Evening star., 1902-03-01

Minstrels on the Bowery. I remember the
first night that l saw this entertainment,
and coming from the other side, l first
regarded it with great wonderment. but
finally when l caught the humor Of the
situation ] laughed till the tears rolled
down my cheeks.
THE actor had a very pleasant time in
those days. There were no road tours,
but he worked for ten months, taking his
vacation for two just like any other sort
OF person. His engagement continued year
after year, uninterrupted by the precarious
chanceS OF success and failure that now
continue to confront him. 1t was a great
training too, for one had to be ready to
play most any sort of a part and you see
this rather stimulated ones versatility.
Things are different now. tor when man.
ager has a new play he very properly
looks about him to find some player who
is peculiarly fitted for the part he has in
mind
There was a great difference in those
days in the matter Of salary. Very few
salaries exceeded fifty dollars week. and
the average was about thirty. I remember
that both Laura Keene and Lester Wal
lack received one hundred dollars week,
and people turned and pointed them out on
this account. But we all lived comfortably
and many of us saved money, while the
theater prOspered. The prices Of seats were
| much cheaper, the highest at Wallacks
was seventyfive cents. and remember dis
tinctly on one occasion this was increased
to one dollar A storm of criticism was
rained upon the house. l believe 1t was
the talk Of the town for at least week.
However. gradually time has changed all
these things, and now people are wiling
| to pay much more for entertainments that
sometimes 1 think would not have been
| tolerated then.
Later in my life 1 Joined the Palmer
stock company, and when that came to
an end / went on the road for Mr.. Froh-
| man. 1t is almost time for me to leave
the stage, and l go cOntented and satisfied.
From year to year l have prOSpered. and
from year to year have been given better
parts. and now I am abundantly satisfied
with the role of Lachlan Campbell In "The
Bonnie Brier Bush 1 am from the north
Of Britain, so you see that the Scotch
comes easy to me-.
His name was originally Mike, and when
he passed into the proud possession OF
Frederic Sullivan of the Bellows Stock Com
pany the dog fancier declared him to be the
homliest bull terrier ever imported from
England. Mr. Sullivan. however. was not
compelled to take the mans word for 1t,
for the sum total Of canine ugliness seemed
to be centered in the pups face. When
Mike first appeared on the Lafayette stage
during rehearsals one day this week he
created panic among the feminine portion
of the company Little Antoinette Walker
declared him to be positively horrid, but as
1t Is always woman's privilege to change
her mind 1t Is not surprising that after gaz-
ing into Mikes face for time she declared
that he was so uncompromisingly homely
that If one gaZed at him long enough he
became radiantly beautiful. With Miss
Walkers approval Mike became very popu-
lar, and 1t was decided that his name was
too plebeian and he was consequently
christened Michael Angelo in the presence
of the entire company. Whether 1t was be-
cause the name was too great for his bow
legs to bear or because some personal OBJ
lection, the change Of name wrought
oh In ha hahitg SpQmQ6
be constantly running away from 1t. When
his master stepped out of the stage elevator
Thursday evening he suddenly remembered
that he had forgotten his part. Tying
Michael Angelo to the curtain pole he hast
ened back to his dressing room. The stage
hands noting that the audience was out OF
the theater, rang up the curtain, that be-
ing the customary thing to do every night
after the performance. 1t was "quick
curtain" and as the painted canvas rose
Michael shot into space with the most sur
prising rapidity. He was dangling at the
end Of his chain twenty feet above the
stage when he was rescued by his indignant
/ master.
"The late Charles Hoyt was a man of
few words when talking business" said
Stage Manager John W. Dunno the other
afternoon in the course of a conversation
about the characteristics Of the dead play
wright. He was particularly brief in
which in stage parlance means that an
actors services are no longer desired We
used always to watch him narrowly at re-
hearsals for those were the times when
he was most liable to break forth with the
dreaded dictum. A young actor not aware
OH this somewhat common failing among
authors one night injected into one of the
Hoyt presentations a really clever line that
brought forth much laughter from the
dience. After the performance the actor
sought Mr.. HOyt. who was standing In the
wings looking very well pleased He had
reason to believe that Hoyt was much
impressed with his Interpolation as the au-
dience had been, but he was soon made to
know better
"'How was that line, Mr.. HOyt"
I" Great! Take two weeks notice. re-
piled his employer. backing away smilingy.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Hoyt was very kind
hearted man, and the actors Of whom l
have been speaking were not really dis.
charged. he always found way to
call such dismissals."