Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-02-03

/ It Is remarkable fact that the In
surance on the Drlry Lane expired
the day after the Queens death. This
insurance amounted to more than $780,
0OO.-London cable in New York Tele-
graph.
| Clyde Fitch's Lovers Lane" deals
with the eccentric characters and the
humorous incidents which are a part
of the monotonous grind OF village ex-
| istence. Some of them, such as the
county poorhouse waif, the local opera
house manager, the lill-poster, the
choir singers and the liberal-minded
young clergyman at war with his pur-
itanical congregation are not often en-
eountered on the stage nowadays.
| Those who heard Patti heard per-
haps what the world shall never hear
again. The lady was the Boadicea of
the upper register. Her throat was
parterre OF flowers, from which fire
| flies assembled in loops of light. She
put stars in your ears. Like Mario
she was the last of a genus that has
gone. There are no more soprani
such as she. There are no more ten
I, ors. The species is extinet.-Edgar
Saltus in New York Journal.
AS for the theatrical trust" said
Bernhardt, Il hear about here, I will
say that | think it is abomnible, ana
all honor is due to those who fight
! 1t, as it seems to me it is a direct
menace to the drama, destroying per-
sonal freedom of action, without which
art cannot exist. Such thing would
not be permitted in France. 1t would
De absolutely impossible. If it is per-
| sisted in here it must affect the future
or the drama in the country"
| 1t really seems as if something might
come OF the latest plan to establish
tneatre in London for the production
OF plays believed to be worthy yet dis
| regarded by the commercial theatre.
Mr. Tree has now publicly suggested
| mat every manager producing
shakespeare or other classical play
shall pay 21a per cent. of the gross re-
! celpts into general fund for the foun-
datlon and maintenance of such
theatre as the enthusiasts think they
want.
Al. Hayman, the head and front of
the Theatrical Syndicate, which con-
tro.s all the important theatres of the
tically his agents only, talking to a
friend of his the other day made the
remark that he had not known dra-
matte affairs to have been so bad in
ten years as they were this Which
is quite true, and it is Mr. Hayman's
own syndicate which is mostly respon-
sible for it. By the present system all
who are willing enough do not dare
put any money in plays or operas
when they feel that the question Of
dates resides, to all intents and
purposes, in one man. If he does not
fancy you or your project you might
as well call it off. And then again the
best dates are naturally given to their
own shows, without counting the
heavy percentage you have to pay to
be booked anywhere even in one
night stands. So, of course. they are
killing the goose that laid the golden
eggs-that goose being the public al
ways.-Charles Alfred Byrne, in
Brooklyn Citizen.
Nine. Melba owes her sudden for
tune to Edward VII discernment. On
the night of her debut in Covent Gar
den she sang small role. Her name
was unknown to the opera goers and
she received no applause for her eff
forts. The business for which she was
engaged being ended she changed her
costume to street dress. called a cab
and went to her lodgings long before
the opera was over. By and by the
Prince summoned Augustus Harris to
the royal box. you had a new singer
named Melba in the first part of the
performance. Who is she?" IAN Aus
tralian, SIR she has a beautiful
voice. wish to compliment her. Bring
Nine Melba to my box" Harris, f1us-
tered by the discovery that he had
been entertaining an angel unawares,
rushed back to the stage Despair!
Melba was gone. Woe! Nobody knew
where she lived. The Prince had ex-
pressed a wish and a royal wish is an
imperative command. 1t were peril OF
an impresarios fortune to disappoint
the future King of England. After
tearing his hair and despatching
everybody everywhere Melba was fin
ally rescued from her humble lodgings
and rushed post haste back to Covent
Garden. Madame" said the Prince,
you were in no hurry" The poor
singer was too frightened to explain.
His Highness, observing her distress,
forgave the delay and thanked the
fair Australian graciously for the
pleasure that her voice had given to
him. Sir Augustus Harris, who was
cooling his heels outside the royal box
heard enough to convince him that the
kangaroo lady would leap high into
artistic fame, and thereafter he made
it his business to award suitable roles
to the new soprano.-1illary Bell, LII
New York Press.
oman