Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-07

tIh AhNkn NJ VI WIFI Auty utdE VI "
paying money to see The James Boys In
the Columbia"
The fund Of good theatrical stories isn't
likely to wane while Luther Bickford Yields
his pencil for the Chicago Inter Ocean.
Each week he projects g batch Of new ones
and all are good. Here are a pair picked
from his last Sunday page:
Among the theatrical managers on the
Pacific coast none are better known and
Friends declare that trieolander's present
good spirits are due entirely to a feeling Of
passed successfully through a severe IL
ness In Denver, during which he was sew
During the siege Friedlander says he had
many visitors, and a number OF odd ex-
periences; one he is especially, fond OF
Gus brother lodge member.
II knew that ne was the chairman of the
visiting OF the SICK and In AL
my experience / never met a brother who
was SO KIND, SO attentive and SO congenial
Sdys t ba esTIeSI for b was ab 5eSely ali naP PRs
visitors who came TO my room, brought
cheer and made me forget the awful pains
1 was passing through. The last week CT
my stay at the hospital l was conscious
with visitors. 1 thanked the one constant
and attentive brother Elk, told him that 1
ShOuld never cease TO ch6riSn MS attentiOn
to me, but asked him to tell me his name,
which l had never asked. He handed me
his card. and it read: Mr.. Adolph Goss.
Signore Angelo was in the employ of
Mapleson when the impresario was direct
company in London. The slgnor is at pres
ent the treasurer Of Banda Rossa, which Is
touring s0ce ggbi the west west He sub tells Of tine tneo exP %ho
endeavored to take the place OF Campaninl
on one occasion. singing the part OF Raoul
The, man got along without interruption
until the fourth act, says Angelo, when
according to the lines OF the opera, said:
It's not his fault
NO, It's not his fault. same very dis
fault Of that id Mapleson who gave him
ifThis same fellow attempted the tenor
role in Norma In the tnird act the
land you will come bach tomorrow
SIf he does he's liable to get MUIR
dered,' yelled some one out in the audi
ence."
Old-timers will miss the smiling face
OF Billy West when the curtain goes up
on the first part Of the West Minstrel
jubilee. Premier of all ~interventors, he
had a style as much his own as his very
name, distinct and individual, and which
left a favorable impression on all who
ever heard him. Nearly two years have
elapsed since his last appearance in Omaha,
for he was not with the company when 1t
made it's tour last season. To an Omaha
friend who called on him at the theater he
confessed his Illness. On the day his COM
pany was here a cold, raw wind was blow
ing, and he complained that the exposure
Of the parade was overtaxing his strength.
AS a matter or ract, BIIly wesJ(was dying
for more than a rear before he finally
had to give up, q smile on his face and
a laugh on his lips all the time. Incl
dentally, there is q feature Of the West
show for which he never got proper credit
He had his men drilled to laugh at all
times on the stage, no matter what the
joke or song-unless, perchance, Dich
Jose was singing one of his tear-compelline
ballads, in which event the company all as
sumed look of the deepest concern. Wher
one first saw this the impression gained
was that a lot Of new business was
being introduced. Whatever was beinl
done, the laugh always started on the stage
Billy West joining in as heartily as any
As a result OF this clever bit of managerial
tact, Vests patrons always went away
feeling that they had really seen something
to laugh at. And this was not the onll
thing they got for their money, for Bill!
West never had a poor act or a dull jokI
on his program. Modern ministrelsy GER
tainly lost a prince when death closed tn
eyes and s%tillest the voice Of William H
West.