Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-16
ADJUSTMENTS.

Albaugh's.-Rhea appeared last night
at Albaugh's in her dramatization of
Wilkie Collins novel, THE New Mag
dalen." The story is one which awak-
ems the sympathy of the audience
to a strong degree. 1t is a study of
humanity conceived by man who has
made reputation as a student of his fell
low men, and dramatiZed with great per-
ception to the development of good stage
effects. Mile. Rhea appeared in the role of
Mercy Merrick. 1t is part which calls for
the womanly grace, the delicate pathos and
the emotional power which have made
Rhea the famous actress she now is. 1t is
a story with moral, the moral being the
more powerfully impressed because the tale
Is 50 told as to fasten the interests of the
audience. The company is a capable one
MIR. w. S. Hart being particularly good in
his impersonation of Julian Gray, the min
ister The New Magdalen will be repeated
tonight and Saturday afternoon.
Mr.. Stoddard on odd Japan.'-Mr. Stod-
dard delivered the second of his series of
lectures on travel in Japan last evening at
the Academy of Music. AS always, the
theater filled with people, who were
both interested and fascinated by the lee
turer's pictures and descriptions of oriental
life The subject of the evening was "Old
Japan" and he took his hearers on many a
pleasant jaunt into the interior of the
islands, giving them an insight into the
manners and customs of the people, who
have not yet become altogether tainted by
contact with western civilization. What
surprised his audience perhaps most of ALL
or at least that portion who were not par
ticularly familiar with Japan, was the
amount of picturesque scenery that the
islands contain. Numerous views were
given of Fujiyana, the great volcano, a
symmetrical pyramid, so familiar to US in
all japanese works of art, pictures screens.
fans and vases. The mountain rises 900
feet high, and although it has not been in
active eruption since early in the last CEN
fury, yet 1t is always menacing POSSIBLE
ity, and shows signs Of activity in it's steady
emission of sulphurous vapor. Thousands
/ OF pilgrims make the ascent of the noun
tain every year as a sacred duty, and in
summer time the matter of religious pilgrim
ages becomes marked fea ture of
Japanese life that more than 100000 take
to wandering about from shrine to shrine,
begging their way as they go. Through the
mountainous sections of the country even
the narrow roads over which the jim
rickishas go are impossible, and the only
means OF transportation over these narrow
rocky paths is the kago, a little cramped
seat suspended from a bamboo pole carried
on the shoulders of two stout porters, that
sways about like a drunken pendulum.
The absence Of horses and cattle and. in
deed. OF all animal life, in the interior is
particularly noticeable This is partly the
result of their religious belief, as Buddhism
regards the taking of life as a sin. The
food of the natives consists entirely of fish
and vegetables, a rather limited diet from
our point of View but. judging from the
specimens of fine muscular development
everywhere to be seen, Mr.. Stoddard was
of the opinion that it amply sufficient
for all their needs.
What seemed to impress Mr.. Stoddard
most forcibly, as indeed, it has all trav-
elerS in this delightful land, was the evil
dent pleasure that the people take in life.
They are cheerful and happy to an extreme,
and if they have any troubles they manage
to hide them very elfectualy. Life in ia
pan is attractive, not only for the Japanese,
but for all who visit the islands. \ more
courteous. hospitabie and conslderate peo-
pie nowhere exist, and Mr.. Stoddari spoke
of Americans who have gone to housekeep-
ing in Japan. and are fascinated by the
contrast 1t makes to the troubles of the
housekeep in what we call civilized lands.
The lecturer said that if he were able to
give a complete idea of life here he would
not be surprised If some of the women in
the audience should go back to their homes,
drop a dynamite bomb into their kitchens
and sail away for the islands of Japan. and
set up their household gods in that charm
ing land. He spoke of the religious side of
life, ShintOism and Buddhism, and showed
how the latter with its attractive and ar
tiStic features, appealed strongly to the
love of beauty inherent in the Japanese.
After speaking of the amenities of life and
its philosophy Mr.. Stoddard made one
rather caustic remark that. judging by the
applause with which 1t was received, was
in line with the opinions of many of his
hearers. And yet We send missionaries to
Japan"
dari matinees will be given tomorrow at
the Academy of Music, when Mr.. Stoddard
will repeat the charming lecture IN Pic
turesque Japan" with which his season
opened.
William Penn and the Founding of Penn
sylvania.-Tomorrow, at the third regular
lecture of her course on The English in
America" at the Builders Exchange Hail.
at half-past II, Miss Jane Meade WEIGH
will treat OF the early settlement Of Penn
sylvania by the Quakers. She will discuss
the form of government of early pennsyl-
vania. the powers accorded to Penn, the
varied nationalites that first settled in the
province, not forgetting to treat of social
customs and personalities. which always
shed the needed light upon her historical
canvas.
Miss Richards Lecture.-NIiss Janet Rich
ards lectured last night at Carroll Institute
Hall on London" Her audience was the
largest that has assembled in that hall this
season. and frequently manifested its
pleasure in the descriptive work of the lee
turer by applause. In spirit she carried her
patrons over acres of historic ground, along
miles of famous streets and lanes and
through world of memorable piles. The
views which We're thrown the screen
were clear and attractive. Miss Richards
IS a lecturer Of no mean ability. and her
talks on travel are always listened to with
marked interest.
Noah's Ark-Tonight there will be a lee
ture at the Eastern Presbyterian Church
by the Zamorin, Archdeacon Nouri of
Babylon and Jerusalem. his subject being
THE Discovery Of Noah's Ark" The lee
turer has met with great success wherever
he has spoken, and is said to be an ex-
tremely interesting and impressive speaker |
Ch9rity Concert.-This evening ut the
Cniversalist Church there will be a charity
concert, under the auspices of Unity Cir
Gle of Kings Daughters and Sons Of the
Gunton Temple Memorial Church. The
program will be attractive one, and
some of the best local talent. including |
Miss Dorothy Byrd Rogers, will participate |