The Washington times., 1901-10-13

the Boy Magician. in his new invention,
+. The Egg and the Bag This is work
OF eighteen years ago"
Years have gone by since "The White
Slave was last acted in Washington, and
a new generation has grown up TO be
charmed by the sweet simplicity of Bart
ley Campbells tender story of the South
land IN days long gone by.
Many things have happened since Bart
ley Campbell produced with memorable
cast the play which was destined to out
live all his numerous contributions to the
literature of the American stage. Some
of the foremost actors of todsy began
their ascent upon the ladder of ia ne while
member Of the early organizations
which toured the country under the au
thors direction. Some of these people
have passed over to the great beyond. Not
few have grown old and retired. and yet
there are those who have clung to the
play through its years of travel and they
will once more be seen in the familiar
roles during its local engagement this
week.
Compared with the melcSrama Of re-
cent writing, The White Slave stands
out from the long line a classic. The
author had learned by an extended eXpe-
rience and repeated failure exactly how
10 excite the interests of the average
pIaygoer and once he caught the SYM
pathy of his audience, ii was an easy
matter TO hold it until the last line
was spoken. Fun and pathos, bit of
sensation two or three quick curtains.
a quantity OF pretty scenery, and an odd
title" was Campbell S receipt for the
making Of a popular" play, one that
would attract men, women, and children
of all conditions Of life.
When a play has lived for twenty years
and crowds the theatres as in the days OF
its infancy there must be something
about it. something akin TO greatness,
which commends 1t to the respectful at
tention of all who are interested in the
growth OF the native drama. Therefore
for old times sake the revival of "Fhe
White Slave" viii be Interesting and in
structive to old and young alike.
The theatre ticket spectators have been
absent from In front Of most of the New
York theatres during the past week as
the result of a concerted action on the
part of Gotham's amusement directors,
who have finally awakened TO the fact
that the general public is decidedly
against paying more than the advertised
price for seats for a dramatic perform
ance.
II has been no infrequent occurrence for
the intending purchaser Of seat at any
of the principal metropolitan theatres to
DO held up in front of the playhouse
by a nunBTg-lDDhitlH lilIlNluutl, Will Il
bunch of choice orchestra seats In his
grimy paw. which he kindly offered TO
sell at an advance upon the regular adver-
tised tariff of only about 100 per cent. In
the case of one theatre, where the regular
prices are advertised as 50 cents for a
seat. the proprietors Of the house ern-
pioy their own ticket hawkers. who pa
troll the thoroughfare In front of the
theatre and besecch pedestrians TO pur-
chase tickets. The astounding fact in
connection with this particular case is
that the ticket venders demand 81. and in
some instances $3.50 for a scat tEa. is
advertised to be sold at so cents. This
practice has been going on for over n
year nov, and during the latter part of
the week the playhouse in question was
the only one that harbored the specula
tors.
1t has been well-known fact that |
Weber & Fields Music Hall ON Broad |
way has for long time employed it's |
own ticket sellers. who did business on |
the outside Of the theatre, and sold the |
regular - orchestra chairs for from So 10 I
IS. as the bacolic victim chose TO pay 1t |
has been argued from the point of view |
Of BIessrs. Weber & Fields that they