The times., 1897-06-06

II the man who comes thus nationally,
without the mote of the ideal in his eye,
he VIII find that by all the averages OF
supply and demand, taste and support,
Washington has at this time a series of
entertainments more nearly proportioLed
to the capacity of the city than at any
other time since the playhauses hegan to
juggle with the multiplication table, and
thus play havoc with their bank accounts.
There is something for every taste
There is refined comedy and drama sfor
those who desire to sit within its radius;
there IL opera for the musical; there IS
hiai-class vaudeville for those who like
entertainment saEs reason, but also sans
smoke. liquor and yulgarity. and then there
is that popular and necessary form of
vaudeville which plays havoc with con-
ventionality, and washes down well with
Liquor. and is garish when not sifted
thEough a Ilaze Of smoke.
Four -theaters are enough. More is too
many The entertainments given are not
ideal. Spare the mark. Let the idealist
come not to the playhouse. But they are
all good. They are of that degree of COM
parison, which is neither positive, com
parative, or superlatiye, for they are not
merely good, nor are they better than all,
or even best, but they are excellent, adj
mirabe, sufficient. And the tax is reason
able 1t is actually astonishing how such
diverting provender can be provided at
the price. That is the PROVIDERS problem.
But the idealist, If he Will average, a
concession rarely granted, that, hal
ancing price and quality, the latter vastly
outweighs the former, and the approach
60 his disideratum is only hampered by
the necessary evil of the financial problem
I
Make the Found of the theaters this week
1t is worth while. At the Columbia you
will find "a degree OF enterprise There vii
be found the first American production of
. rafting farce, which, like Charley S
Aunt" has kept LONDON Laughing ever since
IL was produced. It is called "His Little
Dodge Sounds good, doesn't it? E E.
Rice bought IL, but the Columbia executed
a coup lie theater and the patrons get the
benefit in brand-new novelty. With it
will be PLAYED a one-acter. "One Touch OF
Nature You will be surprised Mt the
people They are all artists, competent
masters of the technique OF their craft, gen
tlefnen and ladies who are found at the
head Of the most choice companies or tour
In winter time and at highest prices
| He sticders for melody, HE to the La
fayette There is a company of nearly half
a hundred Each is endowed witha na,ur5l
gift which makes himin demand Theman-
agemeut pays each his price, they provide
q large orchestra, each week new scenery
is painted 10 please the eye, each Wetines-
day roses are given to win the good viii of
the ladies, each Monday a new opera is
given, completely realizing the hard re-
hearsals You can't SIX more. The singers
you find there are those you have paid
double the price for often and cheerfuly
tn winter. The operas are those hieh
the stamp of success has raised beyond the
indecision oftrials Doyou like the comiaue,
they can give il, or if you prefer the nobler
and moreimpressive strains of grand ppera
watch the bills tits within the possiii!ii ties
of the company. This week tits the pretty
little jingling trifle, The Little Tycocn''
But you are weary of drama and opera.