Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-05
SOON TO OPEN AGAIN.
The Prospects for Our Next theatrical
Season arc Very Bright.
VICTIMS OF THE BAROMETER.
some New IDEAS About the Eject OF
the weather Upon Our Mental
r.rulties-slow Music During Per.
formances-Gossip Of the Stage.

theatres is. as a rule. but OF brief dura-
ton. and this year It promises to be more
brief than usual.
The reawakenng will commence early
in August, with a new farce In three
acts. entitled, "McFadden's Elopement.
This will be closely followed by W. n
Brady's cotton King" and then comes
an array OF brilliant attractions which
are, taken as a whole, infinitely superior
to those seen here during the last nine
years Judging from the BOOKS Oh oo'"
houses. which I lately overlooked. Inc
retrospect Of the past season Is fuii OK
pleasanr recollections. There have been
spots on the face of the sun-that Is put
natural-but Manager Leath has every
reason to felicitate himself on the general
high standard attained and the generous
measure OF support accorded BY the play
going public.
There is no need to dig up the bone OF
an old contention, or to make awkwaru
and unnecessary comparisons, or TO 'reaa
on any sensitive corns whatever, wheh IL
is stated that this eminently satisfactory
result has been achieved in the face OF
vba, seemed to the unnitiated at the
outset TO be almost insuperabie oos'acies.
The total receipts for the season ioos
IN 1880 more than any previous season
,,,5er the existing regime. This Is a re-
marlxably healthy indication, ana VIII
bring comfort and satisfaction TO those
ybo are interested in dramatic ART. for
fu,l eleven years Richmond has been sUs-
,na,ized as the worst theatrlcai TOWN.
NJ ia size in this country, but that re-
nroach has been taken away, anu lai SC
nercentage of the very best attractions
h,v. been already booked 10 appear mere
navt season. Manager Leath has found
ont that the best shows pay best, anu
has declared his intention OF allowing
mona but first-class attractions 10 appear
here In future.
The summer months-in theatricai par
lance 1.-THE lazy season"-has been called
the silly season; II Is also the SAD sea
son, and the season Oh foily. We ny.
already been told on scientific authority
thai our capacity for work varies ac-
cordinx to the state OF the barometer,
bur we have, II seems, great deal
more TO learn on this interesting and inn
portant subject. And, II IT be true-and
there is no reason whatever 10 doubt the
facts recently laid before us In the Ameri-
can Journal OF Psychology-that the
state OF the weather produces the most
startling difference In the amount OF
work done in factories and workshops. IL
Is high time that we turned our very
best attention TO the desrised subject OF
the weather, so that We may endeavor.
By every possible means I'm our powes TO
no ha pnArpilpgS mythical 'Clprk.
who invariably turns on for us precise
~ the kind OF atmosphere we do not
want. or course, IL this meteorological
theory Is correct Il is through no fault
of our own that we are often lazy, more
often disagreeable. and constantly mac
curate in our statements. III the day IS
too hot or too cold for our peculiar tenn
peraments II at once becomes obvicnS
why, instead OF attending to our bust
ness. we go on pleasure-seeking. why
we snap OFF the heads' OF the members
OF our family circle. and refuse to pay
our bills 1t Is a splendid explanation to
offer. at all events, for all our misdoings.
fits Of temper. and little cccentricities.
And what a splendid excuse II would be
for the failures and shortcomings OF ac-
tors and actresses!
There Is, too, another aspect Of The
case. AS 1t Ia stated that we think less
during very hot and very cold weather.
IL is clear that conversational powers
must be at a distinctly lower ebb at mid
summer and midwinter than during the
average spring and autumn. This will.
perhaps. account for the rapidity OF con-
versaton at social functions. Hitherto we
have been uncharitably apt to ascribe
the invariably limited conversational
powers OF the persons with whom one
comes in contact TO stupidity or sulkiness.
We shall now know that these poor crea-
lures are really the victims OF the ba-
rometer Some of them, may be, have
watched with despair on an eventful
evening the rising or falling or the glass.
There is something positively tragic in
the thought, and even more tragic In the
reflection, that many-nay, the majority
OF us are unexpectedly influenced with
out knowing IL. An actor may have an
appointment 10 meet a manager. with a
view TO an engagement; dramatic writer
may be specially invited to meet d new
editor, and, all needless OF the fact that
we are invariably seen at our worst when
the weather il cloudy. We may go forth
to ruin our chances In that direction.
edwin" too, may so widen the rift
that has Just put In an appearance In the
Lutte OF his happiness that II may alto
gether make mute the music, by visiting
Angelina" on sultry evening.
How many avowals OF love and offers
OF marriage may not be strangled In
their birth by sudden thunderstorm
or a rapid fall OF the glass on winter
evenings. After all, when one thinks OF
these things. the best conclusion to arrive
at Is that our best endeayors should oe
devoted to ascertaining as accurately as
possible how we are each mentally and
physically affected by the various me-
teorologlcal conditions. Here. by the way,
il n new craze Instead Of the 'physiog-
nomist." or ''palmist." or "clairvoyant.'
let US have the professional ''meteoro-
logist." who will tell US when we are
most liable to fits OF temper, to accesses
of stupidity, and to paroxysms OF lazi-
ness. and give US some idea OF the kind
Of weather that renders us respectively
acceptable and agreeable to our Fellow
creatures.
correspondent asks me why slow
music Is employed In the theatre at a
thrilling dramatic moment. Dear reader.
don't ask me. ! don't know. IL Is a
bsrbarous survival. like expressing APP
prevail by clapping the hands ana feet,
surely a savage custom. IL fobs the
scenes OF some VI tHtit
and Is a concession that should not be
countenanced IL is. I suppose. a
"soporific TO Cerebus," as the little girl
said when she wished to air her classical
learning. Abolish all such cheap bids Tor
effect, say |. 1t distresses every one,
damages true artistic effect. and. besides,
II awakens the orchestra from we'll
earned slumber. I am very merciful. and
/ hate cruelty TO animals. Let the or
chestra sleep peacefully. and let US have
strong work without any such adveH,i-
tous aids.
OfYenbach's La Perichole." twenty
seven years old, but still delightful, De.
cause OF its picturesque scenes and
sensuous music. was introduced to thea
TRIGGERS in New York last Monday.
The comic opera company that FREQ. T.
Whitney is engaging to appear in Her,
bert Il Tasaboroskrs THE Birth OF
Venus" viii open at Hooley's Theatre
| Chicago. ON May 18th, for two-weeks
run. Aubrey Boucicaulf, Robert Ora,
ham, Charles Kirke. Philips Toms. and
| Grace Golden will be prominently cast.
f. d. Price writes me: Pauline Hal
| Is going on bicycle tour this summer
| and Lillian Russell on AZ tramp.
William G!llette's new war play. ss'
| cret Service" Ia to be produced In Pnila,
| delphia May 18th. Mary Hampton VIII
L tsna