Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-23


came into being. and with them my career
as a comic opera comedian.
The unaffabie MIR. Gilbert was a source or
great annoyance to our manager, MISS
ODER. She wanted to discard his operas be-
cause "he was so blessed cold and indie
pendent" but her better business Judgment
finally prevailed. think ii was by means
of lucky bon mot by which reached the
heart of the great English wit. One night
he attended a performance of our Pa
tience. He was in the country when We
were rehearsing ii, but he could not be in
duced to attend rehearsal In this opera
Bunthorne, which l played. paraphrases
solemnly:
Oh. the dust Of the earthly today
Is the earth OF the dusty tomorrow
Then added: "A little thing of my own.
but L shall not publish It," The latter ex-
preston was a popular colloquial of the
day. The night Mr.. Gilbert honored US
with his presence was one of those record
breakers when I'VE turned 'em away.
After l had gravely assured the audience
that the dust of the earthly today is the
earth of the dusty tomorrow, the applause
was so great that IL woke up baby who
was peacefully slumbering in the arms of
its mother-maybe Ii was its mother-in the
balcony. The cries of the child continued
after the applause had subsidized. The in
FAINT. metaphorically speaking, had the cen
ter of the stage.
"A little thing of my own" 1 gravely re-
peated But never mind shall not have
it published Whether ii was In appre-
| me, Gilbert came behind the scenes to meet
me, and / found him one of the most genial
gentlemen l had ever known. Before we
parted he extended to me and Mrs. Barna-
bee most cordial invitation to visit him
in England. 1t was not until recently that
/ took advantage of this invitation and be-
came his guest at his country place at
Grim's Dyke-Greams Dyke 1t is sometimes
called-in his coZy den, where we chatted.
We had a fine view of Windsor Castle. Here
we were discussing rhythm. rhyme and OPP
cratic pyrotechnics generally, when he sud
denly exclaimed
America without meeting the finest talker
| in England
But l have already met him." said 1.
"Where?" he asked. surprised.
Right here
That's very good he laughed. but l
am serious. Follow me, IL you please" He
| led me to a hallway, at one end OF which
grayely delivering lecture. L suppose, on
| the fast-dying art of conversation to two
pupils, was beautiful green parrot.
Polly, said Mr.. Gilbert, with peculiar
| emphasis. this is my friend from Boston,
! who will drink cup of tea with US, II you
are agreeable?'
So sincere was my hosts manner, that 1
instinctively bowed much impressed Not
so, however, Polly.
Boston, Tea! Boston, Tea, Ha-ha IA
ha! Boston, Tea, That's good joke
But you can't fool me. This is too much,"
And then followed deafening burst of de-
joined. and amid which the words Boston"
and tea" were tauntingly shrieked.
I eyed Mr.. Gilbert suspiciously. He seem
| ed embarra ssed.
Il hope you will pardon Polly, Mr.. Barna~
bee, he said most courteously, for though
she was young bird at the period of '1G
we have recalled those painful scenes to her
| parrot mind, and she evidently does not
| feel equal to drinking a cup of tea with i
man from Boston,
'She is a prodigy" 1 gasped as we with
drew.
1.-The finest talker in England as I told
| you before said Mr. Gilbert.
| 1t was some days before the mechanism.
as we say in the theater of the parrot
scene dawned upon me, old stage manager
| that / was.
Mr.. Gilbert is great stage manager He
understands the lights and shades of this
! art. He knows chorus values and center
| of-stage effects to a T. These same prin-
| ciples he applied to his parrot. In the first
| place, he taught her climaxes any of which.
regardless of the parrots choice he
could successfully lead up to, so that the
| derisive laughter, That's good" That's
| a good joke etc, all punched would be
an effective finale for almost any dialogue.
Mr.. Gilbert managed his selection or
words preceding this finale ingenlously,
Boston and tea" We're the words for the
parrot to catch and repeat. At this time !
did not notice the peculiar sharp emphasis
Mr. Gilbert gave to the words Boston and
tea, while slurring the other words as
| well as changing the pitch Naturally 1
! was more interested in the parrot at that
| moment than in Mr. Gilberts remarks Ga
| fact he counted on)., and at the time the
| emphasis on Boston and tea" passed
my attention; but to Polly, trained to re-
peat those high-light words, or center-of-
stage words. they were plain enough. IL
was vocal legerdemain, and an interesting
illustration of Mr. Gilbert's stagecraft
This form of joke is not unusual with Mr.
Gilbert. He dearly loves 1t. His famous
harmony joke on Sir Arthur Sullivan was
OF the same order. His art lies In his se-
rious manner and earnest face. which for a
moment completely deceive his victim.
Sir Arthur Sullivan, whose melodies
caught the popular ear, was in strong con-
trast to Mr.. Gilbert. The latter IS tall
hale and ruddy, while Sir Arthur was
short and sallow. / think Sir Arthur never
tired of repeating Tennyson's confession
that he (the poeD knew just two tunes one
was God Save the Queen" and the other
one was not.
In this country We have had all manner
OF hght opera. There were the Emily Mel
vile and the Alice Oates companies: like
wise the Emma Abbott Grand English
Opera COmpany. but amoDO ithaca an rIIar