEW NAM
AGEMENT Good Hunting and Fishing
TABLE SUPPLIED WITH BEST THE
MARKET AFFORDS. 81.
Write for rates and Booklets.
Il. HYLAND GRACE. Proprietor.
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

ing and regulated by keys arranged like
those OF a typewriter; the music to be
played low or loud as desired. For the
equity person or the owner of a sprained
ankle there is a tufted leg rest that can
be shifted 10 any hight or position de-
sired and II the invalid is too weak or
self-indulgent 20 hold his book there is
an obliging stand that will assume the
task for him. When a holiday in bed is
desired or enforced a pillar bed rest
comes into service and its top, subject TO
manifold variations in form, can be con-
verted from a breakfast tray into book
rest. a writing pad, an easel, or even an
ir strument that will hold wool for wind
ing.
TO the powerful pillar OF this bed-rest
a complete little dressing table top can
be fixed and when propped up. the inva-
I'D can go through the process OF shaw
ing or hair dressing or manicuring be-
fore a mirror and all The proper APP
piiances.
when a convalescent has not strength
enough for exercise, but is insistent on
freedom Of movement, the walking ma
chine IA taken from the storage closet
and the most restless individual can come
ana 50 without loss q Vitality. Alto
Eethsr the home inhrmary is q huge sue
cess ana promises 20 become as rsco9-
nized on Institution IN the luxurious
American home A. tho modei DlFssry ~
ths prsYate gymnasium.
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

There remain few Injuries to be added
to the home OF che millionaire, for the
latest fad of the uncomfortabiy rich is a
scientifically fitted sick room. The more
cheerful name for this apartment is the
invalid studio and the millionaire who
ordered one In his new twenty-eight room
city home has set the fashion for his
brother plutocrats This particular rich
man is the head of a family where mala-
Gies creep in In spite Of wealth and his
sensible plan is to Isolate any invalid
70 a part OF the spacious house where
light, sunshine, perfect quiet and exquls-
tie comfort can be secured without in
commOding the rest Of the family or fore
ing the unlucky one 10 resort TO a hospi-
tai
Even contagious diseases can be treat
ed safely In this apartment that II iso-
lated by corridors from the rest or the
house and also possesses its own en-
trance. It's fumigatinS apparatus. eleya
tor, layhtOry Ice box and wonderful lit
tie adjoining rooms, where nurse can
sleep and where q complete kitchen can
be set going on q moments notice.
The studio Itself 10 big beautiful
room. with windows NJ TOP and sides, ex-
quisitely tiled walls ana provided With
furniture that would M a hopeless slug
CARDS heart with 10y. The brass bed
stead almost walks ana talks, there "a
az organ ano . piano that can 10 GOT go
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

ers clowns-such women of splendid chill
chastity, fierce ambition, thistle down
hghtness and burning tragic love as made
the heart beat fast to think of.
At that time Forrest, crowned and
wrapped in royal robes, was yet tottering
on his throne. Charlotte Cushman was
the tragic Queen of the stage. Mr.. James
Murdoch, frah and ageng, but still acting
was highly esteemed. Joseph Jefferson, E.
L. Davenport, J. K. Hackett, Edwin Ad-
ans, John E. Owens, Dan Setchell, Peter
Rchings and his daughter, Caroline, Mrs.
D. P. Bowers, Miss Lucille Western, Miss
Maggie Mitchell Mr.. and Mrs. Con-
way Matilda Heron, Charles Couldock,
Joseph Proctor, Mr.. and Mrs. Albaugh,
Mr.. and Mrs. Barney Williams, the Webb
sisters, Kate Reynolds, were all great
favorites, not pausing to mention many
more, while Edwin Booth, the greatest
light of them ali, was rising in golden
glory in the East.
Of the above mentioned twenty-eight
stars, eighteen acted in Shakespeare
plays An stars played a weeks engage
ment-many played two weeks, therefore,
at least twenty-four of our forty-two
week season was given over to Shakes
pearian productions, and every actor and
actress had the Bard at their tongues tip.
Looking back to the actors of SO, 1 can't
help noticing the difference between their
altitude of mind towards their profession,
and that of the actor of to-day. Salaries
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

