The times., 1898-12-25

was passing away and that the only
method of establishing her popularity in
| this country was to force her into the
| rank of the musical comediennes-to nut
her on level with Ollie Redpath. Mar
guerite Sylvia. George Caine. Clara Lin
man and Gladys Wallis. TO do this he
bought large interest in THE French
Maid and placed her in that organiza-
ton as its star. How so talented a
laugh provoker as Charles Bigeiow f.It
regarding this move is a mystery. And
YET the attempt has been wretched
failure.
Last week Miss Held had everything
In her favor. Lines had been cut and
rewritten that she might appear to great
er advantage Never did she lose the
center OF the stage: not for an instant
did the calcium leave her. Sne was fur
nished with magnificent costumes. and
yet she proved an undnubted failure
The action dragged when she was on the
boards and did not regain its accustomed
rapidity until she had gone. Not that
Miss Held was really bad In the title role.
but that she was in no way the .uual of
her predecessors. She LACKS intelligence
utterly and evidently did what she had
peen told to do as might a parrot The
woman cannot sing u note, she cannot
dance and above all she cannot act Her
3
and viyacity of which she would be sun
posed to have so very much Were it
not that Miss Held is not clever enough
by half to keep up the deception one
would have no difficulty in persuadins
himself that she had been born no nearer
France than the Bowery and that the ac-
cent and manner of which she is Dos
sessed are only part Of gigantic decep-
ton.
Just exactly what keeps her before the
public as drawing attraction cannot be
truly estimated. or course people go to
see her because Of the reasons that make
Illuminated pictures popular in saloons
and that have transferred the nativity of
the muscle dance from Egypt TO this coun-
try. But even this cannot account for the
matter Miss Held Is more sensual than
aluring, more fat than voluptuous and
more vulgar than chic. Bald-headed old
men and cailow youths ght find interest
IN her, but why men and women OF sense
should rave over her is beyond UNDER
standing One thing is sure. The Ameri
can public Is as tickle as 1t is thoughtless.
and Miss Held's days of popularity are
numbered She had best make the most
of them while she can.
Three Of the cleverest people seen last
week at kernan's were the Washburu Sis
ters and Jack Crawford The girls are
able iiueney. while Mr.. Crawford is one OF
the few men on the variety stage who can
be Il gentleman without oyerwOrkins him
self In mis- portrayal of an artist during
the Qlio the young fellow made himself
notable for his dignifed and reserved
style, and for the absence of hOrse-play
in his methods. Time was when the eem-
bination toured together as the Washburn
sisters and Jack Crawford and then their
-rf.. nom
turn went with dash and abandon that
was wonderful and excited no end Of en-
thusias;ic applause. There are few bet
ter people on the vaudeville stage.
That "a prophet is not without honor
save in his own country does not relate
TO the newspaper treatment generally ac-
corded an actor in his own home Cus-
tom has decreed that every playe- shall
he lauded highly in the place of his birth
and the result is often fulsome praise to
those who do not deserve it in the least ,
This has not been the case with Ge1nery
Stein, local boy who has never been
given his due here. Mr.. Stein appeared
two Summers ago with the Columbia
Stock Company and made an emphatic
impression. With 2 different role in his
hands every week, he managed that all
should be as detailed and correct as they
were delightful and clever. Everything
he did was smooth and finished 10 a de-
gree and it was indeed a chilly audience
that would not give him at least one
scene call during the evening. Last week
at the Columbia this able fellow was seen
in the part formerly contributed to a
Bachelors Honeymoon by Robert Patton
Gibbs, who created the character OF Gee
ko in ''Trilby." While it would be un-
Just 10 Mr. Gibbs and his brilliant work
to say that his successor improved upon
him II would be equally unjust 10 Mr.
Stein not TO credit him with having done
quite as well as mis- predecessor. The
Washington actor played the part with a
keen realization of its possibilities, with
great heed not to overio and with 4
strong regard for national Tendencies
Few better bits have ever been seen here
and Mr.. Stein deserves for his portrayal
the utmost credit
There is the greatest difference in the
world between the methods of the English
and the American actor The latter is most
pleased when ne can declare that ne be-
came letter perfect in a part under two
DAYS time and the former is proudest to
proclaim that he has spent year on the
role he assumes. IL is her tender regard
for detail and her tremendous attention
10 petty things that makes Olga Neither
sole the eonsummate artist that she is
True. MISS NetnSfsO!e IS fortunate IN pos
sessing Il fine presence. a handsome face
and voice not only sweet, but admira-
bly, adapted to her requirements. Still
these are not her greatest charms The
star acts with her brains. just as Mrs
Fisle does, only she has not the intellect
of Mrs. Fiske and, therefore. does not act
as well. The melody of Miss Nethersole's
reading is in the thought displayed more
than anything else. and in the surety that
every accent will be placed where il be-
longs-the grace of her gestures is in the
fact that her every motion has its mean
ing Miss Nethersole is truly an artist
and her performances of last week would
not have been tedious despite their length
had not they been part plays, instead OF
monoIogues. Even the best of supporting
companies cannot make tolerable an en-
tertainment that begins slightly past
o clock and is not over until after mid
night.
TINY TALKS