Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-23

Wilton Lackayes new play, THE Royal
Secret The name of the young lady who
is said to lay claim to physical and facial
supremacy among the blondes in the world
of the stage will be known by the name
of Brtta Griffin, which. of course. is as
sumed, her real name being secretly Kept
from the public because her family does
not feel that an actress is an acquisition to
the home circle 1t may be said. however,
that she is the relative of a politician whose
name is known to every newspaper reader
in this country. and he is directly connected
with the nomination and election Of the
President of the United States who is now
holding office.
Miss Griffin is young lady only eighteen
years of age. of education and social posi-
ton. She is graduate with honors from
Vassar College, and has taken to the stage
for reasons OF amusement. as necessity to
earn her own living has never entered
into her calculations or those of her par
ents- 1t is not likely that she Will ever
crave for a crust of bread to stave on
starvation feel the necessity of subject
ing her innate timidity to ask aims in the
street as she is an heiress. whose annual
income. without any deductions being made,
is S1;0Vo a year.
The present is her first professional en-
gagement. She undoubtedly has marked
talent otherwise she would not have been
engaged to fill an important part in the
play. Mr.. Lackaye Is severe critic ana
now that he is at the head of his own COM
pany. he would not tolerate the presence
of anybody not capable of doing full JUS
tee to the dramatic exigencies of the char
acter he is cast for.
very pretty little story is told of the
reason why Miss Griffin sought the stage.
1t is said that Miss Griffin, with college
chum. upon graduation from Vassar con-
sidered taking up course OF dramatic IN
struction. In jocular mood and in the
spirit of haunting her friend. Miss Griffins
classmate offered to wager with her the
large sum of 100000 that she would make
greater success than she as an actress
The bet was accepted by Miss Griffin. and
at the end of one years time the spoils will
be given to the one most entitled to them.
Miss Griffin says she expects to win the
S10.W0. and il she should lose the wager
she will give her friend close contest at
any rate.
In order that she VIII appear to the best
advantage in her part. Miss Griffin sent
to the Paris modistes fer her wardrobe
for THE Royal Secret
With the farewell performance of
Glover by the Castle Square Opera Com
pany at the Columbia Theater tonight,
comes the close of long season of sue
ceSsful opera in Washington; successful in
every way particularly on the two great
sides Of the question of success-excellence
in the works presented and good business.
1t is with considerable regret that the
theIter going public sees the Castle Square
Company depart and It is hoped that the
orga MIA ton will see its way clear TO come
back again and put on some more favorite
works in the same style that has given 1t
its high reputation here. There are many
light operas that have not been touched
UPON by the company, and their revival
could only be followed by the greatest
measure of success. 1t Is to be hoped and
expected that. in the event the company
does return here at some future date. 1t
will bring back with 1t the same efficient
and well trained chorus and the same
strong list of principals that constituted
Of ola NC in
success.
Quite a little comment in the New York
papers has been occasioned by the some
what peculiar arrangement and makeup OF
the ensemble of the Banda Rosa. and as It
differs considerably from that of our
American bands list of the instruments
as given in the custom house inventory
when the band landed October IL. is here
given: 8 flutes. ! oboe. IA clarinets,
piccola bass clarinets. saxophones,
fagotts comets. / tenor trombone, 3
bombardincs. hcrns. clavicornets,
trombones, basso bombardinos. !
tympany, 2 cymbals. 5 bells. tom-tom, 1
bass drum and small drums
From a scenic view point. there are
few plays that have presented a more I'M
pressive or a more Economically sympa-
tnetic picture than that furnished in the
last scene of Tess of the DUrbervilles.
where an artistic adaptation of the Druid
ical ruin of Stonefenge at dawn furnishes
a fitting setting for the climax of the Ill
fated love of Tess and Angel Clare. This
picture has potent effect in the conclud-
Ing incident of the drama.
Marie DRESSER is authority for the fol-
lowing: IT'S all very we'll to look around
for a white horse soon a girl hoves
In sight whose capillary adornment Is of
the brick-dust tint, but how often would
you succeed in focusing your visual sense
on foal of that species Of quadrupad
whose hirsute adornment in any way re-
sembies the beautiful?
Come to think of 1t, has anybody ever
seen white colt?'
Quite n history is connected with the re-
nowned MagEini violin with which Henri
Marteau has delighted thousands of adj
mirrors. Originally il belonged to the En-
perors of Austria, then Maria Theresa pre-
serted the instrument to favorite Bel
gian violin!st by the name of kennis, and
the violin remained in the Kennis family
many years after the death of the artist.
until Leonard. who was the possessor of q
magnificent Stradivarius. which he had
used for number of years, grew tired of
this instrument. and one day asked De
Beriot, the great violinst, whether he did
not know OF a fine violin for him, when De
Beriot told Leonard of this famous instru-
meEt owned by the Kennis family Leon
ard saw the instrument. played upon 1t,
and was so enchanted by At that he bought
II then and there. After the death of Leon
ard the violin was promised to Divide Mu-
sin, but as he was not willing to pay ten
thousand francs for II to Nine. Leonard,
she sent telegram to Marteau stating
that he could hav, the instrument Mar
teau fairly rushed TO the house of Nine
Leonard. paid the ten thousand francs,
and left, happy boy in the possession of
the precious article.
Mr.. Francis Wilson's enjoyable perform
ance of Half King" has much in IT that
is admirable in the way of stage pictures,
but the one particular scene that must ap-
peal to the artistic eye is the second act
when the whole stage is filled with a BODY
of ladies and gentlemen In court costumes
of the eighteenth century. The harmony
of color seems perfect. and the delicate
tints of the changeable silks and satins
the quaint high white wigs and the soft
lights thrown upon them create an effect
rarely seen on the stage or OF.
The latest London and New York success.
''Sha1l We Forgive Herr" is announced for
early presentation in this city. The piece
was given its American production some
weeks ago at the Fourteenth Street Thea
ter. New York. and was pronounced an
emphatic success. The play Is a domestic
comedy drama dealing with life in the col