New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-27

estic carriage she swept through the studio Queen
Elizabeth might have done | looked down on her
night from the gallery of the Theater FranGais,
now Fourteenth-st Theater, where she was playing
her first engagement in this country. L went again
to see her then again
~, one of these occasions | happened to meet young
Maurice Grau This chance meeting was turning
noint for me- | had known Maurice at the Free
Academy but had seen little of him since we had
put scholastic pursuits behind us. lie had been
a clever boy at school, but it no prophetic feeling
as to his future fame that caused that night to greet
him with enthusiasm. In my eyes he was already
an important person, because he was the nephew OF
Jacob Grau manager of the Theater Francais.
He spent a good deal of time at the theater, and
after this freshening of old acquaintance | ventured
call him there, getting past the doorkeeper
without ticket, a contamination that | had figured
Opportunities like this were not to be neglected
Ny social visits to the Theater Francais became
frequent. | couldn't keep away. The atmosphere
of the playhouse the lights the crowd the music and
the acting of Ristori, whose deep voice like
toing bell in the dramatic passages, fascinated me.
| began to read classic plays at home and dreamed
of becoming a great actor myself
Here you boys see what you can do at selling these
books!"
It was the heavy Teuonic voice of old Jacob Grau,
who had evidently decided that Maurice and l might
as we'll be useful We took the books which contained
the English translation of the Italian play that
the bill, and entered zealousy upon the work of
selling them keeping five of the twenty-five cents
we received for each. Thus Maurice Grau and
began dramatic careers in the same way, the
same night.
We sold books regularly after that, but in little
while Maurice, who, | have said a bright
boy, made ticket-seller in the bOX-Ottice. One
night he did appear, and his uncle who in
a fine German frenzy because there no one to
sell the tickets and it time to open the doors,
getting ready for my humble task with the
books. " Here, you, Jimmy" he cried, get you
into the boX-OtiCe, quick"
Now, | had always stood somewhat in of the
cold-eyed, wse-looking who presided in box
offices and frightened at the prospect of trying
to fulfil such important duties
But Mr.. Grau-" | began.
81 want no butts Morrissey, he interrupted sharply,
Al want ticket-seller
But I've had experience, Mr.. Grau, "
"Dond speag of exberience!' he cried, growing
German in his excitement You'll ged all of
that you want to-nidc. Must stand here arguing
when the beope are waiting with their money at
the door,?
So | took my place in the high chair behind the
window and waited for the onslaught 1t in a
moment, the play being a popular one. The doors
swung OPEN and there a rush for the win
dow | served the first man quickly enough, and
then the next In a quarter of hour getting the
swing of the thing and a little later half smiled
| felt myself already falling into the impassive,
tomato boX-otfce
But it was exciting work That line
seemed never-ending. Finally, however, -
my ears caught the sliding sound of the x
rising curtain and | had to deal with onlya /S.5G-
few bclatcd stragglers At last | leaned (Hr%$s.s
back in my chair with of great relief. Nss.l
My neck behind tired, but | didn't