davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1899-11-19

the corn itself must enter into the pur-
chase of the second. AT the beginning
Of the season the country was seriously
threatened with a food Of Jewish plays
The rearing OF the waters was heard
through dozens of press agents Regular
LheatregoaTs began moving their minds 70
the hlgd ground of Impartial observation.
This met3phCHc food finally narrowed
down to the production of three HebFaic
dramas-Zanswills Children OF the Ghet-
10, Heyermaus The Ghetto" and Ed
"in Arden's "ZOrah. All were presented
under the best conditions. When offered
they mad been talked about ana written
about increasingly. And yet none OF the
trio now is on the road. The fact of The
matter is hat only rarely can d piece be
made successful through its treatment of
new or forbidden subjects. 4 work Of that
sort achieves popularity not because it is
Greek or japanese, but because iJ is hu-
man. really strong play cannot fail
merely because II concerns the Jews. and
really weak one cannot become profitable
for that reason. These three examples
could boast of nothing beyond their themes
and they are TO be closed. Some day an
author VIII discover the possibilities ia the
Febraic race, and forgetting everything
but those possibilities. viii evolve prod
uct that viii make hiIn famous. But this
individual VIII not be he who seeks to ax-
hibit religious rites nor yet be who's chief
labor is the Instruction of press agent
Ten days ago Julia Arthur stopped a
performance of More Than Queer" al the
Broadway long enough tC rebuke and have
elected noisy box party. And now the
members OF that company have brought
suit against ;he star. In this emergency,
which so singIlaTly recalls an article pub
lished in last Sundays Times the sympa-
bies CT the average thedtreg0er viii %
with the actress. Miss Arthur might have
adopted course more c0usjderate. if less
likely TO prov-ds newspaper publicity. but.
cH the Other hand. the individual VINO at
tends the play seemingly only fer the pur-
pose Of making a nuisance OF himself or
herself. deserves very little consideration.
IJ is TO he hoped that Miss Arthur wins
Esr case. and that subsequent box pJrtie5
VIII profit by the example of Jhis one.
The perfect work Of John Blair and mis-
associates on Friday afternoon at the
National Theatre must do away Wih many
vague ideas that have been held here re-
sardins the performance. Tx newspaper
criticisms are seen or EN- husiasts heard
these people viii learn that Mr. Blair is
neither devoted 10 q iad drama nor he
disciple of one that appeals to the intel
lsct at the expense Of The elndtiOus. The
young stars presentations merely are rrl-
ductioHs for Intelligent audiences The
distinction between the plays given and
other plays is i'm the fact that I5seu. Su-
dermann, EchsTgaray, Haupt. ard thair
followers have refused 20 make -occss-
sions to the requirements which mn Tn-
educated pusiic laay or may not insist
upon. The only Immediate h0Pe for hoe
I who expect soon 20 be rid 0t comedy re-
iiefs' and juvenile lovers and such clap
trap is in d movement like ths-l Eis-
{ sicaary movement. 1t is regretlabie chat
John Blair's sermon was no better al
tended.
The times., 1899-11-19

