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THJS TIMES, WASmy&TOj&E, .SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1897,
16
tEa ?
m -KliB 1iir II
HR ?7ilSeirs. --s-
v.-hen "The Salt of the Earth' goeiinU)
New "CorJnJt -will le to plnyatthc Academy
of Music This 1s a -very large house,
where ioiodn.nia is athoiue. Here the very
points -which In the little Columbia were
delicate and appreciated touches wllL.go
tor weaknesses, and the balder .-tr.ikes will
6tKe better with the capacious environment
But there is mere noise and motion than
quiet and rvose in Mr- Arthur's play, so
it ought to be more of a success there
titan .here. The theater has a groat deal
totdo -with creating proper receptive con
diUons for a play. Melodrama does not
accommodate itself well to the Columbia.
Tins 1s a comedy house unquestionably-
"Miss Francis of Yale' willj-o excellently J
here. There is that feeling of proximity
and confidence which helps along the
delicate points of comedy- "The Geisha"'
did fairly well at the Lafayette? for a sec
ond visit. The play irt the Academy parked
that "house at eery performance. It is a
-wileatleoc which exists only on account of
the dis-gurting canml curiosity of certnin
lDWlieww-d raembCTF of -society. Such is
the mncrouHtable condition of curiosity
thai the real fact about tins story cannot
be published for self-respecting readers,
and of uhey cotHd, they wotdd defeat the
en f the telling, for Mie daring of the
BBenes -would pack the theater again-
This -work the National lias Henry lifller
inliiscShannln romantic .-xaed , "Hearts
ease." It is a play which awakens all
iHirtt-,rimplses o-ttr natures andl eaves
st better Toi replug it. Etienne Glr-rdot
apjjettrb-at the hoad of n company In ilio
oomody success, ""Miss Francis, of Tale-"
Nt one looking for lienrty. fcpouaue-aB
. laughter should mis- "this pi'-ce. .Every one
wholii.3 ren it -will vouch Tor its fun. The
Xafayelte has the novelty o f 1 he week :n the
spectooiHRr extravaganza, "One Hound or
Pleasure." This is nnolla podrida of mirth
anfltfiiuslc. It has been widely praisedand
it list of principals Indicate, that what
ever opportunities Uiere -ai- in it will be
rhafletlMsia- it of. The management prom
lsclOOneople on the stage.
- JTustat present wherever vh find few
nofcors, row ninagers,or a few thea'rical
possons tt -aitj- sort guthured logethar the
toplt Is ie theatrical .syndicate or trust
Tbls .muinatio!! is a iwodigkus power
la affecting tiie rilality of the American
drama, for 'ood or evil, as the wlelders
feel dpo,.ed. Ac its lieid are Xixun &
ZiiiHHeiwuin, Cliarles Pnhnen, Al. lltj--intinn
Hnd Klaw & Erlangcr. Tiiey couorol
tibebiMihingsof nearly very iipporwnt .Jrst J
oiass skuatt J- in America, and Att all the im
portantftarsand companies, except Frawls
WJlwin. Mlunie Maddern Fisk and the mi
nor attractions.
Enmi the standpoint ml an onsider they
seem to demend that players, managers
and di-nraaUsls "do lnitMH-s with us or
not at ail,1 for they nave cieated a dis
advHutwgeous tate for tlto.se who seek in
dependence of them, winch is tantamount
to "uoi at rll." Tldse wlo do business
will them find that they must do as the
syi-uicate rkoes. Tle effect of the syn
dirr's" oiHTtions is felt in Washington
in n8H3T -waj. Far iitftanoe, Mr. Haplej',
Mr. AllMagti and Mr- M-tierott, who have
tlieir capital Jnvestod in their theaters,
-n i--i. approaied by tuanagers and stars,
-witli ilrfir own capltl, cannot do business
wit i thorn except through Oie medium of
tr. syndicate iren who have no capital iu-vt-sted
tv eiUwr enterprlie. And for ihi6
pr vilege (7) both our local managers and
tbi itinerant manapfs pay a per centum
tn -ulc to tjhe syndicate-
Mr A'tmegli, tielng au experienced .nan,
wu4C iever have Iwoked the Lafayette's
2 tf actions in the 'equenc in wlilch they
h-': sun- siiice the houw opened there
liavp iieen but three performances which
w'K jot ot a. jitusicJil character, opera or
n ucJ comedy It is giving the public
too ameti of a good tiling. He doubtless
wonlfl bap given no quarter in his noose
to "The Geozer,' winch lielonged at toe
othor end of Wte A.vene. Mr. Metzerott
h-s Edwnrd Harngnn thrust upon him.
Francis TVilsoa and Atinnle Maddern Fihke
are forced nt of tiie high-priced houses
w i-ere the dignity and vame of their pro
luit:uiB ...aitd that they should appear.
Two f U2 tur- parties to Hie sysiaicate
ar cxl4Hi!t iroducejF. in tiie present
state of active competition it seems an
heroic lest of the Integrity of human na
ture to -expect that tbef-e producing man
acwr. wlio control the ijookmg of so many
other attractions should not. other things
being equal, give the iwference to the
Oinpanie In wliiok their own active cap
ital Is invested. Thw and many
considerations arise, which, to an
outsider, seeni to suggest taat the syndi
cate is a sood tiling for the syndicate,
but it a good tiling nt all for anyone lse
in a very much less degree
Tiie X)cauaUc Mirror, a periodical or
merit and integrity. Is conducting an ac
tive caihpaign against the syndicate in
the interest c-f the independence and lndl
Mdualityof the drama san art: players
as artists, and mnungen; who are pro
moters of art and artists, as well 38 specu
lator. It is almost single-liandcd In the
fignt, though the ympalhy of the pro
fession, as fearfully expressed under the
breath, is evidently with them, and the
Sow Tork World lias given Indication of
a desire to give independence a chance.
