The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-07

troupe as are obtainable. OF course. II is
possible that the individuals substituted
are as clever as their predecessors, but. for
obvious reasons, this seems unlikely. The
atregoers would show wisdom in compar-
ing the cast reproduced above. with that
printed on the programmes of the Nation
al BY so doing. they might avoid I'M
pleasant surprises.
OF the player of 1900. Kate Masterson.
The Matinee Girl of the Mirror" has
to say:
II would almost seem certain that the twentieth
century were going to evolve entirely new type
of actor Of which Goodwin Gillette Drew Seth.
ern Crane. Robson, the men % the present on the
stage. are but as dim shadows cast before.
Intelligence, study WORK. domestieity high en-
deavor that is content with nothing but the best
have taken the place Of the typical characteristics
Of old stageland and its residents.
We may dciyc in the mud Of untranslatable
French farce and laugh over the naughtiness Of
nouid never by any possibility get to be a dull
boy. but all that is only episode.
There is a steady march forward you can al
most here the tramp Of teet-but there are no
drums and no band. The procession has ceased to
be a circus parade and, even though the small boy
turns in disgust to patronize the side shows.
he's growing older every minute.
Side shows perish, fat ladies grow thin, and
lady and the three.heade, boy must pass away;
museums are going out, the tank has been abol-
ished from the ineodramatic stage. but some
thing must survivC-a fitting background for that
magnificent creature to whom the Matinee Girl
proposes New Years toast-the Twentieth Cen
tury Actor.
F'lippant though they may be, the foun-
dation of these remarks ia fact. The DISCO
Lutte. varying, homeless, ignorant creature
of chance who stood for Thespis so long is
gradually disappearing. The dominant
traits of dissipation and superficiality that
have been apparent in many clever play
ers now are much less so. When petty
Jealousy. intense egotism, notable narrow
mindedness, and the remaining degree OF
bestiality have gone, too, The Times glad
ly will clink glasses with Miss Masterson
in her New Year toast-the Twentr, Il
Century Actor"
A gentleman who signs himself "In Pa
thence" writes to the dramatic editor to
complain that the name of Joseph Jefferson
was left out of list of forty ''of the great
er stars of the theatrical profession" re-
quested by correspondent. I'm Patience"
evidently neglected to notice that this list
did not pretend to cover all Of the country's
able players. 1t would be difficult to con-
fine oneself to twosrJr names without
Besides which explanation. the dramatic
editor must disavow any responsibility for
matter printed outside of the two pages
which The Times gives to amusements.
Despite the many objections filed against
this papers review of Chris and the Won
derful Lamp" It Is a notable fact that,
after two months on the road. the Sousa-
Macdonough extravaganza received the
tha rff
that il got here. "Musc-catchy; scenery
beautiful; acting-good; book-atro-
cious"-this was the consensus OF opinion
in Gotham. Doctors do agree sometimes.
1.-The Girl From Maxim's'' was roasted"
in Chicago as il had been in Philadelphia.
Charles Frohman Immediately issued an
offer OF $500 to the critic who could pro-
duce as good farce. Aside from its value
as an advertisement. it would be difficult to
see what bearing this offer has on the case.
Each of the twelve men on jury must
not have committed homicide before re-
turning a verdict In a murder trial.
On last New Year Day the writer was
witness TO a rather heated conversation be-
tween Manager Chase. of the Grand. and
body of men who were peddling seats in
front OF that theatre. Manager Chase in
sisted that the agents leave, and finally
offered to buy the tickets they had gro
cured IL allowed them at boX-office rates.
This the spectators declined. saying that
they had lost heavily on Sir Henry Irvlng's
engagement, and that they must recoup
in order to return to New York. They
were finally ordered to withdraw to the
limit fixed by law and we're then, OF neces-
sity. left alone
Aside from Manager Chase's desire to
protect his patrons, the interview points an
interesting moral. On January Is, 1899,
the Grand Opera House was opened as a
vaudeville resort. The place had been dark
for a half season or more and. in add-
ton. had the black record OF no fewer than
three utter failures. Save only for an I'M
successful trial of a month, specially per-
formances. such as women and children
might witness, had never been attempted
in Washington. Wiseacres predicted that
Burke & Chase would last less than six
weeks. Despite this. those gentlemen spent
a large sum in decorating their building.
engaged the best entertainers procurable
and made other consistent but expensive
bids for patronage. The local newspapers
them somewhat harshly. Burke
& Chase did not withdraw advertising or
DO childish things quite as small and as
usual They proiited by suggestions and
Year Day over 5000 admission tickets were
sold at the Grand. and spectators who had
lost money on Sir Henry Irving found 1t
profitable to venture on vaudeville house
The petty. popular-priced theatres OF
Washington have been injured greatly,
their patrons embracing the opportunity
70 see performances twice as meritorious
as the old ones at half the rate.
II ever success was well deserved that
success has been achieved by Burke &
Chase. They have won out here. not on
the policy OF cutting expenses or fighting
the critics but by honest. straightforward
endeavor-a policy which suggested to
them the preference of securing Ching
Ling Foo at the rais,d price of $1,000 a
week in preference - disappointing 1t
is likely that on January - Burke &
Chase will celebrate their first anniversary
by giving away souvenirs. There probably
Is no one in town who is not glad of the
success which these will commemorate.
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.