Evening star., 1899-01-31
AMUSEMENTS.

Hay said during the course of a character
istic address at the Columbia Theater last
night that the body of the house was filled
by the B. P. o. E. He explained to the
uninitiated present, who overflowed the
''standee" region the balcony and the gal
lery. that the letters actually signify Be
nevolent Protective Order of Elks," but.
as a matter of fact, they mean best peo-
pie on earth" History does not record
that Mr.. Hay has made the same remark
before, but the applause that followed the
graceful compliment was evidence that 1t
Is liked, even If 1t should turn out to ne
old. Observing the unusual good fellow
ship on every side and the spontaneous ap-
plause that shook everybody in the house
after the smallest commendable point, So
ciably minded folks were led to think 1t
pity that all audiences are not 3. P. o. 10.
in the literal sense. The occasion was the
Elks' greeting and tribute giving to one of
their number, Richard Hyde, manager of
Hyde's Comedians, who has bestowed much
of his means and time in the Elks' benevo-
lent and fraternal cause.
The evening opened with the high-class
vaudeville performance of the Comedians.
1t is one of the best bills ever seen here,
and Its original and refined character war
rants Its presentation in a first-class house
like the Columbia. Adams, Casey and
Howard make good in an old-tme min
strel act. Garfield and Carton, the comedy
sketchers. are funny. Charles r. Sweet,
the musical burglar" robbed the audience
of laugh upon laugh His performance
upon piano was little short of marvellous.
Then came Helene Nora always the same
good singer. in new songs that stirred
pulses and heart Cheers followed her sing
ing of THE Star Spangled Banner in con-
clusion, and the entire audience rose at the
chorus.
At this point Mr.. Hay appeared in front
of drop and in his customary affable
style said the Elks were there to honor
HYDE. irpa ont
Of New York or Brooklyn. His words were
cordial and felicitous. Bringing reluctant
Mr. HYDE to the front, Mr. Hay handed
him handsomely engrossed resolutions from
the Best People on Earth of Washing
ton, to put it the popular way. Mr.. Hyde
modestly responded. Then mammoth bas-
ket of flowers was presented to Miss Mora
and Mr.. Sweet was given a life member
ship certificate in Washington Lodge
Continuing the bill. Hayes and Lytton
gave their sketch, "A Wise Guy" which
provoked roars Of mirth. The bicycle
rough rider" Robbins, did thrilling, as well
as comic, feats on his whee'ed steed. Nc
lntyre and Heath, assisted by the Century
quartet, presented their act, Way Down
South, in four scenes. Their admirers
would prefer them in something less pre-
tentious and that would give the team
more opportunity for their unique negro
work.
week despite the matinees on Thursday
and Saturday.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
~ mere was suspicion last night that Mr.
Charles Hoyt had eclipsed his own renuta
tion as a man of infinite lest But if was
by a practical joke at the expense of a
laugh-expecting audience. If Mr. Hoyt was
smiling in his sleeve at the surprise he has
Perpetrated, it must have been a grim sar-
donlc smile Despite the fact that he stands
as the admitted leader of vaudeville far
Geurs, "A Dog in the Manger,' is the only
uly spot IN the deluge of variety entertain
hieih now IN progress. The auditor listen
ed IN stunned amazement as one character
after another stepped down to the foot
ightS ana discoursed of love; not the "stroI-
ing by the sea shore" song-and-dance style
OF love, but the old-fashioned sort which
people insist on either taking very seriously
indeed or else on dismissing in a spirit of
cynical frivoity. There We're saIIies of hu-
ilor, ana at these the audience laughed
gratefully. But the rollicking promise Of
the title, and the three-sheet poster with.
ene coHlcai canine, was not fulfilled. The
second act confirmed the fearful SUSPICION
which the first had aroused. Mr.. Hovt was
trylng 10 present a serious play. 1t is not
heedful to discuss the sentimental dialogue
ana the pathetic situations et
1ne asteflsks stand for charitable silence
he company assemblies number of ladies'
many OF whom are handsome: some of
Whom can act, and one of whom can sing
Two palIads and minuet formed a well
come oasis in what threatened at times to
De desert of commonplace talk There is
an English lord in the cast who looks +ba
Iact SO slshtly that 1T is a great surprise
not 10 discover in the last act that he is an
lHiposter He is represented as an unmiti-
gated cad in the good Old farce-comedv wav
ana thaily gets his eye BACKED in the last
act by the hero, an American patent nnadi
cine man, who is all that is good. and noble
Dut very laxative. Some very good work
was done by Miss Roselle Knott, George
beahe Annie Wood VIM. Devere and 9TH
ers. But, with the exception of Miss Knott
a nj
sentimental. s ~
1t Is matter of record that Mr., Hoyt has
frequently rebuilt plays which seemed fail
uieS at the outset, so as to make them sue
cesses 1t Is only his reputation as a viz
i dru III tnls line that can modify the con-
cIusloh that "A Dog in the Manger'' is due
a. the pound. Yet it has MANY clever
thlngs in 1t; things that may vet he saved
ny the skill and energy of the author. with
Whom the world loves so well to laugh hut
mtlo' Hae.' II ne grows lachrymose, will surely be
proper to regard last nights performance
as preliminary experiment which new in
srealents and ski!lful chemistry may bring
was very chilly laboratory.
NATIONAL THEATER-"By the Sal
sea waves, presented by Mathews and
Bulger the weIl-knoWn comedians at r.
National Theater last night, attracted an
audience of generous proportions to thar
playhouse. The production is described az
idS tIHle opera, Dut there was nothing
ragged about it and certainly no sad mo-
ments, as indicated by the title II is a
curious combination of horseplay and bright
nnes. together with music that is catchy,
ana the company presenting it Is eminentiv
capable of doing it justice. The music has
been taken from the so-called "popular,,
songs Of the day-that is the best part of
it-and woven into a musical farce in a
ski!lful sort of way. In fact the rag-time
edition of music from THE Mikado'' given
last night proved to be most acceptable and
was as clever a conceit of the kind as has
been heard here. Mathews and Ruleer
the stars, have been seen and heard here
before in n variety of roles, but their work
always improves with time and their per-
sonality grows more attractive on closer aC-
quaintance. Their appearance last night
was the signal for prolonged applause and
in the last act Mr., Mathews was obliged to
make little speech in which he thanked
his audience for their good behavior and
their intelligence in the matter of knowing
when to laugh and when to applaud The
production is staged in superior manner.
some OF the scenes being especially pretty
and the costumes and other accessories are
thoroughly in keeping. The cast is salts
factory. The male contingent consists of
Gus Mortimer, Wild West Robert Vernon,
Ned Wayburn, Gilbert Gregory w Fl Ma
cart. ]. Doctor, Van Huntington. Herbert