THE STAGE IN THE STATES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2152, 23 May 1895, Page 37

THE STAGE IN THE STATES.

(Sphcially Compiled for the Witness.) Dear Pasquin,— Mrs Kate Lawlor, whose husband iJiod from the effects of a kick from one of the horte.-s taking part in " The Prodigal Daughter," at tha Amoiican Theatre, recovered 2-"00.Jol damages against the manager, T. Henry French. The repertoire of Mra Potter and Kyrle Btllew includes " Therese," " Canrille," " Fraucillou," and " Chailotte Corday." Professor IS. Conrod, a blind pianist, who is a splendid player, and the composer of some wellknown pieceH of high order, suddenly became crazed whilst performing on the piano at a benefit con> crt tendered him at Freeh's Casino, West Hoboken. The small attendance is said to have had a depressing effect on him, and when ho sat down at the piano to play the "Victory" match it was noticed he commenced unnecessarily pounding the keys With di-.torted featuies he suddenly jumped from his seat and cursed the audience in a shocking manner. Ladies in the audience were horrified and made a haaty exit. The curtain was at once lowered, and several people tried to calm the pro/essor, one police officer receiving heavy blows in the face in his attempt to master tho maniac. Finally he was overpowered and taken to the police station, where ho continued raving, all night and day singing a diati acted medley, interspersed with impiomptu speeches. The professor, who is subject to (its of temporary insanity, spent part of last year in an asylum. Moses Kiinball, founder and owner of the Boston (Mass.) Museum, who died at his home in Broukliae on February 21. was born on October 24, 1803, in Newb-nypovt, Mnsi , and ataite lat 18 in a dry goods store, of which, ii f , 21, he had ' his name above the door." Six yea' s> after (1833) he became proprietor of the New England Galaxy. His first venture in the amusement profession was in Lowell, where he maintained a lecture room and exhibited curiositit-s. In 18 !0 he purchased the collection of the Columbian Museum, Boston, his curiosities including the sUtue of Vcmu de Medicis and the great picture of Washington crossing the Delaware. In 1813 he organised a dramatic company, which was a success from the jump. A piece entitled "The Drunkard," ahowintr the evils of intemperance, written expreasly for the museum, was one of his most successful productions. This play was given the hearty approval of all the prominent temperance advocates, and their verdict was supported by the community. The museum, which he owned at the time of his death, he builb in 184(5. He was three timc3 a candidate for mayor of Boston, and served in both branches of the Massachusetts Le«i lature and io. the Common Council and Board of AUkrmen of Boston. The sculptured group "Emancipation" he presented to the city of Boston as it now stands in Park Square. Emma Stone (Miss Erann Frank), an actress and manageress well known several years ago, died on February 19, aged 48. Fiifat played utility with Ed. Davenport's Company ; next travelled for many years with actor Harry M Hale, whom Rhe married. Was leading lady with Edwin Booth's, Lawrence Barrett's, Jnhn M'Oulloughs, and Ben Ue Bur's (in St. Louis, Mo.) Companies, and 6tock companies at the Grand Opera House and Academy of Music, Chicago, 111. ; also supported Lucille aivl Helen Western. After the death of Harry M'Hale she continued acting for some time, and later on married Jo eph Frank, under whose advice she took to managing. ' Only a Farmer's Daughter" was her first and most successful venture, which she managed for three yeara. Florence Bindley, then known as Baby Bindley," played under Mis Frank's management for several years in a number of plays written by ] Bartley Campbell. She next took out " Fort Donehon," which was not a success, and " Only a Farmer's Daughter," with Josephine Woodruff | and W. R. Walters as leads. At various times Mrs Frank managed Lilian Lewis, Bertha Welby, Adelaide Cherie, Blanche Curtis, Lilian Cloves, and "Zo Zo, the Magic Queen," and in 1893 she retired from the profession. Harry Hilliard, actor, a younger brother of Robert Hilliard, died on February 16 in London, England. He was the possessor of a good tenor voice, and was for several yeara a member of tho Duff Opera Company, and later at the Casino. New York. He was in the original cast of 11 King Cole II " at the Broad Street Theatre, Philadelphia, Pa, He went to London about four years ago, and at the time of his death was