The aiirror lias ten i-ery much trength-
oned in its position by the action of Xixiii
and Zimmerauin, who refuted to let Thil
udelihla hotels sell tickets to their thea
ters when tbey kept the Mirror for sale
on their news i,tand. This action, as
coining Trom assumedly broad-nunded
buslnews men. needs no comment.
!ast -week the World r.tve considerable
cnaoe to the case of the opera. 19:9."
This piece rented the New York Casino two
weokb ago for four weeks. The managers -of
Jf9D" arc avowedly inimical to tho syn
dicate, and ManaserX.ederer,f tl.eCj.hiao,
Js client of the syndicate. In affidaviti!
made before the United States court and
V- r , fl-f 1 W-
o'l which an ender of the court wnsgir.'ii.to
pi event a continuuueeor the allegeu actions,
it was said Uiat Ledcrer was doing all sorts
or disreputable things to prevent the suc
cess of the plica.
Ho the war goe on. Ana lx,th sides say
it will he wai to the death. Other papers
tlnough the count ty besides the Mirror and
the World have shown a resentment against
the policy of the syndicate, especially in
Chicaco.. Providence and Buffalo, where
tn? claim is made that the local theater
goer is suffering. The theatergoer Is not
suffering here. We shall ha-e every at
traction of prominence on the road , but the
Independence of the local managers is ig
norec -when they are not squeezed.
HowrU,aije-35yndlcate lias in one sen-e
ai Impregnable position for the present.
The manager or nearly every flrst-drus
tleatei Jnl?rcuuutry lias a contract ex
tending over three or four years to eorw
hli,dmghlfi l1et JClaw i. Eilangerfurnlfth
h!n- jrrtTnetions and take a slice- of the
puiflts. Even' IT every star and company
ma-ii&ger in the country would veer off from
the syndicate the men In the combination
-would lose nothing. They have no capital
IrrvestBd to lose- The owners, lessees and
managers of The theaters which they coatiol
v ould suffer "xonithc deaith ot attractions.
Thooslore Babt.ck, whose fine and force
ful presentation of Tom, the plow boy,
( who .gives reason for the title in "The Salt
oi the Jiaitb,'') was ao much admir.'dby
those -who saw the play last week, was one
evening sitting at supper with a number of
friendly critics-or. perhaps, we bad better
s-ay, critical friends. They were helping
him, as true friends do, to an appreciation
of iraprovuoie points in his characteriza
tion. One of the points cited "was the seem
ing incongruity in having the primitive
character of the youth in the Turrr.w
wcsT a ring. The piece of Jewelry in ques
tion Is a plain gold band, which he weans
ou the small fuiger of thcxiglrt hand. Mr
Babcock -winced, almost inappreciably,
at the criticism, but agreed with his com
mentators. But he didu'ttake off the ring,
nor did he enter into explanations. But
one other personor the companybesidesthe
actorknewthatit was hisniother's wedding
ring, and she had placed it on his finger.
His mother died last spring. The mo-it in
sistent on consistency cannt.t resist the
gentle persuasiveness of t'ais argument.
The opera season Is well upon us when we
ca'i say that it is next week. Butnexfveek
is thu appointed time to hear again the -oug
birds to listen to MaTgueiito over the
j'-vicls, Lohengrin .swelling the swan song,
Cainu-n ravishing with her boleros. This
vr-arin addition to these old favorites of
ycaTK and years, which are put on the bills
Hcjmingly to give assurance that it is a
grand opeia season, conveniently to fur
nish comparisons with a long line of prco
edcuts, but acturJly because thev arc
near and dear to the mnsiclanly heart we
are to have a novelty In Verdi's "La Tra
vlata." Although tills opera hasn't the
absolute novelty of a first piodnctioa.lt uas
the comparative novelty of rarity of pcr
fo:iraiice. Of coyrae theie will be some disappoint
ment lir" this substitution of one opera for
another, not. that In xi general way there is
any choice' bctweou the Tcrdl and the
Hosslni1 Operas', but we hnd rather become
tuned totU-jirospeetlve hearing or the un
faraiUai "Barber of Seville." But "Tn
viata" is seldom heard. The story Is, of
course, very fimiliar -so as to make the
opera especially easy to understand and the
music or the role of Viole tta Is perhaps better
adapted to Show off M duo's voice than
Itoshia's.
It has the florid and figurated passages
wlilch receive incomparable rendition by
Melba. Themuficis very delicate and flute-like-
more like a string of pearls than .t
"bijou of many colors. Yioletta was one
of F-atti's pet parts, and everyone who saw
hcr in the role loved the part and her bet
ter for having seen them united. Melba
shoulU not suffer by comparison. The rest
of the cast will include most of the singers
-who -would have appeared in "The .Bar
ber." There will beTan Caut eren as Flora:
Mattferd as Anina; Salignac, a tenor
from theParls Opera Comlque, whohasnot
yet Aung In Washington, as Alfredo; our
old friend, Oampauarl, as Gcrmonfc; Vanni
as Gasione.Tiviani.as Douphcl; Hains, as
the Marquis, andStelimann as the Doctor.