ed the habit-when much annoyed of-of-
er-well, OF having ftsr'
'Oh-hG Ii was unanimous-the groan
that broke from our oppressed chests.
stars who gave us fits we were used
TO, but the star who went into FITS him.
self-Good Heavens! Good Heavens!
Rather anxiously, Mr.. Ellsler continued:
These fits, for all 1 know. may spell
apoplexy-anyway he is too old a man 10
safely indulge in them, so for Heaven 5
sake! do nothing to cross him: be on time;
be perfect-dead letter perfect in your
parts; write out all his directions, If neces-
sary; grin and bear anything, so long as
he doesn't have a fit! Goodnight"
The riot act had been read-the mob dis
persed, but the nerve of the most ex-
perienced was shaken by the prospect of
acting a whole week with an old gentle
man who at any moment might get mad
enough to have a fit
Think then what must have been the
state OF mind of my other ballet-mate,
Hattie, who, in her regular turn had re-
ceived a small part, but of real impor-
lance. and who had to address her lines
to Mr.. Murdoch, himself. Poor girl,-al-
ways nervous, this new terror made her
doubly so. She reused the stars wrath
even at rehearsal
Speak louder! Qmperatively. "Win
you speak louder?" Quriously)-"Per-
haps in the interest of those who will be
in front tonight, l may suggest that you
speak loud enough TO be heard py-say
the first row!" (satirically)
Now a calmly controlled body is gen
orally the property of a trained actress,
not of raw ballet-girl and Hatties rest.
less shifting about and wriggling drove
him into such nagging rage that, to
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

tor, as well as first old man. His wife,
Mrs. Efie Ellsler, was his leading woman
his daughter, Effie, though not out of
school at that time, acted whenever there
was a very good part that suited her.
The first singing soubrette was the wife
Of the prompter and the stage manager
The first old woman was the mother of
the walking lady, and so it came about
that there was not even the pink flush
of Irritation over the first season; and
though another season was shaken and
thrilled through and through by the elope-
ment of James Lewis and Miss frankie
Hurlburt, a young lady from private lifs
in Cleveland, yet in all the year I served
in the old theater, no real scandal ever
smirched II.
The Riot Act Is Read.
One Saturday night, we were all f,or-
raled by the prompter, before we dould
depart for home, and was gravely adj
dressed by the manager. The Whole
thing being ludicrously suggestive lof the
reading Of the riot act: but, after re-
minding us that Mr.. James Murdoch
would begin his engagement on Monday
night. that the rehearsals wouldf be long
and important he proceeded to Irbison the
very source OF our Sundays rest and
comfort by fell suggestions of lsome dire
mishap threatening the old gentleman
through us. We exchanged wondering
and troubled glances. What eould this
mean2
Mr.. Ellsler went on; "Yot oil know
how precise Mr. Murdoch las always
been about your readings; hDw crochety
and exaotng about where you should
stand, az this word or AZ thgt, how quick
~ his impotence OF stupidity has burst
into anger but you probably DO not know,
that since HIS serious sickness, he is
more e1aellng than ever, eRa has aequif-
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

could mar my whole lifel Mighty mon
sterl without mercy The great, many
headed creature, all jeweled over with
fierce bright eyes-its countless ears as
train for error of any kind! That beat
the perfumed air with its myriad hands
when pleased when pleased? A strange
great stiffness seemed to close about me
in the Cim future, a woman may cause
this many-headed monster you fear to
think as one mind-to feel as one hearth
then the bit and bride will be changd-
that woman will hold the reins and will
drive the publicr'
At which / broke into shrill laughter
in spite of flowing tears Two women
came in--one said: "Why, what on
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

