Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-14

plays for she is ambitious to branch out in
repertoire of the general style that Ga
brIelle Rejane used when she was in this
country in 1850. Indeed, it was an attempt
to realize these ambitions this season that
led to the writing of Nam selle Napoleon
1t may be recalled that David Belascos pro-
duction of his play of 'Du Barry two
years ago was followed Immediately by M.
Richepn's declaration that Belasco had
taken his matter from MSS called La
DG Barry" which he had commissioned the
French academician to write for Mrs. Les
lie Carter
At that time Mr. Zegfeld entered into a
correspondence with M. Richepin, with a
view to obtaining La Du Barry for Mile.
Held's use. In the spring of 1902 she went
to Paris to take UP the matter with the
playwright in person, and arrangements
were all but made when the London news
papers announced the opening of Mrs.
Langtry's new Imperial Theater with a
play called Mile. Mars" by Paul Hester,
the American author Mars" exclaimed
Richepin, why. mademoiselle, why not
she instead of Du Barry?" cat least not
just yet? You can make love to Napoleon
in a vaudeville which l shall write! Yes?
Do permit me" Richepin's enthusiasm was
so fervid that the interview ended with him
in possession of a commission to put the
famous beauty of the Empire into a wall
deville" that should show the Corscan in
love. Those who write history from details
rather than from results and broad effects
united in the theory that LIE Petit
Corporal never knew passion so intense
and never figured so absurdy as in "Laf-
faire de la Mars" Unless the chroniclers
of the period over-prase her beauty, her
tact-and social skill, and the audacious yet
ingenious self-possesson with which she
carried on her amours. her place in stage
land is the comic drama. She left no large
impression on real history as it IS written,
yet what volume of memoirs that deals
with the Napoeonc regime until the re-
turn from Elba has failed to make mention
of the influence she exercised over the trou
hlA1 CHI low i,,s-i, 70 nr do
the pen of Richepin has footlighted her
with any degree of vraisemblance Mile.
Mars should make an ideal protagoniste for
a vaudeville, or. as Mile. Held's heralds
have 1t, a musical play
RIPS" FIRST REAL HIT-The first real
hit Joseph Jefferson made in rip Van
Winkle was not made on the stage. 1t
was made in his lodgings in London, just
previous to the production of the piece
in London. after Dion Boucicault had done
some work on it. This was In September
1865. Mr.. Jefferson had essayed Rip five
years before at Carusis Hail. in Wash
ington. d. c.. under the management of
John T. Raymond but with disappointing
though not discouraging results In Lon
don he arranged with Benjamin Webster to
produce the play at the Adelphi, which |
he did with such success that it ran for
liV nights. ne real MT, though, was
made before Rip saw the footlights of the
Adephi. Here is the story as Mr.. Jeffer-
son tells it himself.
My approaching appearance was the
important dramatic event of my life I
had been five years from America. and
was on my way home, and 1 felt satisfied
that If this new version of RIP Van
Wrinkle succeeded in London my way was
quite clear when L returned to the United
States.
On Sunday evening, being alone in my
lodgings, L got out for my own admiration
my new wig and beard-the pride of my
heart-which I was to use in the last act
l could not resist trying them on for the
twentieth time, L think. so l got in front
of the glass and adjusted them to my
perfect satisfaction. / soon became en-
Unused. and began acting and posing in
front of the mirror. In about twenty min
utes there came a knock at the door.
who's there?' said 1.
It's me- if you please said the gentle
but agitated voice of the chambermaid.
May l come in?
Certainly not / replied. for I had no
desire to be seen in my present makeup
Is there anything wrong in the room
sir?' said she
Nothing at all. Go away I replied
well, sir she continued, there's po-
liceman at the door, and he says as 'ow
there's a crazy old man in your room
afiingin' of his 'ands and agoin' on lawful
and there's a crowd of people across the
street alookin' up the way
Il turned toward the window, and to
my horror | found that | had forgotten to
put down the curtain. and, as 1t seemed
to me. the entire population of London was
taking In my first night