Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-05
THE ACTOR OF TO-DAY
IN THIS COUNTRY HE IS NJ"
RECOGNIZED As NEVER BEFORE.
AyUSENENISPOR The CURRENT WEEK
ashore Acres" James A. Henrne''
Beautifui Play, to lie Prese"'e"
A.. ,c,aemy-The DiJou's Splendid
Offering.

Tho actor of to-day I'm this country W.
cupies n higher place in the estiH''''Io"
~ society than he ever did before Ihe
reason for this is not that he as a man
or an artist, is any more fitted ny WI ~
81 intellect or other qualifications 10 thuS
! be elevated in the social scale man ~
/ those actors OF the old school, VINO
! tesoro his day. The fact Is due 10 the
a,,o in which he lives. rather than TO any
/ Greater merit OF his own, Tor certainly
| tbere are no finer actors to-day thah
| those who played fifteen or twenty yeals
ago Indeed, there are lew VINO ~"
tread the boards who are worthy 70
vvear the nantes laid aside by those
mon whom the curtain has been runB
! down for the last time in the great oiN
ma Of life. ,ne
The stage to-day is not viewed IN tnv
/ same light It was quarter OF cen1u's
AGO. The world has become pIoaucl
minded. and. happily, the time Is pasl
| when the calling Of an actor Is looAeu
1 uDon as Il not altogether honorable occ"-
nation. Prejudice no longer so "arps
! The public mind that it can see Dut or
| side of the theatrical profession. me
mower of the stage for good or eVll n"s
| become recognized by some oil JUS nlo5 M.
| stubborn enemies, and these now auiiil'
that its influence may be exerted 10
ward the former end quite as enecuVey
! as toward the latter. Any INSTITUTION
may be so perverted that 1t mas eVll Ten
| denotes. and the stage does not slanN
alone in this respect.
During all the years when the meHDeis
of the theatrical profession We're looheu
upon as living socially, in another woIlo,
the actor has maintained his dignity, anu
| "a
10 enter the sphere from which society
debarred him. lie has kept within MS
own circle. where he has been content 10
remain. Nor has the social ostracism
caused him any great distress. II thele
has been any feeling, II has been one o.
CONTEMPT for the smallness OF that Worlo'
which hedged itself in, and by its own
verdict declared that In It's MIDST were
found the best elements OF society.
However. i'm recent years the barriers
have been thrown down, and the ACTOR
has been invited TO step within the CIR
ole II is now not an unusual thing lor
DISTINGUISHED players TO be entertained by
society. An instance Of this was SHOWN
I'm Philadelphia two weeks ago, When d
well-known actor was the recipient OF
considerable attention by the social worio
of that city. ..,.,
pate IN any or the lullIIlpl4o VA
indeed. his work would rot have admitted
of this even if he had such an incllna-
ton. lie has merely held that his call
lna was entitled 10 be recognized, as
were those Of other professions.
The admission of a few distinguished
PLAYERS is a concession that virtually
opens the gates TO the profession. For
certainly the same rule must apply IN
this case as IL does I'm regard 10 other
I'll @ ma
is not measured by his ability. in order
that he may come up to a certain stand
ard of excellence in his work, before he
Is recognized as entitled TO place In
society. On am using the word so
ciety" in its brOadest sense) II he is
a man of good moral character society
receives him. even though he stand at
the bottom Of his profession or calling.
Every one cannot win fame. The man
who IS cast for the most unimportant
part I'm q play, by all just laws, Is as
much entitled to be recognized as is the
star. even though the latter's name be
known far and wide.
Shore Acres" will be the attraction
at the Academy Tuesday and Wednesday.
and Wednesday matinee. The author Of
this picturesque drama Of home life is
James A. Hearne, q man, who In the
matter of stagecraft, has few equals to-
day. Only a few weeks ago Mr.. Hearne
was called upon TO direct the rehearsais
Of 1.-THE Children Of the Ghetto" and the
great success of the opening performance
was in a large measure. due TO his ef-
forts.
In shore Acres" Mr.. Hearne has what
is probably his masterpiece The play
has been running successfully for seve-
raj years. and there is no Indication that
its popularity IS waning. II is a play that
will live as long as people have a love
for that which pictures the quieter scenes
Of life, rather than the sensational and
impossible.
The cast is said 70 be an exceptionally
strong one IL includes Charles G. Craig.
who plays Uncle Nat. Atkins Lawrence.
W. II. Gerald, ". II. Burton Charles
L. Fisher, James Barrows. H. j. White
more, Marian Cullen, Belle Theodore.
Rachel Blake, and little Gladys Crollns
For the past two weeks the Bijou has
simply been turning people from its
doors. The little playhouse has been
tested TO Its capacity, and every one. con-
nected with the place from the little boy
who carries the cards across the stage up
70 Manager Wells In his busy Office. has
been happy.
AAA' 4'llbN NltIs lllS week q Dill Drlm-
full Of high standard comedy acts. The
artists engaged rank high in the profess
sion. and, all told, the bill Promises 10
equal any that has been presented At the
popular place OF amusement.
Charles Wayne and Anna Caldwell, two
prominent sketch artists, Will present
their latest success, ITO Boston on BUSH
ness" The act is highly recommended,
and promises 20 score great hit.
sherman and MOrrisey, who are pro-
fessionally known as Americas Repre-
sentative Comedians" VIII be seen in
their clever turn.
Bogert and O'Brien, musical artists,
promise to contribute a novel and refined
comedy musical number that VIII make
them prime fayOrites
Gallando, the great clay modeller. was
seen last season, and his act will certain
~ please.
Morgan and Otto viii present the first
German comedy act 10 be- seen at the
Bijou. They are young men, and said to
be quite clever
Miss Mayme Mayo IS the Coincidence
Of this weeks bill. During the carnival
celebration last week Manager Wells sent
for vitagraph operata with a taking
machine, and had views Of the parade
taken. The operator also mounted the
machine on the front OF one Of the Trac-
ton cars and made views OF Broad street.
These films and many others viii be
shown by the vitagraph this week.
Night performances will take place as
usual, and the regular matinees Will be |
given Tuesday. Thursday and Saturday.
Manager Wells last night succeeded IN