Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-17
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The graves of Sir Henry Irving and Charles Dickens were decorated with flowers on February 7th in honor of their birthdays though Irving's anlii- versary really falls on February 9th.
 :ll:
 Paul Laurence Dunbar, the negro poet, died at his home in Dayton, O., on February 2. after an illness of near ly three years. Mir Dunbar wrote the lyrics of In Dahomey, played by Will Hams and Walker, and at the time of his death was at work on his first complete play.
 Fl:
 B. H. Sothern and Julia Marlowe have written letter to the Washing ton Post offering to contribute $100O as the nucleus of fund for the es- tablishment of a chair of dramatic art in the George Washington university, Washington. D. c. They also agree to give occasional benefits for the pun pose and hope that other players will be sufficiently interested to do the same thing.
 :II:
 At the present time when caricature is much in demand by the public, it Is great relief to find comedian that can portray the eccentricities of race without giving offense. George Sidney as Busy Izzy' presents Jew entirely different from any other artist on the stage. He portrays a good natured, laughing little fellow, who affords much merriment and unlimited laugh ing opportunities to the race he repre- sents.
 Fl:
 A lay-over at junction in Pennsyl- vania by ",rhe Grafter" company this season led Hap Ward, the star of the organization, to take stroll up the main street of the hamlet and into the office of the leading hotel. The pro- prietor was an elderly man, slow of speech and serious of look. To him Ward put the following questions:
 ''Is this good show town?'
 T guess so. I never go to the opery myself"
 What did you have here last?'
 T forgit. Bill" to clerk behind the desk, whats the name of the last opery we had in townT'
 Huh"
 "Whats the name of the last opery we had in towns''
 Bill, after mature deliberation:
 ''The learnt pig"
 :II:
 Johnny Ray, of Down the Pike" fame, played season in his appren- ticeship days with star whose best remembered characteristics were his indifference for the feelings of others and the biting sarcasm of his speech. If anything went contrary to his lik- ing during performance he would reprove the offender in an aside that was often heard by the audience, and his rebuke was always as polished and as cutting as the blade of a ra- pier. A slip by one of the old actors to the company brought the usual rep rimand and the victim determined to rebel. Waiting until the end of the act he approached the star and ex- claimed in voice that trembled with indignation: "Mr B.. desire to tender you my resignation. I cannot remain in the company of man who has so little consideration for the feelings of another. Your conduct Is scandalous, sir. and If I remain I am afraid shall abzorb" (giving the word the old school pronunciation '"some of your cursed brutality. slr!'
 The rest of the company waited for the storm to burst but Mir B. smiled slightly at the old timers ti- rade and blandly remarked:
 Pardon me but the word Is not ab- zorb. but absorb-for any amount of money and according to any authority you care to pame." and without anoth- CT glance at the indignant old-timer. the star strode into his dressing room and closed the door,