Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04

Hobart were introduced to the audience.
1t had been the intention to also pre-
sent Oscar Hammerstein, but as he was
not there, William Burress offered to
go on as his substitute. He repaired
| to his dressing room, and in almost the
twinkling of an eye reappeared in his
| Hammerstein makeup. was presented to
the audience, and received a tremendous
round of applause. There were few who
did not believe that 1t was really Ham,
merstein himself who appeared.
! On one occasion In New York Mr..
Burress made his representation of
Hammerstein when that doughty in
dividual was sitting in a box: although
he is said TO be lacking in humor, he
seemed to enjoy the performance more
than any one present.
"One night / met his son, to whom
he had turned over the management Of
the Victoria" said Mr.. Burress. and
he asked why i didn't bring his father
a photograph Of myself in his likeness
did so. Hammerstein the elder looked
at it critically for few moments. ana
said. is this me? Humph. Write
something on the photograph. SO l
scrubbed, To the Famous Impresario
the office said Hammerstein. and there
II hangs today"
ACTED FIRST IN A PRISON.-The
Ohio state penitentiary is located at Co
lumbus and there. behind gray and for
bidding walls, to more than a thousand
criminals who were serving sentence Tor
crimes that ranged from robbery to MUIR
der. Harry Clay Blaney at the age OF ten
made his first appearance as an actor,
boy mimic and gymnast. Previous TO
this Master Harry. as he was then known.
had done some amateur entertainment, and
Ii was at the solicitation of Warden COZ
fin that he made this first appearance.
After that. following chapel each Sunday
morning, he made his little effort to
please and amuSe.
On Christmas morning, 1886, Warden
Coffin invited the boy to bring his mother
to the service and the entertainment that
was 10 follow. The great hall or the
prison had been decorated with ever
green's and American ffags and the service
was a particularly impressive one. AS
usual, after the service came Master
Harry for his part of the days program.
The men seemed to be particularly atten-
tive that day. At the conclusion. instead
of the customary applause there was a
dead quiet. A prisoner arose. man
with an intellectual face and a bearing
of refinement, and addressing himself 10
Master Harry in few well chosen words.
begged him to accept little present
from the prisoners in return Tor MS
kindness to them. The present was
gold watch and purse of $40 In COLO:
The watch had been inscribed: Presented
to Harry Blaney by the Prisoners OF the
Ohio Penitentiary. Christmas, 1885 For
recognized merit
This purse of $40 was the foundation
of Harry Clay Blaney's first bank &C.
count 1t was the returns of this money
that brought the boy actor his first pro-
fessional engagement with Elmer Vances
famous melodrama that is today remem-
bered by the older theatergoers. The
Limited Mall After three seasons In
this play Blaney was seen In THE Bag
gage Check and others in rapid sue
ceSSion.
Mr.. Blaney relates an amusing little in
cident that occurred in reference to that
Christmas morning in the Ohio prison
in 1856. Three years ago. while he was
starring in 1.-The Boy Behind the Cum,
the company was jumping from Chicago
to st. Louis to open in the latter city.
The cab that was to take them to the
station had failed to arrive and he was
despairing of ever catching his train. An
automobile stood at the curb and gen.
tleman was seated nthe rear. Overhear-
ing the conversation, he volunteered to
take Mr.. Blaney to the station in his
machine On the way Mr. Blaney, learn
ed that the gentleman was a merchant
I'm the town and had seen the night per-
formances OF the play. Upon arriving at
the station and In Offering his thanks for
the assistance, Mr.. Blaney inquired IL
he could not Know the name of his bene-
factor, when his companion made the
startling reply:
mo. Harry Blaney. there is nothing
you can do for me, as 1t Is really l who
owe so much to you. / was No. 9S1 In
the Ohio state penitentiary on Christmas
morning in 1885 and it was who pre-
scented you with the watch. 1 shall never
forget your happy innocence and the
thoughts 1t caused me of my children at
home"
his surprise the man had gone.