The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-25

much of the scandal-cyclone that Away.
has ragged about Mr.. Mansfield is due &c
the motion of personally conducted cleo
trio fans.
Last Sundays theatrical comment. by
the way. has quite made necessary The
! founding of a "Heart-to- Heart Talks
| With Readers" column There has been
an astonishing influx of communications
relative to the article on excessive charges
at places Of amusement, for example, and
several Of the letters received show con-
| siderable bitterness. AS usual. the ma
| Jority are anonymous. but a few of the
| signed will serve TO show how strongly
many localities feel on the subject. One
/ correspondent says:
! To the Editor of The Times:
Allow to tell how much I appreciate your
recent remarks the price of seats at Washing
ton playhouses am. like thousands Of Others
poor man who enjoys good book and a good
drama In common with tn SC others, however,
am seldom able to attend the latter in com.
pany with my WIFE because the rates in vogue
are practically prohibitury and because the sim
demanded for t..U horrS Of such diversion Will
pay for suitcieit literature to last for weeks.
Believe me. the de, iartments here cOntsin many
lovers Of the theatre who are in my plight We
DO not think that actors who appear elsewhere
at 81 or sl.5O 40 worth $3.50 or s. in MASKING
ton. Can you lot help to brig about a more
reasonable state of affairs here,
". A. MOORE
Gas G. Street northeast
Another writer says:
To the Editor of The Times;
have just finished reading your article on the
rates ct the local theatres and cannot refrain
from endorsing it. ]. too. am unable to see WHY
any attraction shown 8, first-class house is
hrst-class attraction and do not believe that
men like William Gillette should charge the
same prices that obtain for PLAYS like The
cuckoo merely because one stage holds both
Wien st-50 has been asked for the latter how.
ever, 1t IS too bad TO make up the sxtortion by
utinancing - for the former. la the West M
farce is presented at over 81 ior the hest seats in
the auditorium. W. z. SPENCER,
The Arlington
Both eplstles are entirely pertinent and
the attitudes taken seem justified There
are about three stars in this country who
have reason to make 81 rates. and there
are not over ffteen at whose performances
chairs are worth S1.5O.
And then-while devoting space to
'Heart-to- Heart Talks''-some one. who
signs himself Manager" writes to admit
that he agrees with The Times policy of
honest criticism but that he thinks "the
paper sets too high standard for attrac-
tons"
There is no such thing as too high a
standard for attractions" Either a play.
concerning which suggestions are made,
can be improved or it cannot. II it can
not. there is no reason for the suggestions
and the criticism can be successfully dis
puted. If a moderate expenditure of mind
or money would benefit the piece. how
ever, that expenditure should be arranged |
and both the public and the author should |
be glad of the opportunity. The idea of |
any standard" being too high" is arrant |
nonsense,
The dramatic editor of The Times is m re-
ceipt of an original poem. penned by Otis |
Skinner. and entitled My Daughters Val |
entine." Matinee girls who are shocked at |
the information that Mr. Skinner owns to |
a daughter old enough TO care for val.n-
tines that do not come III the form of |
teething rings, will find consolation in the |
discovery that the actor really has claims
TO laureateship. The verses follow.
When. thIo' the cark q winters dark,
Two fig, bright. black eyes shine
Like stars above.
IFS Cornelia. love
Ny little Valentine.
Fear not sweetheart, tho we're apart,
Tia: other forms than thine
Make me untrue
To you--to sou.
My sweetest Valentine.
For. had crown II purest gold,
Or holy. ieweled shrine
I'd give my store
And millions more
To be your Naleutine.
And when Old Tim, shall reap my years,
and sllyered locks are mine,
God grant to
You still shall he
Your fathers Valentine.
Seriously. Mr.. Skinner would do well to
ook into the history Of the man who is
eputed to have made fortune by writing
ines for valentines.
At last, the purists. who believe that
,ublic morals are best regulated by the
,oiice, have had their way. and Olga
iethersole has been arrested, charged with
living an indecent performance. Shades
II David Garrick. but Aiphouse Oaudet
must have been tempted to turn 1ip-fops
n his grave at learning that the story
which he dedicated to his son has really
hacked a city that. during three years
las found its enjoyment in such theatrical
nerings as The Conquerors.' "The Girl
from Paris, THE Telephone Girl THE
Turtle" Mile Fiji" "Zaza.'' Naughty
anthony The Cuckoo. The Girl From
Iaxim's." Wheels Within Wheels" THE
Make Way for the Ladies'"
nd 'Coralie &. Co, Dress makers,"
Singulariy enough, whenever there is an
utcry against the morals OF stage people
nd, after all, the morals OF players are
he business OF no one else-the notorious
y respectable workers of the theatre keep
uiet. and the VIGOROUSLY otherwise do
he protesting. This was true when Glenn
mt SCOTS famous article appeared and
was true. more recently. when we'll
nown hotel keeper refused to lodge chorr-
iris. Now f. f. Mackay. the father OF
harles and Edward Mackey. and a former
ctor of repute, has accused managers of
and replies are coming
-Om the usual unexpected sources. All.
layman remarks that Charles Frohman
as produced plays at great expense sim
ly because he thought they were artistic"
Wilbur Bates says THE verify that our
rm staged Ben Hur' on a chance. not
moving whether or not such a religious
leme would be acceptable to the public.
nows that they do not cater TO depravity."
'oble Charles Frohman! Noble, noble
law & Erlanger, VIII some one please
iscover the argument urged against Mr.