Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-29
Theatrical =
 c Chatter
BY BRANDON.

Helen >NIcGregor has replaced Cecilia J.oftus in the leading role If l were King. Miss Loftus going to England with Henry Irving to play Marguerite in his revival of Faust.
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 Mrs. Brown-Pofter who was nfst ell gagged for the part of Calypso III oeel, bohm Trees production of ulysses anu subsequently relinquished It owing lo a disagreement with the author, Will shortly appear in the role, the differ ences being arranged.
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 Diavolo is the name of the man Who Iooped the loop on a bicycle last "eee at Coney Island, under the ausplces ui MT Prescott, who owns the loops lai 1vav there. Diavolo will play at the NTadison Souare Garden with the Sells Brothers Circus, and it said Wlll fe- ceiYe $1, 800 a week.
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 Her Majesty's Theatre, New South Wales Australia. was almost complete lv destroyed by fire 1n Sunday morn ino The discovery was made feW days ago that an employe of the theatre had been attacked by the nlague and during the necessary pro cess of disinfecting the fire started. The scenery and properties Of Ben Hur. valued at 14,000 pounds, were lost.
 The nauseating features by means nf which The Girl from Maxim's drew sufficient support for it's existence from a certain class of theatre-goefS in New York availed it nothing with the London public, when the play was first performed there on Thursday evening last at the Criterion Theatre. Howls of derision were loud as the final curtain fell. The critics con- demn the play and unite in predict ing>a short run.
 A movement is being agitated ill Paris to organize gala dramatic ana operatic performance in memory or the late President Mckinley. Many ar lists have signified their willingness to participate, the names of Madame Bernhardt, Madame Acte, Messrs. Renvfioil, Coquelin anne, Jean de Resz- ke Maurel and Coquelin cadet being prominent i'll the affair, which IS to take place in the Opera Comique on the afternoon of April 15.
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 Maud Fealy will close her engage ment as leading woman with William Gillette on April P, at the expiration of the London season. She will not play in the provinces with the com pany, but will sail for America inn mediately, having signed for an en- gagement of eight weeks in San Fran cisco as a stock star. Miss Fealy's withdrawal from Mir. Gillette's com pany is permanent, as it has been de- cided to continue Sherlock Holmes next season and she does not wish to play the same role three years.
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 Last December Percy Haswell offer ed a cash prize of $500 for the priyi- lege of presenting for one week in Baltimore the best original unacted play submitted in competition. Three Baltimore dramatic critics consented to act as judges and more than 250 plays were read. The prize was last week awarded to John Almon Ritchie, of 285 Metcalfe street, Ottawa Canada, for society drama in four acts, en- titled Wordlings. The play deals with the evils of international alliances and shows in clever manner various types of society people met with in modern New York life A number of the most prominent figures ill the Four Hundred are said to be cIeverly caricatured. The daughter of an Am er1can millionaire, who married q since dlscredlted European nobleman. is said 10 be the original prototype of the her. oine. Miss Haswell will use the play early in April. and if it succeeds in Baltimore. she may use it next season when she becomes q star under the management of Henry B. Harris She will first star fn A Royal Family. but she is under contract to create new role ill q new play in New York city by February and it is possible that Wordlings will be the offering. Mir Ritchie has never before had a play acted in professional way
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 Book agents seem to have as myste rious a means of communicating tC each other the whereabout of q DOS sibie customer. as tramps have o1 transmitting the welcome news of { f'handout''
 Mr. Daniel Sully has in mind the es Publishing of q library of considerabl, extent at his farm in Ulster County New York. This fact he mentione, tO et 4Cn lIleHuS. WlIn the result fla he has been tormented by book agent, in nearly every one-night stand he ha played.
 In small Pennsylvania town. II, says he encountered the most persist ent follower of that calling. The mal made such an inducement as put in value of the book at the price of vast paper. Mir. Sully said, T would talk the book, but I have no money witt me l just changed to q heavier sui and forgot 10 take my money from tn other pockets" The man pressed hin not to lose such bargain. '.and.v sai, MT Sully. T was beginning to groy impatient. so I made bluff at lookin. through my pockets" The man wa pleased at the search and was s,lre o sale when Mir. Sully produced an ol roIe-case. Certain that there WI nothing in it. Mr. Sully opened if i convince his tormentor. when he wo mortified to see q $10 bill within H was fairly caught and to the deliabt n The agent. became the possessor of tb book, but he is still wondering wbe ne put that bill in there and for vvba