The times., 1899-05-21

of the comedy. This stand was due all
right thinking people: due every parent.
that they might warn their sons and
daughters of the evil rampant in theatre
supposedly the locale of all that is good
and artistic in dramatics; due the casual
buyer of tickets, that he might know for
what he was investing his collateral; in
short, due everyone concerned or possibly
interested in theatricals. The fact that the
papers with the immaculate hepatic organs
should arise and cry out against produc-
tion which advertised in their columns is
sufficient guarantee of the indecency OF
My Cousin" And look at the result.
A house ''papered" upon the first presen
tation. filled with the correspondents and
their friends, the upper portions crowded
with the holders of 'liths" industriously
verified the reports Of the critics regarding
the filthiness of the production. The next
night the rack was nearly empty and more
money twice over was taken in than on the
earlier offering of the bill. This con-
tinued all the week. and had the engage
ment been extended, the capacity Of the
National would have been tried repeatedly.
Madame Pillar NORM was not distressed at
the terrible roasting received here. She
was amused thereby seeing that the con-
demnation would reach the metropolis and
be accentuated when reflected from Goth
am journals. Financial prosperity will be
the harvest reaped from the seed of good
intentions sewed broadcast by honest and
painstaking WaShingtonians, but the
harvest will not be garnered home by the
critics-m ores the pity-but by the imp of
evil, the pantomimic Partisan.
What would have been the correct
course to pursue is a question of moment.
for filthy productions, like the seasons.
will come again. Fail TO condemn them
and you sacrifice the good opinion of right
minded and virtuous people. Spread
broad your condemnation. and you crowd
the theatre. The proper course is con-
step forth as the Moses to lead the wan
derers from the Egypt of failure. Ger
tainly guide is needed.
While in many respects a reminder of
the good old theatrical days now happily
past. William Winter stands as pure ex-
ponent of chastity in dramatics. In re-
cent article he says: There are no rea-
sons. whether OF the box office or of any
thing else, which under any circumstances
can ever justify the production of an un-
clean play. A man at the head of a thea
tire is under Just as great an obligation to
absolute righteousness as man at the head
of a church, and the theatre Will never be
what 1t ought to be until this truth be-
comes a practical law in the conduct OF
the stage. The stage of this country is
not tamely to be delivered into the hands
of sordid and mercenary traders, Oriental
spectators in sensuality. unprincipled
panderers to all that is mean and low in
depraved and bestial multitude. The
strong forces of evil have gone very far,
but there are distinct signs of an impend-
ing revolt against them in which they
will be over thrown and dispersed The
successful manager will be the man who
stands for virtue, intelligence, refinement,
taste, and purity"
Spring days compel even the theatre
treasurers to seek relief in poetry, or dog
gerel as the case may be. Jed" Shaw, of
the National. in recent spasm of remem-
brance gave vent to the accompanying bit,
which Is the initial installment OF Things
Which Have Happened to Me-" 1t was
suggested by an experience recently. 1t
runs;
He wandered up to the box office window and
the hayseeds speckled his hair;
lie asked the price OF tickets, in the balcony for
pair;
And when he was told they were all gone-there
really none TO spare,
lie bought two for the orchestra, and said, with
apologetic air:
Maggie won't know how to act down there in
the orchestra chair"
Not few OF the local critics in discuss
ing the work of Harrington Reynolds, the
new leading man OF the Frawley Company
have concluded that his peculiar walk is a
result of a long life in the legitimate. Such
however. is not the case for while no nov
ice in this most absurd branch OF dramat-
les, the walk OF the actor is due to years
of service in an English army saddle
Properly. Mr.. Reynolds should be hailed as
captain, for the '70s saw him commanding
troop in the Royal Hussars. While not
inclined to emblaZon his exploits on the
outer wall, Captain Reynolds last week
impaired to friend some OF his early ex-
periences which rival the exploits of Kip
ling's Soldiers Three" and other army
idols. When twenty years younger than
today, Captain Reynolds was a daredevil
sort Of fellow, a favorite in private the
atricals in the dance hall or in officers
mess. The years OF rs and 10 found him
in Central Africa in Basuta, adjacent to
Zuzuland andsa sedtion rivaling the Apache
frontier In its palniest days. The natives
were in revolt against the British power
and a mission of great danger caused
Colonel. now Lord Methuen to call for vol
unteers.
Those responding constituted Methuen's
Horse. Young Reynolds was among the
number and In bloody battle with the
black fellows was practically shot to
pieces and bears to this day reminders OF