Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27

repertory company. 1 was cast for Ingo-
! mar, Pygmalion, in "Pygmalion and Gala
| tea Hardness Craig in Colleen Bawn, -
| Hawkshaw the Detective in The Ticket-of-
| Pink Domino"
| L could see at a glance I was not suited
| for lngomar, as l only weighed about ia
| pounds with the sun shining on me. In
as an actor, could not see myself in lingo
| mar and l don't think the management
| could, either. l only rehearsed three days,
| When l found out that We were not suited
| to each other. Then l was all alone in
| Philadelphia without nickel.
went to work in Wanamakers store
stayed there year and then found myself
| once again on the street without a cent.
l made some acquaintance in the mus cal
line while in Wanamaker's and one of these
chaps, knowing my desire to go on the
| stage, took me over to William T. Garlic
ton, who was then rehearsing the opera
The Brigand. | applied as a chorus
tenor, and was asked to sing the scale.
l got halfway up the ladder and went all
to pieces, but informed Mr.. Carleton that
l had been i'll, and after he had looked me
all over he engaged me ION general appear
ances SO he tod me. at SIG per week.
We went on the road doing one-nght
stands, and during such Journeys on the
train l used to play on the banjo and
sing little songs, which amused Mr.. Garlic
ton. He would frequently call on me and
ask me to get out the banjo and sing to
him.
Our first week stand was in Montreal and
here the comedian, who was Charles A.
Bigelow, was taken i'll and unable to play.
After having rehearsed all the possible un-
derstudies, and none of them being COM
petent to play the role, it was first thought
Mr.. Carleton said: Where is that chap
, who plays the banjo? l think he could
do it,
was, fortunately. blessed with a wonder
nj Il bvaax
number Of the music and every word of the
dialogue In the opera; in fact, starting
from the opening line / could read 1t right
through. They found me about $50 in the
afternoon and went over to the theater.
Mr.. Carleton met me and said: Can you
play Bigelows part?"
l said, Yes, SIR"
He said; DO you want a rehearsal?"
IAN right" he said Then be here at
o'clock
I went on that night and never missed
number In the middle Of the performance
Mr. Carleton said to me:
Now, let loose. Do anything you want
| to do"
Being exceedingly Timber made slide
| and made a hit from the start From that
| time on l took liberties that no one else In
the company dared Mr.. Carleton was q
very strict d'sciplinarian. but he always en-
| couraged me to 60 ahead. After two or
three years playing leading roles in the
principal opera companies, determined to
| step forward and go after 1.-The big things"
| So back to New York came, still UNI
known.
After waiting around for three months
decided that the world was against me;
that bright and shining light was being
crushed. Also. that law ought to be
passed whereby no Englishman could
| come to this country and play.
/ remember standing at the corner Of 28th
street and Broadway with my head Just full
l n rah nnf ir1iS Ia yrh 1T
| plainly said to me:
If you are as darned good as you think
you are, why don't you go out and get q
Job? There is room for ever yone-"
| Immediately walked over to the office
| of Jesse Williams, a dramatic agent, and
said: II want job. I will play prima
| donna roles, or old mems roles. / want q
| job. and don't care what 1t Is"
He said: Il don't think have anything
/ for you
"You must have something for me. and