Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06

seriously on the stage is away out of the
question. But off the stage this funny man
Is as shrewd, sensible and serious as any
solid man with true perspective of life
laid out before him.
Funny stories?" he repeated, in answer
to request of Star reporter. That's
too much. Make 1T specific. The funniest
story 1 have heard since January 1? You'll
have to wait a few minutes. That's the
trouble with these think-pots of ours. They
will do nothing to order. The hardest thing
in the world Is to use your brain as a de-
Iartment store and dole out bargains in
job lots at the call of customers. Business
It's been very good with me. But the stage
Is like any other industry In the CONNER
cial world The depression In business, hard
times. affect it Just as they affect every
thing else
Does comic opera hold its own? Is the
talk that it Is losing its popularity justi-
fed?"
above all other lines of the theatrical
business. comic opera has Held its own
during the hard times" said Mr.. Wilson.
You see, it is such "a perfect marriage
lar The world of today is not what 1t
vas two centuries ago. We have no artists
as great as the old masters Art, there
fore. has deteriorated We have no mu-
sicians like the old geniuses. Music. there
lore, has detericrated. We have no writer's
ike the men Of two centuries ego. This
Is scientific, unitarian age. An actor Is
but mirror man. presenting to the people
OF characteristics and gathering events in
clusters for quick appreciation
Scientific entertainments"
That's it, said Mr.. Wilson. Mankind
must be entertained. People turn from the
darkness of worry and despair to the anti
dcte OF amusement as naturally and surely
as a thirsty man takes a drink of water
50 long as there are threats there will
be thirst. and SO long as black care can
&c LkeT in mans heart there will be en-
tertainment. Amusement to relieve and
neal. That is what gives an actor satisfac-
tlon With his calling. 1t is not hard to play
LOT people SO lors as they appreciate It,
Give me a good audience, and to play is
pleasure. unless am ill-not Ill in bed, but
Ill enough to want to he in bed 1t Is i'm
inensely satisfying to know that YOU are
pleas,ng people, that you are making them
laugh, that they are forgetting their wor-
ries and troubles, that the burden of life
Is lighter fer time at least, and that in a
niue measure you may make them happy"
Il always tell the author of a play ex-
actiy what think of his work." remarked
lton Lackaye during his recent engage
ment IN this city. There are many pairs
OF frinSy pantaloons in New York that
would not be visible If writers had not
been encouraged to depend on fictitious
future. There are managers who, going
en- the principle that to refuse a play is to
make an enemy, return unread manuscript
with the assurance that the work is one of
the best ever brought to their attention
and that it is a poignant regret that they
are unable to command the services of a
company strong enough for its proper pro-
duction- The result is that an actors at
tention is frequently invited to work which
half dozen managers have described as
the best play they ever saw, but which
they cannot produce. 1t is hard to get up
much interest in that kind of an introduce
ton What the actor wants to get
chance at is one which half n dozen man
ayers describe as the worst play they
Nd ,x.hta Oh at he ftp,A
they are all fighting to produce
Robert Mantell has not lost faith In the
romantic drama. The title of play which
he now has under rehearsal is THE Fatal
Flower
One of the actresses in 1.-The Belle of
New York" which comes with all it's new
ness and hrilliancy intact to the Lafayette
Square next week direct from the New
York Casino. had an experience last Fri
day she won't soon forget. She had been
all day at the Casino and had
left her maid to superintend the removal
of her possessions to a new fiat. In the
evening, when she got home. tired out, she
hurried at once to the bath room for
reviving bath. To her dsmay, she found
the bath tub filled with boxes and parcels
of every description, put there by the
movers evidently to get them out Of the
way. The maid had gone out on an errand
and wouldn't be back for some time but
the actress decided she was too tired to
clean out the tub herself, and SO would
have to postpone her bath.
Just then she remembered that she had a
big washtub among her possessions After
a search she found it and soon had it
full of water 1t leaked 81 little, but not
enough to hurt, and the water was de-
iishtfully cool and refreshing. Suddenly
there was an ominous snap. Horror of
horrors! The hoops of the old tub were
giving way and in a moment more the
place would be deluged. Visions of angry
tenants on the floor below and possible
damage suits filled her mind. What on
earth should she do? She didn't have much
time to think. One of the hoops had AL
ready given way, and there was nothing
FOR her to do but to hold the slaves with
her hands and arms. Hugging the insen-
sible tub to her bosom with all the ardent
passion you read about in books she he
gan to shout for help. and very soon she
heard the janitors voice outside inouirine
what the matter was
On please send your wife up." she
shouted- Don't ask me why. Just hurry!'
She Rugged some more and waited.
again she heard footsteps
NY wires out. but here's my son
: hariey, came the janitor's voice. Hes
DIG ana strong: he'll help you"
lhen the actress became hysterical. but
sie managed 10 hang on to the tub till her
ilaiu came back and relieved her.
COLUMBIA THEATER-of the several
theatrical enterprises which are to he given
their first Washington production on No
Gay night next the initial presentation of
Jchn j. McNallys comedy, "Courted INFO
.0urt' at the Columbia Theater probably
taxes precedence in point of interest. The
story or Courted Into Court centers
around the courtship, engagement. mar
rage and final application for divorce by
aho between Its principal characters. lie.
Dottie Dimple Wirth (Marie DresslerI and
orthlngton Wirth. jr. John c. Rice.
MISS Dresslers role is that Of a very sue
cessIui actress. whose hand Is sought in
marriage by Worthington Wirth ir a
scion OF wealthy New York family. The
mother OF the young man. however. is OBJ
posed TO what she calls mesalliance of
I'M, 1,l future perpetuator of the name of
"lrth, and the Vaccinations which she
sets on foot finally lands the young mar
ried couple in divorce court. where
through the sympathy elected by the dash
ing actress appearance before the presid
ing judge. they are convinced that they
DO not seek separation, and the blessings
OF the heretofore irate parents is secured
Opportunities fer splendid comedy sItua-
lions are extensively offered in the Mot
which Mr.. McNally has devised to enhance
the value of which he has allowed the in
PRODUCTION of an unlimited quantity Of
catchy musical selections together with
novel and unique specalt!es These are
contributed by the several members of the
Rich and Harris Company, which includes.
besides Marie DRESSER and John c. Rice
flI