Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05
DOES VANISHING LADI ACT
CLARA Norris Surprises Tive Thsusssd Five
Hundred 0mahanS.
SUDDEN DRAMA EasAREAssEs Mr. PEARsE
Complications Attributed TO Quarrel
Ovet salary = Actress-Lecturer's
Husband Takes Matters Out
Of Contractor Hands.

Twenty-Five hundred people who sat in
polite but unrewsrded expectancy at Boyd's
theater last night can testify that Clara
Morris, actress. authoress and raconteur,
has acquired material for another chapter
Of personal "reminiscences. These twenty
hve hundred even suggest that they might
add some "reminiscences of their own, and
down at the Barker hotel there is an em-
barrassed theaterical manager who Kisses
unpleasant things between his teeth and
trowns ominously and darkly when asked
What Thomas w. Broadhurst would prob
ably contribute to this cbs pier.
Miss Morris lecture last night on her
stage experiences was to be a feature of
the Teachers Lecture bureau course and at
s o'clock every box seat but two, every
other seat on the first floor Of the theater,
all those in the balcony and practically all
those in the lofty perch Of what Is 'ordi-
narily termed the ''two-bits contingent
were taken.
Large and DIgniaed HOuse.
The audience was aristocratio and erudite.
There were teachers and professors and
young people who are going TO be grad
uated next spring and are looking for
pointers on dramatic delivery. Prominent
members Of the Womap's club and profess
sional men we're also there with expectant
souls and their hair reached In the fashion
Of genius. AT $3.50 these people grew TO
wondering and some stray travelling man
who didn't know any better tried to start q
~peremptory round Of applause. II fell fat,
but the people stirred YEARLY In their seats
and when Prof. Pearse dragged himself re-
luctantly before the drop curtain at $3.50,
after having allowed the audience to re-
main in unenlightened suspense for three
quarters Of an hour, there was a silence az
profound as any Clara Morris ever evoked
In her most emotional scenes.
Mr.. Pearse Uncomfortable.
Mr.. Pearse was doing some emotional
acting Of his own, too. He was perspirine
profusely and told the audience, with re-
freshing candor, but evident apprehension,
that the last thirty minutes had been the
most miserable of his whole life. Then he
read a telegram, dated Monday, which
said:
Miss Norris will arrive Omaha 1t9s p. m
tomorrow afternoon, Rock Island road
BROADHURST.
THAT telegram said Mr.. Pearse, wa
what we were relying on. But Miss Nor
ris is In her bed over in Des Moines at this
very minute And will not, because Of some
misunderstanding with her manager, b.
here to lecture for US tonight. / have rea'
son to hope and to believe that she will bt
here tomorrow night, however, and al
who are here will please retair
their reserved seat coupons, or !
they are upstairs get door checks that al
may be provided for tomorrow night as the,
are tonight. Meanwhile, / will ask som,
lawyer who is q friend Of mine to step bacl
to the box once"
The crowd left. There was no unpleasant
ness and no request for a ~refunding Of tn
money, but the things that we're said o
Miss Morris and of MI. Broadhurst and q
all that ~pertained to either OF them wer
more enthusiastic than complimentary.
Worry About the Landlord.
After the house had been vacated by o.
but the two colored porters Mr.. Pears
got the committee together and informe
II that the rent of the house for the nigh
which was 1925. was a loss, but that Man
ager Burgess had cut II to 500 II II wi
desired to have Miss Norris Wednesda
night, and that the $3.50 for the lecture II
self would not, Of course, have to be pal
until the lecture was delivered. The com
mittee, with visions OF what might occur
an attempt were made to pay back none
paid for the tickets, promptly declared tina
the lecture must be given.
"And remember" said Manager Burgess
Of the theater, cheeringly, you have
claim for damages. A trick Of this kin
would cost those people Just $1,000 II
wac in your place. l would have out In
functions that would spoil their futur
plans until they settled with me-"
"oh. let's do that way. Let's injunctio
them," promptly exclaimed one member {
the COMMITTEES.
"And put in a claim for running GU
health" remarked another, who had dc
veloped heart disease in the last hftee
minutes Of the wait.
Talks Across Frosty Space.
Mr.. Pearse came from his third sessic
at the long distance telephone over while
he had called Miss Morris husband fro
his bed at the savery hotel at Des Moin,
and remarked to the committee as he look
hard at the reporter and the janitoF, "W
must go to a restaurant or some plas
where we can talk this over in ~executi,
session" The reported did the only thls