The business at the local theatres last
week. while neither extraordinary nor IN
expected, mounted considerable beyond the
average. With a solitary exception, each
OF the visiting attractions played to good
houses. two OF them passing the $1,000
mark This standard which was largely
resultant from the diversity Of the pieces
presented. probably VIII not be maintained
during The coming few days, though the
outlook is for excellent audiences. In mat
ter Of merit. the combinations scheduled for
openings tomorrow viii not have to exert
themselves greatly to surpass those which
have gone.
II one IS to count heads rather than prof
its the banner for crowds must be bestowed
upon the Grand, which was filled every aft
ernoon and packed every night from Mon
day 10 Saturday. Williams and Walker
organization was the magnet that did this
drawing and the troupe viii be succeeded
by a vaudeville bin in which Neil Burgess
and Gerald Griffin are headlined. Next IL
assemblages and first in monetary returns
was the National. where Sol Smith Rus
sell presented "A Poor Relation" and Hon.
John Grigsbv" with gratifying effect ". j.
Ferguson, josephine Hall, and others Of
Charles Frohman's comedians follow in
The Girl from Maxim Louis Mann and
Clara Lipmau's The Girl in the Barracks"
caught the racing folk in town last week at
the Columbia and, consequently, had COM
Barstively few empty seats at any perform
suce. Aubrey Boucicsult, Marie Vain
wright and their support give Mile Fiji"
al Luckett & Dryers resort on and after
tomorrow evening. My Son Ben" rather
bettered the condition OF the Lafayette
Square which now viii be closed until No
vember 81 when Augustus Thomas Ar
zona" viii be done there. At the Academy,
Have You Seen Smith?" got its just de-
serts-Yacant chaiTs-snd viii be replaced
with "AcFadden's Row Of Flats" The
Gay Masqueraders" Company held the
boards OF Kernan's until yester-eveuing,
the usual audiences being brought together
hy the show" The Monday matinee will
introduce the Dainty Duchess" troupe.
OF special performances there have been
and VIII be many. John Blair's aggrega-
tion gave q splendid rendering Of 'EI Gran
Galeoto' on Friday afternoon at the Ma
ti0nal. The affair was poorly attended. The
Banda Rosa is slated for two concerts to-
day az the Columbia, Madame Nevada sings
at the same house on Wednesday. and other
musical attractions are promised at several
local churches and halls.
The times., 1899-11-19
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEk.

There always is danger in critigisiug
any performance given by persons whose
race or religion is a portion of their stock
in trade; is kept before the public eye.
The reviewer who commeads such an en-
tertaiumeHI Invariably VIII be accused
of favoritism. while ne who condemns IS
quite as sure OF being found guilty OF
narrow minded prejudice So there can
be little doubt that The manner in which
the Williams and Walker show" was
treated here last week 0cca5iOned. in GER
tain sources, the belief that the persons
engaged in the affair we're victims Of men
who stood on the other side 0f the color
line. OF course, these who held TO this
opinion had formed ir upon no foundation
whatever That is proven By the fact that
the very managers Of the house az which
the combination appeared have taken a
solemn never again" oath. Il is proven
bv the comment heard in front of the
theatre after the final curtain had fallen
every evening And yet the probability is
that still many folk in this city have an
idea that the organization was slated be
cause it happened TO be composed OF dark
hued players.
As a matter of verify. the skins or the
actors" employed was all that saved hem
from much more emphatic rebuke one
feels that he must allow fer q laTge amount
of rictous nonsense iU such 4 presentation
Had the purvayors OF the bill been white.
TO critic in town would have tolerated ta,.
noise. the horsiuess. AMI the utter lack OF
discipline that marked She rendering eg
this so-called Farce from beginning to
end. Many an unfortunate taudsvjiliJu has
been made he object OF blunt argaisameut
The times., 1899-11-19

it may be said that the man is known to
the colored population of Gotham as the
King of Seventh Avenue" He holds des-
potic sway over the darkies of the Ten
deTloin. Mr.. Archer has engaged we'll
known couples from all parts OF the coun-
try, and no fewer than fifty pairs will try
for the cake on Tuesday. In addition to
the walk an interesting entertainment VIII
be given at Convention Hall. Conductor
Haley and his band are TO provide con-
cert, which will be followed by jubilee
singing OF plantation melodies and By
challenge buck and wing dancing. The
entire performance should be admirable
and doubtless viii draw we'll.
The Philharmonic Club will give its sec
ond concert OF the season on November
- at the rooms of the Washington Club,
1710 l Street The affair promises TO be in
teresting. and probably win be well at
tended. The performances provided by the
Philharmonic people generally are delight
fuI TO lovers CT music. and this reputation
assures excellent audiences for each OF
their recitals. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Lent
viii furnish the next entertainment. the
work of these two being well known here
A piano and yioloncello concert always is
pleasing. and this one will be especially So
The times., 1899-11-19
CHArs WrrH THE PLAYERS

