Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 27, Number 38, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 20 March 1897 — Page 6

BEHIND THE FOOTLIGHTS.

Recollectionsof a Veteran Stage Manager.

WORLD'S FAMOUS PAHTOHIMISTS.

Sketch of the Ravels—Other Fimovi Fan* makers—A Popular Child Acrobat—Tht Placide Brothers Geniua In Row

Over a Few Cncumbera.

[Special Correspondence.]

NEW YORK, March 15.—If pantomime is the highest form of dramatic expression, as so many persons declare, the Bavels are entitled to high rank in the theatrical world. Not only have their equals never been seen, but their Ability has never even been approximated, or, I might say, suggested. They were marvels, every one of them, and I speak advisedly, as I was with them in many of their most important productions in this country. Of course, when I speak of the Ravels, I refer to the four toothers—Jerome, Antoine, Gabriel end Vrancois. They were not really the original Bavels, but they were the only ones that this country ever knew. The man who made the family name famous in a moot unique field was Jean Ravel, the father of the men with whom we are

TOM PLACIDE.

familiar. The mother was also a famous pantomiinist, and tlio success of tho of" •pring of this couple in thoir chosen profession would, it seems to me, furnish a most potent argument in favor of the theory of horedity, which has latterly fallen into disrepute, but which my extruded experience on the stage has caused no to think is of much more consequence than many persons are willing to admit.

The Versatile Ravels.

I know that the average individual is inclined to look down upon tho pantomiinist as a very low sort of follow, a man AY ho is devoid of everything save agility and strength. This prejudice may be to a certain extent justifiable when tho opinion has been premised on the observation of some of the latter day so called pantomimists. With the Ravels, however, the reverse was the case. They were all gentlemen of refinement, education and culture, who simply saw fit to take advantage of the marvelous rifts with which nature had endowed them for the purpose of acquiring in the most rapid manner possible a competency which would enable them to retire and live in a manner befitting their tits tea And this they did. The quartet after accumulating great wealth went to Toulouso, France, where they were bora, and, buying four elegant homes next to each other, settled down to a life of luxury and ease and charity. Jerome died at 80, Antoine at 81, Gabriel at 79 and Francois at 68. Their father ln\d lived nearly fourscore years. This certainly speaks volumes for the correctness of their lives.

What versatile fellows those Ravels were too! Every one of them was a painter,inventor, pantomiinist,musician and machinist. In their entertainments, which were arranged by them eoujointly, they were oast at different times for downs, white knights, harlequins, gnomes, village swains, old and young lovers, etc. And, strange as it may appear nowadays, they never had a disagreement. as to whose part was the best, each usually insisting that the role of each of the others required building up and that his own as it stood necessitated too much work. Think of this, ye actors of today, who are willing to complain a whole week if, a "yes" or a "perhaps" be taken from you at rehearsal!

Tjpi strong affebtion, which wns the predominant characteristic of the Ravels, was, in my opinion, the great secret of their wonderful success, always, of course, admitting their transcendent ability. And it may not be amiss to state that they never had a single failure in their entire career. No one of their many productions was a comparative success. All of tliem were "unqualified winners," as the actors along the Rialto would oxpress it My experience with the Ravels was naturally during tho latter half of their career. But their books amply bear out the statement which I have just made.

The Marsettto aad the Martinettts.

Perhaps the nearest approach to the excellence of the Ravels was attained by the Marsettis and Martinettis, all of whom were members of their company. There are descendants of these two families now scattered about in this and other countries, and nearly all of them are following same branch of the profession in which their ancestors were famous, but non? has done anything to raise him above the Oommon herd, so tar as I have been able to learn. The Martinettis wore most of litem of an acrobatic torn and would have been considered wonderful if the Ravels had not been living. The Marsettis were extraordinarily good pantomimists and were also re.y agile. "Marwttis' Monkeys," they called their entertainment.

and it wns a most amusing one. Their antics were a source of delight to thousands of children, and they were natural to an almost incredible extent All of the Marzettis and Martinettis are dead.

