Evening star., 1902-01-25

gument with the excited female. Sne re-
manned obdurate and almost pulled him off
his chair in her efforts to exact a promise
of her back salary out of that evening re-
ceipts. Finally Luders, assuming his most
dignified air said: Madame, if you have no
respect for me, please have some for
Gounod. The prima donna was squelched,
the performance proceeded and the luck
of the organization changed for the better
from that night on.
X
Wilfred Clarke is an Englishman, but
both his parents, Asia Booth Clarke, the
sister of Edwin Booth, and John Sleeper
Clarke, the eminent comedian, were Amer
ican-born though they made London their
home for many years. Wilfred Clarke was
born in 1867, and was educated at Notre
Dame de Saint Croix Paris. and at Cul-
wich College, England. In 1880 he started
as midshipman in the English mercantile
marine and in five years rose to the posi-
tion of fourth officer. His first appearance
as an actor was made at the Strand The
ater, London, in 1885, and since that time
he has been leading comedian with Edwin
Booth, Lawrence Barrett, Barry Sullivan,
Julia Marlowe and others. Mr.. Clarke
made his first starring venture in 1898, un-
der the management of the late John L.
Ford of Baltimore. In '95 he became the
lessee of the Strand Theater, continuing n
that capacity of actor-manager till 81,
pany. His vaudeville debut was made last
summer, after which he was engaged 20
create the principal part in San Toy. He
now returns to vaudeville. supported by an
excellent company of legitimate artists
presenting a new sketch in which he ap-
peared in London-'In the Biograph." The
recent death of his father has made him
ana his brother Creston sole proprietors of
the strand Theater in London and of the
Walnut Street Theater, Philadelphia
X x * X
For some time preparation has been in
progress on the stage of the National The
ater for the coming production of Ben
Hur-" Especial arrangements have to be
made for the famous chariot race This
feature of the production is one of the
most perfect illusions known to the stage
Eight horses run in full view of the audi
ence at the same time. The four bays
driven by Ben Hur We're chosen for beauty
as well as speed. Messala's chariot is
drawn by two blacks and two whites The
illusion of the race is secured through the
employment of a device containing the
treadmill principle. Eight treadmills one
for each horse, are built into the stage.
These treadmills have running surface of
selected hickory Stats two inches wide
with enough space left between so that
they may run easily and accurately over
the framework. The Stats move over l. 5GS
small ballbearing, rubber-tired wheels to
larger wheel eight inches in diameter at
either end. AS each horse attempts to go
forward the impact of his hoofs pushes
the treadmill into action, and the faster he
runs the more quickly the treadmill re-
EoiVes. An immense cyclorama Of painted
figures, giving also a splendid view of the
arena, some forty feet in height and
zoos feet in length, is rushed across the
stage at lightning speed in an opposite di-
rection. The spectacle apparently is trat-
cling with the racing horses, so that no
detail OF the exciting end is lost. Klaw &
Erlanger carry four equine understudies
two bays and a black and white In case
OF accident. Months were required to train
these horseS on especially constructed APP
paratus, and they are now rehearsed three
times each week by a trainer at the the
ater Before each race the entire appa-
ratus Is rigidly inspected by a master ma
chlnlst, the stage manager, and lastly by
the manager of the company, before the
word is given to start the great electrical
machinery, under the stage. To this care
and attention to the minutest detail may
be ascribed the fact that there has never
Deen an accident In any of the hundreds Of
performances which have been given Sew
enty-three stage hands are required to
work the big chariot race in addition to
the dynamos.
Have you ever tried this Christian
science healing?" asked Dave Warfeld
IF not, just give 1t chance next time
you have that tired feeling the morning
after. 1t beats anything on earth; YOU
don't even have to go to a good place' or
ask the man.
i stacked up against 1t last August. I
had been spending a week In the mountain
with David Belasco, talking over The Aue-
tioneer. One night I caught slight cold
which next morning had developed into a
high fever.
Il rang for the bell boy and asked him
to send up the house DOCTOR
He said there wasn't a good physician
in the whole village, but that II I wanted
him to speak to the lady whose room ad-
joined mine perhaps she could cure me. She
was scientist. he said, and really had the
reputation Of scoring some wonderful cures.
Ihe Idea made hit with me at once
Then 1t occurred to me that with nv own
manager right on the same floor, 1t might
be compromising in Belasco's eyes if he
should see strange female enter my
apartment.
But that bell boy was certainly true
disciple of Mother Eddy's 'you-think-
you ve-got- ot-tt-but-you-havn't' doctrine. He
was not to be put off. He said 1t was dead
wrong I should continue to suffer merely
from mental error but IL / was sure I
didn't want the healer in my room she
should at least give me an absent treat
ment
This sounded like trying to sell me- q gold
brick. If 1 paid for an absent treatment
how was to be sure she would deliver the
! goods? However. to humor him, told him
to bring me five whisky-and- -sodas. and to
tell the dollar.a-thought woman to eef
down to business
We'll, drank the first whisky-and-soda-
and waited. Then 1 drank another-and
waited. Pretty soon bit OF plaster dron
ped on the wall. After a while came an
other one. This certainly looked reassur-
| Ing. II the lady's thoughts were strong
enough to knock down the side of the room
why couldn't 1t knock out a little cold?
I'm the flood of confidence and trust that
swept over me 1 resolved to leave eyery-
thing to her. So / drank the other three
whisky-and -sodas and soon dropped off into
a peaceful sleep.
Il awoke feeling like new man; no fever
not even a headache.
Il fastened to dress, and later, meeting
Belasco In the corridor, lost no time in re-
| lating the details of my miraculous recov-
cry.
Very interesting he remarked. cynfc-
any. "fhere's no doubt about your cold be-
ing gone. But I'm not sure whether it's he
cause OF absent thought or present rye.
I'll have to think that out
| There wasn't much to say after that.
put believe I did hint something about
skeptio or 'unbeliever,' or words to that
| eHect. moreover. I challenged him to %
/ TO my aDartment and 600 20. %