The Memphis Appeal

AND HIS EXTRAORDINARY CAREER--AVELING'S STORY.

What Mantel, Barrett, Rhea, Warde, Scanlan, Polk, Lieb and Other Stars are Doing.

[SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE APPEAL.]

New York, January 13.--So direst rarely make good actors, and when they do go on the stage they can be nothing if not tragedians. Among the few sons of Mars who have turned Thespians, Mr. Henry Aveling is a prominent figure. His carriage bespeaks for him a military training, and it does not lie. He at one time commanded an East Indian regiment in the English army, made up of Sepoys. His military experience was by no means confined to garrison life, for he bears several scars that tell of many a hard fought field. The marks of a saber cut on his forehead can be discerned, even through his makeup. Mr. Aveling frankly boasts that he has played in every English speaking city in the world, of over 10,000 inhabitants. Some people might say that was a little hard on the English language. It is now about time for him to paint some town red, throw up his present engagement and announce his intention of starring.

Mr. George A. Bumenthal, under whose management Miss Bertha Welby's tour went to pieces on the rocks of disaster, has secured the management of a new variety theater that is to be built on the corner of One Hundred and Twenty-seventh street and Second avenue. It is to be called the Harlem Casino.

The footlights never flickered before a queerer looking object than was Mr. Harry Miner when he appeared on the stage of his People's Theater last Thursday evening, made up as a wild and ferocious savage. He absolutely refused to risk his corns in moccasins, and insisted on wearing patent leather pumps. It took just four pounds of paint to "do up" Mr. Miner and Mr. Davis in good shape.

Mr. Frank Murtha is one of the funny story tellers that don't throw "chestnuts" at the innocent.

"Caraway Bone," said Nat Good win the other day as he pointed to a horse that had dropped dead in front of the Bijou. "When I get such a realistic rival as that it is high time for me to change my bill."

Mr. A. Comstock, the manager of Dockstader's, is a Columbia College graduate. Furthermore his advertising schemes in the papers are the most original that are going.

The Third Avenue Theater will be the headquarters of Jacobs & Proctor's circuit, but a combination that plays there is obliged to play the entire circuit of theaters, with two performances a day in most of them, and at museum prices in all. It is a little odd that the Third Avenue should have been the thirteenth theater on their list. Now the superstitious will have a chance to get in their fine work and say "I told you so."

The Main Line management have got out a unique form of street dodger. It represents their entire route in the shape of a coupon railroad ticket.

There is one scheme that seems to have escaped the notice of the Board of Directors of the Academy, who just now are trying so hard to determine what they shall do with the building. They might continue the practice openly that Col. Mapleson began in a covert manner of making it a home for broken down opera singers. The directors should think this over.

There is a certain actress who was to have taken a leading part in the new opera at the Casino who has suddenly disappeared from town. The landlady of a boarding house mourns "the favorite's" departure, and holds her trunks for security.

A funny story is going the rounds of the clubs about two swell club dudes and a fair comic opera singer in this city. Both of the dudes were suitors for the lady's smiles, and both thought themselves winners. It appears that it is reckoned the correct thing now, as it has been many times before among gentlemen of their ilk, to give a lock of hair as a signal pledge of tender affection. The lady in question glories in auburn ringlets, and would not part with one of them for less than a crown jewel. Her admirers both happened to have hair of the same golden hue as that of their mutual love. Each begged a tress of her hair in exchange for a lock of his own, to which the charming creature readily assented; and without touching a single tuft of her head cunningly managed to effect an exchange of parcels by which each gentleman received a curl of his rival's capillaries. One dude now wears the other's hair next his heart, and the other sleeps with his rival's scalplock under his pillow. There will be a duel one of these days.

Minnie Palmer has extended her Australian engagements a month. She will then return to this country.

The "Pocket Patti" is what they call Miss Laura Moore.

Mr. Lester Wallack goes to Florida in a few days to spend the winter.

The McCaull Opera Company produce the opera of Indiana at the Star Theater Monday evening next.

Mr. John W. Keller, the author of the successful 'Tangled Lives,' is at work on another play for a female star.

The old local drama, The Streets of New York, will be revived at the Windsor Theater Monday night, with Geo. C. Boniface as "Badger."

There are rumors of a lively scandal in which the leading lady of an uptown theater, a Wall street broker, and a Broadway jeweler are said to figure.

Miss Viola Allen has been engaged to play the part of "Lety Fletcher" in A. M. Palmer's 'Saints and Sinners' traveling company, beginning January 17th.

Miss Helen Dauvray has astonished the public with her elaborate production of Mr. Bronson Howard's new play, Met by Chance, at the Lyceum Theater.

Miss Mitford was the author of Lawrence Barrett's play, Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes. Horace Greeley was the author of the first of the Tribunes, however.

Mlle. Rhea is playing her farewell engagement in Baltimore this week, after which she makes a final tour of the principal cities of the South, where she is very popular.

Mr. Frederick Warde has made a hit at the Windsor Theater in his magnificent production of Galba, the Gladiator. It is a much better play than Dr. Bird's Gladiator.

Manager F. B. Murtha, of the Windsor Theater, has purchased an original "Michael Angelo da Caravaggio" painting, which he has placed on exhibition in the drawing room of that house. The picture is valued at $20,000.

The new opera of Gilbert and Sullivan will be produced at the Savoy Theater, in London, on January 22d, and at the Fifth Avenue Theater, in New York, on February 17th. Geraldine Ulmar and Courtice Pounds go to London to rehearse with the English company that appear in it here.

In The Humming Bird Nate Salsbury plays the part of an old actor and manager. He also assumes the part of a German. Nelly McHenry is seen as a stage struck chambermaid, and John Webster personates a jolly artist.

Mr. Lawrence Barrett begins an engagement of two weeks at the Chestnut Street Opera House, Philadelphia, January 31st, presenting his latest success, Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes, with all its splendor of scenery and costumes.

A new star will come before the public next season in the person of Miss Augusta Van Doren, a graduate from the Boston Museum Company. She will be seen in a comedy of fashionable society, written for her by a prominent New York journalist.

W. J. Scanlan, the young Irish comedian and vocalist, is having the most successful season that he has ever known, and is making money for himself and his manager. This young actor has now reached the front rank as a popular and profitable star.

J. B. Polk reports a lively demand for "wet goods" in the South, where he is giving the theater goers large doses of his funny Mixed Pickles. They appear to like it, and have not yet had enough, to judge by the large business this comedian is doing.

Robert B. Mantell does not like the title of "Master," and says that he is not showered with letters from foolish women. He can't deny, however, that he has made a great success at the Fifth Avenue Theater as "Raymond Garth" in Mr. Keller's play of Tangled Lives.

Frederick Warde made a hit at the Windsor Theater Monday night in Galba, the Gladiator, and was called before the curtain many times during the performance. At the close of the arena scene he received five calls, and was obliged to respond in a brief speech of thanks.

Miss Beatrice Lieb, who will star this season in Howard Taylor's new play of Infatuation, is an active speculator in mining stocks, and has made money. She has a large private income, but is so much devoted to her profession that she will continue on the stage for several years.

Dan'l E. Thompson began an engagement at the Fourteenth Street Theater Monday night, appearing in a handsome and elaborate production of his new play, The Old Homestead. It was on the same stage that this actor made his first success in Joshua Whitcomb. He expects to remain for three months.