Great as were the Ravels and great as was the furore which their coming never failed to excite,, their star sensation was made by one of their pupils, who was only 6 years old. In the paintzoom at Niblo's at the time of which I write there was employed a man named Hazlam. He managed to eke out a living, but nothing more. One day, while Gabriel Ravel was watching the artists at work, a little boy of about 5 entered, and going up to Hazlam engaged him familiarly in conversation. Gabriel was struck by the phenomenal beauty of the child's face no less than by the symmetry and sturdine88 of his frame and the air of confidence which seemed to be natural to him. He learned that the boy was Hazlam's son, and it was not long before the arrangements had been made whereby he was to become an apprentice to Gabriel. The little fellow was treated with the greatest kindness and consideration, but his athletic training went steadily forward. Gradually the beautiful little body began to develop, and the pupil was so apt and daring and withal so careful that Gabriel freely predicted that his debut would create a veritable sensation. And it did.

A Celebrated Prodigy.

This child had been called "Young America,'' and there are many persons living who will remember what a publio idol he became. The feat with which "Young America" startled New York was called the "triple flying trapeze." Three swings were suspended from the ceiling of the immense theater. One was over the ,edge of the family circle, the next, was about in the middle of the house, and the third was well over toward a line drawn upward from the proscenium arch. The child was taken up into the gallery, where the first swing was hauled backward its entire length by an attendant. "Young America" graspeu the bar and sailed off into space. At exactly the point where the trapeze wonld begin its backward trip he let go and flew to the next, describing a somersault on the way. The momentum set the second swing in motion, and he reachcd the third in the same manner. Ab this one swung far over the stage he let go, and running down toward the audience he bowed to the most enthusiastic applause I have ever listened to. There were no nets in those days, and a platform was run from the dreF circle to the stage. On this were heavy hair mattresses made expressly for this purpose, but they might just as well not have been there, for

4'Young

Amer­

ica" never had a fail or an accident of any kind. After a time, as he grew larger, he coased to create the former sensation. But the Ravels stuck to thoir portion of the contract and educated him finely. Had he been at all shrewd, inasmuch as he had been formally adopted by Gabriel Ravel, ho might have easily established his claim to a portion of his large estate. But he made no effort to do so, I believe. He is still alive and makes a living by working in burlesque and pantomime productions. He has beaten a drum in front of a country oircus, this child who was so worshiped in New York at ono time that when he went to tho gallery each night an officer had to be sent along to protect him from the proffered caresses of the scores of society women who used to go up to Mount Rascal for the sole purposo of stealing a kiss from the little fellow. One woman, who was worth millions, came to me with a serious proposition to pay lne 500 to engineer her adoption of the youngster.

It may seem strange to most persons who never saw "Young America" that a city should go wild over a child just because he happened to perform a difficult and dangerous feat particularly well, and it would be extraordinary if this were his sole recommendation. But it was not. The little chap was a perfect Adonis. Clad in his tight fitting trunks, his silk fleshings and high kid boots, with his merry and fearless eyes and magnificent complexion and wavy hair showing off the noble head to the best advantage, he was the handsomest picture my eves have ever looked upon. And it was his beauty, not his prowess, which made women, especially childless ones, adore him.

At the Old Nlblo.

Although the Ravels, when they were at Niblo'B, gave remarkable entertainment, for all of which, by the way, only 50 cents was charged, the public in those days wanted more, and they got it. The performance was preceded nightly by a farce, presented by a company which in many respects was the most remarkable ever put together for a similar purpose. Amoug the best known of the members were the famous Tom Placide, L. R. Shewell, J. G. Burnett, E. Lamb, W. Gomersal, the great Napoleon Mary Wells, Mrs. Gomersal, Emma Taylor, sister of our Mary, and many others.