This little disappointment counts you
little socrlv. Theopera season always en
tails its disnppointments. Wc must ex
pent them and look for them, as a child
does for measles. We are fortunate that
this is all that Is to be changed. A grand
opera company is the hardest thing in the
world to manage, and It is a wonder, all
tilings considered, that the impresario is
not forcd to come before the curtain eacu
night with a list of excuses. The singers
are, as a mle, a selfish corps, -who look
only to the ciicumfcrence of their own
convenience.
Etienne Girardot is a gentleman with an
interesting personality, of a sedatenessand
J sobriety one might thlhkinuapahle oftaklng
on the comicalities he indulges In in such
broad taice as '-Miss Francis" and "Chir
ley"s Aunt," ot which he is such a. popular
exponent. An Englishman by birth, but
ot French descent, he bears the facial char-
1 acteristics or the latter and has all Ihe
lingnisllc peenliarjties r tn- former. Mr.
Girardot is a good-looking fellow of thirty
five or theu-anouts, the s'uonglj'-marked
lines or whose face irresistibly remind one
of the death mask or Richelieu with the
Intellectual light restored to it. Ihere is
also a strong reminder in it or the face of
Louis XI, hut here the resemblance to that
monarch ends, for religious bigotry has no
place in Mr.. Giiardot's make-up. On ihe
contrary, it isasaraooHteur andbdnvivant
that Mr. Girardot appearsat Tils best.
Intretiug-ttB he is when behind the foot
lights -with his merry qulbs and amusing
antics, it is at the aXter-the-sbow supper
ZjC
table, over a cigar and other trimmings
that go to top off the Bohemian's l.vst mJal
for the day, that one gets to know him for
what he Is and to appreciate him for being
himself. An experienced host and con
uofrsiuir of -wines, TuT. GlraTriot, can order
a icpast of rare merit. Tlih possessor of
goaddlgesUou.a clear conscience ancl-a fund
of the ohoiciat htories, he can season the
supper -wirli a flow of brilliant convor.'a
llon that smacks not at ail of the stage ir of
the dressing-room. The Vcne;.ulan ques
tion, th Transvaal troubles, the pusMbitl
ties of European complications, and even
the intricacies of American politics are fa
miliar topics, ubout which he can tal'i as
interestingly as lie can of his own career r
of matters theatrical, if the drift ol the
conversation is that way. Bis personal
acquaintance is extensive on both sides ot
the Atlantic, and he lias mt many men
-worth knowing, and of -whom he knows
mucli.
It liuf piobably struck others with the
same decree of force as the writer that
for a man wlio has approached fame so
quickly has Henry Miller, he has come
Into the foreground with comparatively
little noise, yet with no weakness in tho
impression of Ills eminence. This fact in
his cateer corresponds smgulurly with a
similar fuct in his manner nnd method.
Mr Miller is an impressive and forceful
actor, yet he is always conservative in
manner, repressive, rather than expressive,
tlisplaymgintrospeetion, rather than sup?r
ficlalism; quiet, dignified and reserved.
That is the Index of the man, as well tv
the nctor. "We hear little of him, .and
conJsjquently know little of Jiim.
Mr. Mihei has not yet bought interviews
with the newspapers, or felt that there
was auy burning necessity for him to ex
press his opinion through the press on
current theatrical or weighty wjuial prob
lems, p habit which, unhappily, lias become
much in vogue with actresses and actura.
He has been honored with many social
courtenis, yet no word of them has ever
appeared in print. He has shown in every
way a commcndablp reserve in -withholding
his personal and private affans from
the public, caring only to win their favo:
by virtue of his dramatic accomplishments.
But the public, slow to ferret, though
quick to sec what Is shown them, is flow
to appreciate the fall measure or an artist
orthlscjiliber. Mr. Miller's experience has
Jbeen varied and thorough. One oflils earli
est engagements was with Adelaide Nell
son, when that benutiful and glftedactress
flrstplayedluNew York at Booth's Theater.
His abllltv and personal graces quickly at
tracted the attention of metropolitan man
agers. He subsequently became Identified
with the Lvceum Stock Company -tnd dis
tinguished himself in "The "Wife," "The
Charity Ball," aud other society drama suc
cesses, and established himself substan
tially as one of the most favored juvenile
actors on the American stage.
He next joined Cliarles Frohmnn's forces
and nroved himself a delightful comedy
actor in farcical comedy, sue'a as "All the
Comfo'tE of Home" and the like. The fol
lowing season he jumped f 10m comedy to
romnnic drama and became leading
man to Marie Wainwrlght, In her mag
nificent production of "Eeullworth," play
ing the Earl o r Leicester ttflrer Amy Ho bsart.
The year following he returned to CharJe3
Frohmnn's management aguin and became
tne leading man of the Empire Stock Com
pany, in which he scored distinctive sue
cesses In "Sowing the Wind," "The Mas
queraders," "Gudglons," "Bohemia" and
other of the most prominent theatrical su
cesses of recent years. His promotion to
the distinction of a star under his old man
agers direction is exceedingly compli
mentary to him as showing the value which
his manager places upon his ability.
It is pleasant to be able to present tho
accompanying benutirul picture ot beauti
ful Lavinla Shannon, a Washingtou'woman
whose fame has outgrown her native city
She is now one ot the best known actresses
in tho country. Those who saw "Miss
Francis of 1'ale" last year recollect her in
fectious and irresistible laughing rcene,
which put the "whole audience In a gale.
