Evening star., 1897-02-10
ANU sEMENTS,

Columbia Theater.-John l.. Stoddards
Lecture on "Old and New Russia Mr..
Stoddard led his hearers through the pal
aces OF the czars last night He pictured
the grandeur of their residences, the beauty
and magnificence of their pleasure parks;
he invaded the banquet halls and ball
rooms; he drew near to the awe-inspiring
throne representing majesty that covers
one-seventh of the earth's surface, and
best of all, he led the way into the modest
ly furnished room where the mighty mon
arch found a retreat from the world,
adorned with simple pictures and almost
meager in its comforts. Colossal is the
epithet that occurs most frequently to one
in describing Russia and it's buildings The
Russians are Tartars at bottom. They have
had the advantage of only about two CEN
turtles of communication with the ciyiliza-
uoh OF the west. For this much they are
indebted to Peter the Great. Hemmed in
on all sides, he saw the need OF a coast If
MS empire were to be reformed He heat
back the Swedes and gained the Baltic.
Then he built st. Petersburg on the marsh
beside the River Neva. The bones of q
hundred thousand miserable wretches rest
ed beneath the foundations of the new city
before the end of the first year But, as
Peter said, "One cannot make an omeIet
without breaking the eggs" Without tools
the workmen had TO dig with their hands,
carry the dirt in their caps and aprons
any way. Work. said the taskmaster.
and st. Petersburg arose on n colossal
scale. Even now it seems too great for it's
inhabitants. Mr. Stoddard then led his
party to Moscow, the railway running
straight as shot arrow to the Russian
capital. leaving the cities between con-
temptuously on the right and left. Then
followed visit that included the palaces
the gardens. the churches, the bridges. the
M hrerilh. rn,n the great bell. the Ivan tower,
tne Cathedral OF the Coronation, the strange
Ghurch OF st. Basil and the sacred cato
Inc audience was large and SO wrant ii,
interest that hardly any applause disturbed
tonight.
The Sporting Duchess THE SPORTING
Duchess that beautiful spectacular dramo
Which made such an enormous hit in New
YORK and Boston last season. comss to tbe
Lafayette Square Opera House next week
Inc cast this season is even stronger than
that which appeared IN it last wear IT
includes among others. Rose CoshIan. I
H. Stoddart. Cora Tanner Sara Converge
Louis Massen, Harry Lacy. r. A. Roberts,
Beresiord Webb. Elita Proctor Otis and
Harry Gibbs. There are over 2OO neon;s in
the production. The twenty thoroup,l,rad
race horses In the great Derby race scane
present lhe most exciting racing -spec acIe
'nat mas ever Deen seen upon the mimic
stage. The horses .lre ridden bv lprc fas
sional jockeys, and 1t Is a race for ..bloo A.,
from start to finish. The magnitude of
TINS production Is almost nconce!vable
Fourteen huge scenes form the various
stage pictures. 1t IS necessary, in order
that the play may be presented on Monday
night, TO send men in advance TO arranea
the many details. and Mr. r. A. Roberts.
the stage director of the company. has
beeen in the city for two days making pre-
liminary arrangsmea;s.
Rose Coghlan, in the part OF the duchess
OF Milford. is seen In ;, particularly happy
vein. even for her, and has added much to
her already enviable reputation by her ar
tistic rendition OF the sporty duchess,
j. n. Stoddart. in the role OK Joe tAyimar.
characteristic studies. of pccentric humanity
III which he is inimitable. Miss Elita Jtis
plays the adventures. Louis Massea will
play the hero, Dart particularly well
adapted for him and In which his hand
some figure and face appear TO splendid