The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-20

tions OF the stage manager. Should those
In the audience stop to think 1t all out and
to remind themselves that everything was
being done according to schedule, as It
we're. and that the leading man embraced
the leading woman simply because he was
directed TO do so. and not through any in
clination on his own part, the romance
would undoubtedly be knocked out OF the
play, but II Is an Intensely interesting
study and a beautiful one
Theatrical life has many phases. and
have been through nearly all of them.
started out as a stage-struck boy. fully
convinced that / could play Hamlet
and that my Othello' would revolution
iZe the stage: but / learned before long
that there were several ahead OF me,
and was forced. like many others, to the
realization that ones own opinion isn't
worth much, after all I am authority
on the disadvantages of one-night stands,
and the dismal experience of being
stranded many miles from home is an
old story. l had my first real oppor-
tunlty sixteen years ago at the Lyceum
Theatre, New York, during the early
days OF that house, and since then my
road has been "a hard one of course, but
| think | may say that success has not
been denied me. Last summer I had a
stock company of my own In Denver, and
expect to have one there during the
coming summer which will include some
OF the players of our present company.
stock company is not an easy one to
FORM II took Daniel Frohman a year
to get Just the people he wanted for his
Lyceum Theatre company. The PLAYERS
must work well together, and the stage
director must know their fitness and
capability in order to give satisfactory
performances"
Mr.. Bellows confesses to hobby.
which Is an almost invaluable library
In his collection may be found a copy
OF any play one may name and many
rare editions OF old plays which have
been secured at odd times and places.
In addition to these, there are many
autograph letters from players whose
names are &c the present generation only
matter of history. A programme an
nouncing the appearance of Edmund
keene in 1910 is highly priced. not to
mention interesting souvenirs of famous
stage folk of the present day, among the
latter being proof programme of 1.-The
christian" bearing Hall Gaines auto
graph. Mr.. Bellows staged THE Chris
tian" for Viola Allen, and in considera-
ton OF the great success OF the play
naturally feels Just pride in anything
pertaining to The production.
Edward II. Sothern will have a new play
Tor his use next year. II ia called Rich
ard Loveiace,' and is from the pen of
Laurence Irving, a son Of Henry Irving.
VINO Is no novice at playwriting having
produced several worthy efforts uotyfth-
standing his somewhat tender wears. Mr.
Sothern may give the new play a trial
! performance in the spring, and then hold
1t In reserve until next fall There Is no
part In the offering suitable for Mrs.
Sothern Virginia Harned) and she will in
consequence be seen In q new comedy as a
star.
The Census Office reports take no notice
OF the crop of comic opera stars but
George Bowles. very estimable gentleman
who Is connected with the business man
agement OF the Alice Nelson company has
been observing the crop reports of the
operate stage for some years. and has
made the profound and important discov-
cry that most of the principal prina DON
mas come from what he terms the ''prima
donna belt" otherwise the valley OF the
Mississippi River and its tributaries. and
IN that territory was born nearly every
American prfma donna Of any note. And
1t is fact, also, one that has hitherto
strangely passed unnoticed, although
worthy Of the most earnest scientific
thought and research by students of hu-
What is there about the great Father of
Waters that makes him assume the pa
terntty OF all our greatest singers? Is
there musical education in the song that
he sings as he rolls in mighty majesty
toward the Gulf? Is there something in
the climate of the fertile valley that is
tribute to him that breeds melody in its
inhabitants? Does the fecund soil of this
wonderful region possess virtues that gen.
crate vocal superiority in the human being
who is born upon il, as well as richness
and nutritiveness In the vegetation that il
yields?
Some of the product of "the belt" are
Alice Nielsen, Lillian Russell. Della Fox,
Pauline Hall, Hilda Clark, Jessie Bartlett
Davis, Dorothy Morton. Grace Golden,
Emma Abbott, Helen Bertram, and Vir-
ginia Earl
Alice Nielsen, the young prima donna,
who is now singing at the head of her
own company, is a fair product OF the
Mississippi Valley, for she was born at
Nashville, Tenn, and spent mott OF the
years of her life previous to going on the
operate stage in that city and In Kansas
city, where the Kaw and Missouri meet
Lillian Russell was born on the banks
of the Mississippi, at Clinton, Iowa Nellie
Leonard was her name while she was
growing to womanho d in Chi ago whittier
she was taken by her parents while still
quite young
ST. Louis, as the largest city on the
Mississippi, premises that something about
the great river is productive OF vocal
talent, quite properly takes first place
as the home of American opera singers
and offers as its quota Della Fox, who
first sought fame by going out from her
native city as the child soubrette c. the
old Dixon Sketch Club, and Dorothy Nor
ton, who has been at the head of her own
company on several occasions
Pauline Hail. whose successes in comic
opera and more recently in vaudeville. are
quite remarkable, was born in Cincinnati,
on the banks of the Ohio, one of the
largest tributaries of the Mississippi At
that time she bore the unpoetical name
of Schmittgall.
Hilda Clark, the prima donna of the
Bostonians, is native OF Leavenworth.
on the Mississippi's big western tributary,
the Missouri.
Helen Bertram, the prima donna Of
Klaw G. Changers new opera, Foxy
CUTLER" comes from near the banks OF
the Wabash, at Paris, ILL.,
And Jessie Bartlett Davis. the eontralto.
until a short time ago a member of the
debut this season, while hailing from Chi
cago for a number of years past, is not a
native of that city, as many people sup
pose. but was born on farm on the Illi-
nois River, in Grundy County Ill.
Grace Golden. the former Castle Square
Opera Company's favorite only ADDS proof
to the original statement. She was born
at New Harmony, Ind, place which isn't
Il, A.t