Evening star., 1897-04-17

I~Segs
When John Philip Sousa was in Wash
lngton last Sunday he talked very freely
about the trouble between himself aid
Mrs Blakely to a Star representative. Aside
from the statement which he save out he
said he was anxious that the people of
Washington. where he was born. should
be satisfied that he had done nothing but
what fair and honorable and which
he had the best legal justification for do
ing Mrs. Blakely would have never
made any trouble at all If 1t hadn't been
for her son-in-law. who claims to be a
lawyer, said Mr.. Sousa- You remember
1 told you. he continued. when L was
here before that l should play the route
that had been booked by Mr.. Blakely be-
fore his death. and that after that would
be my own master. l believed that was
right. and that / in honor bound to
fulfill the engagements he had made for
me and the band. The contract however,
that existed between Mr.. Blakely and my
self. was made void by his death. accord
ing to the best legal advice 1 could obtain.
and there were other provisions which were
not to be continued
Il only threw the whole arrangement
over when i found that attempt was
made to play the band in cities which had
not been booked by Mr.. Blakely. / have
been sustained in every legal contention
so far made and 1 am satisfied that my po-
sition is solid. An attempt to restrain the
band from playing in Philadelphia was a
failure the court refusing to order tenn
porary injunction. and the case will prob
ably be tried in that city"
How about your new opera for De Wolf
Hopper he was asked.
That is coming on in good shape /
think it will be even more successful than
Ell Captain -
The semi-annual washing of the Lambs
Club took place at Wallack's Island.
Stamford, Conn. The merry actor folk
turn out IN goodly numbers for this saline
bath privilege, and all the good gaffers
were present There was sumptuous re-
past spread under the trees. with clans.
oysters, Holsters. dog and cutie fish. fried.
stewed and baked together, with drinks,
hard and soft, long and short, and all the
trimmings that go to make the climax of
the washing pleasant and palatable. The
Lambs fingered so long about the unyield-
ing board that the tide came up and what
was with their coming a mere rivulet sep
aratng the island from the mainland be-
came broad lagoon, up to a mans arm
pits There was no bridge, there was no
boat: so Billie Morse. the giant athlete of
the Lambs, proceeded to disrobe. and
triumphantly crossed the Rubicon, holding
his clothing high out of the waters way.
Digby Bell. seeing that the water was up
to the tall mans armpfts, sat disconsolate
on the shore in a dazed day-dream over
night tie island. Finally, happy
thought struck him. and he shouted to The
triumphant Morse on the opposite shore,
over? Morse. who had begun To dress.
stopped and shouted back. -Four dollars
bargain was concluded, and few mo
men,s thereafter the festive Digby was
high and dry on the farther shore. The
cleverness Of this idea finally percuatad
through tte diminutive Thought tank oi
big Steve King. who came to the washing
clothed in immaculate white ka1ncl, with
J;Ce Sflk belt and a beautiful little
Noah's ark hat. So he shouted 10 Morse,
wto had collected his ferry Zee and
sT'ncd C tss:ng How much to carry Papa
Steve acrocs:'' The large mass of King
i-orIng Ip en- the opposite. shore IoGkad
like considerable of a chore. SO Morse
asked: How much do you weigh?' Mr..
sponded: Two hundred and eighty
pounds. IN try 1t for ten dollars"
finally said the thrifty Morse Eventually
the deal was ''cashed,' and the adipose
mass of King was balanced on Morse's
shoulders. and he began the trip. In mid
stream he was halted by the siren voice Of
fBcn, Bcn, who queried: How much to drop
Its yours said Bell, and King went into
the E:ine as If shot from catapult A
tidal wave followed the big splash. and
fool of re:n;.rks from the irate and sput-
terinS King unfit for publication. ISv the
time King reached New York the shrinking
nature of his flannel suit made a skin fit
with trousers lifting the lower hem to the
dimpled knee, and the waistband gripping
like a boa constructor. After barely escap-
ing the custody of the police for wearing
his tights in the street. Mr. King disrobed.
with the aid of shoe-horn and pair of
shears. 1t hardly need be remarked that
King has not sent any urgent request for
Digby Bell to join his opera company.
National Theater-Mirth and melody will
prevail the Easter attraction for the
forthcoming week at the New National
Theater. where the favorite comedian,
Digby Bell. and his charming wife. Laura
Joyce Bell, with their excellent supporting
company, will appear. Two comedies will
be presented by the management Monday
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and at
the Wednesday matinee Mr.. Bell will be
seen in his famous character of Deacon
T1dd in Hoyts "A Midnight Bell" which is
conceded to be the most pretentious work
of this celebrated author. As Deacon
Tidd Disby Bell has succeeded in estab-
fishing himself in the very foremost ranks
of character comedy stars, and has won
for himself the highest encomums from
press and public for his depletion of the
character OF the unctuous village Pooh
bah. Laura Joyce Bell will again be seen
In her splendid portrayal of the village
spinster and busybody. Miss Lizzie Grout.
The same excellent cast. with one or two
exceptions. viii mark the presentation
here. aided by the celebrated "A Midnight
Bell quartet. which will render many mu-
sicai numbers during the performance A
complete scenic production will be made in
every detail. Thursday. Friday and Sat
urday evenings and at the Saturday matt
nee Augustus Thomas new domestic COM
edy drama. The Hoosier Doctor" will be
y. i
IS story of life in Indiana or hoosier-
dom, a2d, like its predecessors, Alabama"
and In Iizzouri the "Hoosier Doctor
Is pregnant with the various types of char
acters of the locality of the place. which
are admirably depicted. it is said, by an
especially engaged company. Digby Bell
will be seen in the character of DIR. VIII
low. who at the age of forty-five makes
his first success in life by graduating at
the head of his class from the Hanneman
Hospital in Indianapolis. He is a gentle,
lG-nl ma mid .,ffL
daughters and yirago mother-in-law de-
picied by Laura Joyce Bell. to escape the
abuse of whom the doctor seeks consola-
tion and affection in a clandestine mar
riage with the Widow Bunce and il is
through this clandestine marriage that
many of the contretemps and much of the
humor With which the play abounds is ex-
tracted- Among the ladies and gentlemen
OF the supporting cast are the following
weH-known artists The Misses Jennie
kennard. Mabe Strickland. Viola Miles,
Marguerite Owen. Marie Dudley Jean
nette Spencer. Amy Mandy, Ethel Vance
and the Messrs. George LIE Bras. Frank
NlrrVo