New Britain herald., 1914-05-02
7

that "DiplOmacy,"
 with which the
 Lyceum was opened
 - on February 21, 1893, Ss-- was given at Windsor Castle on February ? of this year at the command of King George. it being also the first theatrical performance there during his reign. The cast, however was not the same as that which produced the play in New Britain, Marie Doro taking the part in which Rose Coghlan was cast for the Lyceum performance. It is a strange coincidence that only two of that celebrated company ever returned to this city, one being Sadie Martinot, who played in the Charity Ball." and the other male member whose name has been forgotten. One of the cast at least. is dead, Charles Coglan, very capable actor. The New Britain performance was very skilful one, the company being of the best and the audience until this day retains pleasant recol- lections of the finished work of the cast. A letter was received from Wal ter Thomas this week explaining that he will open in Cleveland on Monday, May 12. He has not been we'll for some time but his health has inn proved sufficiently to permit his re- turn to the stage. No one who left New Britain to become an actor ever started out under more favorable auspices. He had an ambition to be- come Shakespearian actor and was fortunate in being able to obtain an engagement with Booth and Barrett who were then in the height of their glory and they sent the greater part Of their company to New Britain on enc occasion to support him in a. benefit performance of Hamlet with him playing the part of the melancholy Dane Mr. Thomas was credited with presenting Hamlet along the lines of the famous Booth which by the way, was as splendid an example as any actor of the time would care to take. The performance was given in the old New Britain Opera House and the young actor was given a more en- thusiastic reception than he ever re- cetved in his life, more so than when he appeared later in "Trilby,' "The Greatest Thing in the World.' and the Charity Ball'' and even then his many friends gave him quite a hand. He has been on the road longer now than any other New Britain man ex- cept Thomas F. Seymour, whose stage career began away back when the old Histrionic society had it's existence and with which he made his first ap- pearance on the stage. New Britain has made further contributions to the stage, the most notable among them being William D. Corbett and John E. sheehan and his brother, M. F. Sheehan, all actors of recognized ability, and John Mullen, who is 8 member of the Lyceum Company. It would be interesting to see them all in one company. They would draw a large audience in this city.
 There came near being parliamen- tary dispute between Mayor Quig1ey and Alderman Kerwin at the council meeting on Wednesday evening. The members had been discussing the garbage contract question and MT. Kerwin moved that when the vote was taken it be by yeas and nays, but the mayor ignored the request when the motion was put MT. Kerwin re- minded him of the mistake and the mayor replied that a sufficient number of members had not endorsed the motion, to which MT. Kerwin retorted that the members should have been asked as to whether they wanted the years and nays called for. That was the point in the dispute and par liamentarians are in doubt as to which was right. It was small matter, but upon a strict construction of the rules it seems as if Mayor Quigley should have put the motion to the council to ascertain if the required number (three) were in favor of 1t and then put it to ascertain the sentt- ment of the entire council. This has been the custom of previous mayors and custom counts for something in such matters. The rules of the council provide that when motion is made 1t shall be stated by the presiding officer and if Mayor Quigley had done this with Mr. Kerwin's motion the re- Quired number would have given their assent to it as was afterwards proven and the matter would have ended there. MT. Kerwin was not greatly displeased over the action of the mayor but he was evidently an- noyed and gently chided him for what he. considered neglect. There was a time when it was claimed that each council should make rules for it's own guidance and that one council could not make rules for another, but a few years ago the rules were made a part of the ordinances, the council each year recognizes them and the meetings are conducted according to their provisions. When the charter is being amended again the section which prohibits members of the common council from being appointed to a place on the boards or commis- sions or in fact to any other office, except mayor and president pro tenn, should be repealed for the reason that no one obeys it. The old provision said that no member of the council, during the term for which he was