Life — November 10, 1887 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

FEMINA FUIT. ILE. studied only for Art's sweet sake— To go to Munich her end and aim ; He only studied for sweetheart's sake, Yet longed for Munich just the same. They both next summer the journey will make, She wished to be famous—he'll give her a name. — Wilde. COINS: “7 TAIN ~ oe HE RAILROAD OF LOVE” at Daly's is a decided im- provement upon “ Dandy Dick,” which horsy little trifle met only with the approval of the Anglomaniacs, It is a delicious little comedy, written for Miss Rehan, Mr. Drew, Mrs. Gilbert, Mr. Skinner, Mr. Fisher, and that talented galaxy we all know so well. Mr. Daly has made some mythical Teuton responsible for the original of what he kindly calls his adaptation, That Teuton’s hair would stand on end —if it were not too long — could he only see the work with which he is credited. “The Railroad of Love” introduced Mrs. Gilbert, for the first time this season, as a middle-aged widow of delightful drollery. Of course, Mr, Lewis was a middle-aged bachelor, and the two met. Nothing so charming as their Highland Fling has been seen on the New York stage for many a day. Miss Rehan was also a widow, by no means an autumnal one, but sufficiently experienced to understand the meaning of the verb to flirt. She meets John Drew and falls in love with him, after a judicious period of coquetry, jealousy and hysteria. Miss Rehan did more serious work on ‘* The Railroad of Love” than has been assigned to her for a long time, and she was exquisitely unconventional in it, as she invariably is in her wonder- ful badinage. ‘The Railroad of Love" is one of Daly's best. . . HAT delightful gentleman and talented actor, Mr. Henry Irving, has again returned to his ‘dear America,” accompanied by Miss Terry and others of his company. The eminent exponent of all branches of dramatic art arrived on the A//er last week, prepared to take the dollars of this Republic by storm. Mr. Irving is in robust health and seems none the worse for his two years’ absence from this charming country, which he is said to look upon with the strongest affection and whose coins have done much to make his life among the effete nations of the old world more endurable, Miss Terry too is well. Quite recovered from the nervous strain to which she has been subjected by the protracted run of ** Faust,” in which it is needless to say she portrays Marguerite, with a sweetness that smacks of the ideal rather than the real. It is pleasant to see these art- ists back with us again, and Lire heartily welcomes them, and wishes them a prosperous season. RS. JAMES BROWN POTTER won her distinguished audience at the Fifth Avenue Theatre the other night by the exquisite knowl- the effect of sartorial climax which she displayed. They cared little for any dramatic ability she happened not to possess, and it is safe to say that Sarah Bern- hardt never received such an ovation, When the fair Mrs, Potter appeared in the second act (for the first time), wearing an artless white dress of absolutely unpretentious /acon, a little thrill of disappointment ran through the audience. Was this the great woman who had electrified Washington by a semi-naughty recital, and leaped into nineteenth-century fame as the proud endorser of a complexion cream ? But, in the third act, when she strutted as enveloped in salmon- tinted velvet, trimmed with fur, which, after she had thoughtfully allowed the audience to gaze upon for the period of five minutes, she threw off to reveal a mystery of emerald plush, her art became apparent. Yes, Mrs, Potter was suddenly elevated to the pedestal of great- Bernhardt would have suffered by comparison; Ellen Terry would not have been considered for a moment. But in the last act Mrs, Potter's triumph was complete —a mag- nificent violet velvet triumph that no one can ever hope to eclipse. As she paused for a moment, exquisitely conscious of her vast, overwhelming success, fair bosoms heaved with the beautiful emo- tions of sympathy. It was a moment to be remembered, Her eyes were dewy, her lips feverish — ah/ cette chere Pottairet There were no calls for Worth, who had dressed her —there were no cries for Barnum’s man who had advertised her — not a voice de- manded Miner who had lent her the aid of his wonderfully successful Boweriness. All the bravos went to the Potter, and she took them in the spirit in which they were offered. Limited space compels me to defer my intended analysis of that spirit. edge of ness. YE SENSES OF NATURE. H, Strephon, bee cautious! I prithee looke well, When you're kissing sweete Chloe ‘neathe faire Luna's spell; Ye potato-fieldes shun, if you wish to bee wise, Since eache mound there is hydeing inquisitive eyes. And beware ! deareste Chloe, when his love-tayle you tell, To ye fieldes full of clover and sweete daffodell, You whisper your secretes and think no-one heares, While ye corn-fieldes neare-bye are all bristling with ears. George Enos Throop. PHILADELPHIA FAMILIES. D* JONES (at the Assembly): 1 beg pardon, but when I was presented I didn’t quite catch youaw name. Was it Biddle? THE Lapy: No, Mr. de Jones, not Biddle. DE JONES: Oh, then, I know! of this waltz, Miss Wanamaker ? It is— May I have the pleasure comicbooks.com