Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-12

macy" then the sensation of Paris. Mrs
Langtry owed her stage debut to Mrs. Hen
ny Labouchere, who was herself an actress,
and to Marie Wilton, who is now better
known as Lady Bancroft.
Some years ago at the revival OF Dlplo-
macy" when her husband, then Mr.. Ban
croft, John Here and Forbes Robertson all
played in the cast. Lady Bancroft wro, e
in description of the famous clock at
Berne. Although the critics declared that
this Interpolation spoiled. or at least in
terrupted. the action Of the play. ana was
altogether unnecessary, yet no playgoer
seemed content to have the description
omitted. as 1t gave such opportunities Tor
Lady Bancroft's acting, punctuated by peas
of her s.lvery laughter. So sensitive was
Lady Bancroft to the critics opinion that
at Manchester she declared she would omit
the description, but on that particular even
Ing the mayor OF the city begged her TO
give 1t as usual, and with her usual gooo
nature she promised to retain II. Lady
Bancroft was always locked upon as a
mascot by her fellow-artists, and 1t was
customary for them to beg a token from
her before they entered upon any new
part.
MISS HERNE'S DEBUT.-Miss Chrystal
Herne, leading woman Of the Edwin Arden
Company, at the Belasco Theater, made her
debut on the stage right here in Washing
ton-curiously enough, in the same theater
where she will be seen tomorrow night In
1.-The Importance of Being Earnest This
interesting event happened seven years ago,
when Miss Herne was just sixteen years
old Her father, the late James A. Herne
OF beloved memory, produced at that time.
for the first time on any stage, new play
from his own pen, called "Rev. Grin1th
Davenport" Chrystal was then fresh from
school, and had never been allowed to play
Il part. Through the influence OF her
mother. however. she was permitted to Gre
ate small part in Mr.. Herne's new play.
Unfortunately, 1t was failure, though 1t
was afterward taken to New York. and
then for almost year Chrystal had to wait
for another opportunity. This finally came
when she was seventeen years Old, when
Sag Harbor" was produced. In this she
and her sister, Julie Herne, both had parts.
AT that time Chrystal Herne reminded one
very much of tall, unganly girl. and that
is just about what she was, yet even then
her interesting personality and beautiful.
sympathetic voice did not escape the at
tention of the critics She appeared In
Washington once with Sag Harbor," but
the death CT her father a year later made
continuance in that play impossible. But
the benefit of nearly two years training
under such a past master Of the art of
acting as James A. Herne was not incon-
siderable. and soon Chrystal Herne had
plenty of offers Of engagements.
Her first big chance came with Clyde
Fitch's play Major Andre" and though
the play was failure, she gave a strikingly
beautiful and tender rendering of the
role of Barbara Allen, the sweetheart of the
unfortunate British officer. Two years ago
Miss Herne suddenly forged into public
notice by means of her sincere and earnest
work in the Bernard Shaw comedies and
since then her success has been rapid. Miss
Herne is to be starred next season in a new
play, The Stepchild." written especially
for her by Charles Klein, author OF The
Lion and the Mouse" Meanwhile Miss
Herne will continue with the Arden COM
pany at the Belasco.