Life — September 23, 1886 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

WE PLAYED ALONE. LEW the summer breezes gently, While the pasteboard battle waged, Scarce we minded, so intently With the game we were engaged. Ah! she seemed a queenly beauty, Fit to win a god's regards, (I forgot a partner's duty) As the captain dealt the cards. As I gazed their pictured f. Mirrored back her image still, All confused were kings and aces Mingling in a wild quadrille — Till, as from enchanted distance Came her pure and cultured tone, (Scorning all my weak assistance) “Diamonds, trump ; I play alone.” * * * * * Blew the autumn breezes gently, As we sat upon the sands, While the billows impudently Cast their spray upon her hands. Ah! she seemed a goddess, surely, Proper theme for tuneful bards, (Glancing downward so demurely) While sly Cupid dealt the cards. Then I told in tender fashion, While the sea looked on and smiled, How my strong, consuming passion, ‘Thoughts of other maids exiled. How I loved to madness — nearly; But she spake in cultured tone, (Scorning my two thousand yearly) “Diamonds, trump ; I play alone.” Straight I rushed to dissipation, Madly, trod its widest range, ‘Then I turned to speculation, While my luck was wondrous strange. Thousands upon thousands piling, Nought my upward course retards, (Yielding to my fond beguiling) Goddess Fortune dealt the cards. * * * * * Yes, I saw her at the angle Of the stair-case, baiting Brown, She's a lovely throat—to strangle, And her cheek is showing down. Did you say she looked? Appealing ? Well, I'm sorry, I must own, (There has been another dealing) “Diamonds, trump ; / play alone.” CROWDING THEM. “ITIZEN (¢o bartender): What effect does this closing on Sunday have on your business ? BARTENDER: It gives us too much to do Saturday night. | RK. LAWRENCE BARRETT is a gentleman whose | presence is always a pleasure to the theatre-going public of New York. The fact that he, almost alone of our’ American actors, combines the manager with the actor has given him a deservedly high place in the estimation of New York audiences, who have grown decidedly tired of “star " per- formances where the leading light does all the shining and leaves the accessories in the hands of a lot of low grade barn- stormers, There is always a pleasing certainty about Mr. Barrett's representations that no detail, however small, will be over- looked by the “mind” that is at the head of the company, and it is evident to the most careless observer that the great impersonator of Casszus does not believe in setting diamonds in brass, * * * Dress the three weeks past we have had “ Hamlet,” “Yorick’s Love,” “Richard I{I.,” and other more or less familiar plays which Mr. Barrett comprises in his repertoire. By all means the most important, and, as regards this actor, least familiar of these to our public, was Hamd/e¢, which was played throughout with a grace and dignity worthy of the part. Occasionally Mr. Barrett’s faults protruded themselves, and he at times came dangerously near sacrificing art for effect, but upon the whole he may be ranked as one of the best Hamlets of our time. It is to be hoped that Mr. Barrett will not leave us without giving us the opportunity to see him as Rzenzz, in which part his abilities as actor and manager are put to the full test. The best criticism we can make upon the rest of the com- pany is, that so well did they sustain their parts that in no instance did they lay themselves open to criticism. * * * HE great and glorious Dixey has returned to his native land, and to quote the old song : In spite of all temp-ta-heshuns To belong to other na-heshuns, He’s not English, you know. There may be some confusion in the lines just quoted, but who can regard Mr. Dixey’s career without being confused * * * RMINIE still holds the boards at the Casino, and Messrs. Daboll and Wilson continue to elicit the most uproar- ious hilarity night after night as “Caddy” and “Ravyy.” The report that Mr. Daboll has an idea that Mr. Irving will recognize in him his long lost twin brother by the strawberry marks on his walk and voice is denied. comicbooks.com