For several weeks the register at the
Regent has borne the name uld rezilezes
OF n. F. Seymour Manila The gentle
man whc wrote rEat line across Tie page
has been seen by various reporters ana
correspondents who were anxious to- learn
his opinion Of political affairs in the Phil-
ippinss. bus il remained for the critic Of
The Times 10 discover Jaar Mr. Sss mour.
besides being Interested in various other
island enterprises. IS lessee os the mGsr
important theatre between san Francisco
and Melbourne The afOresait discovery.
when announecI. received the eua0rss msnt
of a number OF professional people seated
fin He lobby and the journalist immzdI-
ataiy sent uu mis- card Air. Seymour re-
saCudcd as quickly. He IS rather short
udiritCaI with ETeyLsh hair and Keen
shrewI eyes His sEin has been burned
brown. ana this, rGSetlar with Other de-
tails a. his appearance. stamps him al once
as being q hab.tanr o. some tropical conn
my. AUIbiitr and courtesy are sTo 0i
his meet prominent characteristics. ana
hoeh served in the procuring Of the to--
.CHiGg interview.
3fr. Seymour upon being charged Utl
playhouse prCpsusi,iss. was rot iOath TO
acknowledge the soft lmps tahmeuL .'FOr
q long time before ] fsit the United
States he said ~I aller1ated aetwecu
jLa newspaper business ana -hIt 0t 1mGs--
mems catering. IL was mE habit % tour
-1e South and East during the winter.
-aaiGE % New York Iad the nearest edi-
rorls room after the season had cIcseL
These latter connections were responsible
f0r my i0ur8syins into oUr EeE ga-s-s-
si1Es. j went 20 Manila C-ig ual.y as r-a
repre tentative cf bait lozeu %Crthwss--
eru sheets and remained checc s0me tlIe
ia thaI capacity Theu Colonel Brooks
ard his son vi h0. by -as way. now sse ID
Washington became anxious 60 sell rheiE
Journal lhe -Au.ericsa and I desssed Co
buy. Sub-eCugEJly was offered L1s
lease Of the Gorilla THsaJr1 and f-iuel
with anCtnee flo % ia sssI @inG Oh this
venture neither Ell as laz ever r-p-n.e ed.
Manila is "a good END rH b1s srest iowa
tor. entertainment
The buiImng in wb.ah tails place ot
amusement Is located cCstz as ABOUT $4,000
month and we recover that zIm from
slbreula.s and other thingS cf the scr-
The receipts If lttractiCrs are clear proEr.
Iuz- now Wa are lsbarins under dliheili-
ties for lhe c-r5ew las provides taat e--
cry native mast be iu his house st $50.
but these troubles will net 0-llas5 the war
. OF course. the regulation prevents any s1rt
cf performances and. sr present our culJ
bills are ia The form O.! matiHses pfosil=d
By amateurs. When the rebels Aave Isen
crushed-and this w.ii be se1l acre "ill
be n mint in eur srts-Irisr- In Adniit
everyone goes 90 the rhaa-rs natives Cai-
usse. Spanish and AnIsric-ns IheF Will
u1trcnize either dramatic or d FludeF' p
conformation bll an oqsga company and
psrtfcgi,rlv an opera company iu whieis
ltzhts are warn-will draw sreaL crowds.
I am uaU org3I i8iug such o troupe 90 or-
ctipy gEv stage later cr- BIN Biazsleit sad
| Clara laviue will be les principal members
me cnti7a rCs5er bearing tne nJ1ts ~
about e.ght niea and twelve women Esa
The times., 1899-11-19

