With the approach of the October Conference, which is always a harvest for the theatre, Mr. Harris got together as strong a company as possible and revived some of the old favorite plays, opening the season of '76 and '77 a night or two before and continuing through the Conference dates to satisfactory business. There was no "star" to share with, and the theatre reaped a handsome profit. The next engagement of importance was that of Mr. George Rignold, an English actor, who was starring in "Henry V." Rignold had come from England and under the management of Jarrett and Palmer, "Henry V." was given a fine production in their New York theatre. For some reason or other, after a short but successful run of the play, a disagreement arose between those popular managers and Mr. Rignold. They decided to supersede Mr. Rignold with Lawrence Barrett. They notified him accordingly and at the expiration of the time for which he had been engaged Mr. Barrett stepped into Rignold's place and the run of the play was extended for several weeks. It was the intention to take the play to San Francisco after the run in New York. This change of stars threw Rignold out of the San Francisco engagement, much to his chagrin and disappointment. Not to be out-generaled the English actor quietly hastened to San Francisco. The California Theatre having been secured for the Jarret and Palmer company, with as much dispatch and secrecy as possible Rignold got a company together. Soon as it was known that Rignold was in San Francisco and was preparing to give the play of "Henry V" at the Grand Opera House, the news was duly wired to Jarrett and Palmer; not only were they surprised, but greatly chagrined, on learning that the English actor had gotten the start of them and was in a fair way to eclipse their Western engagement. Mr. Barrett and the managers, after a rather excited consultation, decided to close the run of "Henry V" with the end of the current week, and have everything in readiness to leave New York for San Francisco on the following Sunday. The manager of the California was telegraphed to announce the play for the following Thursday night. This gave scarcely a week for advertising, and it seemed incredible that the company could reach San Francisco by the time, but Jarrett and Palmer had at great expense made arrangements with the railroad company for a special train, that was to rush them through from New York to San Francisco in four days. Barring accidents, they would arrive in San Francisco on Thursday morning, in time to get their scenery in place and play that night.