The Washington times., 1894-04-22
Gallery, PHI
and Gr66nr00m.

Inc themes OF "Artst0cracY and "AmeE1-
cans Abroad" are not dissimilar. Both treat
/ of rich Americans who go forth into the Eu-
ropean wilds on voyages of discovery and
conquest; who meet strange animals, some Of
them beasts of prey, some of them harmless;
who never quite reach the rich gold mines
and the fountains Of youth and beauty. They
are the analysis of this latest phase Of our
life, the rediscovery OF the old civilization,
this modern inversion of Ponce de Leon and
Pizarro. But the treatment OF the subject
by Sardou and Bronson Howard is different.
Strange 1t seems for o moment that 1t is the
Frenchman who tells the simple, playful
story tenderly and with touches OF pathos,
without bitterness or much satire, that hurts
US, and that the American draws the picture
OF Old World crime and wickedness with the
terrible fascinating Austrian court and the
otLer accessories that we have been used to
in French plays. But Sardou was writing
for Americans to amuse them. If he thought
any French pessimism, 1t is not obtrusively
apparent. Our own writer treats this folly OF
ours seriously and with withering irony, much
like Frank Hatton's on the same subject. He
paints strong, dark pictures with flashes OF
lightning shooting through them. He paints
the seductions of the subtle glitter and the
witchery Of the pestilential glamcr.
These plays come together, and they arc in
terpreted by the strongest kind of companies,
one a Charles Frohman and one Daniel
Frohman aggregation. "Aristocracy" is un-
der the management Of Al Hayman and
Charles Frohman. and the players are Louis
Massen. Frederick Bond, A. S. Lipman, S.
Miller Kent. Neil Warner, ]. c. Blackstone,
Bruce McRae. Charles Wingate. Blanche
Walsh, Mary Hampton, Helen Tracy, and
Josephine Hall. Sardous PLAY is produced
by the Lyceum Comedy Company, whom We
all know. We will have the best kind Of a
chance to compare the two plays.
Several years ago Z. II. Sothern went to
England with nothing much in the way of a
reputation and came back great favorite.
We took him up Immediately, saw all the
goodness of his work. forgot that We had not
recognized him before, and proclaimed him
as great American comedian, which he is of
course. Up to the time of its production in
New York six years ago there had never been
play brought out in New York which attained
so rapid and genuine a success as Lord
Chumley." Mr.. Sothern brings this first and
greatest success of his to Washington again
this year. 1t is one of Belasco and De Miles
cleverest. Mr.. Sothern will be hero next
week.
Edwin Stevens brings wang" this year
next week. He is tremendous man, like
Hopper, and has besides voice that sings.
About Hopper's voice-well, let's not say
much. Stevens sings and is a real comedian.
He was Frohmans leading man in "Glori-
ana" if you remember. / have little story
about him. Just before his company went to
New York, where they now are, they were in
Atlanta. 1t happened that one of his chorus
girls was stopping at the same hotel with
Mr.. Stevens and his wife, and had room
quite near to theirs in the same hall. Mr..
Stevens came in late one night and walked
into the wrong room. the chorus girls room,
in fact. She raised her head and when she
saw him screamed.
''Keep quiet, my dear, you'll wake the
house." he said pleasantly.
She screamed again.
You really must not do that again" Mr..
Stevens continued. And then he discovered
his mistake and made apologies. But one Of
the Atlanta papers found him out and pub
ished him to the world.
Miss Atherton, of the .'Wang" company,
who takes Annie O'Keefe's old part and is by
the way the wife of Frank Arnette the
"Wang" advance man, now in town. was the
victim OF asomewhat similar experience in |
Louisville a little while ago. The Louisville |
and Cincinnati papers made quite a sensation |
OF 1t at the time. Miss Atherton and one of the |
company occupied a room i'll one of the large |
hotels. Miss Atherton was combing her hair |
l believe.
The other girl was sitting on the edge of |
the bed talking about her flowers. maybe. |
Miss Atherton saw in her glass ared bald head |
appear over the transom into the next room. |
She turned around quickly and the head was
gone. She told the story to her friend. and, |
taking the tin case in which she carried her
clock, waited. The head appeared again
There were two little blue eyes sunk in the
head. and yellow moustache adorned its lip.
She threw the tin case and hit the bedpost,
but the head disappeared asecond time. Then
she rang for the bell boy and summoned the
clerk. The clerk knocked on the door OF the
next room. when he was told the story The
same head finally appeared at the door. this
time at the right elevation. 1t was a very
head. and wanted to know in
a very thin voice what the DEVILS the matter
why, my dear sir, see you don't know
who am
His card read: