Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-21

ROBERT BLOSSOMS DEBUT.-Robert
Edeson. who has now achieved the distinc
ton most coveted by all actors-that of ap-
pearing at the head of his own company
was in no wise coerced by any of the in
fluences that usually influence the player
in the choice of his career. He promised
some ten years ago to become prominent as
producer of dramas, rather than an in
terpreter of them.
He was the son of an actor from whom
he received countless edmonitions against
following in the footsteps of his father
This advice seems singular when it Is re-
membered that George r. Edeson was held
in enviable regard by his public But with
his knowledge, gained by experience. of the
difficulties attendant on the stage life he
hoped to dissuade his son from entering
upon SO hazardous a field of endeavor. AS
youth Edeson needed the parental counsel
ana confined his talents to the box office.
1t was in 1887, while employed in the ica-
pacity of treasurer at the Park Theater
Brooklyn. that he unexpectedly found him
self transferred to the stage as the result
OF a wager with Col. Sim. the lessee of the
theater, who was introducing a new play
called Fascination" in which Cora Tanner
was the star. During the rehearsal on the
FRIDAY previous to the production Col Sim
received word that one of the minor players
in the company had been taken ILL.,
Edeson was busy balancing his cash ar
count for the week, when Col Sim in
truded on him, much to his ANNOYANCE
with lengthy account of his managerial
troubles. Finally. Edeson, exasperated
turned to Col. Sim and said Colonel, if
you Will keep quiet and allow me to
straighten out this account l will play the
part next Monday myself"
During the silence that followed he fin
ished his work for the day. and was about
10 leave, when the colonel called out !:
Young man. I'll just bet you 500 that you
can't make good on that bluff
Il agree said EdeSOn ssYn,, got n .,,h
stitute for me and give me the part"
Edeson was relieved from his office duties
ana appeared in Fascination" on the fol-
lowing Monday night. While his perform-
ance did not startle Brooklyn he made a
sufhcient impression to encourage him to
follow In the footsteps of his father In re-
ts y, 70 II ne said: 1T was not so much
hundred-dollar bill. But 1 have realized
since that you have to serve a long apnren
ticeship in this trade of acting before your
services receive permanent remuneration
of that dimension"
THE TABLES TURNED ON HoyT
When about thirteen years ago VIM. Norris
the comedian of "A Country Girl" first Ga mo
east in search of a position on the stage
ne approached. among other managers the
late Charles II. Hoyt, whose enterprises as
playwright and manager were then both
numerous and prosperous Hoyt listened
w NA.S SAiih7AoOhiHS youth with amused in
terest. and then replied:
HIM! You've been an amateur in San
Francisco and replaced Fritz Williams for
three nights in The Wife in Chicago. I'm
afraid, young man. l can do nothing for
you You may do all right in light-waisted
plays where you can act as a good-lookins
youth; but my pieces need actors of vital
ity. activity. invention and humor-men of
marked personal humor, who observe life
and can cartoon it. L don't want to dis
courage You. but to put 1t mildly, YOU re
not the kind that gets along in Hoyt farces.
why, you'd think our plays rough You
have not the breadth of style to suit Good
day"
They did not meet again until the sum-
mer OF 1899. when both were guests In the
same hotel at Lake George, Hoyt natural-
ly did not recall the hesitant chap who had
been but one of perhaps thousand who
had called on him for positions in his plays.
Norris. fresh from his first big Broadway
MT as the ascetic Baverstock in His Ex-
ceilency the Governor. was formally intro
duced TO Hoyt one afternoon in the hotel
billiard room.
Very glad to know you. Mr. Norris,', ex-
claimed Hoyt heartily. Indeed. I've been
wanting to meet you ever since l saw you