Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-10

sectarian anecdotes. The idea OF man
emerging from a playhouse and talking
religion as soon as he reaches the street
strikes me as fantastic. Most OF Us nave
q taste for controversy; selfrespect de-
mands the assertion now and then OF our
opinion as TO the moral order OF the uni
verse; We put eminent politician In his
proper place with an emphasis that varies
according TO our taste But these exalted
subjects are not for every day Intercourse;
and when you take lady into dinner you
do not say 70 her. "What DO you think OF
the career Of Grover ClevelandY' You say,
"Did you see the Bostonians?" or, what
do YOU think OF Hoyt's new playY'
So far. then. from forgetting the stage
when the curtain drops. we find II indis-
pensable to the nice conduct OF
casual acquaintance. With oil this talk
about the stage however. some ambitious
spirits are dissatisfied. one Of them has
confded to the pages of monthly re-
view his belief that newspaper proprietors
are Jealous OF the drama. They nave be-
trayed this lamentable sentiment in their
attitude towards lhsen. This great
analyst Of modern life is unpopular be-
cause the newspaper proprietors, afraid
that he may wean the public from the
current views OF the social system, have
combined 10 decry him and his inter-
prefers. He holds the mirror up 10 ma
ture. and the newspapers have smashed
Il. Remember. the editor and printer IN
"An Enemy Of the People" They take
excellent care that their readers, the
Compact majority" shall not be tainted
with the hereses Of Dr. Stockman. VINO
knows that lbsen, In his next play may
not soar above editors and printers, and
~ qgrfaHfrgpV Of nTODTin-
tors which is keeping him out of his
OWn2 j can imagine them in secret con-
clave. sowing TO one another If this
pcstilent Norwegian should get hold on
the people. our circulation Will shrink;
nobody viii want to read the papers;
everybody will spend night and day in
some theatre devoted TO Ibsen. The stage,
instead of the press, will become the organ
OF public opinion, and we shall nave 10
absse ourselves before new actors Does
not this account for the indifference, II
not hostility. of most Of the journals 10
every Ipsen performance? They are fear
fui lest the stage should supersede lead
ting artcles-the police reports, the pro-
ccedings of the divorce court and the
annals Of dress balls. / begin 10 shudder
al the prospect, for l see tho Unsuitable
nav of the boN-ofiiee swallowing my
bread and butter.
You cannot wonder at this trepidation
when you consider the proud Boosting
Of Sara Bernhardt. Here is sreat
dramatic artist who eciipses Alexander,
Napoleon, Columbus, and the university
Extension lecturers. She mas beiriended
French &C oniss, and put German Colo
niles to shame. She has conquered
America, and implanted the treneh
tongue IN every foreign literature so
~ N tad
her personality that the rising genera
ton everywhere has Partisan accent.
Tho little American boy up North says:
"Je crois" instead of Il guess ana
addresses strangers with "Disdoric," in
stead OF the patriotic. Say"
we feel the influence Of the stage even
when We are not directly talking OF IL.
One of the most important events or
the season will be the nrst appearance
here tomorrow Of the famous Lilputians
IN their new and successful spectacular
extravaganza, entitled Merry Tramps.'
The engagement will last for three days,
with a matinee on Wednesday.
Neither labor nor expense has been
spared TO make the production one 0f
tie most gorgeous description, and al
Of the clever little people, principally
Fran Ebert. Selma Goerner. and Adou
link have exceptional opportunities
There are three grand ballots executed
by more than 1f,y coryphees. The hrsI
represents "a harvest festival, the dancers
beiag dressed as wheat, corn, Wine, hops,
and different cereals. The second bailos,
the electrical dance, shows the various
manners OF illumination or all ages ana
ali countries. from stone and oil laInrs
% TO the incandescent electric light fT
the present day, and ends WIKI an m
mense electrical tableau. In the last
the silyer-lace 0alot--the soene repre-
ssnts a magnificent sight. consisting OF
mass OF white lace. while the cancers
wear odd and dazzling costumes OF silver
ribbons The Ldliputians will appear du-
ring the progress OF the ballot In cha
racteristlc episodes AZ dudes OF the
twentieth century, and as modern cham
eoneltes. Among the many effects OF an
entirely novel nature are the pneumatic
railroad, and the magic table, which turns
into q balloon.
The plot OF Merry Tramps" Is LAID on
roiitude Island. Professor Willard, father
of a marriageable daughter i.diss Bertha
Jaegar) possesses a magic directory OF
ali men on earth. which, by appearing IN
= red or white SIGHT. viii show the degree
OF nervousness they possess only three
names appear In dazzling white. fndi-
eating that they are 80 good In every re-
speet that Mary. the daughter, may
choose one OF them as her husband. by
Appliance OF the X-cathode rays the pie
lures are revealed. They are the three
merry tramps-Joe, Jim. and Bob (Miss
Goerner, Mr.. Ebert and Mr. ZinD. As
space 10 snnihilated By the magic rail-
road and the airshiD. the Professor ana
bis daughter. accompanied by the man
ape. Darwin's missing-link (Mr. Ludwig
MerkeD set out TO find the tramps. meet
ing them on q farm near New York,
where the police. after having arres'e1