The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27

can realize the manifold preliminary ar
rangements which they entail or the anxiety
which attends the work OF those respon-
sible for their success. No sooner has the
King issued his command through the
agency OF Mr.. Ashton Of Bond street, than
countless wheels within wheels are set
in motion.
First, there 10 tho question OF preparing
the Waterloo chamber for the suspicious
occasion, says the London Dolly Mdti, and
for days previous the actor managers
stage o~ficials are in consultation with the
household authorities. Usually entirely
new and special scenery is made for the
court performance, and the greatest care
Is exercised TO have every detail Of property
as genuinely realistic as possible. The
King il always anxious that these domestic
representations hal be a faithful copy
not only Of the play In London but OF the
actual scenes which the piece portrays.
Many famous actors Inc actresses have
enjoyed tho distinction OF demonstrating
their art in one or moro Of the royal homes,
and had arecord been kept Of all the interest
ing episodes attending their visits q most
fascinating volume would be the result.
I shall always remember witnessing the
midnight departure Of Sir Henry Irving
from the royal station at Wolferton. just
four years ago. The famous actor had
been p~ortraylng Corporal Brs~ster before
the King and the German Emperor. He
had closed down q performance in Belfast
the previous night and q been crossing
sea and land at express rate to keep his
royal engagement. On the Same day, at
the beginning OF which he stepped, pale
and worn, into sthe sleeping saloon drawn
s.F. nj thu naval afattnn ha WQa dina to an
pear again In Belfast, 500 miles away.
Instantly put to bed on the train Sir
Henry was whirled away to the other side
of the kingdom. 1t must rave been one
Of the most crowded periods OF his strenu.
GUS life; only a man OF Lrving's indomi-
table will could have borne the strain with
such fortitude.
Seventeen years have elapsed since the
late Queen Victoria paid he last visit to
Sandrin CHAM, and to mark the occasion
King Edward Chen Prince OF Nales) COM
manded Irving to produce his time hon
ored BELLS" and the trial scene from
The Merchant OF Venice" The ballroom,
not then as now capable of being so rapidly
improvised az q theatre, presented obstacles
In the way OF space which the Lyceum
stage manager found great difficulty in
surmounting. He had to extend the m
pressive snow scene as far back az the large
bay window behind the stage, and as there
was no means OF getting a real horse ON
the stage lTNluR drought Nltl hIh q SlON-
erly oontrived model which, it 10 said, COM
pletely deceived the Queen, who imagined
the animal was a living property"
Mr.. John Hare has organized command
performances at Windsor, Balmoral and
S~andringham, and on all three occasions
he has had his share of anxiety. When,
on his first command, Mr.. Hare appeared
in a Pair of S~pectacles,' the late Queen
paid him the compliment OF having an
elliptical dais constructed for her special
benefit in the Waterloo Chamber within a
few yards OF the stage so that'she might
the more distinctly hear the famous actor.
The C~hippendale furniture in the principal
scene was taken from the tea room at i OFT
Belvedere, near Virginia Water, which the
Queen herself used for afternoon tea during
her drives. And Mr.. Hare remembers
almost with a pang Of s~elf-reproach that
he made up" in a portion OF st. Georges
Hall, the banqueting chamber OF the castle.
That the King takes a keen personal in
terest in these command performances
ts proved by the genial manner IN which
he throws himself into all the details, often
experimenting the erection OF any indis-
pensable feature Of the play. On the occa-
sion Of the late Duke Of C~larence's twenty-
second birthday the royal host decided to
effect a surprise on Queen Alexandra and
members OF the house party. He there
fore had a message secretly conveyed to
Mr.. Toole that he desired him to produce
"Going 1t" and The Birthplace Of Pod
gers" on a certain night, but minated that
he did not wish the invitation to be mad
public.
Mr.. Toole's agent duly appeared at Sand
bingham to make the necessary range
ments. Judge OF his surprise when he was
Immediately ushered into the presence Of
Il shall introduce you as the Spanish Am
bsssador, said the Prince, emphasizing his
desire for absolute secrecy. But i can't
speak a word Of Spanish, sir, humbly pro-
tested the ~affrighted agent. @No more can
they was the reply your dissuis sew will be
cellency" was able to make all his plans
quietly and expeditiously.
To Seymour Hicks belongs the distinc-
ton of being the first living actor to APP
pear before an English king. With Miss
Ellaline Terriss n the Vaudeville COM
pany, Mr.. Hicks was hastily summoned TO
present. "Scrooge' and "Papa's Wife" on the
occasion Of the present Queen Of Norway's
birthday-it was the first break in the royal
mourning after the late Queens death.
After the performance, which ELECTED the
applause Of all present, Miss Terriss las
asked by he Prince Of Wales to sing "A
Little Bit of String his royal Highness
saying that he had heard il before and had a
very vivid recollection Of il. The King
marked his pleasure by presenting Mrs.
Of the royal monogram, while Mr.. Hicks re-
csived a pair Of diamond sleeve links.
Rightly enough. an invitation 70 appear
before the King and Queen in their Males
ties own home IL regarded by an artist as
the highest HON he can receive. In be-
slowing this distinction, 20 richly priced,
King Edward has not confined his patronage
TO legitimate drama; more than n star
celebrated on the variety stage has been
com handed TO Court. Dan Leno's visit to
the royal homestead will always be memOra-
bic. When he was first told that the King
desired his presence at SaDdringham the
famous comedian ingenuously replied, I'm
very sorry, but I can't possibly go. I'm
due at Sheffield IN that night"
OF course when he fully realized the
honor which was being bestowed upon
him Dan was delighted, but he confessed
TO a severe attack OF nerves. However,
he went through the ordeal with oharac-
teristio fortitude, and many an amusing
incident marked his flying visit.
These are Dan Leno's own words Of what
happened at the close Of his performance
The King, the Queen and the Prince Of
Wales all very kindly shook hands with
me, and old me how much they had en-
jOyed il. The Princess OF Wales was Just
going to shake hands with me, when she
looked at my face, and couldn't do il for
some time because she laughed so much.
L wasn't intending TO look funny-I was
really trying 70 look dignifed and courtly
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