The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-14

interesting things to say lately on the SUBJ
ject of titles of plays: 1T was II wise head
who said The play is. the thing but I
would meekly suggest that the title is
something, l say this for the reason that
many a good play has been snuffed out by
an Inappropriate and repellant title.
Il recall Il play entitled The Witch
and a very sood play it was said to be, but
the title killed it as dead as the proverbial
door nail. Nobody wanted to spend an
evening with horrid old writing witches
a few minutes of them in Macbeth is
quite sufficient. Then there was play
called The Idiot and another Anarchy.
Horrors!
"A prettier play than When We Were
Twenty-One' was never written. The title.
like the play. is sweet and allurinS But
that was not its original name. The author
called it The Trinity but Mr.. Nat Z.
Goodwin objected, contending that such
title would be offensive and would give a
wrong impression OF the character OF the
play. He was right y sacrilesious title
for a delightful comedy would have been a
serious mistake.
"The name should indicate the character
of the drama, whether opera. .burlesque,
farce comedy. melodrama or tragedy we
know exactly what to expect when We go
to see .McFadden's Row of flats-the ute
is a sure index Of the character of the
play. so also 'On the tSultl, IL tetis 10
own story. Such titles for an opera or mel
odrama would be fatal. The Danites' was
a great title. so also The Henrietta and
The Old Homestead These several plays
with Inappropriate and jarring titles would
have been dangerously handicapped.
Such plays as Lovers Lane Sag Har-
bor.' "A Peaceful Valley and Way Down
East profit immensely by their titles,
which are admirable"
The finish of the second act of "The
Explorers" recently produced in Chicago.
happens in the rotunda of the Hotel Limit,
Chicago. and Is enacted by Charles Dick
son. Ruth White and Lillian Coleman. In
song and action they cook Chinese Welsh
rabbit. with the assistance OF the entire
company. who sing and dance around the
merry trio to the tune of the music.
The lyrics are as follows:
A KNIGHT OF THE CHATTING DISH.
/ AM n knight Of the Chatting Dish.
A chafing dish a chatting dish.
/ fry the pr,ine and scramble the fish.
And rustic rare ra2out.
/ sand the sandwich devil the ham,
Devil the ham, devil the ham.
Fritter the oyster curry the clam.
And juggie kidney stew.
IT'S a simple trick when you're on to it.
Hero goes for n Chinese Welch rabbit.
First catch your rabbit. medium size
The kind that Cinnamon dearly prize.
Now squirt of tizZ.
Throw in fat;
With a dash of this,
And dash of that
Then stir. stir, stir with great big spoon.
While you whistle the latest Chinese tune.
/ am knight Of the Chatting Dish
A chatting dish. chatting dish.
III iuggle you any old thing you wish;
There's nothing cannot do.
I toast my friends and roast my foes
Roasts his foes. roasts his foes
Make angel cake of garden hose,
And stir UP family stew.
Re sure your dish doesn't get too hot.
Or you'll spoil the job like as not. -
It's !. simple trick when you're on to it.
To jugglc Chinese WEIGH rabbit
Just a little more fig.
And little more fat.
With n dash of this.
And n dash of that
Then stir. stir. stir with great big spoon.
While YOU whistle the latest Chinese tune.
Maude Odell prizes most highly an Eng
lish foxhouud which proudly bears the
name of "Sapho.'' They are inseparable
during the day. 'sapho'' being Miss odelrs
| companion and chaperon, and at night dur.
ing the play is the watchful guardian of
her dressing-room. reposing in the top tray
of her trunk. which was fitted UP with a
satin-covered couch for his dogshlp. On
one occasion while playing in Montreal.
| Canada. at the Theatre Francois. "Sapho''
| vas dreaming of happy days gone by and
happier days to come, while her mistress
| was on the stage and had the audience in
| tears over the trials of the heroine. AT this
juEcture the theater cat. an ill-bred mon
grel, whose ancestry was mystery, walked
into Miss odell's dressing-room, and began
| nosfrg around her wardrobe Sapho
l nd t,ar,
ner babe the intruder besone. but the cat
! only arched its back, and said, put me
| out" Saphof at once made spring for
| the cat, who. instead Of running away
made flank movement, jumped or
"Sapho's' back, and boxed her ears un.
mercifully.
| Howling with pain. "Sapho' made bee
line for the stage with the cat clinging or
| her back, and rushed on the stage just as
| Miss Odefl Was in her strongest scene
What with the bowling of the dog, the
| shrieks of the cat. the shouts of delight
| from the audience. and the real tragic act
| ing of Miss Odcil. bediam reigned supreme
| AT length. with the assistance of the actors
and stage hands, Sapho's rescue was effect.
| ed, but for the balance of the season she
was kept carefully under lock and key al
| Miss Odelrs hotel.
WISH eouiu Sei nolu OIL that SHlcag'
| kibosh who said started in life as news
| boy said Ladie Foy recently.
| Il don't" he resumed
| II started In lie a common, everyda.
baby-not beautiful, but sure enough baby
Later on sold newspapers and incident
ally became the deadliest crap shooter Of
the alley back of the Chicago Tribune.
Another thing 1 want corrected-my face
| was born on me-
! 1T is not due to art
Some of my most intimate friends dom
believe this, and have been bothered t
death with men who write me for my recip'
| to look like me-
| Colonel John A. Johnston Dead.
Helena Mont. July 13-Coienel John A
Johnston. u pioneer of both Iowa and Mon