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"V"- t-i ,
THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH, HUDAT, MAT 27, 1892.
r - i i
A EIALTO IN LONDON.
Splendid Tribute Paid to the Char
acter of British Actors.
THEIR HOME LIFE AKD HAUNTS.
Famous Cluls of London Charmingly De
picted ly Wakeman.
ACTORS' EETEEATS IN THE BIG CITT
rCOHRESFOKDEVCE OP TIIE DISPATCH.!
London, May IS. In nearly every great
American city we have tome particular lo
cality constantly frequented during certain
houri of the day by acton great and small.
The casual passer lingers curiously within
the region. Eten one least accustomed to
striking city phases, is instantly impressed
with the unusual character of the neighbor
hood and with the manners and dress of its
frequenters.
Public bouses of a cozy rather than a
bumptuous sort are characteristic of the
place. "Windows above it are filled with
strange costumes. Little low windows and
still tinier glass cases or receivers here and
there display curious examples of the wig
maker's art. "Voice Training" can be
secured up this dingy flight of stairs.
"A School of Elocution" will be reached
through another dark entryway.
The legend, "Fancy Steps," will appear
where the stairs hint' of serious stumbling
instead. Xext the roof of one building
"Pupils" will be "Fitted for the Sta;e."
"Banjo Tanght" has broken out upon every
doorway directory. And signs of "Dra
matic Agency," where the first and peren
nially successive looting of actors is done,
cluster like beacons of wreckers to entice
the eteran as well as the youngest skipper
upon the shoals of treacherons dramatic
seas.
Tlis Rlalto of London.
In general and particular everything
needful to "the profession," and many
things which its members could safely es
chew, are gathered in and about this strange
little city world within the great city. It
is called "The Itialto." And upon these
"Ilialtos," by day, walk for pleasure or
profit, in idleness or anxiety, in pompous
plenitude or in pitiful poverty all tnose
hundreds and thousands who by night
charm and cheer us upon the mimic stage.
Our American "Rialtos" are more marked
in concentration and character than those of
European cities. This is particularly true
in Xew York. In London, where are the
haunts of probably more actors than exist
in any four or five of the greatest cities,
there is no spot which exactly corresponds
with the American actors' "Kialto," except
one. That one is the greatest resort in th
world for music-hall performers. It is just
across the Waterloo Bridge from the Strand,
on the Surrey side of London; is called in
local parlance. "Poverty Junction;" and of
this localitv and its odd' frequenters I shall
speak at length in my next letter.
But between these folk, who are called
"prossers" or "pros," in the vernacular,
and the actors of London there is an ever
impassable gulf. In our country there is
considerable commingling and association
of these elements or classes. This almost
wholly accounts for the characteristicxroup
ings of business and loungers forming our
"llialtos." Here the actor not only scorns
the "pros" as he would a tramp, and will
have none of him as a companion, but he
will drink no liquor, eat no food, transact
no business, and frequent no thoroughfare
or haunt, where the "pros" is permitted to
come.
Professional Lines Drawn Taut.
There are reasons for this close drawing
of professional lines. An important one is
found in the fact that for a very long time
London theatrical managers hate sustained
an absolute monopoly ot all dramatic per
formances. Bvlawthe proprietors of music
halls are forbidden to present any exhibi
tion oi a dramatic nature. Their compensa
tion is in being permitted to sell all man
ner of liquors by hands of bewitching bar
maids; of itself a great source of attraction
and profit To the "legitimate" dramatic
performer anyone Mho has appeared in "the
alls," from hit standpoint ot ethics, can by
no possibility ever become a genuine actor
or attain to his social standing.
On the other hand, you will seldom find
an English, Irish or Scottish actor who is
not a gentleman born and bred. I do not
mean that he is always of the so-called
British "gentry" stock.
Bi't I do mean that the stock from which
he has sprung is usually of the best quality;
that he has had the advantage of being well
bred; has been given excellent home and
school, and very often university training;
that he is a reader, a s tudent and a traveler;
and that the best regime and athletic sports
have done for him, physically, what his ed
ucation has done for him mentally, and his
unavoidable culture, oft and on the stage,
has done for both his ethics and his man
ners. Mighty rrftnd of His Calling.
This is universal rather than exceptional,
lie is therefore justly proud of his voca
tion. Such names as those of Shakespeare,
Kemble, Garrick, Maeready and Mathews
furnish endless pique and spur to his ambi
tion. His excellent social status keeps him
in touch with the best rather than the unde
sirable elements. He is well paid and cer
tain of employment, if he has ability and
experience; and if he possesses only the
former, with some learmnc behind it. his
period of apprenticeship is one of fair op
portunity and considerate treatment.
