The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-12-14
THE SMEOLEY BOYS.
They Give a Charming Performance al
Keith's New Theatre.


may be like me. but az for myself one
of the strongest recommendations OF
vaudeville is the fact that g. never fail.
to present some features that appeal
to me as a woman and to children one
may see occasionally play thar con.
tains those qualities that appeal esne-
claly to the feminine instinct or the
woman's 'heart, and now and the, +,
play is produced in which the uttle
ones, to whom j consider that heahh-
ful amusement is AZ necessary as 40
us older ones, may hnd something in
| teresting and pleasing. but n seerns IN
be a popularity of high-cIass yaude-
| Willie that every week one may be sure
| of finding in IL plenty OF good clean
| entertainment and diversion for All of
US. regardless OF sex. age or preyious
condition OF scrvitude.
Those two bright little SmedIav bovs
and cunning ltte Chee Tai fairly cap
| tured my susceptible heart az L[eith's
| Yesterday; and ! noticed man the
/ scores of children in the audience were
| with me. too. lt may not be a digni-
/ fed confession that / delight in that
which pleases children; but / am NOT
at all ashamed OF L.. And. according TO
my unprofessional theory. the theatre
( manager who appeals successfully To-
! the ladies and children not only makes
| a very wise move from a business
point OF view, but al The same time
! demonstrates the clean and refined
! character OF his presentations.
And / am glad 10 see too. that we
I have in Providence a gentleman who
uses common sense and Intelligent
/ Judgment ia the matter Of permitting
4 Juvenile performers To appear i'm our
I
monstrous humbug. IL Is the conduct
Of the Gerry society In New York.
which is in striking contrast with the
a scriminating intelligence and breadth
OF judgment exhibited by Mr.. Thurber
! i'm Providence.
Well, to return TO my text. the
sketch presented by The Smedleys is
one Of the most Interesting home pict-
ures / have seen, simple. sweet and
appealing TO the better santiments.and
two brighter or more gifted little fell
lows than the Smedley BOYS have not
been before local fOOtlights Their sense
OF humor Is quite remarkable: and
there Is none OF the artihcality and par
rot-like reading OF their lines which
one is accustomed To look for in chill
dren. Aside from this. they are remark
ably intelligent looking little fellows.
handsome enough 10 inspire an artist:
and no woman. at least none who loves
children. can see them Without longing
to take them in her arms. The picture
presented at tn close OF the act when
they are seen as the two little princes
OF the Tower. is one that VIII not soon
fade from the memory AMI their ran=
dering OF the balcony scene from "Ro-
meo and Juliet" VIII le childish and
crude i'm its way is. yet fun of qualities
as creditable TO them and as indica-
tive of the possession OF genuine talent
as Il is delightful.
But when the little chez Tai the
fJur-years-o daughter Of ching Ling
Foo, the Chinese ConjurOr. comes on.and
i'm her unaffected innocent. charming
way sings just One Girl" and a coon
song i'm English, the while her tiny feet
gracefully mark the time. IL does seem
as If the climax had been reached in
the possibility OF a child performer 10
fascinate and captiyat- an audience.
Her confidence and ease are astonish-
ing, as are also the strength of her
voice and the accuracy with which she
keeps 10 the key; and one can not see
her performance without feeling that
good deal of injustice has been done i'm
the formation OF American opinions re-
Sarded quite as -ollr2 professional be-Lu=
Her mother. too. is another revela-
ton, for | had never supposed that an
almond-eyed beauty could really De
az attractive and charming as she cer-
talniy is.ln her country she must De re- |
De regarded as our professional beau
ties are. for there the size of the foot |
Is quite as much the test as are regu- |
larity OF feature and complexion. or |
course IL es only the high-caste aristo- |
Gratis, the Chinese blue -bl0ods' who |
boast of this kind OF beauty, but ! was |
tod this morning by Mrs. ching Ling |
200 that she takes great pride In the |
Iact that her pedal eNtremities are /
only four Inches i'm length and only one |
ana half in width at the widest part.
Ihink OF that. We women who Try u
ramp No. foot into a No. 3 shoe, and
let IL prOtrude innoCentlN from beneath
the edge of your pettlcoats for admir-
alton,
This refined. intelligent Chinese
nother takes great pride i'm her chill
lren, as we'll she may for certainly
-ney are quite as clever In their way |
as their wonderful father. And how
lll 40 reverence him. That is the only
word that accurately describes the ad-
+-+f+t t1Tvv TTTTTTtrUvT for -s-f1trrt
lead OF this wonderful family.
Yet while | admit that he is by far the
most marvellous myStifyng magician
nave ever seen,and that his tricks are
III unique and fascinating. somehow |
ny mind turns every time to ,nat wee
tttle TOT, Chee Tai. and % her remark
.ple acrcbatic brother and then Go the
natronly, smiling aud really attractive |
nother' and, according 10 Ching Ling !
90 all that belongs TO him as probably !
ne greatest living magician. and
ant help feeling that his sngularly
ntefesting family rs quite as great an
traction as he himself and one which
peheVe every woman and every child
. the audience would have fcit repaid
? nave come and seen even had the
I Rn
iheN tel me that while the wonder
~ comedian -jugClcr with th' troupe,
IT'S. thing Ling Foo and both The chill
reH nave All made remarkable strides }
becoming proficient I'm our tongue, .
ne grant himself speaks only half a ]
'Hen words NOR than when he was !
ere betore. ! SupDosa it's because you / !
'n tcach old dpcs new tricks Never
ieitss, be seems to possess q peculiar I
'ihtN % make himself undorst Iod and :
MAKE himself exceedingly agreeable
MS eNprl ssive gestures and facial a
preston. and his smile and the twin D
~ in his eve quickly enrolled among | I
s personal admirers no less stnid a !
rson than !