The times., 1899-03-12

Disappointed managers and wrathy stars
have often declared that Washington is a
city unqualified TO support more than
single big attraction in week. While
chagrin and pique at personal losses un-
doubtedly have had much 10 do with these
statements. it must be admitted that in
many cases the good fortune of one local
house mas proven the evil of another
Under A normal condition the engagement
of William Gillette in Secret Service,
which opened on Monday evening at the
National would have been of surprising
profit. The play had been seen at the
Lafayette last year and had, IN pfoIes-
sional lingo. made good" opposition vas
so small as 10 count for rather than against
the organization and the social dullness OF
ent favored the author-actor and his COM
panions But another big attraction came
into view on Mr.. Gillette's first day here IN
the shape of the advance sale for Richard
Mansfield and people forgot all about that
proyerb which discouTages thought for
the morrow that they might stand in
line and purchase seats for "Cyrano de
Bergerac." The weather misbehaved sadly,
TOO and altogether the combination ct Cir
cumstances provided by the meteorological
observer and Paul Wilstach resulted IN
Manager Rapley's place of amusement be-
Most of the other companies in town
Jared in a trifling manner. Jacob Lifts
Mistakes VIII Happen" did not suit the
patrons of the stone theatre opposite the
White House. and Manager Painter SUI
fsred another Cuckoo" week in conse-
quence. Then J. J. Rosenthal's Browns
in Town began well at the Columbia, but
was so injured by newspaper criticism that
the receipts fell even at the second per-
formance and continued falling thereafter,
while the vaudeville bill offered at the
Grand drew only fairly and London Life
had no exceptional luck at the Academy.
A decidedly sensational show, IN the
form OF Robie's "Knickerbockers.' Kept
Kernan's up TO the mark and bit above.
A good programme was suitably rewarded
at the Bijou. Finally the Godfrey band
concert and the Ian Maclaren lecture
were both well attended.
The coming week promises to be the
biggest of the season. In the first place
Richard Mansfield begins his long-eXpected
engagement in "Cyrano de Bergerac' to-
morrow night at the Columbia with GER
tainty of doing the greatest business ever
recorded in Washington. Nearly every
seat for the celebrated actors seven per-
formances was sold when the box office
closed last evening, and 1t is be
Iieved something over Slo.O00 mas
crossed the house diagram since the sale
opened on Monday. a goodly margin has
also gone 10 the spectators. At the Ma
1ionaI the offering is James X. Haekett
who returns here with drametized sequel
10 The Prisoner of Zenda,' entitled "Ru-
part OF Hentzau." The Broadway Thea
ire Opera Company, which presented The
Highwayman" last year, comes back 10 the
LAFAYETTE with De Koven and Smiths The
Three Dragons and -McFadden's Row Of
Flats" a former record-hOlder, viii be
seen at the Academy. James Whitcomb
Riley recites tomorrow night at the Grand.
the remainder OF the week being given to
a vaudeville bill. at the head Of which
are Isabelle Urquhart and Gertrude Haynes.
The Vanity Fair" burlesquers at Ker-
mans and the usual entertainment at the
Bijou close the list. Concerts will be held
this evening by Manager Grieves and by
Managers Burke and Chase.