The St. Louis Republic., 1904-09-11

i.iviugstoD in The County Chairman.
has been appearing in minstrel roles for
forty years
II have been doing bIack-face parts
since 1se3'' said Mr.. Thatcher the other
night Il started in Baltimore in a little
place called the New Idea Concert Hall
1T cannot t-a charged against me that
I was attracted by the glare OF the foot
lights. for there were no footi!ghts IN the
New Idea j began as a jig dancer. and
my first engagement after the concert
hall was with the Reynold Campbell Gin-
streis We We're stranded in the second
town ou: Of Baltimore ] had no funds
and was given the bass VOL In i!su OF
salary. II was a dark cold winter night.
but carried that bass VOL through the
snow TO Washington, forty miles away.
There ! succeeded In pawnilg the un-
wieidly instrument for enough money TO
buy food and a ticket back TO Baltimore
For the next few years my life was
one Of yicissitude. Ny most important
organization was the Thatcher. Primrose
& West Minstrel Company. THIS Was IN
existence for seven years. In 1850 and ls'l
/ managed my own company. In ls.c the
Organization was known as The Tuxedos-
Mr. Thatcher is now q wealthy man
Why don't you retire. he was asked.
Il intend to act ss long as am abe
he said. II feel just as young ss d'd
forty-one years ago. when / Was doihS
that Jig In old Concert Hall in baltimore
Sir Henry Ir-ing promises 10 appear IN
a new role when he makes his iareVeh
tour OF this country nexr spring fToba-
bly, the last part he will ever create "i!i
be that OF 'Grsndfathe- coQuesne. in
little one-ect tragedy built on Cosmo
HarrIl;on's story OF tka; name Mr.. Ham
ilton, a yo-.-g English author who has
come into sudden fame. has male the
dramatic version OF his story az S'r
Henrys request
viola Allen and her company began re-
hearsals in New York last week for tile
forthcoming revival of The Winters
Tale which will open the season at the
Broad Street Theatsr next month. Miss
Aliens company will include Henry Jew
EFT. I-ascar de We're Frank Vernon. Leo
pold Lane. Carter Weaver. =. G. Bennett.
Boyd Putnam. Phyllis Young and Florence
Randolph. Viola Allen will play the dual
roles OF Herm!one and Perdita-
The executors OF the Wiiso. Barrett s.
;ae are trying to arrange an American
tour for that actors last play. Lucky
Durham and they want 20 send over
the original company to New York this
autumn. provided they can secure suitable
booking II bookings cannot be had IN
the autumn. the American tour will he de-
iayed until next March Lucky Durham
was one Of Wilson BGrrett's biggest h.:s.
ari boz frl- fs Am
Americans.
There are two biil.ts and a wonderfully
beautiful transformation in Mother
Goose. These are shown IT the close OF
The acts. Th. bale; at the finale of the
first act Is called 'L'Art Nouyeau." and
represents. in cho-uses and professions.
products Of art in manufacture. display
ine carved ivory. wrought bTonzes and /
IRON. rnosaios. i:idescent glasses. earthen- !
wares. jcweiry and the diamond. Over !
s5A persons appear in this feature. The I
ballet "Heartsease." at the end OF the (
second act. Is preceded by a minor ballet I
called THE Land of Frost and Ice This .
meits into THE Land Of Heartsease"
showing nearly 80 persons in costumes in i
every hue OF the pansy. The last incident /
Is the display of the transformation.
Blanche Bates wears twenty-four ex-
Quisite kimonos in The Darling Of the
Gods" Two kimoEos form what may be
called the outside dress. the mos: beauti-
full and the most exquistely embroidered
worn underneath. for the japanese woman
does not present the best part OF ner at
tire for the observation of the outside
world. =,
Everything about the play is designed
with marvellous accuracy. The fan. used
BY the different ranks Of people arc tts
'ans which they should Use. for fans mean
somefhing I'm the land of fans and may
lot he used Unfortunately. Ali the cio,h-
ng is tied on in the true japanese fash
on-not button or hook. an eye or =