Evening star., 1898-02-19

way this week has been 1.-The Circus Girl"
which has done an excellent business
at the National Theater. This presentation
of the musical comedy. as it is called, Is
an exceptional illustration Of a second
company being as good as the original.
When ii was produced at Daly's the cast
included Nancy Mcintosh. Virginia Earle
and Jimmy Powers. Neither one is in the
present company, but the people who as
sumo the parts originally taken by them
are fully as good, with the exception of
Miss Fabbris, who takes Miss McIntosh's
role. On the other hand, Under the Red
Robe which is at the Lafayette Square
Opera House. demonstrates the usual OBJ
lection to No 2 companies. The Milk
White Flag Company at the Academy
is another evidence Of the usual weakness
Of second companies.
Next week there will be Frank Daniels
in his new opera, The Idols Eye which
has made such a pronounced success wher-
ever it has been seen, and which will prob
ably crowd the Columbia Theater; The
Girl From Paris" at the Lafayette Square,
and 1t IS TO be hoped that the action has
been toned down somewhat since it's for
mer visit, and Digby Bell, who has develop
ed into sterling comedian, in "A Hoosier
at the Academy and variety at the Lyceum
ard Bijou.
While Digby Bell. in company with his
wife, was a passenger on one of the Fall
river boats, en- route to Boston from New
York. some months ago, they occupied one
of the deck state rooms on the starboard
side of the Pilgrim. In contra-distinction
to Mr.. Bells possession of nerve force,
Mrs. Bell is OF an exceedingly nervous tenn
permanent. always anticipating evils, a thor
ough alarmist. which is painfully evident
on water trips, and on the short ride to
Boston Mrs. Bells weakness in this par
ticular was markedly manifested. she on
this occasion being particularly fearful on
account of the crowded condition of the
boat combined with a rather high sea while
rounding Point Judith
Mrs. Bell occupied the lower berth In the
state room. while Digby was snugly and
safely ensconced in the upper. and at about
o'clock in the morning. while peacefully
sleeping and dreaming of conQuests to be
achieved in the city of beans. he was rudely
awakened by Mrs Bells hand grasping
him and her voice trembling with fear say
ing: 'Digby, Digby, for heavens sake
wake up. we're in a dense fog; the ship
has run aground: the water is pouring into
the holes made by the rocks and the donkey
engines are pumping: but the water is fast
gaining upon them" Digby raised himself
In his berth. listened for a few moments to
the scurrying feet of the sailors on the up
per deck above his head. the hoarse cries
of the officers, the response of the men, and
the steady throbbing of the donkey engines
on the lower deck. and. becoming convinced
that his wife's fears for once were. like the
ship. well grounded. quickly invested Mrs.
Bell into two life preservers. and. drawing
on his trousers. shoes and overcoat, rushed
upon the deck.
In his absence Mrs. Bell hurriedly gath
cred together everything portable, hastily
tied them in Mr.. Bells macintosh. and at
tached that to another life preserver and
as Mr. Bell. returning from his investiga-
ton. reopened the door of the state room
turned TO him with blanehed cheek and
trembling voice and inquired: Can we be
saved?''
Digby quickly divested himself of his
outer garments and without word sprang
back into his berth. Mrs. Bell alarmingly
cried: For Gods sake, do not keep me
in suspense; tell me the worst What is
the situatiOn?"
With long. whitening glance. Digby
turned his face to the wall and in ironical
tones said: Tied to the dock at Newport
taking off freight
An interval of few minutes elapsed and
then white, slender hand reached into
the upper berth and a small. very small
voice broke the stiffness of the cabin and
said, II suppose I shall never hear the
end OF this. which was responded to from
the upper berth with the single ejaculation,
Never"
Since this episode. which occurred last
spring. whenever Mrs. Bell attempts to
draw upon her nervous forces, or gives
voice to an expression of fear over some
slon which is happily effective in complete
ly checking further advances, and that ex-
preston Is Tied to the dock"
Frank Daniels Is greatly Interested In ,b.
QueStitn, Shall another bird be subs.i-
tEted Tor the eagle as our national bird 90
"hlch question now and t!en plays a brief
engagement before the public To some
friends Daniels held forth the other night
In New York in this fashion:
Wniie 1 admit that people who have ex-
ahmed but specifically the question may
differ as to what bird should be s,hsti
eu. Il
gwen Inc question even the slightest con-
slderation can do otherwise than answer
the question Itself in the affirmative And
for this reason. We are a PROGRESSIVE ma
tioh. Inc man wfc does not progress lags
behind We are not in il unless we keen
up with the procession. For instance. /
care say could have made another barrel
OF money had / continued to piay The
wizard Of the Nile" this year. but should
have been behind the times If l had not
oome out with something new Hence.
The Idols Eye" SO 1t Is with the ma
ticnal bird. The eagles shrek NAV be
good music Tor these vino like shrieks L
do not object now and then TO a shrek or
two myself. In fact. / have been wanting
TO hear the eagle Shrek ever since the Gu
ban war began, but apparently the bird
fas lost its Voice. Besides. this bird has
grown bald-headed i'll the service and is
emitted 20 seat in the front row, while
some other bird takes the stage.
hat bird do | favor? Well sirs I'll
tell you ii ndmc you a bird that not only
hatn music 10 charm the savage breast
and beauty 10 satisfy the eye, but yields
fruit IN Its season, and in times of depres-
slon' when our currency system gets the
rheumatism and fails To circulate Yields
up Its body to nourish mankind. l refer,
friends all, 10 that noble bird commonly
known as the Darnyard fowl. Only / don't
Ike the word fowl, so i call 1t a bird. What
Is grander. nobler, than his strut? What
nEsic Is s%eeter than the ROSTERS crow
especially at the witching hour of night
serding forth the message Of 'Alrs weIl?'
What IS more rourishing tnan the fresh
egg or the hen? What is swceter than
their flesh when properly prepared? No,
do not admit that my proposition necessi-
tates two birds What l want is a COM
rlete bird male bird is no more a COM
plete bird than male human is a COM
plete human 1t takes a man and female
10 make complete human. So 1t is with
bird Therefore, rooster and a hen are
in reality but one bird. Moreover besides
being useful in the manner set forth this
complete bird would be a national symbol
Of the soul, SO TO sreak. of that most sa-
rred spot on eartE-the home. All hail
therefore. say i, TO the substitution of the
complete barryarj bird for the present
yoiceless variety of the species"
The theater-going public is much indebted
for the amusement that has been offered
TO them for the past twenty years by Ed.
ward r Rice fareunct ,ro5,ca- :.