Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-30

gifts John f. Dodson thinks and asserts
that the American stage has no comedian
who can equal him and the British none
who can excel him. But he is also a good
man Of business and this is just what
some other excellent comedians do not try
or wish 20 be.
Behind that saturnine humor, beneath
the show OF contempt he Affects when he
talks Of materialism in art, commercialism
in the theater and 1.-THE despicable spirit of
trade that spoils acting nowadays" Mr..
Goodwin conceals love for a bargain, pas
sion for an investment. sneaking sympathy
with speculation. and a minimum OF ad-
miration for successful graft" Under
such conditions why shouldn't man turn
to San Francisco7
One habit, rulnous TO thrift, Mr. Goodwin
avoids before all others. He does not bor-
row or lend Early in life a brother actor
decoyed a flve-dollar note from his wallet,
and when, several months later, the credi-
tor ventured to mention the matter to the
debtor with all Difference to the latters
sensibilities, he was met with this reply:
NAT, my dear boy, I'm surprised, may
say I'm astounded, that you refer to an
incident of such a personal nature. Why,
don't you know that when a man accom-
modates friend In the way you accommo-
dated me, he never expects to get the
money back7 It is a gift, my boy. a gift
and always considered a gift Please don't
speak Of II again. 1 would not wish any
thing to mar our friendship"
There have been moments when Mr..
Goodwin has been extravagant Of speech
but the best authorities acquit him of being
extravagant with his bank account There
is nothing "Scotty' about him. Few are
L.
and means Of saving an honest dollar on
Manhattan island. If there be French
table d'hote whose cuisine he has not
sampled, It must be one opened to the pub
lie since he last left town.
mo, gentlemen" he win say, when an
attractive device is laid before him for re-
ducing his roll IT did play Bottom once.
but please do not think me an ass all day"
-
There is a home behind the scenes in
which the actress spends much of her pro-
fessional nfe-the dressing ROOM her PRO
fessional home" II might be called. Here
she changes her personality so far as out
ward appearance is concerned, TO suit the
character she is to interpret. Its door
closes upon her, opens to let out some one
else Julia Marlowe goes in, out comes
Julietl Disappears Mrs. Leslie Carter, re-
appears Adreai Fits in Maude Adams,
fits out Lady Babbie. The wizard has
waved his wand, the rouge tipped hare's
foot, and presto, change 'Tis all part Of
the great mystery Of behind the scenes"
between which and the spectator the foot
lights form a barrier Of fire. 1t would
scorch him IL he dared attempt to break
through. Only the '1ines," the personal
magnetism of the actress. and the "atmo-
sphere" Of the play (f 1t is lucky enough
TO have "atmosphereO can cross it, and
always from one direction only, from stage
to audience.
Probably no actress on the American
stage is as well aware of the changes that
have taken place in dressing rooms as Mrs
w G. Jones, the Nanny of "The Little
Minister" the Nurse of Romeo and
Juliet" and probably the most Legitimate
successor Of the late Mrs. Gilbert as the
"Grand Old Woman OF the Stage"
In 1897 before her marriage, she was a
member of a stock company in Philadel
phia, playing at one of the leading theaters
there. The dressing rooms were small,
stuffy affairs, without ventilation except
over the transoms, the walls and floors
bare In those days the call boy did not go
to the dressing rooms, knock on the door
and call tho actress by name when it was