Miss .Shannon graduated from tho Convent
of the Visitation In this city at the age ol
sixteen. Two years arterward she entered
upon h-?r career asan actress. She hasbeen
very successrul in many difficult and a
duous characters. For two years, as lead
ing lauy with Thomas W. Keene, she won
the highest praise for her performances ot
Ophelia, Julie de Mortimer, Desdemonaand
other classic parts. Following this, she
wasengagedas leading lady for Mr. Pitou's
"Power of the Press." She acted the hlgn
comedy rale of Julje Seymour, and added
greatly to her reputation. Then Mr. Charles
Frohman engaged her for the leading role
111 "The Girl 1 Lert Behind Me."
In San Francisco the papers were unani
mous in praise or her performance, stating
that she wasthe best exponent or the char
acter seen there. Asleadlnglady with Clara
Morris she had very difficult characters to
play and was very successful in allof them.
As Widow Gulchard in "'Rayinonrte," how
ever, she made a pronounoed and palpable
hit. Again, the following season, she re
iolned the Frolunan forces, lieing encaged
for the leading character in ''The Fatal
Caid. Her latest Buccess is the laughing
-woman in ''Miss Francis of Yale,,fin-which
role she won new honors and addd fresh
laurels to her already well-airned reputa
tion. A theatrical paradoxis shown in the fact
that Mrs. Flske aud her company of artists
in one of the most successful plays of a
decad", "Tess, of the D'UrbcrvilIes."" was
played in Cincinnati last week at the Pike
Opera House, a theater ordmaTlly devoted to
vaudeville, at advanced prices, -ind with
the most remarkable week business of the
Season in that city. Two weeks ago Mr3.
Fiske played at the Bijou Theater, Pitts
burg, a popular-price house, at advanced
prices and the best people of that city
thronged the theater. Mrs. Fiske hns bean
forced in these cities to play at houses un
used to great attractions, owing to the at
thatKnchas no relations with the theatrical
trust; but her engagements in Pittsburg
and Cincinnati how that the best class of
theater pntrons-will rollow a favorite actress
wherever she may appear, and go to see a
great play wherever it may be presented
She-will play at the Grand Opera House In
this city.
Mr. Brenton Thorpe, who is directing
the tour of "Miss Francis, of Yale," may
be remembered as having created the role
or Little Billee in Paul Potter's dri-n-atization
or Du Maurici's greatest work,
"Trilby." Mr, Thorpe has given up act
ing and 1e devoting his entire time to the
"front or the house."
Col. R. G. Tngersoll -will oecupv the tage
of the2Catioual next Bun day evening, ipon
-wliicli occasion he will deliver his latnst
lecture of the series, entitled "Why I Am
An A-gnosticr' CoL Iugersoll's lectures
do not .create the antagonism that' they
1 Treated -when "the .great infidel" first
appeared npoL the rmblicxostrum. "There
are two reasons for this," says his repre
sentative. "In tho first plnco the public
is fuinlliar with the words and sentiments
he expresses, nnd in tiic second place Col.
Jngersoll is discovered not to be nu infJdri
at all. Ills career affords good illustration
for those who Jiold that infidelity is an
impossibility of the human heart."
At tho National on Monday evening of
nextwwik the well-known actor-dramatist,
James A. Heme, begins his annual engage
ment, ngain appnarlng In his masteily por
trayal or Nathan Berry, in his justly cele
brated pK'13-. "Shore Acres." ThB present
is Mr. Heine's- sixth season in this piece,
and on the opening night in this city will
celebrate the ntteeuliundrcdthi?erformauce.
In ccmnicmoratlon of this event, a hand
some gold-plated Florentine frame will be
givrn to everjjMndy in attendance. Mr.
Heme's compaiiy this reason 'is the same
-with but few exceptions to that seen here
ayearagCi. , j
NBw.'Play Bills.
'Miss Erancis. or Tale" inaugurates a
week's-engagomenttoinorroweveningatthe
Columbia Theater. The return or Michael
Morion s effervescent comedy success direct
from thejManbnttan Theater, New i'lrk.
L
C!
cy::A
LA.VIN1A SHANNON,
in "Miss Francis of Yale.'
has been looked forward to with conslderabl e
anticipation by those who recall the favor
able impression which this piece made upon
Washington theatergoers when seen here
last year. The company is under the di
rection of Mr.' Brenton Thorpe, of Wide
experience, who lfjis been most ambitious
to make theVprcscnt tour memorable. He
has engagedu comp-iny or unusual excel
lence, and metropolitan critics have bet-u
unanimous In their praise of the company's
commendable work. The comedy lias 3 1st
entered upon its second year or its career in
London, while it will shortiy be presented
in both Berlin and I'aTis. It is devoid or
anything that is suggestive, and the title
role, wWch is portrayed by Mr. Girardot, Is
in no inanrer -effeminate, In fact, there
is not the slightest dialogue or ch.iracrer
ization that could oHr the least off-juic.
The company tills season is Tar superior to
that seen here on its earlier engagement,
and, besides Mi. IJtienne Girardot and Miss
Lavinla Shannon, Includes such versatile
players as Gertrude Homan, Fanny Young,
Monte Donlco, Idalene Cotton, Raymond
Capp, George F.Farren, and othersofequ.il
repute. The advance sale or seats has been
extremely large, and more than indicates
the Interest manirested over the engage
ment.
The National will ,e a noteworthy and
irtori'KtliipnttractieoP&niorrow' night when
Hem J Miller plays a" return engagementin
the successful new romantic comedy ot
"Heartsease," in which lieplayed a brilliant
engagement here last spring. Mr. Miller
" v '
HENRY MILLER, in "Heartsease.''
has visited nearly all the other large
cities since then, duplicating everywhere
tin splendid impression made in this city.
