Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-18

sons trip. One of the prettiest features of
the program is the alma mater song, The
Red and Blue by the combined clubs.
The Pennsylvania trE and Ben Frank
lin are other successes. "A Vocal Com
bat forms pleasing, musical vadity which
always pleases glee club audience.
Many prominent women In Washington
society are patronessRs for the capital city
concert he clubs will be at Universalist
church on the evening of the 25th of Feb
ruary.
Apropos of the divergence of opinion as to
whether Catherine, I'm the play of that
name, is or is not natural character, Miss
Annie Russell. who plays the part, was
asked what she, who had given it SO much
study, thought about it.
You must remember she replied, that
the play is essentially Gallo. as is every
character in 1t, particularly that of Gather
Inc. Judged by American standards, she
may not be convincing, but in reality she is
a very conventional French girl. 1t is In
| many ways the hardest part I have ever
undertaken. The character is pitched in
| such an even key from beginning to end
| that it is often hard work to keep in the
picture. Catherine is that very curious
anomaly, a heroine who has not always the
sympathy of her audience, which Is only
apt to judge her by American standards,
rather than French.
Take the Duchess de Ceutras, for ex-
ample. From the very first entrance she
wins and holds the affection and sympathy
|
tenseiy womaniy and natural, and, OF
course, she ts played splendidly by Mrs
! l.eMoyne. Yet in France her Willingness to
allow her son to marry so far beneath him
socially was not regarded as a very likely
| or natural bit of character drawing For
over there. you know, class lines are so
sharply drawn.
You remember, in the last act, how diff
fcult it is to reconcile Catherine to her
husband 1t should be remembered that
when she enters the drawing room at the
end of the third act and discovers the
countess in her husbands arms. she does
| not know that it was, on his part at least,
the mere weakness of the moment.
train of circumstances has led Catherine
to believe that this countess is not only
her husbands cousin, but long her rival in
his affections as well. Therefore 1t is hard
to convince her that he is more sinned
against than sirnfng. Another point that
the average theatergoer does not quite UNI
derstand is the action of Catherine in send
ing for George Mantel, her former lover,
when she decides to leave her husband An
| American girl would never have taken that
step. Once married into the family, she
would have done nothing to further draS
the name In the dust In the same position
she would have felt that her quarrel was
with her husband and not with his family,
who were devoted to her, the mother even
siding with her against her own son. But
Catherine being French. though she had
been married some months, had not in hef
mind been able to break down the barriers
of caste and feel that she really belonged IN
a position she had not been born TO- IRA
ditiona of society, social laws of France
and heredity were all at work to prevent
her affiliation with people of noble birth
"a Colonial Girl Mr.. Sothern's latest
success is a new comedy by Grace Living
ston and Abby Sage Richardson. The
scenes laid in old New York, in the
house of Godfrey Remsen, on the Hud-
son river. near the Battery. The time is
in the 1916 period of the American reVo-
luton.
Godfrey Remsen &c. II. Sothern), the hero.
is a gallant young American, who has
spent some years in England, and returns
to New York at the opening of the play,
to take possession of his American estates
recently inherited from his uncle. To re-
venge himself upon the woman he has low
ed and who deserted him in his absence
thinking him poor, and has married
wealthy baronet he hastily marries an
American girl, whom he only knows slight
ly. with the usual prospect of repenting
at leisure. The young wife, a charming
little country girl: who has bean brought
up a farm, discovers that she has been
married from pique and naturally resentS
Il. The plots of Godfreye former love-
now a widow who still loves him. try to
separate him from his young wife and con-
triVeS to have Godfrey arrested as spy
in the employ of Gen. George Washington,
to make the husband believe his wife be-
trayed him. She is fooled in this by God
frey, who penetratss into the British head
quarters in q disguise and saves his wife
from insult and possible dishonor The
play is network of thrilling situations.
which cufminate in the reconciliation of
husband and wife. 1t has azromantic story
of true love, and although 1t is of the STIR
ring, period of H7G, it Is not a war drama,
but it touches lightly on the war, as all
stories of that period must. The part of
the hero is especially suited to Mr.. Sothern,
and katherine Florence, Mr.. Sotherns
leading lady has a very congeniaI role.
Mr.. Sotherns company includes Messrs.
Norton Selten- Rowland Blackstone Arthur
Lawrence, Royden Erynne. Marshall Sted-
man, John J. Collins, Tully Marshall
Misses Rebecca Warren and Eleanor Carr.
Miss Florence Henri King, who has gain |
ed a high local reputation as violinist |
has determined to go before the public pro-
fessionally, and will make her first APP
pearance at the Grand Opera House. the |
9th instant. At the conclusion of her en-
gagement here she will go at once to New
York, having had some very good offers
from many of the leading managers in the |
north and west. She will play in New |
York, however, before deciding definitely |
on her tour. Miss King is practically a !
Washington girl, having come to this city |
in her early childhood and having resided |
here ever since. She has been an earnest |
student and has richly earned the position |
which she now enjoys as musician. Her |
friends anticipate decided success for her |
in her professional career.