Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-13

Special Correspondence.
I ONDON, Feb. There are several
| reasons why Sir Charles Wynd-
- hams decision to appear In the
United States shortly, on his way
TO Australia, should be welcome to
American play-goers. This veteran
player is, of course, one Of the Oldest,
most famous, and incidentally, rich
est Of London actor-managers. 1t IL
generally understood, too, that Sir
Charles enjoys the honor Of being King
Edwards favorlte English actor, the
players knighthood having been one
OF the first bestowed by the king after
his accession. Wyndham recently was
selected by his majesty to appear be-
fore his royal guests from Italy, ana
Edward VII rarely misses new piece
at Sir Charles theater, The story OF
the actors part In the American ClVll
war and Of his dramatic beginnings IN
the United States may not be fanlllar
to the present generation Of American
play-goers. Wyndham had no idea, AT
the outset, OF going on the stage
though he had done well In amateur
theatrcals-he intended to be "a sur
geon. with this idea he began studying
in London, but almost before he knew
IL had abandoned his chosen work to
play small parts in theatrical COM
pany of which Ellen Terry was the
head. After a little Of this, however
paternal influence prevailed and the
young man went back TO his studies,
ond ultimately took his degree. He
crayed excitement however. The Civil
war had Just broken out, and so, for
the sake Of smelling powder, Wyndham
sailed for the United States and, on
his arrival, joined the northern forces
as surgeon. For two years he fol-
lowed the fortunes Of the campaign, hut
them when both armies went into VIM
ter quarters, left the service and went
to New. York There the stage attract
cd him once more, and he Joined Mrs
John Woods company IN which one
of his associates was Wilkes Booth
afterwards the slayer Of President Lin
cCln. He was not especially successful
however. and returned to England In
1866. Not to practise surgery, however
but to see II he could not better his
luck on the English boards He did,
and So materially that I'm 1869 he felt
ombodencd 10 have another try in the
United States. This time he was most
cordially received and made particu-
larry striking success at Wallack's, New
York, IN THE School for Scandal A
year later however, he returned to
London, took the Criterian theater and
began a tenancy that was to be long
and successful Wyndham remained
AT the Criterion % years, and while
there produced many plays that are
now famous--among them. pink Dom
NOES" Rosemary" "rhe Tyranny of
Tears and THE Case Of Rebellous
Susan Bronson Howard married one
Of Wyndham's sisters and supplied his
brother in-law with several successful
comedies, one Of these being "Brlgh-
tom which at home, had a long run
under the name Of Saratoga
There Is quite a large section Of the
public over here 90 when a play Is
likely to appeal II It be only pretty
and family amusing, and so Captain
Basil Hoods new comedy Love In a
Cottage" which was produced at Ter
~ : 'HSl nlgnt, may run III tne HlrHnu
FOR quite a while. Sweet and Twenty,
however, which was a decidedly better
sample Of Captain Hoods work did not
prove Of sufficient stamina TO- attract
Americans, so II seems doubtful If tho
newer play will be taken across the wa
fer. The story is rather interesting
however. It concerns itself mainly with
the family Of a wealthy Irish peer who