New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-22

Christmas Days | Have Known" a. a
title for a series Of "reminiscences Of the
day suggests a compilation of stories Of
good cheer. To the average man ana
woman it means Christmas trees and dim
ners and presents. But ask the actor OF
actress and the response is aimos, Ger
tain To be a story OF lOuesomcneSs ana
hard work.
Maxine Elliott, now able to celebrate
the day iu what fashion she pleases VIII
In the confines Of her comfortable EDS
Nsh home. has voiced this unlNei sal
actor1al sentiment. 1t was in the DAYS
of her career as a strollins PLAYER ""'"
she was asked to tell what Christmas
meant 10 her. ,.....
"Eitner A rehearsal or railroad Jour
nev. a matinee OF night performances
was her reply.
Certainty that is the days happenings
Cor niDe.tenths of the players. IL. coca
sionalIv. something occurs 10 marx II as
ons = hit different it is hailed as the un-
expected. which rarely happens.
such a day was the one which brought
Robert ManteH now famous for his
sbskcspearian acting. back again into
xev York At that time. only few
wears ago. he was a stranger 20 Broad
vav His carly appearances here and his
performances in popular melodramas Ol
the day had been forgotten in the twelve
wears ne had been condemned 10 wander
over the country. Although this exile 10
the road was at first voluntary. the time
finally came when New York seemed 10
forget the player and 10 have consigned
him forrvermore 10 the horrors OF travel
Thon came a break in the barrier OF
exclusion and an opportunity TO reappear
in this city. I'm spite Of the time the bug
hear of the actor. Christmas week, Man
tell welcomed the chance. The opening
was TO Llgser than the little Princess on
lower Broadway, now closed as play
house. and Christmas was the day, with
shakespcare's Richard III as the play
PLAYING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
From the beginning. however. the vent
me seemed hopeless The actors com
many was for the most part mediocre
road oreauiza ton. The stage OF the the
are was impossibly small and the com
pany's scenery entirely too large. What
scenery could he used was shabby with
MICH travel on the road, and when the
actor failed to have a. scene rehearsal
with the theatres stage hands. tipped for
fbe occasion the scenery had a way Of
falling down at the most critical moments.
Added 10 the disgruutled feelings Of the
stage crew was TOO much Christmas chcei.
and further mishaps followed to increase
tho evenings tragedies. In spite OF Inc
fact that the chief critics Of the metro
nol;tau press were i'm attendance at the
performance. everything seemed in league
10 make the opportunity nightmare Of
horrors and Christmas with its sooo cheer
hollow mockery.
"A tragic holiday" Msntell has since
called it.
Bnt in this particular case the gloom oi
Christmas itself had Tightening the next
day, for the worth Of Msntell. the actor
was recognized. and with the expressed
expectations OF the critics came q chance
Tor tho tragedian 10 come into his own
as one Of the foremost players Of to-day.
Wherever there happens 20 be child
Christmas is generally little less dis-
consulate IN the efforts Of the actors
10 make the youngster CT the company
enjoy the day there is some small! chance
10 forget the gloom.
Annie Russell tells Of such a Christmas.
one % fho icw she remembers with pie10-
ure. one when she was playing in ~ Roy al
Family" Il the old Lyceum. Donald Cal
asher. nov almost grown leading man
o. his own account in Snow White an"
th4 seven pwarfs" WAS the child on that