hsr terror-chilled legs would carry her,
hit when she got there-had no word to
Aiy-no, not one
hin a sort of icy rage, Mr.. Murdoch gave
Ter her line, speaking very low, Of course:
MY lord-my lord! 1 do beseech you,
haste,
I Else here is murder done"
| But the poor girl past prompting, only
tcaught wildly at the sense OF the speech
and gasped out:
She saw his feet tapping with rage
thought his fits might begin that way, and
madly cried out at the top of her voice:
BE quick-see! see! publicly they cross
their financiers!
Then through the laughter, rushed from
the stage, crying with streaming tears
81 don't care If he has dozen fits! he
has Just scared the words out of my
head with them!"
Ana truly. when Mr.. Murdoch, trem-
bling with weakness, excitement and an
ger. staggered backwards, clasping his
brow every one thought the dreaded fit
had arrived.
Next day he reproachfully Informed Mr..
Fllsler that he could not yet see blank
verse and the Kings English $50 he term
"a ~ murdered without suffering phys
icallv. as well as mentally, from the
shocking spectacle that ne was an oio
man now, and should not be exposed to
such tests Of temper.
Yes, as he spoke, he was an Old fnan'
pallid, lined, weary fncedi but that same
night, ne was young Mirabel-in spirit
voice, eye and movement. Fluttering
through the play-"Wine Works Won
Aers" In his satina ana iaces. young 20 the
heart,--young with the immortal youth OF
the true artist
Both these girls spoke plain prose well
enough, and always had their share IN
the modern plays, but az all was grist 20
my Individual ndll, most Of the blank
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

verse and Shakespearean small characters
came to me- Nor was l the lucky girl
they believed me 10 be; there was no
luck about 1t. My small success can be
explained in two words-extra work. When
they studied their parts, they were con-
tented if they could repeat their lines
perfectly in the quiet of their rooms, and
made no allowance for possible accidents
or annoyances with power 20 confuse tho
mind and so cause loss of memory and
ensuing shame. But l was a careful
young person, and would not trust even
my own memory without first taking
every possible precaution. Therefore, the
repeating of my lines correctly in my
own room, was but the beginning of my
study of those lines until, had tlss very
roof blown off the theater at night.
could not have missed one. Then only
could / turn my attention to the acting
of them-oh, bless you, yes.-I quite
thought 1 was acting, and at all events
i was doing the next best thing-which
was trying to act.
A Bit of Broad Comedy.
My manager considered me to have a
real gift of comedy, and he several times
declared that my being a girl was dis
tinct loss 10 the profession OF a fine low
comedian.
1t was in playing a broad comedy bit
that my old experience came to me. Mr..
Dan Setchell was the star. He was an
eXtravagantly funny comedian, and the
LATEST man 1 ever saw-too lazy even to
rehearse his most important scenes prop
erly. He would sit on the prompt table
a table placed near the footlights at re-
hearsal, holding the manuscript writing
materials, etc; with chair at either
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

| in the midst of awful disaster, but he was
one of the victims of a dreadful ship
wreck while making the voyage TO Aus
| tralia. But blind to the future, heat
| that time-laughed and comfortably shirk-
ed his work in the daytime and made
others laugh when he did his work at
night.
In one of his plays, I did a small part
with him-I was his wife, a former old
maid of grabbed temper. had asked Mr.
Elsler to make up my face for me as an
old and ugly woman. I wore cork-screw
side-curls and an awful wrapper. I was
a fearful object, and when Mr.. Setchell
first saw me, he stood silent moment
| then after rubbing his stomach hard and
grimacing he took both my hands, ex.
claiming: "Oh, you hideous Jewell you
! positively gave me a cramp at just first
| sight of you. Go int little girl, for all
your worth and do just what you please
you deserve the liberty for that make-up"
And, goodness knows, l took him at
his word, and did anything that came
into my giddy head. Even then, /
possessed that curious sixth sense OF
! the born actress-and, as a doctor with
! the aid Of his stethescope, can hear
sounds Of grim warning or OF kindly
( promise, while there Is but silence 10
\ the stander-by-so an actress, with that
I gtethescope sixth sense detects even the
forming emotions OF her audience feeling
incipient dissatisfaction before II be-
comes open disapproyal. or thrilling at
( the intense stiffness that ever precedes a
burst Of appreciation.
And that night. meeting with a tiny
mishaD which seemed 20 emuse the au-
/ dlence. / seized upon -, celebrating Il 20
| the limit and making Il my own, after
the manner OF an experienced old actor
There was no elegant comedy Of man.
ners IN the scens. understandi II was
Just che broadest farce ana II consist
: "a Of she desperate effort Of a hen-Deck-
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