Herman hopes that some measure of this
good will, however. may fall on the
shoulders Of the Dainty Duchess Com
pany, an aggregation directed by the pro-
pTietor OF the other ''show." The
Duchess" folk are booked for this week
at the Lyceum and certainly their roster
gives promise OF work as enjoyable as
was that Of the earlier arrival, This roster
bears the names Of Letta Meredith, q
new Queen of Burlesque;" Howard and
Emerson. popular song Illustrators and
illustrators Of popular songs; Junie Nc
Cree. who recently came out OF the West
with an excellent reputation for fun-mal--
ing; Alatt TrayOrs, monologist; THE
Mimic -Four" a qGartette, Swor and De
Voc. noyeltyists and the Clerise Sisters.
whose instrumental solos are notably
good. IN after-part, entitled Manhattan
Beach by Moonlight" also is introduced
and terminates what should be an admir-
able performance. Seats have been sell
ing siuce Thursday.
The times., 1899-11-19

the writer. occasionally forbear to deem
mat unfortunate grossly incompetent. and
admit the possibility of personal error.
And these reflections remind one that
recently the dramatic prophecies cf The
Times appear to have come verv near n
being fulfilled. Not only is this the case
with premieres given Children OF
the Ghetto and The Choir Invisible"
both have been failures-and with other i'm
portant producuous-am them Francis
wilson S 'Cyrano de Bergerac'' and Chris
aud the Wonderful Lamp''-but 1T also is
the case IN less notable branches. On Sep
TEMPER TO- Tor example, the paper published
resume OF the plays presented during the
season in London. OF those among the
number which have since been done i'm the
United States, "Robespierre" The Only
Way" and The Tyranny of Tears were
lauded almost without reserve: a Little
The times., 1899-11-19

for bali the clap-stick humor notable Ia
tisc Williams aud Walker snow" Net that
the attraction WAS without les pleasing tea
tures- Several OF the speciaItes provided
were excellent. great portion % the music
vas catchy. and the choral work rel 1c1ad
credit upon the tvoupe's director. who. by
tire WAY is a native q Washington Bat
these points were almost lost in the miStura
that held them.
II a number OF commemorative
breath a sigh Of relief when informed thar
the Williams and Walker aggregation is
the last Of its sort that VIII ever play tn a
hrst-class local theatre SO win not be be-
cause Williams and Walker are negroes
( The colored combination has been given
the fairest kind Of a fair chance in Wash
I ingtcn and. 70 drop into the pariance 0s
the profession it has failed TO make
good. Troupe after troupe bas appeared
J acre itn0uC Offering either novelty or
/ improvement upon old material. troupe
/ alter troupe with no excuse save that thE
race hss been almost wholly without or
/ portuniiy for hsstrionic development Ir
Riis nol pro3aeed entertainers who merit
! attention Today there are fewer thau
[ ttteeu ebony" performers who cauif
make hits we've they aIblnos. There ara
I cole and Johnson the Reese Brothers.
Matte Wilkes. Ernest Hogan Belle Davis.
I Johnson and Dean. Williams and Walker.
/ the Mallory Brothers and BROOKS. che
Black Patti and there was Cussis
Davis Others there are none The ques-
tion IS not one Of discrimination aguIust
/ the Ethiopian on The stage. But the black
I asplrant for hcEors must submit TO regu-
I iattons and tastes that govern tac white.
/ In competition only ability can be recog-
/ nized- When eolOred shows are en- level
\ with others 10 city in the country viii be
more glad 70 welcome them than wash
inetCu
The times., 1899-11-19
ColnmbIa-.MIIe. Ffn p

