Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-10

touches I put dressing robe around me
ana then sit outside on the stage, where
l can see the acts going on. And do YOU
Know, 1 enjoy them quite as much as the
audience sas does? Do 1 think vaudeville a
rad or permanent institution? Well. I'll
tell you don't care myself to sit through
three or four sets of a play, waiting to Sc,
the expected happen. 1t tires me- 1 want
pens. That's why I like it, and 1 guess
others feel pretty much as l do But the
vaudeville of today will not be compared
with that or ten years from now. predict
ihen Wen have no more sketches hastily
improvised by illiterate actors or dramat-
lists, with I done and we was setting
your nerves on edge. Then, 1 foresee the
best dramatists will turn out the sketche!
ana masterpieces of comic dialogue and goot
situations will be as easy to obtain as bad
ones are now. Oh. yes, I'm doing all can
TO elevate vaudeville. How? Why, don't
you know was the first to carry a COM
plete set OF scenery and properties of my
own! All 1 want is bare stage and two
calciums, and my scenery does the rest
such as you have seen at the New Grand
TINS week. That's little to be proud Of
isn't 1t, since you know all the headliners
nave followed suit?"
Lew Dockstader is an example of what
a man who is an enthusiast in his chosen
vocation may do. The life of a minstrel
entertainer Is generally regarded as a but.
terry existence; and in many cases 1t Is
But Dockstader is a constant student He
mas Keen knowledge of current events
and mas closely observed the local charac.
terS and happenings in every town of any
consequence in the country. Scarcely a
week passes that he does not appIy himself
70 the gathering and memorizing of new
material In order to be on a familiar con.
versational footing with his audience. He
says pathetically that life with him is one
grand, sweet rehearsal.
While Hans Roberts, another of Wash.
fngtons numerous contributions to the
stage was playing here in why Smith
Left Home he came within an ace OF
stage-fright. While he was engaged in one
OF MS scenes there came childish voice
from one of the boxes. Mama! There's
papa. The youthful Roberts had geefulIy
recognized the parental presence, and 1t
was some time before the youngster could
De persuaded that it was duty and not In.
clEation mat prevented the usual exchange
OF aHecttonate courtesies.
Miss Julia Morrison proposes to 20 or
the stage in drama whose incidents re-.
sembie those which led to her trial on the
charge of murder IN Chattanooga If Miss
morrison Is relying on that deplorable even,
Tor advertising she will probably be dis,
appointed apo The public soon forgets the de.
talls OF such occurrences, and unless she
mas exceptional ability she will be notable
only Tor a very emphatic display of bad
taste. wv
CRICKET ON THE HEARTH."-'Tht
cricket on the Hearth was admirably pre-
sented last night at National Rifles Hal
ON u street by company of capable anna
teurs belonging to Almas Temple of the
Mystic Shrine The entertainment was
given in the interest of the Christmas char
lty fund of the Shriners and was the first
OF series Of functions to be held durine
the year for this worthy purpose. It is ex.
pected that fully $1,000 will be accumulated
during the year. Those who took part In
the play last evening were: James A. Sam.
pie, Fred c. O'Connell. Edward C. Town.
send. }. Don Houston and Misses Grace
Ross, May Jameson. Anna NJ. HAYS, Flor.
ence Heech and Ada L. Townsend The
committee IN charge consisted of Messrs
Frank H. Thomas, chairman: Harrisnn
Dingman, Harry Stamford. George n
Walker, George H. Getz, John A. Eliinger
CHARLES Reiter, F. w. Behrens. Samuel
Hart Frank K. Raymond, J. 8. Jones. Geo
ii. Smith and Benjamin H. Parkhurst.