AVithout leaving his home and his daily
haunts and work, he has before him the
highest opportunities to which an actor can
attain within the confines of London itself.
And his every surrounding, accessible aid
in his profession, and, even in his hours of
relaxation which bring him the fine friction
ot the brightest minds of our time, he is as
an actor continually, unwittingly and per
force bettered and improved.
The latter is as true to-day as it was in
Shakespeare's time. And all this is why
the haunts of London actors differ from the
haunts of American actors; and why, also,
their environment naturally produces the
ablest delineators not of intense and exag
gerated character and situations, as with the
French, and somewhat with our American
school, but of those fadeless good and mel
low comedies, dramas and tragedies which
appeal to the intellect and heart, rather
than to sensation hunger, the nerves and the
passions.
Only Two Qanots for Actors.
These changeless conditions naturally
give London actors as a class but two places
that may be regarded as their real haunts
their homes and their clubs. The first of
these may seem to Americans an odd sort of
actors' retreat. For though we have many
among us who possess genuine homes, and
it is a good sign that their number is in
creasing, there are too few actors who pos
sess or seek a home. It is different in Lon
don; and I think there is nothing on earth
achievable in which a London actor takes
such manfnl and exultant pride.
They are seldom grand affairs. It is their
great number and their sweet and good
homeliness which makes them remarkable.
The exegencies of provincial professional
travel and frequent American tours often
render their continuous occupany impos
sible. Frequently the husband goes in one
direction and the wife, if she be an actress,
in another. But the abiding place is Mecca
to both, and there ia always some one to
hold the belongings together and train the
little ones against the home coming. '
The English actor has a grand abhorrence
of a big and showy home. I could print the
names of scores whose incomes would per
mit them to live, like many of our eminent
theatrical people, in approved "West En4
luxury in winter and gorgeously swelter,
in summer, in their own fashionable resort
villas. The little home, little and snug
and cheery, is his from choice. He hide?
himself in it, and is often almost ludicrous
in his shifts to avoid knowledge of his com
ing to only sworn friends. This occasion
that he mar better protect himself from in
trusion and espionage.
The Happiest Man In thfl World.
In this mite of a home he Is as happy a
man as there is in all the world. He can
reach out to and know its metes and 'bound
aries. It is usually, and more honor to him
for it, in a permanent and delightful hulla
baloo from the presence of manv roistering
and gladsome children. It is full of strange
and outrageous pets. It is buried In vines,
all but the windows, and within, it is a
plethoric conservatory of plants and flowers.
There are many and the best of books, not
hidden in showy cases, but within hand
reach in every nook and corner. Bits of
art work and dainty trifles, but most of
them this family's handwork, qrderless but
interesting, abound. There is a harp, a,
zither, a guitar, a violin, or a not "melan
choly" flute, and melody and song of the
home-made kind seems to break loose here
rather than come at "the cue" and to order.
Above all else there is a wonderful sort
of all-around housekeeping in these joyous
little homes from participation in which no
friend or guest is altogether debarred, and
occasionally under no circumstances ab
solved. It is as though the effort,, assump
tion and repression of the stage world found
its exact antithesis in this most precious of
haunts; and that all those things in home
making and keeping which are regarded as
irksome by ordinary folk, were to these
people the acme ol pleasure and delight
Since "Wills," "Buttons," "Toms" and
other famous coffee houses and clubs of the
Queen Anne period, a history of the changes
and habitues of famous London clubs to
which actors have given the chief support,
would almost be a history of English men
ot letters and literature. The actor's club
haunts of to-dav chieflv comprise the Gar
rick, Green Room, Savage, Arundel, Lyric
and Beefsteak clubs.
Irvine's Exquisite Private Parties.
The latter unique little clnb, which has
its home over Toole's Theater, sprang out
of the Honorable Society of Beefsteaks, in
the old Beefsteak room of the Lyoenm Thea
ter, which still exists and is used by Irving
for his exquisite private dinner parties.
The Beefsteak over Toole's is distinctive in
being a "one-room" club, anil admitting no
guests whatever.
The Arundel has 350 to 400 members. It
was once exclusively literary and artistic.
Ambitious solicitors and amateurs of all ,
sorts are now admitted, and its percentage
of legitimate actors is growing smaller.
