The evening times., 1896-12-01
ONLY A MATTER OF THUMBS
Pudd' nhead Wilson Again lllustra-
ted 1t at the National.
Admirable Representation of Mark
Twain's Quaint story President
and Mrs. Cleveland Present.

Whatever Lhers. is Of Il drawl lack III the
Presentation of "Pudd' uhcad Wilson,
which began its engagement before Il
crowded Louise at the National Thcater
last night, is chiefly noted by any one
HAT has lived IN the South, or had occa-
sion % converse frequently with the
Son hern people and Southern negroes of
a generation or two ago. No one BON
soul OF Mason aud DiNCn'S line talked Of
talks with such dialect and accent as are
heard On the Nat Oual stage.
This however, ocs Eot disturb the ma
Iority of the audience which simply de-
iigh. s H. the oddities or hrmor Of the play
and the actors, and properly 50, Tor
"Pudd' nhead wilson" is remarkably
clever conccIf. and the leading character
had no better Interpreter even i'll him VI o
first created it than ii has today IN
Theodore Hamilton No one would enjoy
his conception and imEersonation of the
quaint. snple-minded, tut withal, shrcwd
old lawyer, more thoroughly than Mark
Twain himself, IN wnGsc lcrtlle Dram ne
had his beng.
Both book and play being familiar to the
Washington public. there is no need TO go
into detail about the plot, which is sim pie,
yet original and ingenious. inasmuch a.
Il hinges upon the anatOmi,al and to the
Criminologist most interesting dissiLnilar-
ity OF people thumbs. Il fact which is being
utilized a la Bertilon for the Identified
ton III criminals. PUdd' mead Wilson has
made this study his lad, and IL serves To
trace the guilty and acquit the innocent,
Ing out the quaint lumor OF the character
with deftness. and those light touches that
tell OF the finished article. In the delivery
OF the speech to the jury in the last act he
was absolutely impressive.
Miss Eleanor Moretti as Roxy. the
slave. who lis responsible for the cntangle-
ment of the situation. gave an exceedingly
strong portrayal. 1f her dialect were as
perfect as her laugh there would not be "A
flaw IN Ter presentation Miss LUCILLE La
Verne was delightful as Patsy Mason,
Wilson's sister, and Miss Frances Graham
Mayo, as lovely girl of sweet sixteen as
can be found in months journey. All
the other parts We're in capable hands.
The Jury was n howIng success.
President and Mrs. Cleveland, Secre
tarics Lamont and Morton ana p Postmaster
General Wilson occupied the two lower
right hand boxes.
Archibald Clavering Gunter's new play.
"a Florida EnChantment,'' was produced
at the Columbia before a large audience.
The play is a mass OF impro liabilities in i Is
theme, but Mr.. Gunter has disarmed criti-
cism by the quotation at the head of the
program: at is better to laugh at improb-
abilities than to CRY at realities"
That's pleasant piece OF soplistry. but
1t is effective so far as any effort to
indict the author for wandering ava from
the path OF probability. DEPRESSION into
the path of incongrutiesis, in fact, pleas
ant diversion when the theme may occasion
laughter without impcaching the con
sciences. There is the loophole in Mr..
Gun;cr's philosophy, and it exposes a broad
side for critical shafts, for no one with n
delicate sense OF morality can look upon
his play with an entirely ingenious en-
5oyment.
But 1t Is criticism OH this point that he
courts. lie would doubtless rejoice in a
complete recital of his story The only
treatment It's unhealthiness deserves is 81
lence. An American audience is not to bc
handicapped III its searching for points
especially when the alternative OF two
meanings is presented, and some of those
present last night seized upon the indecent
suggesuveness OF many OF the scenes with
no attempt at disguised enjoyment
The cast presented capable players
worthy of less compromising scenes Marie
Jansen, fresh and lovely as in the lalcyon
days of tights and spangles when she was
the soubrettc regent of the operate world.
Dan Collyer played her maid, Jane: Grace
huntington was lovely as q widow and
May Haines was decidedly good for an
hotel girl. Others in the east were Effie
German, Carrie Collyer, Clarence Heritage,
walsh Melville, Albert Roberts, Frank
Camphell. Thomas E. jackson and Fred
AT the Lafayette last night the Empire
Theater Stock made its annual visit to
Washington. This excellent COMPANY is a
distinguished credit to our stage. and in its
well balanced completeness and admirable
esprit do corps puts 10 flight the Dreten-
sions OF more affected but less worthy for
eign organizations. Their performance
Is u thing to look upon with pa :riotic pride
and qualification.
The play was Liberty Hail." a pretty
story OF the conquest OF pride and circum-
stance. ana the manly battle which love
won over pride. The successive scenes were
domestic pictures OF real domestic charm
relieved continually by fine touches of
humor.
Miss Allen displayed her undisputed graces
In the role OF u sensitive daughter of distin-
guished lineage, and Miss Ida Conquest en-
ac.ed the part OF her sister with complete