Speaking of Tom Placide, he was a queer character, but a thoroughly whole souled fellow. While he was at Nibto'-s he used to keep bachelor's hall, and it was his greatest pleasure to have a few kindred spirits at his rooms to help him prepare dinner. Among these favored ones were "Handsome" George Jordan, John E. Owens, the elder Mark Smith, Fit* James O'Brien, Artemos Ward, Doeeticks and myself. The den, as Placide always called it, was elegantly furnished, but he insisted on having a board extending from one upturned barrel to another for a table, upon which to prepare the food. And Placide and bis friends knew how to prepare it, you may be sure. Bateman, tfae father of the famous actress, Kate, once told the proprietor of the aristocratic Laugham hotel in London that he ought to visit Tom Placide's den for the purpose of learning bow to serve a good dinner, including gumbo soup, for which Tom was celebrated.

Everybody who takes the slightest interest in matters connected with the

TEKT5E HAUTE SATURDAY EYEXKGrgM^Hi, MARCH 20. 1897.

stage knows of the estrangements which occurred between Tom Placide and his equally talented brother Harry from time to time. Sometimes they did not speak for years. One of these differences, which had lasted longer than usual, had been adjusted, and Harry invited Tom to visit bim at his country place at Babylon, N. Y. The invitation was accepted. Tom was an early riser, and, going into the garden, he saw some extraordinarily large cucumbers. Harry had but a few of these, and they were intended for show only. Tom, knowing nothing of this, drew out his knife and cut one of the largest of the dew covered prickly beauties. At that moment Harry's head appeared at the window, and its owner shouted angrily: "How dare you cut those cucumbers! Don't you do it again!"

Back popped the head into the room. Tom took his carpetbag and left before his brother got down to breakfast. Going to Fulton market, in this city, he sought a dealer in fancy vegetables. There he found some cucumbers—a barrel of tfiem-r-every one of which was much larger than the one he had cut at Harry's place. Taking one of the dealer's cards, he wrote on the back: "To Harry Placide, Esq., Babylon, L. L: And be to you." The dash looks better in print than the word he really wrote. Paying the merchant for the barrel of cucumbers, he ordered them sent at once by express, charges prepaid. This was done, and that one cucumber in Harry's amateur garden caused an other long estrangement between two really brilliant brothers. Either would have ridiculed in others the childish conduct of which this shows them both to have been guilty. But genius is said always to have its accompanying weak ness, and this was theirs, I suppose.

LONDON MUSIC HALLS.

Where Peers and Vassals Are on a Com mon Footing. [Special Correspondence.]

LONDON, March 8.—In London every ono goes to the music hall—old and young, wealthy and poor. You may take your family, you may take your best girl, you may go with your men friends You may go into the stalls, you may go into the gallery, you may go anywhere. It is as if you were in the wide, open street It matters not if you are not en regie as to dress. You are here to enjoy yourself. Others are here to enjoy themselves. In it all there is a sense of fine, wide fellowship. True, vice is here, but vice may hide itself in a church.

Here is the flaneur, the young man about town. He is here to enjoy himself. The music hall is his stamping ground, his hunting ground. He wears very good clothes, indeed, does this English swell. His forehead is low, his jaws are full, his eyes are prominent and vacuous.

And here is the traveled man, with the hard, keen eyes and strong face, and here is the clever man, and here the foolish man, and here the sharking business man, whose method of getting money is far more dishonest than the method of a low, common thief, and— But why particularize? Here are the men and women of the world—of the wide, strange world. Poverty, wealth, power and revolt are gathered here. They are drinking of the magic wine of forgetfulness, that grand, strange wine.

Yet in the whole scene there is a sadness, a longing, a sense of fretfulness— a something that eludes, a something that may not be defined.

And still it is a scene of fine, strange beauty—a scene that appeals to all the seflses. You are thrilled. You are in touch with the world as it really is. Aye, the world has taken off its mask for you. You see its splendor even as you see the splendor of the sun in midday. You see its softness and its calm, tender beauty. You see its misery, it cruelty, its horror. You see what is called its best and worst. Aye, the music hall is the world in epitome!

Give me the musio hall of London. I care but little for the grand concerts and the grand plays in the grand theaters. Their people are pose. They are not themselves. They have come to be edified, to be moved to higher things. But people come to the music hall to give expression to themselves.

Sometimes I hear people say that the musio hall ministers to a depraved taste. I don't we it And, after all, what is a depraved taste? Can the good people who know so much about nothing tell me? According to them, nearly everything that is frankly enjoyable is necessarily depraved. I'm afraid these good people know less about more things than any other sort of people.

No the music hall is, above everything, human. It has what are caller, the virtues and the vices of humanity. It is good, it is bad, and I'd like to ask the know all people to please remembei that ,xxl and bad are hut words which signify shifting, imaginary lines.

The music hall appeals to the senses. It frankly says in effect that it knows nothing of theosophic or psychic or any other shadowy and debatable thing. It has absolutely nothing to do with morals, whether good, bad or indifferent Its creed is that it is better to be interesting than to be good

It nifty be that this creed la what Is called cynjcaL It may be that the music bait itself is what is called cynical. Be-that as it may, however, the music hall is not hypocriticaL There is no living err thing and preaching another.

The philosophy of the music hall may be put thus: Live today, for tomorrow you die. It is the philosophy of the present moment, and who shall say that it is not a wise philosophy? Who know* anything of tomorrow. And, as for yesterday—well, yesterday is gone, is bar as the memory of a dream.

BAKT

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PRESLRVE THE LOOKS.

Bow the Skin and .Hair Should Be

Treated.

The eyes should be washed daily. Tho dust which we all suffer from should be removed from the eyes by some lotion. Use for this distilled water in the proportion of a pint to one-quarter of a teaspoonful of borax. Let the water be lukewarm.

The water for the face should never be cold, because it shocks the nerves. For daily sponge baths do not use hot water, but lukewarm. A hot bath should not be taken oftener than twice a week, and it would be well were one of these Turkish. Be cautious as to how much massage the maid gives. She would treat everybody the same, but the individual must regulate her own case. Never allow the maid to massage the face. In using cream on the face it is only on the forehead that one should allow much rubbing. If the necessary foods for the face be used, one may go out safely in the wintry air and take long walks protected by no veil and enjoy the air, being careful on returning to rub a little more cream on the exposed skin.

A soft crash face cloth is the besttowel to be used, and all the lotions are applied by means of it. For drying the face this is simply wrung dry, no "everyday" towel ever being applied to the face. An olive soap is considered the best for the face, and at night before the cream is applied, wash the face with this soap and warm water, thus opening the pores for the cream.

The eyebrows need brushing, as do the eyelashes. Shampooing of the hair should be done every two weeks,- for in the most quiet home life the dust will collect in spite of everything. For the process a lather should be made in the hair by applying the following hair shampoo, rubbing it on with the hands: A dram of carbonate of soda, anouncool bay rum, one-half dram household ammonia, yolks of 2 eggs, a pint of distilled water, a tablespoonful of powdered castile soap.

More tonio or oil nifty be given the scalp if the Hhi'r be felling out, but the bay rum and volks of fe&gs afford enough for ordinary lieed"

The Wives of TWo Writers.

The wife pf Cohfct Tolstoi, the great Russian novelist, has been the means, more than any other, of making him famous. She was Countess Tolstoi when but 18, her husband being a score of years her senior.' A year before her marriage she. took her diploma at Moscow university. During the thirty odd years since she became the novelist's better half she has been his powerful coadjutor in all his literary pursuits. She copies and recopies the count's MSS., a task of no little difficulty owing to the self made system of shorthand he uses. On one occasion she made with her own hand 15 oopies of a book by her husband.

Mrs. Grant Allen usually acts as her husband's amanuensis, and such duties, although they are performed as a labor of love, can be by no means light, as Mr. Grant Allen is one of the most prolific and versatile writers of the time. That his wife is a most clever and cultured woman goes without saying, seeing that as her husband's literary oid-de-camp she must of necessity know something about almost everything under the sun. That this is so is evidenced when we remember that Mr. Allen's fertile brain is constantly producing books and articles in every department of literature.

