The times., 1899-03-12
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEk.

II is always pleasant to have ones ex.
pectations of a young player realized and
to that pleasure is added astonishment OF
the most delightful sort when the reaiiZa-
tion comes without the expectation This
last state of affairs was notable during
the week just gone in the case OF Ethel
Knight Mollison, who was here with
Charles Dickson in Mistakes viii Hap
pen and who surprised even her b-st
friends by the clegerness OF her work.
Washingtonans remember Miss Mo.lison
as the young woman who turned up
some three years ago when The MARQUIS
of Michigan" was given its trial at the
Columbia Theatre No one had ever heard
OF her then. no one anticipated anything
from her, and consequently no one was
taken off his guard when she failed TO ex-
ceed general hopes and did nothing. To
be sure. the part she had was 4 small one.
but the actress was even less pleasing in
it than might have been believed. Sic
proved as stiff as a wooden Indian and not
half so good to look upon. There was
some improvement when Miss Nollison re-
turned with Julia Arthur in A Lady of
Quality" but it was rot sufficiently re-
markahle to make casual observers
proPhesy great things for her and-hence
the establishment last week. AE- Dickson
says that one Cf the aims ne had in view
when he dictated the writing Of Mistakes
VIII Happen was that OF proving to the
public that all people OF the stage ara roc
without decency and hcmelinesS OF soul
Miss Mollison seemed TO realize this and
the sweetness and womauliness she threw
into the role Of Dorothy Maryland went a
long distance toward establishing the con-
tentiCn the author made. While little
signs of the stars personality c-ept into
her labors so strongly as 10 make one feel
that she lad been more than carefully
coached for her character. .zation, there
was still a freshness and originality about
her methods that was NEST pleasing. Some
OF tie little bits OF business intrusted to
her-especially in the passages between
herself and Mr.. Dickson-were full Of
brightness and the tenderest suggestion.
The stiffness and formalness Of the Miss
MolisOn Washington had known three
years ago had vanished and instead toll
and study had made of the woman
charming actress. Nanette Constock, who
created the part, could have done it no
better. The only pity of the whole anair
is in the fact that so few people were
present at the Lafayette last week to NIKE
Miss Moliison's success something OF
triumph to her.
Ruskin once said that "scme things are
conspicuous by reason Of their very sim
plicity," and so it is also true that other
things are novel through their very an
cientaess. Now that Iaude Courtney has
gone and done it one cannot nelp think
ing how peculiar it is that no one ever
thought before OF reyiving the time-wOrn
melodies that had been almost forgotten,
but needed only to be recalled in order 70
touch the deepest spring Of sentiment in
the hearts of those who had loved them.
There is something misunderstanding
even quaint about having q modern vaude-
william come out after the hurry and hustle
of an acrobatic act and Just prior to the
turn of some comedian or ether TO sing
the airs that have endured so long: odd
Black Joe" WAY Down Upon de Suwa-
nee Ribber.' Old Dog Tray, Massa's in
De Cole Cole Ground Home, Sweet
Home" The Last Rose of Summer" and
I the rest. There is something delightful in
! the very underline Miss Courtney uses and
I in the simple words ''the old songs.
! Strange that no one ever saw them as
new,
! And Miss Courtney renders the ballads
/ delightfully."- too. She he's = plainly uncul-
/ tivated voice OF great depth and consider
able sweetness, which she uses to great
advantage in reaching the lower notes,
I which in the odd songs always seem to
be the most beautiful. When giving the
| more spirited of the melodies she sings
with spirit and abandon; when following
with the pathetic ones her tones have un-
| usual feeling and sentiment Best of all.
she pronoUnces every word distinctly. Miss
Courtney is a charming woman and sne
presents a striking picture on the stage.
No one could have been better chosen to
emphasize the difference between the new
old songs and the old-new ones.