1884]          THE  COSMOPOLITAN  SKATING  RINK          517

Houten, E. H. Van Vechten, A. Collins, Walter Allen, W. H.
Fitzgerald, Miss M. Taylor, S. W. Keene, Frank Walton, Lithgow
James, and Billie Barlow in the cast.

Callender's Georgia minstrels came May 7, for a fortnight, fol¬
lowed by " The Merry War," May 21, for two weeks. Dora Wiley,
Julia Rosewald, Jennie Reiffarth, Richard Golden, and Alonzo
Stoddard appeared in the cast. Prof. Herrmann appeared June 4;
Mestayers' "Tourists " returned June 11, and the house was closed
June 16.

" Prince Methusalem " was sung June 26, 1883, for the first time
in English.    The cast:

Prince.....Catherine Lewis j Count......Wm. Herbert

Gaspard     ....   Sophie Hummell  Spadi......Billie Barlow

Cyprian......J. H. Ryley I Trombonius   .    .    . W. H. Fitzgerald

Its run closed suddenly July 6, with salaries owing to the com¬
pany. This ended Mr. Hickey's connection with the Cosmopoli¬
tan, which was not thereafter occupied importantly during the
summer of 1883. Mary C. Blackburne leased the house for the
production of "On the Yellowstone." It was announced for
Feb. II, 1884, but the initial performance took place Feb. 13,
and the house was closed Feb. 26. Carl Marwig, appeared here
April 23, 1884, for a few nights, with the juvenile opera, "The
Mountain Queen." Among the most prominent juveniles were
Belle Stapleton, Linda da Costa, and Sadie Wells.

George Wood was the next manager. He opened June 14, 1884,
and presented " The Naiad Queen." Adele Conalba was the fre-
miire danseuse. Sig. Novisimo was ballet master. Fanny and
Julien Girard appeared in a high-kicking act. Nettie Abbott
led the march. Steiner's Cyclone company opened at a matinee
June 21, in a hodge-podge called " Cyclones, or the Power of Per¬
suasion." It was a variety entertainment. Emma R. Steiner con¬
ducted the orchestra. The house was closed June 26, 27, 28, and
reopened June 30, with "Olivette," by the Blanche Correlli com¬
pany. The cast: Olivette, Blanche Correlli; Capt. de Merrimac,
E. J. Connelly; Due des Ifs, Willet Seaman; Countess, Elma
Dolaro; Coquelicot, Max Figman. "The Mascot," July 7: Eva
Barrington as Frederick, Bebe Vining as Fiametta, Blanche Cor¬
relli as Bettina, and James Sturgess as Lorenzo. " Pinafore," July
14: Genevieve Reynolds as Buttercup, Alonzo Hatch as Ralph
Rackstraw, Geo. Gaston as Sir Joseph Porter, Blanche Correlli as
Josephine. July 21, "Patience": John Duff as Grosvenor, and
Carlos Florentine as Calverly. On July 28, a company of colored
actors, known as "The Astor Place Troupe," opened in "Othello,"
and continued three nights, when, owing to bad business, the house
closed until Oct. 20, 1884, when it was opened as "The Cosmo-