end. one for the star, other for the
prompter or stage manager-and with his
short legs dangling, he would doZe ht-
tie through other peoples scenes, rousing
himself reluctantly for his own, but in
stead of rising, taking his place on the
stage and rehearsing properly, he would
kick his legs back and forth and smil-
ing pleasantly, would lazily repeat his
line where he was, adding-"Ill be on
your right hand when 1 say that. Her.
bert oh, at your exit Ellsler, you'll leave
in the center, but when you come back,
you'll find me down left"
After telling James Lewis several times
at what places he would find him at
night, Lewis remarked in despair: well,
God knows where you'll find me at
nightr'
"Oh, never mind, old man. answered
| the ever-smiling, steadily kicking Setchell.
| IF you re there, all right! If you're not
there-no matter!' which was not ex-
actly f1attering.
OF course such rehearsals led to many
errors at night, but Mr.. Setchell cleverly
covered them up from the knowledge Of
the laughing audience.
1t is hard to imagine that lazy presence
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

earth's the matter? Have they blown you
up for your didoes tonight? What need
you care, you pleased the audience
But another said quietly: Just get q
glass of water for her-she has a touch
of hysteria-I wonder who caused it?"
But / only thought of that woman
of the dim future-who was to conquer
the Public-who was she?
Why that round of applause should have
so shattered my happy confidence. cam
not understandable the fact remains that
from that night. have never faced a
new audience. or attempted a new part,
without suffering a nervous terror that
sometimes but narrowly escapes total col
lapse.
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

were much smaller then, work was hard
e. Dut life was simpler. The actor had
no social standing-he was no longer look
ed down upon-but he was an unknown
quahty; he was in short an actor, pure
ana simple. He had enthusiasm for his
pIClesslon-he lived to act, not merely
lVihg by acting. He had more supersti-
ION than religion, and no politics at ALI;
pul ne was as patriotic and shouldered
ms gun and marched away in the ranks
der.
But above all and beyond all else, the
men and women respected their chosen
piolession. Their constant association OF
mlnd with Shakespeare seemed to have
sven them a certain dignity OF bearing
as well as Of speech
To-day the actors have In many cases
won some social recognition, and they
uine 90 social duties. They are clubmen
ana another portion of their time goes
'n club Longing. They draw large sala-
~ ana too frequently they have to act
lohg-running plays, that are made up
vi smartish wit and cheapest cynicisms-
mere roth and frivolity, while the effec-
i've smashing of the Seventh Command
Ineht had been for so long a time the
principal motif OF both drama ana
farce, that one can not wonder
nueh at che general tone OF hip-
pancy prevailing among the thent-
leal people OF to-day. They guy every
thlns ana everybody, and would jeer at
lner profession as readily as they would
ot an old man on tho street, wearing a
lAst years hat.
They are sober they are honest, they
are generous, but they seem 20 have
Nown utterly nippant and / can't help
Henaerink " thia alteration can have
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

come about through the change in their
mental pabulum.
AT all events, as watched and listened
IN the old days, it seemed to me as if
they were never weary of discussing
readings, expressions. emphasis and ac-
ton. One would remark say at rehear-
sal OF Hamlet, that Macready gave a
certain line in this manner and another
would instantly express a preference for
a FORREST or Davenport rendering. and
then the argument would be on and only
call to the stage would end the. weigh
ing or words, the placing of commas, etc.
A Sharp Snub.
One night had been one of the crowd
OF 'witches"--I had also had my place
at that shameless papler mache banquet
given by Macbeth to his tantalized
guests, and then being off duty, was as
usual planted in the entrance. watching
the acting of the grown-up and the
grown-great. Lady Macbeth was giving
the sleep-Walking scene. Her method was
of che old, old school She spoke at al
most the full power of her lungs,
throughout that mysterious, awe-inspir-
ing, sleep-walking scene. 1t Jared upon
my feelings-I could not have told why,
but it did. 1 believed myself alone, and
when the memory-haunted woman roar
ed out; yet. who would have thought,
the old man to have had so much blood
in him?" remarked soto voice." did
you expect to find ink in him?"
sharp "ahem!" right at my should
er told me l had been overheard and I
turned to face-oh, horror! the stage
manager He glared angrily at me, and
began: Since when have the ladies of
the ballet taken to criticising the work
of the stars?"
Humbly enough, I said: 1T beg your
pardon. sir-I- was just talking to my
self, that was ALL
But he went on: "Oh, you would not
criticise a reading, unless you could bet
ter it-so pray favor US with your ideas
on this speech
Each sneering word cut me to the
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10
copyright, 1901. by the s. S, Mcclure &c