"Heartsease" Is a type of the best lays
-which have won exceptional popular suc
cess during the past ten years. It has the
-wlolesome flavor and charm of 'Ro.,e
mary,"""The Prisoner of 2enda," "Un3er
the Red Robe" and plays of a similar
quality, which have obtained such a posi
tive stamp of public approval. Itlells in
intfiestlng love story, in which the spirit of
Tomanticlstn, charming sentiment and stir
ring incidents form the chief elements. It
deals with the fortunes of Eric Temple, n,
young m usicalcojnpos r, who is in love with
Miss Neville, the daughter of n. wealthy
nobleman, ne has written an opera -with
which he hopes, to win fame and fortune,
and through thsm tho sanction of his rfweet
heart's father to their marriage. Throjgh
the machinations of Sir Goefrrey Pomfret.
-who Is alsq in love with the young woman,
he is robbed of his opera and is placed in
a. false position in the estimation of his
sweetheart -anil ber family, nis opera is
subsequently produced successfully, tinier a
different title, his rival posing as the com
poser. The soug"neartseas2" In theopera
leads to the detection of the theft andrraud
that has been committed. With the aid of
hK sweetheart, -who is now thoroughly con--vincea
ot her lover's honesty, the rightful
composer triumphs. Mr. Miller has a
splendid suprortlfig company, it includes
among others, Arthur Elliot. Leslie Allen,
Prince Llo!yd; TJ- A. nill, Henry Moll en,
Frank; Beamish, James A . Leahy, E. J.
usv..i cz: j . '
aJg5 'agj
Met tier, Margarete Hale, Muude Hosfjrd, j
Josephine Lovett, Laura Clement.
The first Wnshingion presentation of
"One Round of Pleasure'' will occur at
the Lafayette tomorrow evening. "One
Hound of Pleusure is the most ambitious
departure into the, realm or extravaganza
that liap yet been recorded- TTlaw & Er
langer believed it an impossibility to plan
a production upon more elaborate lines
than their triumph of last season, "Jaok
and the fiecnstalk.'' But, while that pro
duction stands alone as an example of the
peculiar excellence invested In the presenta
tion of a story dear to every childish IwaTt
and affectionately preserved in the recol
lection or the older mind, "One Round of
Pleasure' is said to afford opportunities
for the hitherto unthought-of development
or a theme that surrounds a most enter
taining idpa. The slender cord upon which
"One Round of Pleasure'' is suspended is
the desire of a socially obscure Croesus to
cross thf thi eshohl of that mysterious circle
known as the "smart set.'' The music,
written by Ludwlg Englander, is appro
priate -and contains some fascinating num
bers, while tne costuming gives evidenoe
that there are still many beautiful flow
ers In the gaiden of stage beauty. En
gaged in the production are 100 people,
and the principal artists include Walter
Jones. JUohard Carle, Cliarles Kirke, the
Rogers brotheis, Richard Karl, Robert Mans
field, Marie Celeste, a dainty little prima
donna; Ida Brooks, a statuesque beauty
and a singer of excellent qualifications;
Maude Raymond, and a number of talented
-and pretty young women.
Perhaps the daintiest and funrdest actress
on the American stage is Fannie Rice.
There is something about her that la hard
to define in cold print, which seems to
warm the heart of everyone -who sees her
toward her. This is particularly eo with
ladles and children. WiUi that woman's
Intuition which surpasses the cold judg
ment of men they seem to .know that she
Is like one or themselves, good and pure.
Her Tun is spontaneous, and she makes
people laugh sometimes without their
knowing why. She is representing an in
tensely Tunny operatic comedy this season
called "Al the French Eall." It gives her
the widest possible scope Tor the display
or Tier great versatility and peculiar tal
ents. The display is a distinct novelty in
its construction, quite unlike anything
that has so rar been seen. It smites all
S,
ETIENNE GIRARDOT,
in "Miss Francis or Yale."
the elements of French activity with Ger
man purity and motive, combined -with
Amerlcun snap and go. "While it is ex
tremely funny, it is never coarse. Miss
Rice will be seen here in "At the French
Eall" at the Academy, with usual mati
nees during the week. Her supporting
company is said to be an exceptionally
strong one.
The success achieved by Mr. J. H.
Walllck'.s melodrama, "When E-ja.lon
Sleeps," was sufficient Inducement for
him to cross the Atlnntic again last summer
and purchase the American rights to an
other Engllhh drama. In hislatest importa
tion, "A Guilty Mother," which will be seen
at the Grand this week, this astute n:an
iger is confident that he has secured a
worthy rival to "When London SleepV
So far this season it has proven so,indno
doubt the engagement here will pro-e as
satisfactory as in other cities. Mr. AV-illlck
has chosen such members or the riroression
as exactly look and fit the many parts.
In the cast are Carlton Wells and 'iloa.ior
Aferran, formerly with Frohman; Harry L.
Barker, with Mansfield; F. A. Yelvingtou,
with SothcrnrMurray Woods and EIlaBiker,
with Joe Muipuy; Rees Davis, with Daly's
s-tock company; Ed wardAmes.withSothern;
Hi nrit-tta Vaders, with Tom Keane, and
many others equally well-known. The
management desire especially to call ut
ter lion to the "mirrpr scene,' which they
claim is a mora wonderful product of the
stage carpenter's skill. Just how its
effects arc produced is a mystery to many
wlio are supposed to be familiar with state
craft.
