stands the little town of Chicago, containing two thousand inhabitants. Aunt, uncle, and their children come to meet and welcome us. Then there is such a shaking of hands and a kiss all round, and "Why, how well you are looking!" and "Is this Charlie? How he has grown!" "Why, that's not Joe? Dear me, who'd have believed it?" And then we all laugh again and have another kiss. The captain said he had enjoyed a splendid trip, such fun, such music and singing and dancing. "Well, good-by all," "Good luck"; and off we go ashore and walk through the busy town, busy even then, people hurrying to and fro, frame buildings going up, board sidewalks going down, new hotels, new churches, new theatres, everything new. Saw and hammer, saw saw. bang, bang,-look out for the drays,bright and muddy streets gaudy-colored calicos, blue and red flannels and striped ticking hanging outside the dry-goods stores; barrooms, real-estate offices, attorneys-at-lawoceans of them. And now for the new theatre, newly-painted canvas, tack-hammer at work on stuffed seats in the dress-circle, planing-boards in the pit, new drop-curtain let down for inspection, "beautiful!'-a medallion of Shakespeare suffering from a severe pain in his stomach in the center, with, "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin" written under him, and a large painted, brick-red drapery looped up by Justice, with sword and scales, showing an arena with a large number of gladiators hacking away at one another in the distance to a delighted Roman public; though what Justice had to do with keeping these gladiators on exhibition was never clearly explained by the artist. There were two private boxes with little white-andgold balustrades and turkey-red curtains, and over each box a portrait of Beethoven and Handel-upon unfriendly terms, glaring at each other. The dome was pale blue, with pinkand-white clouds, on which reposed four ungraceful ballet girls representing the seasons, and apparently dropping flowers, snow, and grapes into the pit. Over each season there floated four fat little cherubim "in various stages of spinal curvature." My father, being a scenic artist himself, was naturally disposed to be critical, and when the painter asked his opinion of the dome, he replied: "Well, since you ask me, don't you think that your angels are a little stiff in their attitudes?" "No, sir; not for angels. When I deal with mythological subjects I never put my figures in natural attitudes; it would be inharmonious. A natural angel would be out of keeping with the rest of the work." To which my father replied that it was quite likely that such would be the case. "But why have you made Handel and Beethoven frown at each other? They are not mythological subjects." "No, no," said the painter. "But they are musicians, you know; and great musicians always quarrel, eh? Ha, ha!" MLLE LLE Sibyl Sanderson has been engaged by M. Paravey for the Opera Comique. Her first rôle is to be Manon Lescaut. Music by Massenet. Dion Boucicault has almost completed the comedy in which Sol Smith Russell will star next year. Mr. John L. Stoddard will visit Norway next summer, and on his return hither, will add lectures on Ibsen and Ibsen's country. Aeschylus' play, "The Persians," is to be played in Athens, Greece. Mr. Kendal is said to be very clever with the brush. Mrs. Langtry will revive with grandeur "Antony and Cleopatra" next spring. Mr. Marston says that the introduction of the electric light for theatric purposes has been the means of making our scenic artists more painstaking in their work, on account of the greatest delicacy and minuteness necessary. THE Cousin Pons. WILLIAM TERRISS. HE frontispiece of this number of THE THEATRE MAGAZINE, is a dainty bit of the engraving art in reproduction of a London photograph of William Terriss, the picturesque actor now playing Roger La Honte at Niblo's Garden. Mr. Terriss might be said to belong to the intense Irving school of actors, because he imbibed the spirit of the preceptor during a long association with him in his company. He has a noble voice and presence, an intellectual face, and is in every way a strong actor as well as a very popular one. Low Commedian (reading his own play to Company).-Now, "Enter Lady Brinvilliers with dagger, R. U. E.; she crosses to C. D. in flat, looks out, closes door, goes to L. 2 E., looks out, closes door, comes down C., gnashes her teeth at Sir Ptolemy Too-too, then lizard-like glides behind his chair, O. P., and stabs him in the P. S. breast. He yells, and falls insensible. She rushes out door in C. F.; as she pssses R. C. window, without, her figure is reflected on the blind. Ptolemy rises on his elbow and sees her shadow. Lady Brinvilliers!' he exclaims. Simultaneously Lord Rotterdam enters, L. 2 E. Lady B. has vanished, but Rotterdam has overheard Too-too shriek her name; with a fearful oath for vengeance he flies to Ptolemy, who dies on his O. P. knee. Tableau. Curtain." Now, you thoroughly understand the idea? (No answer.) Eh? You understand, don't you? Eh?--eh? You--Low Commedian.---Well, I'm hanged if I do! All (doubtfully).-Ye-es. DALY'S THEATRE An eccentric comedy in three acts (from the German of Franz von Schönthau and Gustave Kadelburg, adapted for the present occasion by AUGUSTIN DALY, and entitled: The Great Unknown. Mr. Jeremiah Jarraway, Rather a large sized Mouse, likewise a somewhat full-grown Moth, but offering a lively illustration of two familiar fables, Mr. James Lewis Ned Dreemer. "Cousin Ned," who went away a Methuselah, and returns "a Daisy," Mr. John Drew The O'Donnel Don, With a proverb for every occasion Mr. Wilton Lackaye (His first appearance in this company.) Tom Prowde, In the Musical line, with a penchant for his pupils Mr. Sidney Herbert Patrick, An indispensable in the Jarraway household. Mr T. Cronin Etna, Lusus Nature, combination of Mouse & Puss, Miss Twitters, Mentor and guide to the Demoiselles ...Miss Nita Sykes Mdile. Agathe, Arabella's companion, Miss Adl. Prince LAST WEEK: Monday, Othello. Wednesday, Gladiator. Thursday, Samson. Saturday (Matinee), Theatre closed on other evenings. Box office open daily, 9 a. m. to 9 p. m. Lower Boxes... Upper Boxes..... Orchestra Balcony.... $25 .$20 $2 . $2 and $1.50 Family Circle.....$1 and 50c. General Admission. $1 |