How to Ascertain the Health of an Infant.

A child from birth to 6 months of age should be weighed weekly, as by this means, almost to the exclusion of all others, we can tell how the child is developing. During the first week there is generally loss in weight, but by the end of the second week the child should have regained its birth weight, and if there is again of less than four ounces weekly or a stationary weight we know there is some fault with its nutrition, either in quantity or quality of the milk which it receives or its powers of assimilation.

44

"Tears, idle teare, 1 know not what the mean," wrote the poet

Tennyson. But tears always meat something. There are tears of melancholy, tear? of joy, and of despair, anc those saddest most pathetictears of the nervous overwrought woman who ha been bearinp up as bravely as she niaj under a daih burden' *t

weakness tfld dragging, torturing pait No wonder women weep. The wonder if that theyare not oftener in tears for all they .have to* bear and suffer and the sadde.«t thing about it is how little their suffering's are understood. Even the doctor, nine times in ten says Ob, a little nervous ness, that's all" or "neuralgia," or insom nia," or "dyspepsia." If he suspects th real cause he insists upon examinations anc local treatment—about the very worst thing, possible to a nervous, overwrought woman.

There is no need of these repugnant methods. Any woman may insure health and strength in a womanly way by the of Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription. II curcs the weaknesses and diseases of the feminine organism absolutely and completely. It was devised for this special purpose by one of the most eminent and experienced physicians in this country as cpert specialist in women's diseases.

For nearly 30 years Dr. Pierce has been chief consulting physician of the Invalids* Hotel and Surgical Institute. Buffalo, N. Y. Any woman may consult him by letter, free of charge. Her letter will be answered not by a mere nurse or uneducated, unscientific person, but by the most competent medical authority anywhere obtainable.

All women should read Dr. Pierce's thou-sand-page illustrated book, "The People's Common Sense Hedical Adviser." It contains more dear and comprehensive advice on medical subjects than any other book ever published. A paper-bound copy sent free for twenty-one one-cent stamp* to pay the cost 0/ mailing only. Or cloth-bouta for thirty-one stamp*.

MUHUlftii

UUUEBfTlMKX

MMxtm w.

3

ff

A WOMAN'S BODY.

What Its Neglect Leads to. Mrs. Chaa» King's Experience.

A woman's body is the repository of the most delicate mechanism in the whole realm of creation, and yet most women will let it get out of order and keep out of order, just as if it were of no consequence^ Their backs ache and heads throb and '"burn: they have wandering pains, now here and now there. They experience extreme lassitude,, that don't-care and want-to-be-left-alone feelings excitability, irritability, nervousness, sleeplessness and the blues, yet they will go about their work until they can scarcely stand on their poorswollen feet, and do nothing to help themselves.

These are the positive fore-runners of serious womb complications, and unless given immediate attention will result in untold misery, if not death. Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Comgpund will, beyond the question of a. doubt, relieve all this trouble before it becomes serious, and it has cured many after their troubles had become chronic.

The Compound should be taken immediately upon the appearance of any of these symptoms above enumerated. It is a vegetable tonic which invigoratea and stimulates the entire female organism, and will produce the same beneficial results in the case of any sick woman as it did with MKS. CHAS. KING, 181S Rosewood St., Philadelphia, Pa., whose letter we attach:

I write these few lines, thanking you for restoring my health. For twelve years I suffered with pains impossible to describe. I had bearing-down feelings* backache, burning sensation in my stomach, chills, headache, and always ha£ black specks before my eyes. I was afraid to stay alone, for I sometimes had four and five fainting spells a day. I had several doctors and tried many patent medicines. Two years ago I was so bad that I had to go to bed and have a. trained nurse. Through her. 1 commenced to take Lydia E. Pinkham'a Vegetable Compound, and 1 never had anything give me the relief that it has. I have taken eight bottles, and am now enjoying the best of health again, can truthfully say it has eured me."

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