rs to see the opera of "Faust"
would not bring them to see the Lyceum play. One of these mothers was
Princess Mary of Teck, a constant patron of most of our plays.

Other people "missed the music." The popularity of an opera will often
kill a play, although the play may have existed before the music was
ever thought of. The Lyceum "Faust" held its own against Gounod. I
liked our incidental music to the action much better. It was taken
from Berlioz and Lassen, except for the Brocken music, which was the
original composition of Hamilton Clarke.

_"Faust's" Four Hundred Ropes_

In many ways "Faust" was our heaviest production. About four hundred
ropes were used, each rope with a name. The list of properties and
instructions to the carpenters became a joke among the theatre staff.
When Henry first took "Faust" into the provinces, the head carpenter
at Liverpool, Myers by name, being something of a humorist, copied out
the list on a long, thin sheet of paper which rolled up like a royal
proclamation. Instead of "God save the Queen," he wrote at the foot,
with many flourishes:

"God help Bill Myers!"

[Illustration: ELLEN TERRY AS OLIVIA AND HENRY IRVING AS THE VICAR IN
WILLS' PLAY "OLIVIA"

FROM A DRAWING BY ERIC PAPE]

The crowded houses at "Faust" were largely composed of "repeaters," as
Americans call those charming playgoers who come to see a play again
and again. We found favour with the artists and musicians, too, even
in "Faust"! Here is a nice letter I got during the run (it _was_ a
long one) from that gifted singer and good woman, Madame Antoinette
Sterling:

"My dear Miss Terry,

"I was quite as disappointed as yourself that you were not
at St. James' Hall last Monday for my concert.... Jean
Ingelow said she enjoyed the afternoon very much....

"I wonder if you would like to come to luncheon some day and
have a little chat with her, but perhaps you already know
her. I love her dearly. She has one fault--she never goes to
the theatre. Oh, my! What she misses, poor thing, poor
thing! We have already seen Faust twice, and are going again
soon, and shall take the George Macdonalds this time. The
Holman Hunts were delighted. He is one of the most
interesting and clever men I have ever met, and she is very
charming and clever, too. How beautifully plain you write!
Give me the recipe. With many kind greetings,

"Believe me, sincer