TheLvriohasa magnificent club house
in Picadilly, and with its entire appoint
ments, including a large theater and con
cert hall, is among the finest buildings for
this purpose in the world. It also has an
annex called The Lyric Clnb at Barnes-on-Thames,
from which boat racing and other
river fetes can be witnessed. The Lyric is
a dramatic and musical club with nearly
3.000 members. Perhaps 10 per cent of
these are actors. Lord Londesborough,
Fred Cowen and Sir Arthur Sullivan are
members.
The well-known Savage Club, literary
and artistic, which interchanges privileges
with the Lotus Club of New York, has
about 700 members. It had its origin 24
rears ago in a public house near Drury
Lane Theater. Since then it has wandered
to Haxel's Hotel, thence to the Savoy, and
finally to the Adelphi Terrace, overlooking
the Thames. About 80 of its members, who
are also members of the Green Koom Ulub,
are actors.
A Valuable Collection of Souvenirs.
The Garrick, in Garrick street, Covent
Garden, venerable, rich, stately, mellow
and grand, has no membership limitation as
to profession. While perhaps no more than
25 actors are at present among its members,
although all London managers of any prom
inence" are upon its rolls, it undoubtedly
possesses the most valuable collection of
souvenirs and paintings relating to the
stage and its most famous representatives of
any association or institution in the world.
But the Green Boom Club, in Bedford
street, which had its origin about 14 -years
ago from disagreements in the Junior Gar
rick and the Arundel Clubs, is by all odds
the real actor's club of London. It is al
ready one of the wealthiest of its small
clubs and owes its great snecesi to the ad
ministration of its honorary Secretary,
George Denacher, a gentleman of ample
means, a genuine art lover with boundless
sympathies for actors and their profession.
Persons in all the liberal arts are admitted
to membership; but no active manager can
become a member unless he was formerly an
actor of good standing. Pinero and Lord
Carton, dramatists, Farjeon, the author, and
Charles Dickens, editor and author, and son
of the great novelist, are among its mem
bers. "Saturday Nights" and "Saturday House
Dinners," the latter splendidly served at
but three shillings and six-pence, are the
kindliest, brightest, mellowest and most
genial occasions of our time among men of
heart and brains. Gathered here will be
found such men as Pinero, Sant Matthews,
Irving, John Hare, Boyce Carleton, Ken
dall, Paul Meritt, Wyndham, Charles
Hartbury, Bancroft, Fernandez, Beerbohn
Tree, Ted Gardiner and Henry Howe, the
oldest actor on the English stage.
Edgar L. "Wakeman;
Adjusting the Trouble.
Vice President Sheehan, of the Amalga
mated Association, and the mill committee
of Howe, Brown & Co.'s Seventeenth street
mill met with the firm yesterday to adjust
the trouble in the crucible department. The
firm last night said the matter was all right.
.-
A SPLENDID NEW STORY.
-BY-
The Author of "Footprints in theSnow,"
Commences publication in
MISS DORA RUSSELL
Has an unassailable reputation as a writer
or popular sensational love stories of whole
some tone and charming style. Her story
that begins in these columns next Sunday Is
entitled
THE LAST SIC!.
Full of Startling Situations and Thrilling
Adventures.
COMPLETE IN THIRTEEN WEEKS.
Don't Fall to Bead the First Chapters
NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 29,
-
Something you can't do
is to get Dr. Pierce's genu
ine medicines at what pre
tend to be "cut prices."
.They dont come to you
in that way.
To prevent fraud and
imposition, the genuine
guaranteed medicines are
sold only through drug
gists duly authorized as
agents, and always at
these long-established
prices: Dr. Pierce's Gold
en Medical Discovery (for
the Liver, Blood, and
Lungs), 1.00 per bottle;
Dr. Pierce's Favorite Pre
scription (for woman's
weaknesses and ailments),
$1.00 per bcb; and Dr.
Pierce's Pleasant Pellets
(for the Liver), 25 cents per vial.
The genuine medicibes can be had only at
these prices, but nothing else, no matter what
the price, can be as cheap, for Dr. Pierce's
medicines are guaranteed. In every case
where they fail to benefit or cure, you have
your money back. You pay only for value
received, xtewore oi auutions, imitations,
and substitutes, offered at lower prices.
rLZiiS AtD
i.W'VCT
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
vigrfc- rsam9
0ia
AlJLEftlrXWY F5k.
ap24'TTSU
CARPETS,
WALL PAPER.
Wilton Carpets,
Axminster Carpets,
Velvet Carpets,
Body Brussels Carpets,
Tapestry Carpets,
And all kinds of Ingrain Car
pets. Everything new in style,
choice in color. All at
SPECIE LOW FDICES.