Copyright, 1901, by the s. s. Mcclure Co.
Up to this time the onay world had
known had been a narrow and sordd
and lay chill under the shadow of pow
erty; and it is sunlight that makes the
world smile into flower and fruit and
laugh aloud through the Threats of birds
But now standing humbly at the knee Of
Shakespeare, 1 began to learn something
of another worid-fairy like in fascination
marvellous in reality. A world OF sunny
days and jeweled nights, of splendid pal
aces, caves of horror, forests of mystery
and meadows of smiling candor. All peo-
pie too, with such soldiers, statesmen, low
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

the rest of us, he seemed to be trembling
with inchoate fits-and 1 saw the prop
erty man get his hat and take his stand
by the stage door, ready to fly for the
doctor-or as he called him, 1.-The tit
sharp
She, too, was to appear as a page
She was to enter hurriedly-always a
difficult thing for a beginner to do-She
was to address Mr.. Murdoch in blank
verse-a more difficult thing-and implore
him to come swiftly 90 prevent blood
shed, as a hostile meeting was taking
place between young Count So-and-So,
and your nephew, sir!'
This news was to shock the uncle so
that he would stand dazed for a moment,
when the page, looking off the stage,
should cry:
'Ah, you are too late, sir-already their
blades are out!'
See how the foils writhe, etc.
With a cry, the uncle should recover
himself, and furiously order the pages to
call the watch!'
Alas! and alas! when the night. the
play, the act, the cue, came Hattie-as
handsome a boy as you could wish 20 see
went bravely on, as quickly, too, as
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

heart. Tears filled my eyes. struggled
hard to keep them from falling, while 1
just murmured: II beg your pardon!'
Again he demanded my reading, saying:
They were not too old to learn" and
in sheer desperation, exclaimed: II was
only speaking to myself, but 1 thought
Lady Macbeth was amazed at the guam
tity of blood that flowed from the body
of such an old man-for when you get DID,
you know, sir, you don't have so much
blood as you used to. and 1 only just
thought, that as the sleeping men were
laced and the knives 'smeared' and her
hands 'bathed' with it, she might have
perhaps whispered: Yet, who would have
thought the old man to have had so much
blood in him. 1 couldn't mean an i'm
pertinence and down fell the tears, for
could not talk and hold them back at the
same time"
He looked at me in dead silence for a
few moments, then he said "humph'' and
walked away, while 1 rushed to the dres-
sing room and cried and cried, and VOW
ed that never never again would 1 talk
to myself-in the theater at all events.
FavOritism But No Scandal.
II the family theater was disliked by
those who had already won recognized
positions, it was at least an ideal place
in which young girl could begin her
professional life. The manager Mr.. John
A. Ellsler, was an excellent character ac-
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF

THE GREAT ACTRESS NOTES THAT
IN ,65 ACTORS LOVED SHAKES
PEARE; TODAY SOCIETY
AND HIGH SALARIES
ARE THEIR PRO-
F'ESSIONAL
IDOLS.
The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-10

In the Old Time Family Theater
There WINS Much Nepotism but No
Scandal-Thc Riot Act Used to BE
Was Announced to Play an En-
Eagement Miss Morris Meets
James Lewis for the First Time
and Once When MIR. Dan SetcheIl
Was Playing broad Comedy in
Company With Mr.. Lewis Miss
Morris Discovers Her own Power
as a Comedian.