The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-23
THE PASSING SHOW.

But let us see now these buckets Oh slec-
ulation and tubs of enter ainment are to
be secured.
Take the historic play founded on the
historic novel for an example. BY the
time the historic character reaches the
stage he has sifted through three minds
and a stage manager. Unlike the quality
OF mercy, he is strained. The novellst
gets his idea of his pei sonages from the
historian, who has obtained his from the
views of hundred others; the noveiist
does not mind adding few details OF
color. especially if he is out for modern
picturesque costume fiction, and the poor
dramatist, with a foot rule in his hand-
or, at least in his mind-p.ust cut the
noveIist's work into section slash, piece
out, and invent in order to bring the
work within two hours and hall, four
acts and sequence. BY the time the poor
historic character has passed through TINS
corn shelter Of literature he Is about
done for.
When Knighthood WIS in Flower is
to be dramatized. The CONSERVATION OF
the dramatist, when he discovers that IN
this book kings are made to talk like IN
diana farm hands, will be awful. Inc
dramatist must then, if his work is rot
going to be laughed off the stage, invent
a new line of conversation out of Eliza
banks of the Wabash These poor char
acters were first dished up by the histo-
rian, some of them at least. then the
novelist had his fling, and finally the play
maker.
Shakespeare in his history plays dallied
with history, so f. Marion Crawford is in
good company. 1t is rather touchy pro-
ceeding to tell Mr.. Crawford that in his
novel, In the Palace of the King, he
has turned history inside out and that
the motive he ascribes for certain ac-
tions are absolutely at variance with ac-
copied fact Rather risky, because Mr.
Crawford is a student of Spanish history;
he has had access TO original documents
and the like. Yet, If Mr.. Crawford Is
right, Prescott, Sterling-Maxwen, and all
historians of Philips and Don Johns time
are wrong.
Mr.. Crawford AYERS that, Jealous of HIS
brother, Philip sent Don John to Grenada
to fight the Moors with the hope that he
would De killed, and that he made this
reasonably certain by providing an made
quate force. The contrary is the truth.
Philip had Don John hedged about with
commanders who would not permit him
to fight, and the force, as proven by the
result, was more than adequate. Mr..
Crawford must have motives, so he Jug
giles with time and events. Philip was
jealous of John after Lepanto, and sus-
picious OF him too, for good reason. but
not after Grenada, as the author relates.
Philip>and John were then loving brothers
and friends. These little details do not
matter-if the author has produced vi
tally interesting story which he undoubt-
eddy has with I'm the Palace of the King
What Lorimer Stoddard has done with the
story cannot be told TIL Miss Viola Allen
OF ha
morrow evening. Mr.. Stoddard has prov
ed his ability as a dramatist more espec-
tally with Tess" and it may be taken for
granted that he has made an excellent
play out of what is an intensely dramatic
novel.
II the novelist must depart from his
tory, the dramatist is in a like dilemma;
he in order to conform to 1.-THE restricted
usages of the stage, is put to the neees-
sity of remodeling the work of the novel
ist. The story teller cannot complain of
this, much as 1t may harrow his arts
tic soul" When Barrie fframatized his
own novel, The Little Minister he was
put to the necessity Of finding new end
ing So, also, with Hail Gatne and The
ChristianT-tse play is but shadow OF
the book.
The fact that there was not reunion
of ex-managers OF Roster Balls New
York Music Hall held in Washington
last week liz no reason why there could
not have been, as three former directors
of the well-known amusement resort
were in the city.
W. A. Mcconnell, business manager OF
the "Mam'selle 'Awl1ins'' company, was
manager of the house during its era OF
greatest prosperity, aPd much of its sue
cess must be attributed to his excellent
and energetic work. Alfred E. Aarons,
the manager of the same musical piece,
followed MIR. Mcconnell. and was CON
nected with the theatre during the time
that it apparently lost its hold on the
amusement loving people of Gotham.
Charles e Salisbury. at present the local
manager of the Bijou of this city, was
one of the small army OF managers VINO
undertook to drag the theatre from its
run of i'll luck. and he has the distinc-
ton of having managed the music nail
for fourteen consecutive weeks. a feat
that was at the time considered little
short of marvellous. especially when IL is
recalled that four different men under
took to run the house during one week.
It is always pleasant to chronicle the
success of a Washington girl and particu-
larry when that success has come from
honest endeavor and faithful study. Miss
Mary Helen Howe whose brilliant work at
the Choral Societys last concert was a
complete surprise and qualification not
only to her friends. but to the management
of that organization, has been pursuing
her studies in Paris during the summer
months and her teacher, the instructor OF
Calve, predicts for her bright future.
Miss Howe sung at the United States
Pavilion in one of the series of concerts
given there under the patronage of Com
missioner General Peck and other Ameri-
can and French officials, her numbers be-
ing an aria from La Trayiata;' The
Nightingale a waltz song by Murio-Celli,
and the ballad, Il Dreamed That l Dwelt
in Marble Halls" from THE Bohemian
Girl" The Washingtonian scored a dis
tinct success and was warmly compliment
ed by many of the notable singers who oc-
cupied places on the same programme.
At one of the other concerts at the Pa
vilion there was a demand for The Star
Spangled Banner" at the conclusion of the
programme but the vocalist of the even
ing declined to sing IT, explaining that it
was not in her range. Thereupon the man
agement requested Miss Howe, who was in
the audience, to sing The national song.
and she did so with such purity of Voice
and patriotic fervor as to excite the great
est enthusiasm Miss Howe was also the
soloist at a recent musicale given at the
British Pavilion, where she made another
success and was the recipient of marned
attention. {
Howard and Emerson, who will appear at
the head of their own company at the
Bijou this week were the first artists to
apply motion pictures, to the illustration
OF popular songs.
Joe Howard is a mechanical genius"
said Manager Salisbury at the Biiou the