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

easily afford to do this, as the piece is now
IN a fair way to realize the early asser-
lions that it possessed material from which,
with the excellent cast, a substantial sue
cess ought to be made.
The advent of Lebler & Co., with another
Of their unique ventures, will be one of
the events of the season. There is a gentle
assurance. mild hammered egotisnl, about
this new theatrical firm, worthy of Hall
Caine himself. Indeed, the spirit of that
most distinguished promoter of its interests
seems to linger with it. Mr.. Game went
his way unguided by precedent. He wrote
ms play according to his own ideas dressed
himself according to his own sartorial fan
cy, and found harmless diversion from the
stress of Intellectual labor by walking the
curbstone when he was placidly strolling
nome from the theater after a play. The
fact that THE Christian was success in
spite OF much denunciation, tended to slim
Glate faith in Mr.. Zangwill who in per-
sonality. seems to be a rather aggressive
imitation of Mr.. Game. There was no rea-
son for thinking that Mr.. Game or Mr.
LangWill had the playwritng faculty. But
tenacity has made even THE Children of
the Ghetto" respectable road-venture in
inns country. Their absolute disavowal of
fetish worship and their association with
literary celebrities has given Liebler & Co.
an immediate prestige, which might have
Deen delayed Tor long time had they ad-
Hered to the routine methods of play-pur-
cfasing and producing. Their coming pro-
auction of THE Greatest Thing in the
world, Is characteristic. Mrs. Sarah Cow
ell !-eMoyne Is better known as an elocu-
ZIONIST than as an actress, and the authors
OF the piece are untried workers. Yet the
company gives full assurance of adequate
Interpretation. and the occasion is one of
1t is encouraging to learn that the au-
thors Of 1.-The Greatest Thing in the
World" in which Sarah Cowell LeAIoyne
will make her first stellar appearance In
Washington at the Columbia Theater next
week, although this is the first play they
have produced. are not tyros at the trade
OF playwriting. Miss Harriet Ford, first
OF the collaborators, was leading actress
for eight years with such stars as Sol Smith
Rassell, cara Morris and Robert Mantel!
besides gaining a great deal of experience
IN prominent stock companies. 1t does not
follow that a successful player should be a
scod playwright; indeed. the opposite is of
ten the case, but Miss Ford was evidently
possessed of literary talent as Is proved by
the fact that she won the prize for the
best poem of welcome to Henry NJ Stanley.
ana has long been a contributor of short
stories to the leading literary publications
Her first work, a book of dramatic mono
logue brought about her meeting with Mrs.
DE Mile, as well as with Mrs LeMoype
Tor whom they wrote The Greatest Thing
il the World" 1t is related that thev
worked whole year on the play before
submitting it to Mrs. LeMoyne, who, from
her experience of twenty years on the act
ing and lyceum stages, suggested some
changes. which were made Mrs. DeMillc
Is the widow of the famous Lyceum Thea
ter playwright, Henry c. DeMille. wbose
plays are still popular on the American
Stage ON several of these Mrs DeMille
coiiaborated with him, and in all she was
his chief critic and adviser. especiaIIv in
regard to the feminine element Of those de-
hgntiul plays. 1t is said of her that We're
such POSITIONS open to-women, she would
be great stage manager.
Their methods of work are much the ga mo
as the Belasco-DeMlie collaborations Mrs
DcMllle is the expert in devisng dramatic
situations, while Miss Ford takes care of
the character studies. She is very method
lcal' ana this play represents vast amount
OF research. For instance, she read LEGAL
authorities to get one little point of law
Which occurs in the play perfectly straight
inese iadies also designed the SCENERY, and
iaiu out the color scheme for both Dainter
and costumer.
Owen Davis. author of "Over the Fence -
IS an athlete of some promise. His forte
has always been sprinting, a morning con-
stitutional of a few miles being his daily
amusement. Lately he has had but LITTLE
to say about athletics. In fact. he has
been beaten at his own game-and been
beaten badly at that. His antagonist was
locomotive. Had it been a race on The
level with the iron monster he world
nave felt no disgrace. But the locomotive
played a low down trick on him which
rankles. The Over the Fence" company
were preparing to leave a certain CITY few
weeks ago. The members of the comnanv
were all aboard the train, with the eIcen,
ton Of Mr.. Davis, who had been detained
70 settle some minor matters with the rail-
road ticket agent. That functionary had
just informed him that he still had five
minutes before the train would depart when
to Mr.. Davis horror he saw his train slow
ly moving out of the depot. Without stop
ping to ask questions he started on a dead
run after 1t. needless Of the shouts of the
agent and trainmsh. The faster he ran the
faster the train SEEMED to go. He doubled
his energies. Hs must catch that train.
1t was the only ope by which he could gel
10 the next town. in time Visions of the
cost OF a special came into his head and
again ne doubled his energies. To make
matters worse the engineer, with his head
OUT OF the cab doPr. was looking back and
actually laughing at his efforts. He de-
termined that me ever caught I'D with
that train he would, without compunction.
thrash both he-fonductor and that enei-
neer. particularly the engineer. He made
last desperate efort, stumped his toe and
turned GRACEFUL somersault. landing in a
sitting position. With clothes torn. hair
disheveled. perspifing from every pore. he
looked up to find the train had come to a
halt only few fdet away.
He pulled himS elf together got ahoard
and. to his utte4 disgust. the train nro-
ceeded to back ddwn toward the very snot
from which he had begun his mad race
1t had gone ahead to get on another track
to allow a special bearing the president of
the road the right of way.
Patrice is. besides one Of the most popu-
lar soubrette comedians. somewhat more of
theatrical business woman than her sis
ter stars, are. II do my own routing. ad
vertising and other work that most actress.
es leave to managers or. agents largely
through ignorance Of the managerial meth
DDS or indifference. so that they keen
moving. 1 like it, says she Il am yerv
energetic. you see, and truthfully can saw
there isn't lazy bone in me- / must keeY,
myself busy, and playing only thirty min
utes twice day doesn't provide much Ia
Dor. You should see me paying or NV 1T
tie company Saturday night 1 cali n INV
company but there are only three Of ne
Another thing: I like to get to the theater
long time before my act is demant5ed
After am dreased.s all huf the An;.hs-: