Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10
The Columbia Stock Company Holds
the Field Now.
INNOCENT As A LAMB NEXT WEEK
Some Good Stories Told About
Actors and Actresses.
FRED BONDS COMPANY

When Billy Boag was married, some little
time ago, and took to himself house in
this city he resolved that mere matter
of expense should not stand between him
and comfort, and so he furnished his home
regally. Carpets and hangings all aided
beauty to the finest of parlor and other
room sets, and the place was simply fnde-
scribable after the workmen were through.
Then Billy got down to detail, and that
gave tone to the whole. Each Of the panels
In the house held tiny mirror the rods
Ior the curtains were chased with gold
ana finally the door knobs were wonders
of the locksmith's art. That is, most of
them were. Billy determined that If the
back rooms were SO decorated, the front
door should be ahead of them So he got
spring lock with gilt knob for the top
of the door and another for the bottom,
and third for the middle. Then he got
bolt with chain, which you had to hold
down while opening the door, and a fine
polished mahogany knob to turn the latch
These were all covered with chiseled
flowers and polished to marvel. Oh they
were the nobbiest set of knobs you ever
saw! Billy was simply wild with delight at
his own power of decoration He called his
wife to see them, and she praised them
Then she left the room, closing the door
behind her, and Billy stood In the quiet of
the parlor and looked them all over Final
ly he remembered some things he had to
take upstairs, and, loading them in his
arms, started to go. But he got no further
than the door. With his hands full the
latch knob was all he could attend to- and
the desperate pulls he gave that had no
more effect on 1t than the oaths he threw
against 1t. All the smaller latches held
fast, and would not consent to turn with
the big one. Billy went back to the table
and put down all his bundles and then re-
turned to the door, With one hand he
grasped the middle knob, and with the
other the lower one and pulled until the
door creaked, but in vain. The center and
the upper locks and both the bolts held.
Then Billy put his knee against the center
knob, after turning It, and by doing the
splits managed to grasp the upper and the
other center catches. Still no use He
caught one of the chains in his mouth and
pulled, but without effect. There were six
locks on that door. and a man to be sue
cessfu in opening it must have six hands.
The minute Billy let go one lock for an
other that one flew back in place, and by
no human skill could he control all of them
at once. BY this time the perspiration
was rolling down his immobile brow-and If
you have noticed, Billy has forehead like
cow-and the oaths he swearing
would have qualified him for any profess
sion in this wide world. He lay On the
floor and fairly turned the air blue with
the indigo quality of his words. And then
an idea struck him. He got up delighted.
His wife was outside the door hurrying
him, as much prisoner outside as he was
in, and totally unable to aid him. But why
delay? Billy had an idea. In his pocket
was a bit of string, and with this he pulled
the lower chain up and the upper one down
and tied them together. A bit OF chewing
gum held the middle knob fast and per-
formed a like service for the upper ones.
Then he very quietly turned the last two,
it was exasperating. But that night Billy
took off all but one of the fancy knobs,
and if you mention this story to him he
will cuss in thirteen different languages
including English.
Miss Grayce Scott is an enthusiastic
wheelwoman, but last year, when she first
took up the manly art, some cruel joker
played a trick upon her that came very
near turning her against the bicycle all
together. This frend-a local writer, by the
way-absolutey abhors all bikes. as well
as those who ride them, especially If they
happen to be women He simply has hor-
ror of seeing a girl seated on 2x4 seat,
wheel in front and one behind, her eyes
fixed straight ahead of her and both legs
and timber jaws moving steadily going down
the street.-the observed of all observers.
He tried hard to persuade Grayce to give
up her intention but to no avail. Who ever
heard of a girl with the wheeling fever
ever being cured by anything but death or
poverty? At last the friend gave up In de-
spair and determined that as last resort
his plan of showing Grayce how masculine
happened that the day after the little
tress got her wheel she received thirty
circulars advertising everything In mans
wearing apparel-shoes, via trousers, to
hats The next day there were hundred
and eight, setting forth the merits of shaw
ing soap, razors, mustache combs and
chest protectors Two hundred and ninety
ads. for such things as cuffs and collars,
neckties and shirts followed. BY this time
Grayce had become pretty tired OF opening
her mall She was unable to tell the adj
vertising matter from her personal letters
and the strain actually began to wear oil
her nervous system. At last way of
stopping the flow struck her, and 1t was
faithfully carried out. Every single letter
she got, unless in the handwriting of a
friend was treated to her system-her
name scratched out and her tormentors
substituted. Grayce has no Idea what he
thought, but he was fairly beaten, and
within week the influx OF men adVertls-
ing matter stopped
There is a project to have an al fresco
performance of "Ingomar" at Glen Echo,
only, instead of having the representation
absolutely in the open air, 1T will take
place on the big stage OF the amphltheater,
which will be decorated with trees and
palms, as to appear veritable forest.
1t Is understood that Robert Downing and.
Miss Eugene Blair will sustain the lead
ing roles. and the other characters will
be acted by competent people who are
now visiting in this city. Such an enter
prise ought to succeed, for there Is always
a charm about such performances greater
than that which attaches to ordinary stage
representations. One Of the most attrac-
tive of this kind that was ever presented
here was LAS You Like It," given under
the direction of Mr.. Charles B. Hartford
at Marshall Hall some years ago. Miss
Alberta Gallatin, now the leading lady at
the Columbia Theater. was the Rosalind
on that occasion, and she did charmingly.
Persons who have not made practical ex-
periments would not believe how cool the
mana gers of the Columbia manage to keep
their coy little theater. On the hottest
night last week. when 1t was really an eff
fort to stir around, persons who summoned
up enough energy to get to the theater for
got all about their previous discomfort in
the enjoyment of the excellent perform
ance Of "A Scrap Of Paper" OF course the
lowering OF the temperature in the theater
is due to the cooling plant, which, by fore
ing draught of air through a sort of a re-
frigerator and Their into the auditorium, is
directly responsible for the GOODNESS of the
house. But there is after all great deal
due to suggestion. The very sigh. OF the
fountain playing merrily in the center OF
the lobby Is cooling and refreshing, and