The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-04-30

an excellent swOrdsman himself, and il
is very proba BILE that he was a pupil
Of Vincent SavioIa, the greatest fencing
master of the time in England. The
master dramatiSt apparently set great
store by his own sword. since he made
will to the nephew of one of his Oldest
friends, John A. COmbe."
Not long ago one Orlando Day, a
fourth-rate actor in London, who has
never beeen able to secure a part much
beyond the range of a mere supernum-
erary, was called in a sudden emer-
gency, says a writer in the Bookman,
to supply the place of Allen Ainsworth
at the Criterion theatre for a single
night. The call filed him with JOY,
which was in turn dampaned by the
dreadful thought that, as the play was
already in the midst of it's run. none
of the dramatic critics might be there
TO watch his triumph \ bright
thought struck him. He would an
nOunce the event Rushing to tele-
graph Office he composed the following
telegram. frugally confiding the mes
sage within the regulation ten words
Orlando Day presents Allen Aims
worth'S part tonight at the Criterion.f
This message he sent to one of the
leading critics TheI it occurred TO
him. Why not tell them aII?" And so,
as kilograms are cheap in ENGLAND, ne
repeated the message to dozen or
more important persons. At a late
hour of the same day. in the Garrick
club Il lounging gentleman produced
one Of the kilograms and read il to a
group Of friends \ chorus Of eNclama-
tons followed the reading; Why, I
got precisely the same MESA sc"
J. NJ. Barrie. who was present. was
the only one who said nothing.
Didn't he wire YOU, too?" asked one
of the group
oh, yes
But, Of course, you didn't answer"
oh. but it was only polite TO send
an answer after he had taken the
trouble to wire me. SO, of course,
answered him.
You did! What did you say2'
oh just telegraphed him: Thanks
for timely warning
No longer Will play patrons be trou-
bled with doubts as to whether Rich
ara Mansfield and some few other play
erS are slightly Gro s-cyed or not. An
enteTpTising optiCial has come to the
rescue of stage fu-- VINO are afflicted
with near-sightedness. Glasses fitted
with tiny lenses are now made for use
of the actor 50 afflicted, and who, in
Difference to the character he is pOF-
traying may not wear the regulation
eyeslasS OF spectaClcs.
theSe special SitSS7e lit close to the
eyeball and are hardly distinguishable
from the front of the house. save when
the footlights are at their highest pitch
Of illumination The nose piece, or
bridge. connecting the lenses is covered
with a fesh-colored material, which
aids the illusion.
1t is said that Richard Mansfield is
responsible for the innovation of the
oculistic boon. At any rate, he is cred
tied with being the first actor of note
to wear them. His example has been
followed by Others and at present there
are few theatrical offerings in which
there are not several pairs of the new
gia sSeS worn.
Chorus and show girls are debarred
from the privilege of wearing glasses.
1t is no uncommon thing foI the visit
or behind the scenes to see several
members of the musical play wearing
eyeglasses. but when the cue is given
for appearance on the stage the glasses
are dropped down in bodices or placed in
a convenient place TO be picked up al
the exit. II the blaze of light to which
minor members of theatrical compsnies
are subjected eyeglasses would be AN
lncongruity- And Oftentimes the af-
hicted ones are put to great inconve-