The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-11


Eerns's engagement last Sunday. when
The actor-suthor- ager-lscturer moved
himself from the Seattle theafer Up 10 the
Tsnird Avenue thsate-. where he lectured
on tire question OF single tax OF wnicn
theory. cult or whatever IL may De, Mr..
Eerne is devout follower. In any po-
s1tion Ar. Herne is an interesting figure
The decided cleanliness Of the mans phi
vats life. his undou5ted mental equip
nent. his talent as an actor. and the 20
sitlon be occupies In the theatrical world. :
and as a lecturer on political or econo-
mic questions. all contribute 10 the max
Ing % personality that IL Is pleasure
and privilege 10 meet. or even 10 see
and listen 10. AS a lecturer, Mr.. Herne
Is impressive and convincing. and there
Is no question as 10 the earnestness OF his
intentions. as ne argues. from q business
standpoint. that an espousal OF one side
or the other OF = question upon which
the country Is divided In opinion operates
against his success as an actor. ana taat
the careful business man would refrain
from expressing himself in any way that
might offend any portion OF the clientele
OF an actor whose province is TO anuse or
instruct without offending ! believe that
Mr.. Herne Is the only one who holds to
this idea / am sure that those OF his
company with whom discussed the mat
ter. differ with him. They say that IN
occurring on the subject OF single tax Mr..
Herne makes himself conspicuous IN
movement that may or may not be great.
and BY so doing interests others In him
who are thus compelled TO accept aim
seriously; others who are not usually dis
posed to consider the stage as the really
serious institution that It is.
Personally, Mr. Herne Is fine man WIKI
a fine mind. who is an altogether delient-
fgi and eompanionable one 10 meet and an
ornament TO an ornamental calling. He
not only writes good plays himself. but
encourages other American authors TO do
the same thing. AS member of the
Actors Society OF America, Mr.. Herne
Is going 10 play a part In Capt. Kings
new American drama, Fort f'rayne."
Hardly had the seats In the auditorium
grown cold from the crowd that went TO
hear Mr.. Herne's lecture before another
big audience found its way into the Third
Avenue theater. the occasion being the re-
turn Of that popular farce-eomedy, Town
Topics" which came TO pay visit OF
week. The occasion also marked the arst
tine since the announcement that the Sc
attic theater had become a popular price
house that the two places of amusement
were brought into direct competition,
each having a popular price attraction.
l do not think that the test was fair
one. as Town Topics" with good repu-
tatlon as Il musical comedy, full OF girls
and songs and music and high kicks,
came against Albini, the magician. who.
while eminently clever himself has the
unfortunate faculty OF surrounding him
self with an Indifferent support that de-
tracts from what might be a good vaude-
vile performance, instead of making Al
bini stand out conspicuously. as IL is
evidently his desire 10 do There are
II q r11
some changes have been made since IL
was here four months ago that contribute
To the betterment OF the piece. What
originally constituted something that
stood for a plot has been almost entirely
lost the management having wisely de-
cided that specialties were more desirable
than plot, no matter how meaningless
the plot might be. For this decision the
public is duly grateful, as Town Topics
Is better than It was before.
Between the two houses, as far as bus
mess went there was no comparison AL
bini. nightly joking himself on the sparse
attendance. Town Topics held up well
during the week. and concluded its week
last night. Messrs. Kennedy and Miller
have decided 10 play again tonight al the
Third Avenue theater, opening tomorrow
In Tacoma at the Tacoma theater for the
week.
Remembrance OF La Loie Fuller are
contained IN the announcement that la
Fuller. one OF La Loe's dancing sisters,
Is 10 open at the Seattle theater for a
week. giving the same performance that
the protese OF Ii Hung Chang gave here
few months ago.
- :. -
The entire country Is being worked up
by editorial spasms on the subject OF the
big theatrical tr'sst OF which I spoke some
tire ago and upon which Manager Cal
Heilig turned the bunch Eight in an inter-
view I'm which he registered himself as be-
ing against It. There has been a deal OF
talk on the subject or the syndicate and
am told that a form OF procedure against
the combine will be under the antitrust
law. AS things are at present Mr.. Hay
man. sitting In that back Office OF the En-
pire theater building. New York. is mas
ter Of the situation. majority OF the i'm
portant thea ters and stars of the country
pay tribute TO him and 20 his associates.
while those remaining outside the sheep
fold End Il difficult 10 book their time prof
ltably. Quite naturally this unusual com
bination OF circumstances excitcs many
conflicting emotions. Those who profit By
tho alliance are loud in its praise, and
some are almost % the opinion that Mr.
Iiayman should be canonfzed for the great
benefits he has conferred upon the theat-
Ftcsl guild.
Both Messrs Kennedy and Miller Of the
Town Topics company arc in favor OF
the syndicate control Of affairs and cite
fo- example their purchase OF the hie
New York success. ''1fe2 " which they will
tour the big cities with next year. Both
affirm that the syndicate saves them
great deal q trouble Il flIs all % their
tlme - the best houses and they can I'D
dress themselves 20 other matters in re-
latlOu 70 their tour. But this opinion g.
Gct shared by those who are left out IN the
cold. They affirm with great warmth OF
rhetoric that the syndicate IS trust. or
ERnlzed 10 restraint OF fair competition
and having as is basis uot only a selfish
bat AZ Illegal purpose. As trusts are ex-
tremoly unpopular just nov, the public T.
Inclined 70 look askauCe al The dotnes o.
Mr.. Hsyman, and 20 inquire with Some in
ierest whether he f. really established as
ascsator. 20 whom Rll VINO SO not wish 20
ce crushed must aunbly bow
sir. Davis Of the Columbia theater Chi
caro, wno IL Mr.. Haymau's Chicago part
Ger. says that there Is 30 thought o. "a
dictatorship. and no Intention OF driving Go
tac wall t6Cse who do nos pas tribute 60
caesar. The intention Is. be says. O. ss-s-
teFnatiRe the business. enforce contracts
1nd seraanlze the bookings in SUCH man
rer that there shall be no clash II irter-
cstS 81 ans point Attractions suited &C.
one ,hestsr are not always appropriately
placed in anoi her house ana this point
-ae syndicate is supposed 20 consider
Thus. ln Chicago the comedies are sent 10
slao.evs an1 ths spectacular shows and
ceu.-c aprres ta TIRE Columbia an arrange
ntot believed 20 Re profitable 10 each. No
aouof tsts ls AN exec .ea. plan for the
taFatEr4 se question. h4s fha other thea