The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, May 23, 1896, Image 8
THE COURIER. Rhea played to a fairly good house at the Funke on Wednesday night, though the play, the company and the star de served better. Travelling companies have fallen on evil limes. The best of them have lenrned to accept meager appreciation. Edmund O'Connor played Charles II., "the king that never said a foolish thing nor ever did a wise one," a trifle heavi ly. Charles took the world lightly. He was Ironical, witty and ever Irresponsi ble. His business was amusement. At rare moments, for recreation or to keep his mind in training, he lifted the bur dens of state, exercised with them for a while as a beau plays with dumb bells found them too heavy and quick ly laid them down. Green says: "The one thing he seemed in earnest about was pleasure." "The royal bastards were set among English no bles. The ducal house of Grafton, the dukes of St, Albans, are the descend ants of Nell Gwynne. Louise de Que rouaille is ancestress of the house of Richmond and the dukes of Buccleuch trace their origin to Lucy Walters. In his earlier days when his throne was to gain. Prince Charlie showed ability, courage, persistence and "a presence of mind which never failed him In the many perilous moments of his reign." But in the English court were "some In rags and some In jags, and some in velvet gowns,"' on Wednesday night at the Funke. Rochester's white satin doublet and hose were white only be cause the audience knew from experi ence that white turns an ashes of roses streaked with ecru when it is very, very old and experienced. Rochester wore his sheen with the opulent grace and hautler of a feudal lord. The king had only one suit which he wore on the street, in the theatre, at court and In his wife's ante-chamber. I thought for the last place he might have worn a smoking jacket, especially as the satin coat begins to show wear and Nell Gwynn was giving away his money 3,000 pounds at a time. The lord chief justice's long red plush robe that Is sup posed to be an historical garment, which judicial intriguants wore when they sentenced their enemies to death with s'blood and s'death and Odds fish I can believe was the real one that Jeffries wore about the year 16S0. The players wore their garments with a courtly grace and unconsciousness that was a moral lesson in itself. Rhea's Nell Gwynn Is a creature all fire and flame. Impulse and tact. She is beau tiful, graceful, and would be fascinat ing if she did not shriek so loud. A woman cannot be seductive and ca ressing with her lungs Inflated like a bellows. Go to Barnhardt Rhea, and learn of her. Her voice carries to the furthermost parts of the room yet It is soft and scented as a summer night, caressing, and reminding all who hear it. Rhea's voice, in Itself Is of a pleas ant quality, but she does not use the loud pedal with discretion. Her in complete control of English consonants prevents some from understanding her. Others enjoy her broken English. Her th's, sw's and ch's were interesting to me. I am always grateful to a foreign ac tress if she tries to speak in English. No two brogues are quite alike and the expedient of every new experimenter is amusing and is ever after an unfail ing means of Identification. I know I have failed to do Justlceto Rhea's grace, sweetness and magnetism, but that is one of the faults of criticism It exag gerates the faults and takes for granted the merits. The play is a good one, but most con ventional. It contains no new or unex pected situations. More than all it lacks the atmosphere of the Seventeenth cen tury. To live in time past is the privil ege of those who go to see "The Rivals," or "Beau Brummel." "Nell Gwynne" lacks mustiness, remoteness. The courtiers were modern gentlemen in masquerade and the King a player of king. "Nell Gwynne" herself was a hundred years behind them, but she did not take me as far back as his torical accuracy and roaming Inclina tion demanded. A fault in construction is the non-reappearance of Nell's player friends after the second act. S. B. H. SUTTON & HOLLOWBUSH'S OPEN ING. The annual Sutton & Hollowbush op ening will occur today. Hagenow's or chestra will furnish music. Each lady purchaser will be presented with a Capo Jasamlne and a box of candy. The beau tiful soda fountain, presided over by an expert, will furnish delicious refresh ment for the thirsty. A comfortable California trip can be taken every Thursday at 10:30 a. m. in a through tourist sleeping car, Lincoln to Los Angeles without change via the Burlington. Remember this when ar raBgiBg for your winter trip. Depot ticket oSce, 7th street between F and 8 streets. City office, corner Tenth and streets. These natty little junior suits For boys from 3 to 7 years old Are all the style We will show you a fine assortment of these In prices from $1.50 up IS 1 liUlI Fl 0 Cor. O and 10th St. "A Mrs. Hopkins Boy, I Ml 60. THE MiBQH Ctf E Mrs. TURBETT, Prop. 427 North 10 St. Lincoln, Neb. .&.& are showing the finest line of Furnishing Goods thie spring that ha3 ever been shown in Lincoln. The very latest styles in neck wear, collars and cuffs al ways in style. Also a fine line of white duck pants, negligee shirts, bicycle suits, golf hoee and sweat ers. Our clothing stock is the most complete stock of new patterns and styles ever shown in this city. ill Ml MOT 11151117 O St. "Queen Victoria," Ladies' Favorite, Her Majesty's Perfume, is the most lasting and perfect Perfutce. Ask iggs1 the Druggist" for a sample. i' , If you desire a nice, pleasant quiet place to board you should go to the Albion Cafe. Everything nice and neat and every pains taken to make it the most desirable place in the city to take your meals. A splendid, we1, cooked, well served dinner every day in the week for 15c. a Empress Josephine toilet preparation face bleach, face tonic, hair tonic, etc. at Kleinkauf & Grimes', 117 North 11th 427 no 10 Th STREET. OPPOSITE UNIVERSITY. Don't mske up your mind on a bicycle before seeing the makes handled by Billmeyer & Sadler, 1133-35 M street. "Ephemarn ice cream is the best. Frank. M, Rector, 1211 O St. II We are the originatars of "Ephemar" nut ice creams. Imitated but not du plicated. Frank M. Rector, "Ephemar." 1211 O Street Call on Frank M. Rector, 1211 O St. and be refreshed at the finest onyx soda fountain in the state. ii i m Vva" h Trilby's "Truthful pillB" is a specific in all cases of kidney and liver toublee Just one pellet at night does the work At Riggs pharmacy cor 12 and O. I you f call to gget 3l faix o nloe TAN SHOES OR OXFORDS for yourself or children at our store. Ours are perfect in fit, latest styles, low in price, and good to wear. WRBSTBR de ROGERS, 1043 O St. zzz I- a.: (H2- -r 31 - MMnfsexw; fr- - v