Wall Paper in every quality
and style for wall and ceiling.
Special styles in choice colors.
You should see our stock be
fore you buy.
m W H N
Ui.il! II
I Willi. III. Ill
136 FEDERAL ST.,
ALLEGHENY CITY, PA.
apa-Kwr
AMUSESIKNTS.
This 'Week, Matinees Wednesday A Saturday,
DbLANGE AND RISING in
TANGLED UP AND WHY?
May SO Grade EmmetC In the Pulse of
yew York. my 23-9
THE ALVIN THEATER
CHARLES L. DAVIS.... Owner and Manager
Week commencing MONDAY, MAY S3.
Matinee Saturday only, a B. Jefferson,
Klaw 4 Erlanger's Select Company of Come
dians, In the bright and sparkling comedy,
THE PRODIGAL FATHER.
A WEEK OP LAUGHTER.
MAY SO The Lilliputian Ooeratio and Bur
lesque Company, of Berlin. my33-S9
THE ALVIN-EXTRA.
Last and best week of the season, commenc
ing Monday, May 30.
Appearance of this season's greatest sensa
tion, THE LILIPUTIANS
In their most successful spectacle,
THE PUPIL IN MAGIC
Two grand ballots, with more than 150
artists. New scenery, gorgeous costumes,
grand effeots.
Seats now on sale. my26-74
McNAUQHER A CO
CONTRACTORS FOR
ing sidewalks, roadways, yards, mills,
stables and cellar floors with cement, stone,
brlok,ooncrete and Are brick. Curbstone
furnished and sec 43 federal St., Allegheny
City, Pa. d
ADMINISTRATOR'S
m
OI'
FURNITURE.
The administrator of the S. Delp estate desires to
settle up the affairs at once; therefore we are com
pelled to offer our entire stock at cost price.
FuMTOI AT SAGRMCE PKICBS.
We must have cash. Call and examine the bar
gains. MONEY TALKS. Now is your time to
buy cheap.
DELP & BELL,
13 AND 15 FEDERAL STREET,
GRAND OPERA HOUSE
MISS JULIA MARLOWE, '
ASSISTED BY ROBERT TABEtt.
To-nhrht INGOMAR
Saturday Matinee AS YOU LIKE IT
Saturday evening TWELFTH NIGHT
Prices, 15o, 25o, 80c, 76c. $1, $1 80.
Next week Tho Midnight Alarm. mY27
msW ADTJcirnsmnarn.
WE MUST HAVE
. THE room:.
-the;-
c
IT CD.
BASEBALL!
EXPOSITION PARK.
TWO GAMES.
Decoration Day, May 30.
PITTSBURG VS. BALTIMORE.
Games called at 10 A. x. and Sp.k.
Reserved seats on sale at McClurg's, cor
ner Wood st. and Fifth ave. mySMI
ARRY WILLIAMS' ACADEMY
To-night, Matinees Tuesday, Thursday
and Saturday-,
THE SOUTH BtCFORE THE WAR.
60 Special-it Stabs SO.
Uew Scenery, Team of Oxen, Trained Don
keys, etc. my23-65
ISfflffll
NEAR BRIDGE.
ALLEGHENY, PA.
my2M)9-wThygn
Douglas & Mackie.
Glorious Bargains
In every department, and keen, sharp buyers cannot afford to pass
us by. Here are FACTS, FIGURES AND UNTOUCHED
PRICES, the lowest ever heard of.
WASH DRESS GOODS.
Homespun Suitings, 8Jo a yard, -were 12Ko.
lara-wiue uoncasier (jnauies. cuoiue pm
terns, at Rc a yard, were 10c.
Llama Cloths, latest printings, at 10c a
yard, were 12e.
Canton Crepes, newest colorings and de
signs, at ISo, were 23c a yard.
451noli Hemstitched Lawns, 18c a yard,
were SOo.
"Freres Koechlln" Satines, this season's
tyies, at aao, woie ac.
PLAID SURAH SILKS,
Black grounds, at SOo a yard, were $1 25.
40-lnoh fine all-wool French Crepons, light
and dark shades, at COc, were $1 a yard.
46-inch fine all-wool, silk finish, Black
Henriettas at 75c, were $1.
44 inch Black Silk Gloria, 63o a yard,' were $L
42 Inch imported all-wool Cbeoked Suitings
at 60o a yard, were $1.
Ladies' Skirt Patterns at 25o, were 37c
04 Unbleached Sheetings, 12c, were 18o a
yard.
DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU
That we are Headquarters for
J
Ladles' all-wool Cloth Blazers, all colors and black, at $1 SO, were $2 80.
Ladies' Cloth Capes, neatly trimmed, qt $3 50, were $5.
Ladles' Batiste Suits, stylishly made, at si 95, were $3 50.
Ladies' Cloth Blazer Suits, all colois, at $4 73, were S6 50.
' This Week Will Well Repay All Visitors.
DOUGLAS & MACKIE,
151, 153 AND 155 FEDERAL ST.. ALLEGHENY.,
my23-Mwr
IF YOU WANT
t
.EIC.
HB
Our Prize Contest,
In which any scholar of any school, public
or private, can enter, is entirely original
with us. The prizes are:
First, A GOLD WATCH.
Second, A SILVER WATCH.
Third. A VOLTAIC DIAMOND RING.
Fourth, A GOLD PEN AND HOLDER.
Fifth, A SILVER CUP.
On a sheet of foolscap paper write as many
times as possible, any way you may wisn,
the following:
B. E5. ARONS, Jeweler,
Proprietor Voltaic Diamonds,
0S PIPTH AVB.
my22-MWT8u
414 Wood St.,
Have about 200 more Parlor Suits than we want In
fact we have to get rid of them. They are paid for, but
we can't spare the room to carry them over.
JUST NOTE THESE REDUCTIONS ;
$50 Parlor Suits go at $28.75.
$60 -Parlor Suits go at $30.00.
$75 Parlor Suits go at $37.50.
$90. Parlor Suits go at $40.00.
$100 Parlor Suits go at $50.00.
$125 Parlor Suits go at $60.00.
Cash goes no further than your credit tRis week.
We have about 100 Suits, of which we have one, two
and three of a kind. They go at your own price and
terms.
PATPNTQ .O.D.Levis,
rM I CIl I O. isi rifth av. fnext Leaden.
SO years solicitor.
Pittsburg, Pa.
SE
C
C
414 WOOD STREET.
IN OUR NEW QUARTERS.
Pittsburg's Leading Cash and Credit House.
my24-61rrh
KATJFMANNS'
Oil the Folloras Grand Brains Ma; aid Morrow.
r 'eSsVw T
FREE
$10 FOR CHOICE!
FROM 900 MEN'S $15 SUITS.
We have too many $15 Suits, and, in order to make a
break, we have just selected 900 of them, placed them on 3
special tables and will offer them at only $10 for choice.
They would have been cheap at $15, our regular price, es
pecially when the fact is taken into consideration that other
clothiers sell the same goods for $18, but $10 will be our
special price. to-day and to-morrow. All the latest styles of.
single and double-breasted Sacks and Cutaway Frocks are
among them, and each suit is guaranteed to be
STRICTLY ALL WOOL
An English Natural Stick Silver-Mounted Walk
ing Cane, price $1, will be given gratis with
every Man's Suit bought to-day and to-morrow.
MI'iffir llc
ni
nasffla
Of acknowledged merit, the result of
experience, skill, cleanliness and
new equipment, then buy
HEINZ'S
And don't let your grocer load you
I up with the product of some novice
Ivvho is learning the business and ex
perimenting at your expense.
GET THE
Thuw nrn
other Heinz
condiments,
but the
ORIGINAL.
introdnfinH
in 1869, al-
VflVI YtAfl
this TRADE
MAEKW
Xlllfe
WMrolVjM
ONLY $7.50
For Fast Color Regulation G. A.
R. Suits, Worth $11.
These Grand Army Uniforms are made of Regulation
True Blue Cloth, are carefully sewed, well lined and trimmed
and come with two sets of buttons regulation and civilian.
3,000 G. A. R. BLOUSES AT $1.75.
Think of it! A good Grand Army Coat for only $1.75.
Veterans, don't miss this chance.
5,000 WHITE VESTS AT 39 CENTS.
Every veteran should wear one of these White Vests on!
Decoration Day.
p f- -"" I"- I Humphrey's ' celebrated History of the Civil War, entitled
L. L I 1 i I "The Great Contest, "with steel engravings of Lincoln, Grant
I L I and Farragut, a regular $3 book, will be given gratis with
each G. A. R. Suit. -:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -J-
v Mr IM
I E ' l
I i ' I
Mm -Ml I
" 1 """ll IIM I W I I if""
W9Br
KATJFMANNS'
ally goes so far that aliases are assumed,
myST-8-D I '
i
. .