The Weber and Fields trade-mark is one
that hns always inspired confidence, and
the promise of a show it theirs has always
been fraught with assurance that it is all
that patrons or their class or entertainment
desire. At Ker nan's this week is Weber
and Fields' Vaudeville Club Burlesquere,
which comes tllrect from their Eroadvay
Music Hall, N'cw Tork city. This organi
zation, like others controlled by tills success
ful firm, is composed absolutely ot refined
and high-class artists, whose inlividual
names stand prominently at the head of all
others in their respective lines. The enter
tainment presented by this company las
been described as ''exceptionally -good,"
"which fact is Trerified hy a glance at the
following names: The Pantzer brothers, the
marvelous athletes; Cook and Sonon, the
refined con edy duo; Lo.wi3 and Fields, the
upto-date parodists; the Walker sisters,
singers and dancers; and Douglass atd
Ford, comedy sketch artists. The ptT
formance concludes with a new bur'esque
entitled, "The Girl from China," whi-h
is said to be very bright iid witty. A
special feature will be the first presen
tation in this city of the wonderful 'Lob-
sterscope," -which is a burlesque nn the
many animated-picture machines.
Miss Cora Routt will be one of the staTs
of the vaudeville and burlesque company
nt the Bijou this week. Miss Routt will
6ing Pome or the dainty New York ditties.
Along with her, the Bijou will present the
w eli-known Slmnnn &SIocumminstreirirst
paTt, introducing the famous minstrel
comedian, Lew Simmons and the original
brilliant quartet Mitchell, M,inn. Monk,
and Rapp in quartets, songs, medleys,
imitations, and warblings; Riley and Hughes,
plantation dancers; the Sheenans, comedy
portray ers; Miss Anne Whitney, the eccen
tric comedienne, in a selection of songsand
sayings; the wonderful Ornston.Mlss Louise
Dillon, and William Trneheart, producing
tho rollicking comedy burlesque, ''Where
are We At?" full or life and ginger. The
management have decided to change the
policj ot the Bijou by allowing its patrons
to smoke during the performance, except
Ti.esday and Thursday matinees, "which
have been set aside and will be Tcno-wn -is
ladles' and children's matinees. Prices will
rewain the same. Dally matinees, 10 and
20 ceuts; evening, 10, 20, and 30 cents
Tiie Opern Xext 'Week.
The DanvroKch-Ellis grand opera season
at the Lafayette Square Theater next
week will comprise four of the most noted
I n iil II WKtfflN
productions in the repertoire of this justly
celebrated musical organization. All or
the productions are or massive character,
and will be gien with tho same complete
ness and attention to detail -which lias
characterized their rendition in New York,
Boston and Philadelphia. The season will
be Inaugurated on Monday evening, Te
ccmbtjr 10, withthe-presrntatiou of Verdi's
"La Travlata," to bejollowed by Wagner's
great work, "Lohengrin," en Tuesday even
ing; Bizet's "Carmen" on Thursday even
ing, and Gounod's "Faust' on Friday even
ing. The following is a complete list of
or the pilnclpals of thcr qomP'iny: So
pranos and mezzo-soprano-, Madame Melba,
Frau Johanna Gndskl, Madame Van Can
teren, Fnsau GIsella Staudlgl and Fniulein
Seygard, Toronto and Mattftld; tenors,
Herr Ernest Kraus, M. Ibos, M.Sullgnac
and M. Carbine; b'iricon -s and bass.. Slgitor
Giuseppe Campanari Hrrr Eiml Fischer,
MME. MELBA,
or the Dnmrysch Opera Co
ll err Joseph Standigl. David BWpham and
M. Vivlani. Messrs. Damrosch and Ellis
will bring the full New York Symphony
Orchestra and a chores of 100 voices.
The mounting and costuming will be com
plete in every detail. Mr. Walter Hani
rosch, the director and o-proprietor with
Mr. C, A. Ellis or the company, and who
will alternate with Signur Bimboni In con
ductlngthe operas, is well ami favorably
known in Washington as a -ou-in-law of
the late distinguished statesman, Hon.
James G. Blaine. He is in the ihirty
slxth year of his age, and Is a son or
the late Leopold Damrosch. who was the
conductor or theNew York Symphony Or
chestra and the New York Oratorio So
ciety. The elder. Damrosch died in lSb5,
and Ids son, Walfer, then only twenty
three years of agjwas appointed to suc
ceed him in these two-positions. It has
been said that the .son brought greator
glory to them than his father. Mr.Dam
rosch's reputation as a conductor Js second
to none 1n this conitry, ami he has
lately essayed with success a new role
that of operatic composer. He write tho
score for "The Scarlet Letter," of which
the libretto Is by Mr. George Parsons
Lathrop. The opera was first produced
in Boston by the Damrosch Company, nnd
under the composer's tfirectlnn, last leb
roary, and scored an lnstantaneoTK suc
cess. With Mr. Damrosch conducting an
orchestra is no perfunctory work. He has
gathered about him a superb hotly f mu
sicians and singers, and what they do
undei the spell of his baton is r splendid
chaiacter. The cast of the operas which
have been set forth In full in the published
MME.GAD5KT, "
of the Damrosch Opera Co.
advertisements, show thntrthe fnli'strength
or tho company has been drawn upon, and
that even the minor roles Tvlll lie 1n the
most capable hands.'
Press Rgenfs'
.s
m-und Table
t .1 .'
