The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-26
Dear Hal:
Christmas.

Dear Hal: Christmas.
I debated long and earnestly this af-
ternoon whether to accept an invita-
ticn to Christmas dinner or to go and
see Robson in 1.-THE Jucklfns." Robson
won; l had seen him once already, but
that only put an edge on my appetite.
and was like young Mr.. Twist, clam
orous for more. A singulariy beautiful
and winsome thing is this latest crea-
ton of Robson's; it leaves the same
sort OF taste in ones mouth that lin
gered there after Mayo and Herne, and
most sincerely all his Salt Lake friends
VIII trust that the other side of the
great world, whose favorable verdict
means fame and money-he is only eX-
peTimenting on the dog out here-will
take our view of it and vote the new
play a success, not that it is an ideal
condition as yet. Salt Lake is only the
second place it has been rendered, and
fancy before it has been done many
times more the actor and the author
as well, will perceive the necessity of
building up the interest in the last act
somewhat, and of making a little more
clear how and Why the governor needs
to extend young Jucklin a pardon, when
the court has just granted him new
trial. But as for RobSons delineation
of the dear old man, it needs nothing
added TO it; neither can Bill Haws be
bettered; the governor and the lawyer,
too, are clean cut characters of a
peculiarly southern type, and the sher-
iff only needs toning down a bit to
make him as distinct as the others. The
women are hardly so we'll brought out
as the men. Mrs. Robson is her old
self-and considerably more, too but
she only gets one opportunity to exer-
else her rich peal of laughter. But
we shall see her in the widow tonight
in THE Henrietta" and though her
avordupois may prevent her imparting
the old time liVeliness to the role, and
particularly Of executing that dull,
sickening thud in the brokers Office, it
won't interfere with her laugh, and
1 shall be content. Would that ] could
hold this open long enough to tell you
how Brouser Towards fine old play
goes tonight, but the mail and the
newspaper wait for no woman, and
must draw to a, close.
Only one thing disturbed the serenity
Of today's matinee, and that was the
attendance. 1t was simply beggarly.
But Mr.. Robson has only his own
policy TO blame. His advance agent
was pleaded with to reduce the prices
for the afternoon performance, but the
very idea put him in a fever Of indigna-
ton. In vain he was told that Louis
James had played to $500 matinee by
cutting his prices in two. 1t would,
said the agent, be hurting Mr.. Robson S
prestige to have it known that he
played at less than dollar rates. Well
the result was just what had been pre-
dicted; a hear frost settled over the
house. the chilly ushers huddled to-
gether to keep warm, and the frag
mentary audience seemed too lone
some to applaud. But doubtless Mr..
Robson confronted himself with the
thought THANK heaven my prestige is
safer What might have happened to
it If he had played to a damned audi
ence at half dollar per head? one
dislikes to contemplate. It reminds
one OF the case of Doctor Griswold
whose after life threatens to be haunt
ed by the reflection that he built W
his big practice by advertising.
MAEGE.