The Washington times., 1901-08-25

| There are many struggling young as
pirants for stage honors that may gather
some inspiration from the following story
| of young woman-Miss Kate Hassett-
an actress who, last season quite I'M
known, jumps this season into leading
role described as great in opportunity in
one of the biggest theatrical productions
of the year.
When Mr.. Henry Is. Harris contracted
to produce this new play of MIR. Ditrich-
stein in Chicago last spring. Mr. Ditrich-
stein insisted that the whole success or
| failure Of the play depended upon the
| woman who should be engaged to play
| Melitta Arendt-the leading feminine role.
/ Mr. Hdrris stated that neither money nor
pains should be spared to engage the best
available woman in the profession. Cor
/ respondence was freely INDUCED in and
/ the difficulty of securing just the right
woman soon became apparent 1t was
| then decided upon between the manager
ana author-actor to hold sort Of open
competition during Mr. Ditrichstein's long
engagement with Are You a Masony at
Powers Theatre. in Chicago. Tips were
accordingly dropped in New York, Phiia-
delphia, Chicago, San Francisco, and 9TH
er cities, which soon resulted in hurried
arrivals of excited actresses from all the
leading theatrical centres of the country
AS soon as they arrived, Mr.. Ditrichstein
would hand them a couple of scenes from
the play, many Implications of which had
been prepared in advance and the stage
at Powers Theatre was kent busy with
their rehearsinss under the direction of
Mr.. Ditrichsteiu himself
One day Mr.. Henry L. Harris. who Is
to produce The Last Appeal was sit
ting in his Office in the Bijou Theatre
New York, where. as manager of Amelia
Bingham, he was busily engaged with
other duties, when in tripped a young
and beautiful woman who announced her.
self as contestant for the role OF Meiit-
ia AreEdt. MIR. Harris said L think
ga fnr 7 hay
already sent no fewer than twenty ac-
tresses to Chicago and as many more are
trying for the part from other cities The
young lady was persistent and said she
would gladly pay her own fare TO Chicago
and undertake all expenses of her stay
there if he would give her a letter of in
PRODUCTION to Mr.. Ditrichstein. So i'm
pressed was Mr.. Harris by the confidence
and charming personality of the young
lady that he finally gave her a letter of
Introduction to MIR. Ditrichstein Well.
in word. she came, was seen. rehearsed
the part, and conquered. Mr.. Ditrichstein
was enthusiastic over the latest appli-
cant. He Immediately wrote Mr.. Har-
ris that they had secured that rarest
of theatrical treasures, a real find So
satisfied was Mr.. Ditrichstein that he i'm
mediately gave all the other aspirants for
the role their congo and Miss Hassett
was left in undisputed possession of the
manuscript of the leading role in The
Last Appeal
Thus it was that by sheer merit alone
and in competition with some of the best
known leading women of the country,
Miss Hassett won this splendid oppor-
tunity for the coming season. The part
is described Gs Demanding all sorts of
dramatic Virtuosity rs well as beauty in
an exceptional degree. Miss Hassett ar
riyeS in New York Wednesday to COM
mence rehearsals at the Garrick Theatre
and will be seen for the first time in the
role at the Broad Street Theatre. PhiIa-
delphia- when Mr.. Ditrichstein's new
play will be presented for the first time
on any stage the night Of September g.
After the production OF the play in Phila-
delphia. where it remains for two weeks.
The Last Appeal will be presented at
the National Theatre, Washington, COM
menciEg September - and then journeys
to the Grand Opera House, Chicago,
where, after an engagement of three
weeks, commencing October II, IT goes
back to New York for an extended run"
1t will thus be seen that about all the
young actress nowadays needs do to get
a position that Will at once make her the
envy of all her acquaintances and at the
same time make her the central figure in
the beautiful press stories dreamed by
Manager Harris press agent, is to pos
sess a wondrous beauty. be persistent
and. above all things. Keep her shell-like
ear close to the ground and listen for
tips that may be dropped, even though
these tips may strike the mother earth as
lar away from home as San Francisco
A New York dramatic paper, which
makes the boastful claim of being the
authorized organ of the theatrical syndi-
cate. prints the following remarkable
statement: The theatrical syndicate
has nothing to do with plays or players,
but confines its attention solely to the
mana cement of theatres and the bookings
OF hrst-class attractions, but the news
papers will continue to go on praising and
blaming them for all things which occur,
irrespective of the fact that they are in no
way an interested party. Gathering to-
gether the bulk of new plays which are
produced each season will demonstrate
that they are in the hands of managers
who simply book their routes through,
klaw Il Erlanger. and who quickly seek
the syndicate threatreS, where they are
sure OF the best class of theatregoers
with the largest profits"
the theatrical syndicate is composed of
klaw & ErIanger, Charles Frohman, Al
Hayman, Nixon & Zimmerman, and Rich
& Harris.
Zen Hur'' in conjunction with Joseph
Brooks. The Liberty Bellies" Foxy
0uilier. and The Rogers Brothers.
Charles Frohman presents John Drew.
annie Russell, William Faversham the
Empire Theatre stock company, Maude
Adams. Ethel Barrymore, Mrs. Carter In
conjunction with David BeIasco. Virginia
harmed. William Gillette. William H.
the winter will direct the tours of all of
the visiting English stars. Mr. Froh-
mans brother Daniel. manages E. H.
Sothern, Bertha Galland. and the stock
company from Days Theatre, headed by
Hilda Spong; Nixon G. Zimmerman man
age Francis Wilson, The Messenger
Boy. and Miss Bob White" while the
Boston end of the syndicate Rich & Har-
RS, controls the tours of Louis Mann and
Clara lipman. and that popular Celtic
Andrew Mack
tEyill t.sl l.a
OF the syndicate have absolutely nothing
TO do with plays or players. notwithstand-
ing all the absurd rumors to the contrary
Pathetic indeed. is the fate of the dra-
matist, Lorimer Stoddard. who made over
In the Palace of the King" for Viola
Aliens use last year, and heroically pa
thetic it seems to those who are familiar
with the brave fight he has made against
the assaults of a disease which has rare
ly known conqueror. For some months
past he has sought benefit at a SANTA
rum at Liberty, N Y. which locality
boasts climate scarcely surpassed in |
the East for weak lungs; but neither |
climate nor medical SIX i'll awaited and Sat
urday last he was brought to the old |
Stoddard home in East Fifteenth Street, |
y. Y, to await the end.
There seemed a future of unusual prom |
Use before the young dramatist and a Ie- |
gion of friends Will regret that IL may |
not be permitted him to enjoy the honors |
so bravely won.
The Bijou Theatre will throw open its |
doors September IS and viii have for its |
opening attraction, the Howard and EN- |
erson company. which has been one of |
he features of theatrical life at the Par |
American Exposition during the summer |
In connection with this show. there will |
be offered a vaudeville performance of |
much more than ordinary merit The |
thief performer will be Charmion, who en-