The times., 1897-05-23


pany.
II is sad to see the veracity OF old saws
controverted and even disproved. There
is supposed TO he something infallible in a
pToverb, and infallibilty is reverent. So
when an anciently supposed truism turns
inside out and shows that there was
nothing in it one is supposed TO weaken a
trirIe on all the other saws in the cata
logue.
There is that dear old sa ying, Coming
events cast their shadows before" Who
ever doubted it? But here are the facts.
Last sunday the prospects Were that five
theaters would sail merrily through the
summer in the shade of success and famed
by prosperity. The game six little some
things sitting on a fence, one fell off and
then there were five, was supposed To have
ended with the Nationals closing lastuight.
But instead two fell off, and now 10y ali the
veracity of 'rithmetic there are but four
left
Thursday night the Buckler and Butler
Stock Company No 1 played for the last
time at the Grand Opera House, and to-
OF sydney Grundy's Irresistible farce by
the Buci,ler and BuGler STOCK Company No.
2" Neither will the Cummings Stock
Company any longer continue to rlay at
the Academy, although they arrived with
excess baggage i'll the shape of indorse-
ments from Louisville and neither OF
these pnrtcntous events cast even the
faintest possible shadow before. The
"a with
ness and secure assurance that both com
panies Were doing beautifully, that the
productions thrilled and deli ghted the
audiences and that the broad vista of the
future, as they say in high school orationS
was plainly stTewn with roses without 50
much as q gle thorn.
So, what's the good of believing in
proverbs? Away with them. They're pleas
ant fctions and possess alluring alli-
terativc ring, but they're no barometer of
Washington summer Companies. The Of
flee Toy, who is an optimistic lad anil
loves n.elodrama, says that the shadnw
was there, that is, ''cast before;" that he
last week visited 10th the Academy and
the Grand, and there was no indi-
cation that the treasurer was over
worked counting up the receipts. BE says
that was the shadow. Perhaps. There is
very apt TO be division OF bulk when
seven theaters are turning every stone 10
attract pa irons from the other.
SO far as receipts went, the Lafayette,
Columbia, National and Kernan's captured
the bulk, or at least what Of bulk there
was. The last week at the National was
quite satisfactory, considering that they
gave an unreasonable attraction at un-
seasonablc prices 1t was not only the
last week OF the winter season at this
theater, but the close Of the Julia Mar
lowe and Robert Taber season, and the end
of their artistic partnership.
This partnership has been an interest
ing study in the destruction Of trade
mark and the submersion of n star to the
ambition OF leading man. At first, Julia
Marlowe starred by herself and promised
great achievements. The she married
Robert Taher, and Immediately the sub
line appeared in all the advertising sup
ported by Robert Taber.' The sublime
grew in inky promise andmeantime we were
introduced to Julia Marlowe-Taber The
the words supported by'' Were erased,
and we had a new pair OF stars, Julia
MarIowe Taber and Robert Taber.''
The next chance in this Kaleidoscope af-
fair was the announcement of 'Mr. and
Mrs Robert Taber." Pretty Julia Mar
lowe was sohliterated, butthe public rehciled.
The new firm hadn't the prestige OF the
old trademark The end of this season
saw Ieversion to the old title, Julia
Marlowe and Robert TabeT, y and next year
viii restore Julia Marlowe, serene and
alone again. Mr.. Taber will flock by niuI-
self OF course, this is simply the CONNER
cial side of an artistic partnership. In
their domestic relations they are as happy
and united as they ever were. and they
have always been looked upon as the model
Couplc of the profession.