The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11

divided according TO their familiarity with
the theatre. Many of the folk who testi-
fed before Magistrate Mott showed igno-
rance OF the traditions and necessities of
the stage thai would nave taken the Gle
ment of surprise from a complaint against
"Othello'' or Don Carlos" And there is
a deal that Is laughable in the idea that,
because of the justified or unjustified petit
tioHinE OF these individuals the police of
one city have forbidden the sale of Al
phonse Daudet's story and the librarian
OF another has destroyed his copies of
"Sappho," Camille" "Manon LescaulL,
and various like classics Such acts are
those of extremists and bigots.
The decision of Magistrate Mott seems
warranted if it was given because Olga
Nethersole's production was Of a long
list of offensive and degrading plays. If.
however il was solely an expression Of
opinion concerning Mr. Fitch's piece. the
court censor certainly may be accused of
undue zeal. In either case, the termina-
tion of ''Sapphos' run should result in
interference in the engagements of Cora
lie g. Co, DressmakeTs,' 'Paps's Wife.
My Daughter-in-Law." and Naughty An
thony." all of which still attract lovers
of the prurient in New York.
The Evening SUM- OF Gotham-towD.
is in a fair way TO get itself disliked
among members of the profession by
reason of an editorial. headed Intelligence
Not Necessary for Success on the Stage"
which recently appeared in its columns.
The article already has occasioned quite
an outburst. In part. it follows:
As for the lack. Of brains not being bar TO
success on the stage. it is not necessary to 20
outside the trade itself In the interesting
journal Of VI. Frederic Jobyrc, who WAS fer
many years one of the leading members Of the
Theatre Francois, occurs this story. An actor
approached the manager at the rehearsal Of a
new play lie sid, There's word in Of
my speeches which | don't understand" The
man OF action queuched him with the angry re-
tort. you don't have TO understand. All You
have TO do is to say it as l want you to" At
the present moment the young man who Occu-
pies the proud position Of principal matinee idol
OF this town Is 50 unedncatcd that he has to
be carefully instructed in the correct pro-
nunciation Of the words of three sylables which
fall to him. And the fine manner and distinction
that appear in his performance are only the re-
sult OF constant labor and patience on the part
Of the manager. OF the stage, this eminent actor,
who has appeared in SgakespcareIn parts, is I'M
like some OF his brethren in this, that he is as
fond of diScouring on dogs and horses az OF
giving details about himself. But, outside his
ego" and the said dogs and horses, he ia rs
dumb as an oyster or clam. The other day
former chorus girl who had developed into a star
vastly indignant because her manager oN-
planned 10 interested public how he had taught
her the part that made her famous; how he di
rccted her TO take three steps forward ard look
up and three steps more and look down, and
on She resented the Implication that she
not an. Intelligent student of 'her art. and
thoroughly capable Of doing without the sort OF
drilling that is applied TO performing dogs
dancing cats. Mr.. John /. Toolc. the veteran
English comedian, in speaking Of his career one
day. said: MY success isn't the resflt OF genius,
even brains. Industry did it, my BOY. made
up my mind when | was young that anybody
could get along in my business who was willing
NvT1-l t.a~ft Hfstt cod tNa~ Ia
parts Of the other fellows. | got my chance that
way All you have TO do is attend to what you
are told, and keep from having notions Of Your
own
We say without fear Of contradiction mat the
stage is the profession in which intelligence,
except Of the lowest imaginable sort, IL not
condition precedente OF success. The parrot which
has obtained a large and fluent vocabulary has as
he utters as the actor vino Stimulates reasonable
understanding OF the works Of the dramatists.
Green schoolgirls and enthusiastic women who
ought TO know better VIII attribute the possession
OF the social graces TO who. fsultlessly
dressed, repeats the epigrsms and witty speeches
written by another. But the fact remains that
the graceful individual in question is as in
capable. in the vast majority OF Eases, OF under
standing what lie i saying, he is Of writing
the play. Take away the manager with ideas
OF his own. and the cold-blooded determination to
have them carried out TO the letter, and your
actor would be as helpless marionette after
somebody had cut the string by which its arms
and legs are worked The fact remains that in
the stage We have the only trade, profession, or
calling In which it Is possible 20 reach fame and
fortune without the aid Of the grey matter which
distinguishes tine Who walks from the monkey
that swings by its tail.
Lillian Burlxhart. William Farnum, and
one or two others have written to The
Times asking that this paper take up the
cudgel in behalf OF the actor. But The
Times finds itself unable to do SO con-
sirable on the stage it firmly believes
that intelligence is necessary certainly is
not proved by the success of nine tenths
OF the men and women who are admired
and respected by theatregoers.
As matter OF solemn fact. very few OF
the stars whose names now adorn the
billboards OF this country owe their sta
ton TO any ability Of their own. II really
is interesting TO study the things that
have led up TO the attainment Of the sta
tion in question for dozens OF the most
popular OF American artists" One
learns Immediately that John Drew never
has been much better than the proxy OF
Charles Wyndham; that Henry Miller
though exceptionally efficient, did not
make money until he became the proxy
Of Martin Harvey; that James X. Hack
EFT was sustained up to a short space
ago by Daniel Frohman, and that Z. H.
Sothern owes all that he Is 10 the same
man. With a possible exception. the four
have had their plays selected, their roles
conceived, their companies coached their
advertising done, their routes booked, and
themselves lifted from obscurity by the
individuals or by assistants of the indi-
yiduals under whose direction they have
toured. What intelligence is required for
the rest?
Briefly. whatever may be said of them
by friends or enemies. the executive abil-
ity and the power Of the Frohmans are
responsible for the existence Of more IA
vorite stars than is any other one factor
in the amusement world.
Apparently the crusade against man
agerial extortiOn begun in this paper al
ready has borne some fruit, for, as is
stated in a foregoing item, last week an
organization filling a stock engagement
here reduced It's prices TO the figure
quoted when IL was appearing in neigh
boring cities. This action is very good in
It's limitations. However. localities who
object to paying excessive sums for ad-
mittance to the theatres still must deal
with the Individual whose company comes
TO a better house than those in which it
has been booked and who Immediately
elevates his schedule to that of the resort
in question. And the project for charging
81 apiece for orchestra seats from which
to witness the performances of Nat Good
win and William Gillette, il 1t really ex-
lists. should be nipped in the.bud. There
is no particular reason why Washington
ians should give more for the privilege OF
seeing an actor than is given elsewhere.
The war which p. b. Chase, of the
Grand. is waging against ticket specula-