Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-04

whenever they see Mt to come.
Decidedly the most artistic, II not the
very best, exclusive theatrical publication
OF the present day is THE Theater," a
handsomely illustrated magazine OF
theatrical and musical life published by
Meyer Bros. & Co. Of New York. The
May issue of this publication. which Is
Just out-handsome in appearance, as
us~ual-devotes considerable space to a dis
cusslon OF the proposed endowed theater.
The editor wrote to the leading players,
dramatists and literary workers asking for
their views on the subject and he prints
their replies. The fifty odd answers in
clude interesting letters from Joseph
Jefferson, Julia Marlowe, e. H. sothern,
e. M. Holland, Mrs. Leslie Carter, Reg
inald de Koven. Otis Skinner, Ella Wheeler
Wilcox, De Wolf Hopper, Eugene w. Pres
brey, Kyrle Bellew, Wilton Lackaye. John
Malone. Martha Morton and others. The gen.
eral opinion seems to be that there is great
need In New York City for an ideal theater,
and the name Of Mr.. Heinrich Conried Is
put forward by most as the man best fitted
to conduct such o theater. Another i'm
portant feature in the issue is an article
on The Passion Play In America" by a
VI WV -
Percy s. Grant, rector OF the Church OF
the Ascension, New York, takes the liberal
view, which he thinks is that Of many
church members, that there would be no
improperly In presenting the sacred story
on the local stage II properly done. He
does not think It would cheaper the Chris
tian religion, but says that. on the con-
trary. Christian people must not shut their
ewes to anything which tends to give
greater reality to the story OF Christ
through fear 1t will shake their faith.
Cleveland Moffett contributes an interest
ing study with striking portraits OF NINE
segond-Weber, the Partisan stage celebrity
of the hour, and an entertainingly written
dual interview with the joint stars, Efie
shannon and Herbert Kelley, forms the
subject of this months Chats with
Players" The number is profusely Illus
trated with scenes from the current plays
and many fine portraits Of the players
now before the public.
In the demise Of Sol Smith Russell
which occurred early in the week, the
stage lost one Of it's quaintest and most
loyable characters. Anyone who ever SAT
through, one OF the odd, unctuous per
formances and laughed at his dry humoi
or was moved to tears by his tenderness
and nathos. will undoubtedly retain o
mental picture Of him as long as lie lasts
In the west he was held in particularly
high regard and enjoyed popularity as great
as that Of any other actor. or his career
the Dramatic Mirror publishes the follow
ing interesting article:
Mr.. Russell was himself q westeheri
| having been born at Brunswick, MO-; June
Is, 1873. His parents were IN no ou~h his
| mother was a sister-in-law OF Sol Smitni
after which famous manager young Rus
| spired him to live up to his name, for the
lad early showed interest In me sUase; ~
was a frequent attendant az inc Touis
ne songs and dance and practieed them
%atas a reputatIon as on entertainer. :,
When the war broke out young Russell
though GRIlg Z y year 70 . G BE- sf Font Tas sh nfe he T raI
in a regiment at Cairo. III. As he had no
I Lns Soh to enlist. HIS songs and Jokes HAD
won him some attention from the soldier
msnaTer OF the defiance theater in Cairo
offered him an engagement at ga week
For this magnificent sum the lad had y
from ingenues to Villains. His hrst roll
T Ma mai Aa Gt 2 %9 nast f Ss Slept on a soP'
in the property room of the theater, blu
later the manager took him 70 his home
Later Russell received an oner of ~
week from another manager who wantc,
him to do a slack wire turn, but this posi-
ton brought so many bruises that n
abandoned It and went TO Deagle's theateI
Sd. Louis, playing In stock meiodramas
After this engagement he made an t1glori
Gus one-night appearance In Chicago, an
next played with a Milwaukee burlesqu
Company Subsequently lac Joined tn
Peak Family OF bell-ringers for a time an
then returned to Deagle's In st. Louli
Other engagements at this time were 1
Memphis Little Rock and Nashville
These engagements covered a period @
about 1--WE years. during which the boy
for he was no ACKNOWLEDGEMENT man
hardships and prtvations. Fortune bega
to favor him in 1866. when he was engage
as second low comedian with Ben de Bar
Stock company In ST. Louis, Here he sur
ported many of the prominent travelin
stars OF the time and gained his know
edge OF the art OF acting. Following hi
season with De Bar. he was a member c
a Leavenworth, Kan. stock company
Here he Joined the Berger Family of bel
ringers and made a tour eastward wit
them. His comedy work gained such nj
tice thai he branched out for himself as
humorous lecturer. His success her
brought him an engagement, In 1867, viii
the stock company at the Chestnut Stree
theater, Philadelphia. under Colonel WI
liam r. Sims management. More tour
a.