A clever farce, the output Of two gentle
men no less distinguished than Nm Du-
manoir and Carre, is the provision made for
amusement -Iovers this week at the Column
bla. Several guarantees Of the excellence
OF the piece are offered, among them the
names of its authors and the fact that. un-
der the management cf Brady d Ziegfeld,
il had a run q several months at the Man
haitian Theatre. New York. Perhaps none
OF these assurances Is so potent however,
as is the list Of actors and actresses an
Uounced as having been engaged for the
current tour Marie Wainwright, Aubrey
BoUcicaulr, Thomas H. Burns, Dore David
son. J5suusJte Lowry. and Alice Judson
compose a cast that should do the preseHta-
zion Justice. II any combination can.
Despite its reputed Taciness, Mile
FIl appears 10 be the solitary French
translation recently seen here in which
The story tells Of no marital inhdelities.
in the play under consideration, one is
introduced TO a couple who Lot only are
fn love but also are in debt The wife's
mother is an exceedingly wealthy woman.
but she positively refuses 20 deliver the
Two from their monetary thralId0m until
her daughter has been freed, by death or
divorce from her husband Despairing Of
any other course. the pair agrees TO a
mock separatioH and, with the idea Of
adding plausibility 10 the plot the man
writes and leaves around a note addressed
% a former fame" This letter D. de-
livered by mistake. the flame" descends
upon the household and what was begun
as . jest becomes serious earnest The
tale, at least, has The merit Of novelty rare
IN c0ncoctious OF the sort depending
neither upon mistaken identity nor upon
cross purposes. Interpreted by a compa-
ny like that advertised, 1t should afford a
deal OF hearty amusement for the most
biase OF habitual theatregoers. There VIII
be TWO matinees.
The times., 1899-11-19

Madame Petypont is received with delight,
her Moulin Rouge slang and MaXim's
capers being taken as the most recent fads
in Paris. and. accordingly, copied From
this slender thread are suspended a num-
Der of complications that are said to be
distinctly humorous and that in the hands
Of such an organization as the one en-
plOyed cannot but sbe inteTes ting Seats
have been selling since Thursday and
large houses are guaranteed.
The times., 1899-11-19
Notes.

The return 10 America Of Madame Emma
Esva.a. ,he pFi-aa donna. and her sched-
'Iicd appearance neKt Wednesday, at the Co
ium5is Theatre. brings 10 mind an incl
The times., 1899-11-19
Grnnd-XnudexiIIe.

The most recent plan of the enterprising
managers Of the Grand opera House prom
ises to be a most satisfactory one for all
concerned. Il is no less a venture than
the purchase Of the local rights for the
American Biograph, a moving picture ma
chine which attracted . great deal Of at
tention here when it was exhibited at VIII
lard Han, some three years ago. The device
really is the best OF its sort, producing ami
mated views that neither jar nor tire the
eyes. Several new films have been put on
the repertoire OF the conrivance, among
these being photographs of sailors from the
Olympia bathing in the Mediterranean, Of
Governor Roosevelt and his staff on parade,
OF the last race between the Columbia
and Shamrock, and Of Admiral Dewey on
beard ship.
This week the Biograph win fill one of
light numbers on the bill to be provided.
Chief among the persons who are to con-
tribute the remaining seven Is Neil Bur-
CESS, who viii be remembered universally
as the star of ''The County Fair and The
Year One" Mr. Burgess now is appearing
in condensation Of his primal success,
The Widow Bedott," and is said to be
making a hit. i second headliEer is Ger
aid Griffin, whose sketch, Silence Is
Golden" was described in last Tuesday s
Mirror" as the cleveTest bit of concen-
trated dainuness ever seen in local yau-
deville theatre" Billy Link, a black-faced
comedian, will be on hand with stock
of new jokes, while much is expected of
Adele PuFvis Onri, whose globe-rolHug and
dancing are mentioned as being Temarka-
bic. Doherty's white poodles, intelligent
little beasts, which have been taught sew
ersl amusing feats, are advertised for a
turn" Jack Marshall's "Newsboys' Quin-
tette" has been signed, and Maddox and
Wayne are announced for a novelty act.
Those people should make the weeks per-
f0rmance wholly attractive and probably
win draw goodIy audiences.
The times., 1899-11-19
Academy - e.McFaddcn's Row of
EIats.v

