The times., 1899-12-24
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.

Once more il has been demonstrst-d. a.
he Grand Opera House. that the people
who visit vaudeville theatres are not driven
TO such an extTena by inability or unwiIi
iugu-ss to think. James o. Barrows and
his play Tactics sgaiu have refuted tbs
common idea that the patrons Of these re-
sorts ind the Level Of their inteiects iu
tEe huT0r OF a case Of assault and battery
or in the Oddity Of seeing a performer pedal
bicycle with his teeth This fact has been
proved a dozen times within the past year
proved BY Mr. and 3irs. Sydney Drew by
Lillian Burkhart by stanton and M0deua.
and by Perkins d. Fisher-bur the COM
bined opinion oi the management and con-.
tinuai hammering Of the newspapers seem
to have been Inefficient ia convincing en-
r-rtaiuers that their acts could be reu-
csr5d enjoyable without the use OF the slap
siick. Ii is 90 be hoped that Mr Barr0ws
missionary work will have further effect.
No greater mistake has been made re-
Gently than lies in the libelous theory that
men and women go % the Grand and to
like places, because they wish 20 give their
brains an absolute vacation The purchase
Of a seat for series of twenty minute
turns is not a confession Of Ignorance
and stupidity. Amusement and relaxation
NAV be desired. but the majority Of ths
folk whose money enables Burke < Chase
TO continue here DO not fnd amusement ln
puerility or relaxation in hOrsiness. The
short story undoubtedly came into vogue
in this country and in England as an after
clap TO the three-vOIume rOmances that had
been being published during a decade. The
reading public grew weary OF dev0ting
weeks to single theme or plot But.
despite this the authors who made popular
the short story We're the CIeverest writer's
of fiction claimed on either side Of the
Atlantic-Grant Allen. A. Conan DOYLE.
Stanley Weyman. Thomas Nelson Page.
Octave Thanet. James Harvey Smith. Rob
erJ Barr, Louise Chandler MOuItou, VIII
liam Dean HOwells, Charles King. and F.
HOpkinson Smith. The short story was
not and is not corrupted uovel-it was
and is a condensed one.
Four seasons ago. when vaudeville had
not quite merged out OF variety and the
habitues Of continuous" theatres we're re-
cruited exclusively from stag houses and
ten-twenty- thirty me Odramatic resorts.
there may have been some excuse for the
two comedians" who told bad jokes and
slapped each other with folded newspapers
by way of emphasis. Audiences stu missed
permission TO smoke and rest their feet on
the backs Of unOccupied chairs Two years
since, while the process OF education and
conversion still was going on, there was
reason for Laura Jean Libbey pathOs and
Josh Billings humor But that time has
passed. IN each Of such gatherings there
may be individuals who cling 20 former
ideals. but these people constitute a minor
ity TO which there is no need OF catering
Artists and professionals should ind their
rewards-and have found then-EOJ in
pleasing the many, but in satisfying the
intelligent. Critics invariably review for
those who understand their distinctions,
sculptOrs Chisel with the dream Of winning
the praise OF the few who know the differ-
enee between marble and s0apsJOne great
actors play 10 the discriminating who can
appreciate their finest touches. There are
thieves in this country, and yet We have
law Because one finds pumpkins in con
tinuous houses must wit or ingenuity
never be displayed there2
The fact OF the whole matter-and James
o. BarrOWs showed this tOO-is that the
responsibility for such acts as was that OF
Faruum and Seymour last week lies not so
much with tbeatregCeTs as with performers
Many vaudevillians are so ignorant that
they are unable TO supply crstitable Ouer-
iugs. others are so incident that they are
unwilling 10 try Despite the bsuedt to be
derived from the possession Of suitable ma
terial prominent hsadliuers stiu tender the
sketches Of George Cohan and HsrberJ Hall
Wiuslow. Despite the enormous salaries
ttat managers are glad to pay for drawing
cards. stars sjiu couhue themselves 70
companies Of one. TOO frequently being
married 70 that one. Vehicles are thrown
together. rehearsed haphazard, eOstumed
in any fashi0u-aEd produced Then the
critic who condemns the result either has
been bribej or Is Jealous.
The director OF a twenty minute house
has no right 20 ask that playseers shall
.E.r. -r-u
are artisrically and consistently done for
the rough -and-tumble stuff that so often
constitutes his stock in trade. There is ab-
sOlutsFy no reason why a sketch should not
be as carefully and as we'll written as a
drama. To be sure. since the time OF rem
deriug Is shorter. there need be neither
long speeches nor elaborate explanations,
extensively -buiIded climaXes nor extended
DrefaCes. But, with all necessary quick
ness OF action, there may be dne character
drawing. Ingenious episodes. legitimate
and forceful endings. exceeding daiutiness.
quaint suggestion, sharp wit. clean-cur
patEOs and good English.
The company, which may pass the bounds
OF a leading man and super, should be
rehearsed so adequately that there can be
no period Of the piece at which its mem
bers cannot tell precisely where they ought
to stand and how look. There may be
specially constructed scenery, with cos
tunes and furniture OF the period. All OF
these things are being demanded and VIII
be paid for. They Will serve to 0blit5rate
the slur that for so many months has
rested on the iDteuects OF vaudeville
audiences
Tactics" was not a perfect play. but it
was decidedly worthy Of consideration.
James o. BarrOws. Florence Wilherham,
John Lancaster, and Brandon Mitchell
DIaved it uerFecrIv And the Graud-s NAT
rous so liked the performance as to prove
their ability to appreciate dramatic
touches, This week Mr, and Mrs. Perkins
d. Fisher viii establish the fact that those