Nothing but native modesty kept ''Miss
Francis' " advanue man f'om joining the
Rornd-tablestory-telllng. But he was pics
ent and picked up a good one on hislaailtus
man. Etienne Girardot, whose inimitable
dol -ery has helped as much asany oiw ron
tributive factor to tho sincere success rf
'Misi Francis ot Yale.isa -wannper-tu.ii
friend of Brandon Thomas, the author ot
''Charley's Aunt," and it was Mr. Thonaas
himself who selected .Mr. Girardot to iIay
th part in this country, which has proved
sucl a bonanza to all concerned in It. Mr.
Giraidot, by the way. is sponsor Tor the
stalementthatone of the funniest situations
in the clever skit that of Jack Chesney
boTTOWing the hair-crown from Brasset. his
valet, loaning It to Lord Baoberly, who in
turn return it to Brassetrasi tip isfonndet
upon an actual occurrence m the life of Six.
ThomaJ.
"Mr. Thomas," said Girardot, in telling
the story, 'is one of the biggest-hearted
men in the world, and will divide his last
sovereign with almost anyone win asks
him for it. Another such is Weedon Gros
smith, one cf Mr. Thomas' -chum. "Well,
one evening Mr. Thomas drove out to see
Grossnrith at the lattcr's home- and, upon
arriving, found he had not enough money
to pay tne cabman He appealed to Gros
smith, Tho. being iu like predlcumvnr.
appealed to turn to his butler, a stately
and dignified personage. The butler pro
duced a ciovrn, which Urossmiih handed
to Mr. Thomas, the latter, of coarje, be
ing ignorant of the negotiations between
his host and the butler. Cabby AVta pM,
and as Mr. Thomas entered the house he
handed the chauge to the butler -ts a, tip.
Gros-smiih thought th-j story too good to
keep, and Thus the situation In "-Charley's
Aunt' had its origin."
One caunot blame Charles "TV. Striae,
jf the Or.e Round of ricasure" Company,
for chatting upon a subject dealest to hit
interests and neareat to his tongue
to wit. The sixtv pretty chorus girls of o
Klaw & Erlanger cxtraaganza "-Ever -young
woman in the company realizes"
said Mr Striae, "'that frerh, round cheese
ami bright eyes, supple limbs and plump
an.s .itc physical attributes, that are
aluable to her calling as well as 5m
portant nddii ions to the attractiveness of
the production- Andoutor the sixty yowr";
ladies In the company, fHy-six of them
are active members or the bicycle, the
renuing, the ulf and the shooting clasea,
"In fact, most of -theru belong to two -ir
thn.- ot the classes, nnd they are as I-
ficienl ji collection or athletic young wom
en as can be found In the country, it
Jf not the irt of athletics that tnaks
but cl'.y muscles and abnormally develod
calve.- or i.loeps It is the .sort or physical
oaf ippisli
I
Instruction that makes & beautifully
rauuieil specimen of femininity out o
every girl wlio faithfully follows the precept-
and the rules ot the two mstractors,
vlio are under contra .vith Klaw .t Er
Ipnger to carefully .supervise the outdoor
diversion or their OnRoand-o-PIen.--ure
girls.
"Bv t-ry morning, ha any sort or weather
except that which is prohibitory upon out
door exercise, tht. btcyc!l-ts. the fenccra
and the golfers oT the company may to
seen at their various e serein-. The former
art- given strict instructions not to overdo
themselves, not to ride t, rapidly and lot
to 1 set while engaged in ordinary piactr-e-The
golfing clfujs, in the xiios appro- d and
graceful suitings, will nsembls ev-.-ry
mtirnjiigat lOo'clockln theroostseqae-itp-.tf
par. o the p.irk that wiii admit of the ras-ciwitlnggamfc-
They are adepts at the rt
orgfiflng, and they keep the gutta-per li-i
spberos umluning from link to link in th0
ehnipest fashion.
"The fencing claslR composed of a largo
proportion of tiie prett jrirJs who app-ir
as apprentices and jestern in the first uid
second acl. They are among the ino3t
graceTul or al' the Klaw &. Erlanger girls.
Before they meet they take a brisk wali-tf
three-quarters of an hour and then an boui
and a huir ga through the feints, pas-e .ul
thrust of the cotle duel'o with as much
preeldoc as ir they were purt and parcel -if
a French military school or male stnden
In o Oerr.i"ii university Then when the
morniug's work is done there is theietreat
to a Turkish hath, and at-ended by aoTorce
or skillful female masseHgea the yuung
6lcger are put through the process of the
bath and theycmergaln the early arternon
as fresh as a Jot of green field buttcrenpa.
That is the secret of so much life, nerve-nd
vivacity in the performance of 'One Round
of Pleasure. "
ON THE STAGE IN
GOTHAM TOWN.
New York, Dec. 4. Madame Viarda,tlie
Polish actress, who made her debut in this
country fcyt Monday night at the Firth
Avenue Tiwater, has teen an unqualified
failure It is hard tt ,magin how 10
discerning and clever a man as Manager
KnowfcM could ever have been so taken In
In every single ep-ential t?be first night
was the most ridiciHoiM thing ever seen
in New York. Connor, the ba,keaprcum
malefictr:r. was mild in cotnpanfeai, ard
the public always had an idea that the
Sherry Sisters knew hew absiwxl their
turn -was- lftbePolishaetresiWnj-aT!i
well up on the merit of her playing she
deserves the utmost credit for having tte
courage tc face her atHllenae tJMs week
There was no fault to befcund wltutha
vehldp for her tulents. The rry trouble
was that it wasmt loaded kearfty aa,''--'!
to keep H from jumping th e traces awlrUl
ing over aiming the footlights. In "Alex
andra" Richard Voss has -written ft play
tlMtt, if a little bald-headed ueitd tne
theme, stiU lias a powerful plot and giv zs
almost constant chances fcr "srork. The
idea awl conception .f the character f
a woina vrbu, disgraced, wins the naa
who loves her, to carry him dwn to her
level and finally give way to pa3jtu.tte
affection forhim that prc.rnptssiucide.at nis
disapproval, Contains a Intent clement .f
force that, properly brcught out, wjto be
come powerful. If st.me capable person
could b- batj to give somecf tiie situations
a shave and taper down the rest with a
nail file, tterr would be .some hope of
Voss getting a position on the Bowery to
write lutJodraraa for the People's.
