Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-31


Wills tells an Interesting story on Nat
Goodwin that has never been seen in print.
1T was during Goodwn's engagement in
Hobbies when he was the life of that
entertainment. that the incident happened,
said Wills. Sheridan Shook, A NJ. Palm
er. Z. E. Rice and other theatrical mag
mates of that day were sitting near the
curb in front of the old Union Square The
alter one afternoon talking shop when Good
win. who had been to the funeral of fell
low thespian. Joined the party He was sad
and angry. Upon being asked the reason
why, he stated that the clergyman's eulogy
had made an impression upon him. and
that one of the actors who was at the
funeral had persisted in talking shop
during the solemn ceremonies. The more
Goodwin talked about him the more dis
gusted he became with player folks in
general. and expressed a wish to leave the
profession.
why, you couldn't do anything else
but act said Shook.
Couldn't l.?
"'No.' retorted Shook; you couldn't earn
your salt in any other way.
After more discussion of a similar ma
ture Shook wagered Goodwin a weeks sal
airy that it was impossible for the actor to
make a like amount in the same length of
time by any other manner than that of
appearing nightly before the footlights-
THE only n. G. accepted it, as he also
did the stipulation that the wager was to
be decided the following week, and that he
was not to leave the stage while 80 doing.
Taxing his Yankee ingenuity a little,
Goodwin hit upon T;ost novel idea he
placed an 'ad in the New York Herald,
which read as follows: Wanted a compan-
ion to accompany a gentleman to Europe.
Salary no object. Good-felowship the only
requisite. Send stamps for reply
Ere the week over Mr.. Goodwin
had received more than eight thousand
answers. and the postage in those days
was three cents, his receipts from the
sale Of those stamps exceeded his weekly
stipend by quite a sum.
Shook acknowledged himself beaten and
paid the forfeiture.
las the law at that time compelled an
answer to he returned where a stamp was
inclosed. Mr. Goodwin with the amount &C
Cylired. both from the wager and the sale
Of stamps. purchased a little souvenir, had
a circular printed explaining the why-for
Of the advertisement and mailed them to
each person that answered his original an
nouncement.'
STAGE Observation-Disclosures Of ten
years ago will easily remember the I'M
mense sensation that the London Gaiety
Company created when first brought to this
country under the auspices of Mr.. George
Edwardes, 1t really the first incep-
ton of what is now regarded musical
comedy" Its birth was decidedly English.
When the Gaiety company came over there
was no question but that their immense
hit was due entirely to the pas de quatre,'
whose music, by Meyer Lutz, became a
relgning fad. And such dancers they were.
Lefty Lind, Sylvia Gray, Belle Thornton
and Lilly Burcham, with their long accor-
dion-plaited skirts and fluffy lingerie. 1t
was what accepted afterward as the
skirt dance. The skirt dance then held
sway until Mr.. Eugene Tompkins brought
to this country. for the big revival of 1.-The
Black Crook" in 1892. quartet of French
quadrille dancers. Their speciality did not
make deep impression did that OF
the Gaiety girls.
The latest sensation in the da acing lne
which comes from London. is the cham
payne dance" in the SILVER Slipper" The
six girls who are seen in this ballet. as
well several other stage movements
during the action of the piece, are all
picked dancers from Mr.. Edwardes' Lon
don Gaiety Theater, girls who were ap-
prenticed to Mr.. Edwardes' dancing mas
ter when but eight or nine years of age,
and who, after a complete season of IN
struction. according to the rule of the
school. were given places in the rear line.
AS their proficiency Increases they are
brought forward. and. after a tuition of
three seasons. II they are not found thor
oughly capable. they are dropped alto
gether. This sextet has succeeded in
catching the inspiration of this exceptional
bit of musical composition, and in Inter-
preting the idea with n dash that gives IT
rank among the masterpieces of its kind.
A TAME ROBBER.-What may be classed
as an absolute novelty is announced for
the Empire Theater next week in the per-
son of a genuine reformed convict with a
record of fifteen years spent behind prison
bars. The name Of this former Jail bird
is Richard Fernley. alias English Bill"
In 1850 he was convicted in England OF
robbery and forgery and was sentenced to
five years penal servitude After serving
his time he came TO America, and after
brief but strenuous career of crime was
arrested for completely in the noted Living
ston murder case in New York in 1855
At the trial Fernley was convicted as an
accessory and was sent TO Sing Sing for
ten years. During his Imprisonment he
escaped twice-a record never equaled in
the history of Sing Sing-but was recap
tured and served full time.
After his release Fernley decided to re-
form, and Is today a modest well-man-
nered person.
In the Empire production of Escaped
From Sing Sing Fernley plays the stage
part of English Bill and illustrates graph
ically the manner in which he made his