Life — April 12, 1888 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

» LIFE - CAPTAIN COSTIGAN REDIVIVUS. HROUGH the courtesy of Mme. Diss Debar, LIFE has been able to secure an interview with the lamented Captain Jack Costigan, father of Miss Fotheringay, well remembered as a lady of histrionic ability—which relation- ship entitles the Captain’s utterances on dramatic subjects to considerable weight. The identity of the spirit was duly established by the aroma of whiskey and water which pre- ceded the Captain’s materialization. When asked if there were theatres in the spirit world, Captain Costigan replied: “T regret to say, sor, we’ve not. Thayaters have never been inthrojuiced into the spirit land, but those of us who will are permitted to lave the sacred precincts and indulge in those purshoots which have been our pleasure in this wurruld.” “And what is your opinion of the theatres of New York?” F the highest, sor. Your public has that gener- na {As { ve ye ous heart and refined un- \ derstanding which is the \ artist’s surest reliance, \\) and it is at the same time me highest pride and me greatest pleasure to testify to that fact. When me daughter was rejuiced by the cruel necessities of fortune to place her mag- nificent talents at the dis- posal of the public, I could have wished that her per- fawrumances might have been before awjiences so appreciative of greatness and so generous of pocket. A spirit friend of mine and meselluf witnessed a perfawrumance the other evening which was in all respects most deloightful. It was at the Lyceum Thayater. ‘The Wife’ was the name of the play, and while the dialogue is bright and clever, it contains some jokes which date back to the days when the Costigans were kings in me native counthry. It is a shuparior play though, and well shooted to deloight a cultivated intellect.” “And are you pleased with our actors, Captain?” “Laving aside any comparison with me daughther's incom- parable talents, and spaking with that modesty which has aT. always been one of Jack Costigan’s principal adawranments, I will say, sor, that it has rarely been my good fortune to see a play better cast. Throughout it shows good training and good stage management. Those gallant young actors, Mr. Kelcey and Mr. Wheatcroft, porthray the characthers they ripresint with great fidelity and care. Mr. Le Moyne is a foine actor, and in this piece preserves his usual excellence. God forbid that a Costigan of Costiganstown should be ungallant, but I cannot say that the ladies of the cast, in the opinion of your ’umble servant, do their parts as well as the men. Ye might go further and find a worse actress than Miss Dillon—but perhaps I should not spake of actresses with me own child’s acting always in me moind. Ye will forgive me, sor, if I do not linger with you longer. Me joyous and disinterested spirit-friends are awaiting me arrival at a consultation to determine under just what con- ditions spirits may take title to real estate located in the State of New York. I shall maintain, with me usual polite affabilitee, that spirits are not aliens, and that we may take and hold through our agents—like Mme. Diss Debar—any property that our kind, generous and wealthy friends on earth may wish to deed to us. Good evening, sor.” Metcalfe. A SCIENTIST says a wasp may be picked up if it is done quietly. Yes; it is when the wasp is laid down again that the noise begins. A CLUB WITTICISM. “T SAY, OLD CHAP, WHAT EXTRAVAGANT BEGGARS THOSE OR- ANGE CLUB BOYS ARE, I WAS OUT THERE THE OTHER DAY, AND THEY WERE USING “JRANGE-ICE ON THE TOBOGGAN SLIDE.” ‘IMPOSSIBLE! “WHAT DID THEY DO THAT FOR?” “BECAUSE TEEY FOUND IT LESS EXPENSIVE THAN BRINGING ICE FRQM NEWaRK.”