The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18

who sees everything, knows everything.
and who is possessed of tender nature
and affectionate disposition that women
might trust and love. Indeed. it is con-
eeded by many critics that MIR. Gillette
has reached the highest point of art in
Sherlock Holmes, both as dramatist and
as an actor
Mr.. Gillette Genes to the National Thea
tire tomorrow night for n week. with
matinee on Saturday only. and it will be
found that there is cresceBdo of in
terest engrossing the mind of all OBJ
servers not impression-proof-a against the
fascination of the unique.
The story chosen by Mr.. Gillette for his
dramatization is one which relates an cpl
sode in the life of the detective in con-
nection with the strange case of Miss
Faulkner, and the dramatic version gives
a complete idea of the entire series within
the compass of an evenings perform
ance. The story tells of a package of
papers compromising a nobleman which
has been beGueathed to Miss Faulkner.
Holmes is commissioned to get them, ana
finds the girl in the hands of couple
of schemcrs who want the papers for
themselves for Matchmaking purposes.
They become frightened when they hear
Holmes is on the case and secure the as
sistance of Prof. Moriarty, past master
in crime who is imbued with a muir
derous hostility toward Holmes. The lat
ter is Handicapped by little Dan Cupid. for
running alongside the thrilling episode
of the drama il, a petty love story. The
fight between Moriarty and Holmes forms
the chief interest in the play.
Lafayette Square-"The Great Ruby"
THE Great Ruby" one of the biggest
and most thrilling melcdramas produced
in the past decade, will be the offering
this week of the Lafayette Square stock
company. The initial performance to-
morrow night promises to substantiate
the claims already made that III Will be
the most stupcndous production ever
made in Washington by stock company.
IN point of numbers alone. this play eX-
ceeds anything ever done locally, for in
addition to the twenty regular memters
of the stock company, the cast requires
over dozen extra professionals who
! have been brought on from New York, ani
more than fifty supcrnumerari,s ru-te1
in this city to constitute the mobs in the
several big shouting scenes. Fur h rises
and big tally-ho. together with an I'M
E.ense balloon, are other stage properties
required. The first is utilized in bringing
large crowd to the race track, ana the
second is used to transport villain ana
detective into the clouds, where they fight
duel for the possession Of the great
ruby. There are nearly a dozen Other
thrilling scenes, one showing the interior
of London jewelry store. This is the
opening OF the plot. when this store Is
robbed by gang OF thieves who gain pos
session of the great ruby by unique
trick. two Of the gang impersonatins de-
tectives in order to arrest the thieves,
and the entire gang clearing out with the
plunder before the real police are called
III. The great ruby then passes from one
person to another, all innocent of The
precious gem entrusted to their keeping,
and the remaining scenes are a contest
of wits between the invincible detective
called in to track them, and the thieves.
| Ultimately honesty prevails, and d.zen
minor threads of love and interest are
properly adjusted.
THE Great Ruby" was written BIZ Cecil
Raleigh and Henry Hamilton. authors OF
many successful plays, and was originally
produced in London at the Drury Lane
Theatre, where it ran a whole year. 1t
Was then imported to America by the late
Augustin DAILY, and after leo nights was
withdrawn at the end of the season just
few days before the celebrated manager
died. The Daily company never played it
on tour, and it is, therefore, an absolute
novelty SO far as Washington is con-
cerned Ada Rehan played Lady Garrett
in the original production, while Miss
Blanche Bates impersonated the Countess
Mirtza Charkoff, an adventures who acts
as the social ally of the diamond gang.
Miss Bates will this week be seen in the
role she created in America, while Miss
Louise Macintosh will assume the Ada
Rchan role. John T. Sullivan will be SEGA
as the detective, and the other players
will be assigned excellent parts.
An immense amount of scenery has
been painted for the production. and
everything is in such excellent shape that
Manager Berger promises flawless per-
Torrance tomorrow evening. The seat
sale has been unusually large. and the
house for the Wednesday matinee is al
ready sold out.