Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-30

| them in a sea of complications, and al
| times serious situations, which not only
engulf them, but himself.
! Its personages are people we meet every
day. There is a practical young BUSINESS
man and his pretty wife, who IS vain
and coquettish; a retired sea captain ana
his wife. a popular novelist, and an
amply proportiOncd divorced lady, about
10 try matrimony a second time; head
strong cirl. and an artis, Of ordinary
/ intellectual capacity. who has an exceed
ingly good heart and VINO IS gwen 10
meddung with other peoples a1aiIs. ~
course the moral shown is that one
should mind his own business and let
his neighbours alone.
Mr.. Thomas has supplied the players
who peoule his cast with irnumerable oO4-
mots, bright and witty speeches ara
epicramuatical phrases which. while
bearing he stamp of the French schooi.
do not MS is usual in those imported
MANUSCRIPTS. offend i'm their delivery.
Added interest in Nh RObson's engage
meut will doubtless be found In the nam s
NJ his supporting company, which IN
cludes more notable players than are
usually called upon 10 support star IN
tie exploitation OF play. Ihey aie
Harold Russell Theodore Babcock.
George Pauncefort, Theodore Hamilton
Mrs. Stuart Robson, Maudc Granger ser
trude Perry, and Marie Burroughs, VINO
has been repeatedly acknowledged not
only as an actress of ability, but also one
OF the most beautiful leading ladies' the
American stage claims to-day.
"a HIRED GIRL"
Charles +. Blaney has been responsible
for a number of funny skts. but his best
effort is said to be "a Hired Girl" Which
will be seen at the Academy -.-sday
night. The piece is a satire on tfe SER
vant-girl question, but there Is also
wel-defned plot, which brings out the
troubles of a German professor Of music
at Vassar, who had foolishly contracted
a secret marriage before coming 10 this
country. Having been wrongly advised
that his first wife was dead, he married
again. and thereby placed himself in the
hands Of an unprincpled schemer, who
had been his chum al college. The hlred
girl helps him out Of some OF his dill
nculties, but succeeds IA involving him in
many more. The music of the piece,
which was written by Harry James, is
said TO be very pretty. In addition 10
the latest popular songs, selections from
current operas are introduced Among
the leading members of the company are
Thomas j. Ryan. who plays the part Of
the hired girl; Happy Fanny Fields Ed
wilma, Annie and Charles Checkers. Camp
bell and Beard. and numerous other
artists.
IN VAUDEVILLE RANKS.
The old "legit." who signs for the painy
days of old. will no doubt sroan aloud
when he hears that tho vaudeville has
captured another OF his school. the latest
az dition TO its ranks being Frank c.
Bangs the only living member OF the
great Shakcspcarean quartette, Booth, !
Bangs. Davenport. and Barrett. Yes,
Frank G. Bangs will soon enter voudcVilc,
appearing in onf-act play called Ike
united" written For him by Charles
Meyins. the author-actor. The scene is
laid IN this State. and the plot involves
q very pretty little love story, in which
the civil war plays a prominent part
Max Eugene. who has a repertoire OF
seventy operas, which he can sing In
German acd English. is also another who
has joined the army of vaudeville people
and T. singing at Pr0ctOr's. Sow the
question seems 20 BE- If, instead Of these
artists falling TO the level OF vaudeville
they are not elevating the patrons of this
forms or amusement 20 their plane? For,
Mr.. Eugene In his turn is singing
classi2a, selections, and he says that here
after he wiz even try Nagnerian pieces
On nus dNuItncts as an experiment. IHcu, .
too, The sketches which the high-class
artists who have left the legitimate for
the vaudeville stage are now producing
ca the latter do got smack Of the low
comedy element bur are simply vehicles
which serve 10 display their talents
TO best advantage, and f. them may be
seen some really clever bits of acting.
Statistics gathered this season show one
significant fact. that is the increase by
100 per cent. Of stock companies This
should be hailed with delight by those
who che ash yhe hope that there may be
! return 10 the stock system. and with
I renewed interest in the drama. The
statistics also show that the number OF
companies cassed as dramatic" has in
reased while there are not as many
omedy companies and comic-opera organ
cations as last season.
NOTES OF INTEREST.
long-distance speech was made last
week by Randolph Hartley TO a company
n Denver. and which Is soon to open In