Nowadays nearly every successful nov
el is dramadzed and even pictures and
songs are made to serve as themes for
plays. With the exception Of McFadden's 9
Row Of Flats" which opens here tomor-
row night at the Academy however. there
is no record Of any farce having been sug-
gested by q series OF newspaper articles.
Charles Frohman is said to have bought
the right TO use AIr. Dooley, but did not
make his purchase until the stories were
collected, and ''Hogan's Alley" had only
one journalistic character. 1t is true,
though. that the piece under consideration
was prompted by some Yagraut yarns writ
ten by the author of "Chimmie Fadden"
and illustrated by the artist of a New York
daily. ''McFadden's Row of Flats" has
been as profitable as this idea was original
the present year being its third on the
road. In the version promised this city
there is little of the old material the work
having been substantially reconstructed
within the past few months. Jests and sit
uations have been added, popular music
composed. and handsome scenery and cos
tunes purchased The Flats" are ten
auted by a number Of people whose names
are well known here. Among these are
Bobby RalstOn, the diminutive comedian; !;
Lizzie Conway, serio-comic; Thomas anG
Quinn, dualOgists; Charles A. Morgan i'm
personatOr; Nettie De COursey, soubrette;
The -Four Emperors Of Music" instrument
talists; Harry Watson, a tramp bicyclist
and others. There will be matinees on
Wednesday and Saturday.
The times., 1899-11-19
NntIonaI-aThe eIrI Fron ,Iaxln.,.., :,

With company the general excellence
q which may be judged by a glance at
The above cast. The Girl From Maxim's. ="
q recent importation Of Charles Frohmau's.
viii be enacted Tomorrow night at the
National The piece is from the pen Of
Georges FeyGeau. who wrote The Cav
Psrisians." and It has enjoyed long runs
both tn Paris and New York. at which lat
ter place X held the stage Of the Criterion
Theatre FOR several months. The story
Cf the farce tells the woes OF a ee=tsiu Dr.
FotyBOuL who. after night Of de5aueh-
cry, disentangles himself from the legs Of
sofa only 10 discover thet he hes brought
a woman home With him lie begs thr
visitor 10 leave the house ~ once. but she
refuses. a moment after IN Afri-aa uncle
arrives and taking the CIR" i0G the
NepheS's wife, insists Jhat they b9th SHALL
aceompSuy hi-a 10 some fe=fivit RS 20 le
held IN the I.8E'ncCs. There lie -. aseI
The times., 1899-11-19

ply let them alone. Sensationalism and
newspaper space may put a man before the
public but they cannot keep him there. The
noble visitors would DO Negl not 10 place
too much faith ir their dramatic futures
Americans kave a queer habit OF rayiEa
over celebrity for niue days and then fer
getting about him altogether And actors
societies need not worry about the sudden
influx OF foreigners. It the Duke and the
Earl are clever they viii be likely To re-
main on the boards until their titles have
been lost to miHd-if they are not the
probability IS that thsy viii not be glitter
ing successes despite them.
After although occasionally this rule
may seem to be proved chiefly by its ex-
ceptions-only those things which are wor-
thy ever retain any degree OF favor. One
may buy first can of corn because OF the
brilliunce Of its label, but the quality OF
The times., 1899-11-19

At Convention Hall on next Tuesday
evening, Washington is promised a cake
walk, which, il elegance and lavish di=-
play, never has been equaled here These
affairs have become quite the thing rec
emily in New York. no fewer than - eco
persons having witnessed that given last
winter at Madison Square Garden. The
walk to be shown locally will be under
the direction Of Paris Archer In intro
ducing Air. archer 90 denizeus of this city
The times., 1899-11-19

Another attraction that Localities do H0t
want asain and that Manager Rdpley has
black listed IS Have You Seen
SMITH The play and players
heard last week ar the academy
90 not merit intelligent criticism.
Suffice it TO say that nothing worse has
visited this city since Davis & Keogh dis
solved partnership. Such a performance
might ind appreciators in an asylum for
the blind and deaf and then only II every
inmate were afflicted in both ways Have
You Seen Smith ." was the poorest OF poor
shows And the proper theatre for p0or
shows" is the pc0rhCUse