a member of "A Trip to Chinatown" Company in that city. George Guy, sen., who died on February 23, was born in London on January 20, 1822, and was for a number of years at the head of the Guy Brothers' minstrel oiganisation, which is still on the road. His first connection with the theatrical profession was when he organised his family— consisting of mother, six sons, and one daughter— into a variety troupe, wbich for a number of years met with remarkable success. This troupe remained on the road till about 1874. He afterwards appeared with Christy's Minstrels and Kelly and Lenn'a Minstrels. In IS6'!) lie went to Knglmid with his two sons, Will and George, and the following year he joined Kirn in and Ranliin'B Minstr. Is under tho Bhme of G. G. Shniinon. The well known Guy Biothers' Minstivls was organised in 1874, and has icmaiued on I the toad ever tine c. I The Electric Qinrtet— Dick Chalfont, first tenor; Roger Harding, solo countertenor; Ed. A. Kerr, baritone ; and George W. Ken— have been together for 16 years, and is coneideied oneof the best singing quartets in the vaudeville field. Awguste Vscquerip, French playwright, poet, and joumtlisfc. died on February lil in Paris, aged 75. In IS 18 he commenced journalistic work, when, in conjunction with the two brothers of Victor lingo, he founded L'Evemment. With P<ml Meurice, Charles Hugo, and Francois-Victor Hugo he founded the liappul, of wbich he was editor up to the time of his death. Vacquerie was a devoted friend of Victor Hugo, and when the latter died hn left him his. unpublished manuscripts, amounting to pome 400,001) page?, M. Vacquerie was the author of a number of plays, tho best of which was "Jean Baudry." He was conbidcrod one of the leading lights of French journalism, and it was mainly through his oxertions that Mouncl-Sully waa decorated. Some new song bucikjssod— " Return to the old home, boy," "The £cbool playground," "Jimmy and Jano," "Come back, my child, again," "I guc-s not," " Do gjils am n' gwine to kuow," 'Love me for old love's take," "After the cur» tainf.<lb," "Whose sweet smile is that?" "Lovers in days gone by," " Living pictures in the grate." James B. Hadcliffe, actor, who died iv New York on February 23, was formerly a member of Edward Hnnignn's Company, with which he played the iole of Commodoic in " Rcilly and tho Four Hundred," and waß also at one time a member of Julia Marlowe's Company. At the time of his <U.ith, which w»b very sudden, ho was taking part in the monthly entertainment fiven by the Colonial Club, of New York, and ad jmt finished singing " Tne jolly commodore" froti> " Reilly and the Four Hundred," and on reaching l-he wings fell to the floor and died before medical aid arrived. A panic was narrowly averted at the Chestnut Street Opera House, Philadelphia, Pa., last week. At the conclusion of the third act of "The War of Wealth' 1 a quantity of cotton was set on fira upon the stage to represent the burning of a mill, and the flames shooting up soon filled the house with smoke. While the a«be»tos cmtain was rung down soniooue shouted "Fire I" and a wild ru<<h was uuide for tho doors. The crowd was fb nlly quieted on someone shouting that th<; fire was a part of tbe p rfoimance, and the play was pioceciled with. Three women fainted, anil one was carried in an insensible condition from tho theatre. , "Maggie Moore- Williamson, tha Australian comedienne," is expected in San Franc/sco by th« end of May, nnd will go on tour unJer the management of John Maguire, of Montana. Giovanna Bianchi, who years back pla;/ed with great success at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Melbourne (Vie), where she appeared in the character of Lady Macbeth in Verdi's opera of that name, died rccen'ly iv San Francisco, Cal. She was born in Pudua, Italy, of the noble family of Conti Ciimpagni, of Verona, and studied under Manzucata aud Lamjierti, in Milan. Her repertory included GO operas, and besides her notable Biicresa in the opera " Beatrice di Fenda," at the Theatre Carlo Felice, Genoa, she appeared in all tho principal aties'ofKuropo Aftcrher Australian tour she returned to San Francisco, and with her huabiuid, K. Bianchi, niado that city her home, anl retired from the profession, only occasionally tinging at sp.cial performances and benefits. Ilor font aT'pcarauce was in a benefit at tho Grand Opera House, 'Frisco, in 1881, and since her retirement had sung at most of the leading churches cf that city, and had been the soprano singer at St. Patrick's Church for 2(5 years. That paragraph I sent you last mail about George Schrode being demented is stated by the Schrode Brotheis to be false. The brothers say that ha waß suffering from la grippe, and that, although ho was delirious in Boston a few days, George is rapidly convalescing. Glad to hear it.— Yours truly, Mario.