Evening star., 1902-01-11

time on. and as no understudy for the
part had been provided by the management
there was nothing left but for Miss Me-
Henry to go in search OF another aspirant
for hlstrfontc honors. who. for the sake of
a position on the ladder of fame, would be
willing to be stabbed, knocked about pro-
miscuously and made to feel in other pleas
ant little ways that she was getting on
Failing to find just what she wanted in any
of the shops, Miss McHenry determined 20
visit some of the poor districts of the city
In the hope that her search would be re-
warded. This she did, and it wasn't long
before she came across a small army of
urehins in front of a row of little huts, and
on the step Of one of the novels sat a tiny
bit of girl affectionately holding a doll by
one leg and grooming Good Morning, Car
RE" In perfect contentment The doll was
OF rather nondescript appearance. 1t had
a long braid of yellow hair which started
abruptly from Its head, much as a China
mans queue does and the face wore
ghastly grin that would make the skele-
tons In museum look sick. Miss McHenry
inquired for the child's mother and was in
formed that she was ''in there" meaning
the house. But the woman was even then
at the door, and was the picture Of be-
wilderment on hearing that lady in an
expensive sealslSin coat wanted to buy the
rag doll, SO Miss McHenry hastened to tell
her the whole story. offering s. for Liz"
the name by which the doll was known in
the neighborhood. Furthermore she in
vited the mother to come and see "M'liss''
and bring the erstwhile mother of Liz and
her playmates to the Thursday matinee,
and a happier crowd Of youngsters 1t would
have been hard to find They went to the
matinee. and were the proudest auditors
OF the afternoon, not because they were
there as the guests of so popular an actress
as Nellie McHenry, but because Liz, who
had once been one Of them, was now
member Of the troupe, and to their minds,
the best thing in the show.
All the Henrietta audiences caya a very
liberal share of their attention to the first
local appearance of a young Georgetown
girl 1t was pleasant experience for those
of the audience who had known Miss Laura
Thompson socially. She did little more than
live up to her part as Lady Trelawney, but
she did that fully, and, as has been said
before. she was happily cast and good to
look upon.
Last summer Miss Thompson had spoken
one or two lines in as many roles during
the stock company's stay at the Lafayette.
Then she announced that on the strength
of that experience she was going to seek
position in New York. In spite Of the
warnings of her friends, off she went pre-
sented herself at the theatrical agencies
with stanch heart, and felt her courage
ooze away in less than a week. Some one
told her Of vacancy in Mr. Robson's COM
pany. When she applied to the manager
she was referred to Mr.. Robson and finally
asked to present herself to the star. The
prospect was hardly encouraging. There
were more applicants even than she had
encountered in the theatrical agencies. But
Mr.. Robson talked with her little, found
out something of her home life and educa-
tfon, and employed her on the spot. And
Mr.. Arthur subsequently told her it was not
her ability as an actress. but her frank
manifest as she walked into the room which
had impelled Mr.. Robson to employ her.
X X
Andrew Carnegie in The Theater for jan
uary explains why he will not help to es-
tablish an endowed theater. For some
time 1t has been stated in various quarters
that Mr.. Carnegie approved of the general
scheme-a theater Independent Of box office
considerations, in which the classic plays
should be regularly performed and new
plays worthy Of its boards produced and
which should become the permanent home
Of the finest stock company In the United
States Mr. Carnegie. 1t was stated. was
ready to endOw such a theater, and
Journal recently went to the length Of stat
Ing that a national theater. with schools
in all the departments of scenic endeayor
would have an important part In the ma
tional university the ironmaster has offer
ed to the District of Columbia. The Thea
ter asked Mr.. Carnegie to confirm or deny
these rumors, and has succeeded in getting
definite statement from him. Mr. Car
negie says he does not consider 1t proper
heid for private gifts. and argues that II
the experiment were to be made it should
be by government, as In Europe.
X X
The music of ben Hur' is a feature
which has attracted the attention Of pro-
fessional people wherever it has been
heard. Edgar Stillman Kelley, the COM
poser, Is the authority on this side Of the
Atlantic Of ancient and oriental music His
score Is one Of the most Interesting fea-
lures OF this most extraordinary produc-
ton. Speaking of his music, Mr.. Kelley
said: When read Ben Hur' for the first
time wrote down in my sketch book the
theme OF the star. OF course, I had no
idea It would be used in this connection,
but the theme was religious in character.
and I merely designed It as appropriate
for oratorto When spoken to in regard to
writing music for Ben Hur at once
thought OF 1t IN this connection. II the
music Is rendered in Its entirety, which at
present is not the case, it Is the unifying
theme
Few people comprehend the many ditti-
culties that beset a dramatist." said George
c. Hazeiton. jr, at the Piayers' Club In
New York city few nights ago.
Il wrote Mistress Nelr a long while
before 1t saw the light OF a metropol-
IA
tention was called early to the possible
tiles of weaving play around Nell
Gwynne.' and I accordingly devoured every
book that would tend to throw light upon
the subject. Most Of my spare moments
were spent at the Congressional Library.
as fate had thrown that storehouse OF
knowledge conveniently near to my domi-
Gle on the Hill. Here I would read for
days, and oftentimes ! burned the mid
night OIL so anxious was to complete my
story.
Later went abroad to better study the
locale of my drama and at the same time
to pick up all that could of the charac-
teristies of Miss Gwynne. At last my play
was completed and 1 energetically gather
ed several of my friends about me to hear
its first reading. Some offered suggestions
OF Improvement, which I readily accepted,
As rule they accredited me with having
written pleasing drama. 1 must confess
l was somewhat elated over my work. and
thought that managers would become riot
Gus in their efforts to give 1t metroroI-
ttan premier. Immediately set out fof
New York, carrying with me, Of course.
my precious manuscript.
II had any concett in regard to my