Evening star., 1900-12-15

each other has been a matter of frequent
remark. The custom WAS again followed
this week when The Girl From Up There
played in direct opposition to The Belle of
Bohemia" Each illustrates the style of the
two most prominent writers of that kind of
literature in this country, Harry Il. Smith
and Hugh Morton. Mr.. Smiths Belle of
Bohemia has a somewhat sedate plot
that Is to say, sedate when the usual
standard for that style of entertainment
is remembered. Mr.. Mortons, on the con-
trary. is consistently nonsensical. The
vaudeville and variety stage are in danger
of becoming depopu-ated if this demand for
comic players in the legitimate theater con-
tinues Sam Bernard made his way from
the ranks Of the olio, and against m with
the Girl From Up There were a large
number of people who have hitherto been
accustomed to hold the attention OF the
audience without the assistance Of a stage
manager. 1t looked like massng of forces
for the express purpose Of OVerW hclmiMS
Bernard, but the genial German comedian
held his own admirably, ably assisted by
his brother, who closely resembles him
that it is often difficult to StinguIsh one
from the other. THE Belle of Bohemia
was a popular favor.te in spite Of the fact
that its story is very old one-that of two
Dromios. 1t requires no very ardent adprer
Of Shakespeare to suspect that Harry Il.
Smith has not materially improved on the
old work in respect to literary compost
ton. But Shakespeare lacked jngling
music, smart current repartee and bl!owy
dSaperies displayed in unconVcnt 'onai
dances, and these latter considerations are
great essentials with The Belle"
1t will be strange if last Monday nights
production of THE Girl From Up There"
does not mark the rise of one or two stars.
1t is long time since large a consign-
81 i,It toll haS bee hrollP It
to the city. The entertainment on Moucay
night was more of less of go-as you please
affair, and it will be very much shorter
when it gets to New York after few inter
mediate performances. There were many
heart-futterings among the members or the
company who trooped So bbthely upon NE
stage. 1t is the amb ton of almost every
speciality artist to get a fouth9d on IN"
legitimate stage. And any entertainment
not composed of a series of separate and
distinct "acts" is considered Legitimate.
When the rise of a number of people Is
considered, such Edna May hers"if.
whose progress from chorus to the. Ger 'e'
of the stage has SO often been told. and Dan
DAILY who began with a burleslue of Burr
Mcintosh In a "Trilby' travesty. ana who
has drawled his way to the height IT popn-
larity and the top Of the salary list II Is
not surprising that there should Re strong
hopes all through the cast of characters.
On Monday night the author and composer
occupied a box in company with Coarles
Frohman and his representative, c. 3. Dill
ingham.
While in this city Mr.. Frohman had oc-
casion to respond to telegram requesting
information as to whether Maude Adams
would cease to appear Il Aigl m. ara
would be superseded by Harry Woodruff
Mr. Frohman made no effort to use all the
ten words which the lelsgfaph company
would have taken for the same ncney. He
simply answered: IT'S l!e."
Next to the box-ofiice window of the Co
lumbia Theater hangs placard giving the
list of prices for San Toy" which range
from s. downward. 1t was formerly reg
ular custom-and it may be still in some
communicate keep an announcement Of
the scale of prices posted in full view of the
public as 1t assembled in the lobby. This
practice serves to prevent n sunaerstald-
ings with the ticket seller, and has other
advantages. When Algernon takes Ange-
lima to the theater. W tn the intention OF
showing her that he Is the real thing, and
would not think of sitting anywhere than
in the most expensive seats. the sudden
discovery that the e seats cost him 81 in
stead of the 81 that he counted on paying
may cause aim embarrassment. OF course,
it will make no difference if Algernon is a
child Of luxury and need not count his
small change. But If he belongs to the
great ma jority, VINO draw salaries and have
to calculate industriously to keep their
amusement expenses from encr rhing an
their room rent, 1t Is barely possible that
the extra dollar for two seats may be
shock.
The prices of seats for theatrical enter
tainments in this city have been fuctuating
almost az widely as the figures In the stock
market. Attractions which command only
81 so in other cities play here every now and
then at 81 a seat. Speaking from purely
mercantile of view theater ticket
Is worth just what its vendor can get for
it. But 1t is difficult to put the theater on
a purely mercantile basis. Every theater-
goer takes a chance. A player may be
slightly ill-well enough to play, but not in
form to do good acting. The theatcr may
be too hot or too cold, or there may De i'll
the vicinity a stout gentleman with
wheezy respiration. or a person who eX-
hales "reminiscences Of alcoholic joy. or any
one Of a hund ed or so Of influences may
assert themselves to deprive the auditor Of
the enjoyment for which he ha. paid. 1t Is
impossible TO guarantee the delivery Of the
goods as may be done by coal yard or
department; store. The point VIII ch rests
with the theatrical manager for decision is
whether he ought to take the public into his
confidence. and give 1t the best he can pro-
cure at the regular scae Of prices, relying
upon 1t to stand by him. without serious
complaint when the offering falls little
below the average of merit In great
many cities where attractions are accus
toned to remain for week this is the po-
sition taken by the management. 1t is Gus
tomary for attractions of rank to charge
81 In New York where the theaters
small and in one-n ght stands. With both
the Columbia and the National charging 81
next week 1t would at least be satisfac-
ton to Washington to know whether it is
being placed IN the metropolitan or the
bucolic category.
A little over seven years ago Miss Percy
Haswell theL just beginning to wander in
the vineyard of professional endeavor. tap
ped timidly upon the door Of Richard Mans
field and begged to be admitted into his
conservatory of undeveloped talent. But
Mansfield was then just as naughty now.
and with much the same voice and manner
as he utilized when bidding Miss Mary San
ders vacate his rehearsal chair he bade
Miss Haswell leave him. Shrinking back
into the dark recesses of the stage. the
young lady gazed in awe upon Richards
majestic grandeur. and waiting until his
back was turned, she strode forth, deter
mined never to become member of Mans
fields company. A few weeks later her
persistence won her an interview with AN
gustin DAILY, who consented to guide her
Inexperienced steps into the proper dra
matte paths Under his fostering care Miss
Haswell rapidly advanced in the profession
and at the end of three seasons she was