But tne polyglot rendition- fzuat the ver'J
"to rei! viveu the piece Monday would
have lnirt Hamlet out so effec-tBally that
not een hik glwstly parent -w.aW ever
have gwten him up again. Mice- Ytarda'a
-work s-vtiiN, at least, tai b-rve tile merit
of reserve until one discovers ttet st o
has already let herself out to taeesdcf the
rope ami has nothing saved up that re
scmble a climax.
HeraoMngisalliBthestiperlativedegr-: -a
sort of pawormmic schooi-giri pf-raje-ology
thnt echoes around th theater in
w&vcis of silent ranting. When she "wants
to he mare than tually effective she gets
down on her hands awl knees and wWst.es
far Iw music. She speaks German, her
cast tup English and tier leacting man cries
a mixture of both. After speaking a lin?
la tMir Utitsue 1 gives the cue in tiers. mu h
an a dcubi' paid telegraf.1: message tsre-
pealiL In fcis best scene, through this. Iris
irost po-verfttlllne is raude alisurd. This is
darieg tlieir ctuarrel, wben he seriottslsav4
tn lier. "ir I thought yon Itaddone thci I
wcold kill yon Ich wirt dich tfcetea -Int
ginf "Mixed Pickles" and Roreo and
JnBet" on oup stare at the same time -r a
iHeoicy of "Ta Ra.Ra.Ra Boota de Ay-j""
and "CavaHeria Rustlcana.'' and yee bua
the general cfreot.
Ancther certnin failure Is over at tna
Lyceum, where Daniel Frohowa's company
are giving Piuero's Prinwe-s nd the Hut
terriy" Here it is not tiie pteyers bat ti.&
play that is at faui--
Tlwre is something decidedly humorous
about the iciriiltof asuckliHi and etnpbjuic
d"nand here for Sunday aiunseinen'.
Nearly every theater in town ao-w give
some entertainr.ient on that evsmBC -u 1
yet tiy.-plKHHjgr.apri reeuM joctSber mm..r
places where pleasure may be pwtihasol
are always rQIel with the overflow. The
law forbids costuotes at the- "concerts.
and, therere, we are ra-idry approacn
iug a tiiauagerial questtmi as t-i how r-ir
tle nauoes may be ignored.
Sorc orhe perforraancestaje pretty near
the densetfime. In front ot Ewter . Bial's
this week tlie-e is a Hthogituph for one C
these ihin-ccstunie perfor.nanoes, repr--nenting
a angepTograir. upheld by a-bilious
looking Itody dressed In a epotatiou of
sonwtWng approarhing the simple Hisrh
tand c'tnie ot Motlier Eve. And ntsax th
Is one of the Tiost laughable ad vertfcdng,n
I,Ucatio,s I ever saw It is t ptetttte
4 Anna Hekl posted on aa obi ehsfoh. Y
Gyl?' I'nUer it aro the joined ad-vertlse-
ments of two houses, reading a rewj
'Eoster 5 Biul hav the best bin of the
season this week Goto Proctor's."
At the former house the prime o"Wtltj Is
ContrilHiU-d. by Anna HoW. who 33gt -1
catclty sHg witl. the m.-!c -r sac chorus
painted in gignntioproportions on toe drop
behind her When she readies the end ttw
srene joins hen everyone ot the forty-sine
notes having been rormed by a negro's
head. May Irwin Is breaking all reoord&at
the Bijou, ''The Swell Miss F 'trweil hav
lug di"Hrted -even Nat Goodwill- -&v-r.-ms
run In "The Nominee" so far. The
American Theater is being fitted oat for
the Ca.Ue Square Opera Corapejjv Jo
pli Rl?el-tf and Grace Golden on "he
Washington operas are promised. Geof
frey Stein and Al Stern, both from the
Tcgloii of Pennsylvania avenge, are doing
well here, and Thoracis E. Shea is'turnlng
'cra a. wa V in Brooklyn.
Uttte else than the active war on tho
syndic is spoken of on the RtQltc The
WorI bos followed the Draim.tic Mirror's
att-ack vlrorwusly, printing from two col
umn to a page of dnra daily, and Rich
ard Mansfield has volunteered to
start the exodus from the -anks.
Then their system Lere. as else
where, has antagonized the press, awl tee
result i" consternation in the Told of tho
trust. .lulir. Arthur Is tonight auH-marily
rorce! out or Wallack". where shu a.i
playod to "i?lnihng Room Only" nigUUy,
to make room for the combine's acknowl
edged fallnrc "A Ward of France," and
this has aroused a storm of protest. Phis
week "l&Oti" has been .given under poJea
protection, the backers ot the con'panyhav
iiig .ecurc-d 4ia injunction against the
trust's alleged efforts to ruin the produc
tion and bleed Its proprietors. Of course,
itls t decidedly poortOiow.bat It has been
treated -usnifestly unfairly here, and the
Jndge of the circuit court had no hstratloo
nliout granting an injunction.
CHANNLVQ I.. L. POLLOCK.
- P
