The times., 1899-12-17

Property Man gave it as his Opinion that Mans
field COuned the Critics Zendavesta said there
was only one Critic on the Square and he was at
Poduc3h.
Among twenty-siX Of the brightest and
wiJtiest Fables imaginable this 'One
touch of nature" will stand out as a gem
worthy of long recollection to the man who
knows the theatre and theatrical folk
Newspaper people who remember that
George AIDE once was a critic himself will
have no difficulty in learning where he ac-
quirsd his information. But, il there were
not another clever line in the volume, The
Fables in Slang would be worth buying
for this single article.
over in gay New York" a merry little
war has sprung up between Acton Davies,
the youthful critic of the Evening Sun, +"
and Frank Daniels, the comedian whose OBJ
yious likeness 10 a Dachshund is responsible
for much OF the miTth which he creates
Mr. Daniels opened fortnight ago at Wal
lacks Theatre in a new opera, entitled
The Ameer,' and was treated to one Of
the most scathing "rOastings' ever dealt
an entertainer by the proficient chefs of
the Gotham daiies. The most artistic of
these ''rGastings' came from the Evening
Sun" and naturally, Mr. Daniels and his
manager were displzased. Since il is not
improbable that Mr.. Davies foresaw this
displeasure when he penned his article mat
ters did not become threatening Immediate
ly after
Ten days back, however Kirke La
Shelle the manager aforesaid, threw
bomb into the camp of the Sun" He al
legged that Mr.. Davies had not attended the
performance at WallaclIs and, in support
of that allegation, showed two seats which
the reviewer had ordered, but for which he
had not called. Mr. Davies replied that,
being on anything but the best of terms
with the directors of the house, he had de-
termined to buy his tickets. Mr.. La Shelle
returned that none of the attaches had seen
Mr. Davies, Mr.. Davies suggested
that the staff Of Wallacks had
best consult an oculist. Mr.. La Shelle re-
marked that a certain song, which Mr..
Davies had condemned. had been omitted
after the premiere of the piece. Mr.. Dav-
les answered that, as he had missed that
portion of the offering, he didn't know
whether the song had been cut or not
and what was more that he didn't care
damn. At which point, seeing that there
was likely TO be bloodshed. the other crit
les and managers OF Gotham interfered
At present an armistice is in operation.
There are two morals to this unhappy
tale The first is: A production in town
often is worth two given for the benefit of
the proverbial dog" The second should
read Blessed is the director who knows
nothing, for he shall be spared much
trouble.
Candidly, it doesn't seem to matter
whether Mr.. Davies saw the work under
discussion in New York or in New Haven,
so long as he saw it.
The managers of Mrs. Fiske have sent
to the various dramatic editors of this
Sharp a handsome volume containing
twenty-five half-tone pictures of scenes
from the play, reprint of the cast Ed
ward Fales Coward's criticism of the pro-
duction and the story of the piece. This
pamphlet was given out on last Monday
night as a souvenir of the 101st perform
ance of Becky Sharp" at the Fifth Ave
nue. Theatre. Published by Herbert 5.
Stone & Co. of New York and Chicago, il
is a fitting commemoration of the success,
despite various obstacles, of the woman
Who without doubt, is Americas greatest
actress.
Last night in this city Lillian Burkhart
dispensed with the services of True S
James, who had acted as her leading man
for some time, but who had never proved
acceptable and substituted Percy Leach
a local boy, well known here through his
work with Madame Rhea, Eugene Blair,
T. Daniel Frawley, and others. Mr.. Leach
is a clever young fellow and should prove
exceptional in his new position. Miss
Burkhart will continue in "A Deal on
Change and "A Passing Fancy" probably
producing Charming Pollock's most recent
sketch q few weeks from now in Buffalo,
Thomas II. Davis, of the firm Of Davis
& Keogh, who made an attempt to run
the Grand Opera House a couple of years
ago and gave up in anger because The
Times couldn't agree with him regarding
the merit of his performances, is in trouble
again. After the agreeable and speedy
"Finish of Mr.. Fresh" last summer at
Schenectady, it would have seemed that
even Mr.. Davis might have discovered that
glaring Autographs and unlimited impu-
dence might get people into theatre but
that those things were not sufficient to
keep them from mObbing the performers
afterward However Mr.. Davis did not
make the discovery One of his Shows"
booked at the Academy when that house
and been closed to Davis & Keogh, nearly
resulted in riot. a month since, and reports
from elsewhere proved that the manager