Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-01-20
ceeds like success Keith achieved sue
cess by sticking to his business early and
late and giving clean vaudeville and
plenty of it.-New York News

late ana giving clean vaudeville and
plenty of it.-New York News.
In the vernacular of the player, there
are certain fat roles that are well-nigh
actor-proof-that play themselves" to
utilize another term of the vernacular,
and in which a performer Of merely
measurable talent finds failure next to
impossible If his effort be made sincerely
and honestly. For the reason that the
play-going laymen is not possessed of the
acumen to discern between the worth of
the player and the intrinsic appeal of the
role some of the most prominent per-
formers on our stage owe their eminence
solely to having acted roles in which it
were difficult to score failure. An ordin-
airy equipment of the mimetic talent and
histrionic sense often enables a player to
land high in the popular esteem when a
fellow-player of finer quality, keener in
telligence, and greater gifts remains in the
ranks because of the lack of a medium
for the exhibition of his skill. But this is
negative law of theatricals that ceases
to be operative in the higher reaches of
the drama. Hamlet, Macbeth, and Lear
are great parts that actors of talent and
equipment far above the ordinary are I'M
able successfully to essay. And such a
role is the swashbuckler of Rostand's
heroic comedy" 1t is a great character
that calls for, but does not make, a great
actor, and which were better neglected
than undertaken by an unfit player.-F.
j. Donaghey, in Philadelphia Times.
Among those I saw, as our Tenderloin
neighbor remarks, at the first descent of
1.-The Girl from Up There was Oscar
Hammerstein. The Olympian sat in an
aisle chair, ten rows from the stage.
There was puzzled look on his usually
philosophic countenance. The Press man
stopped to inquire into the distress of
this honest citizen. Well. said Mr.
Hammerstein, at beats me. There is
that girl, Edna May I gave her SIS a
week in Santa Maria" and she wasn't
worth a cent more than paid her. Now
she gets $500 a week. 1 can't understand
it." After which the worthy man re-
lapsed into melancholy. More folk than
Oscar are perplexed by this enigma.
Casually considered, Edna's value as
mirth producer at the Herald Square
would seem to be overestimated at s25
week. Yet she is set forth as the star
of the evening, the author has arranged
a sensational device for her entrance
her arrival is announced by blare OF
trumpets in Mr.. Kerker's version of See
the Conquering Heroine Comes. and per-
formers who can do something make
lowly obeisance before a performer who
can do nothing. Edna May receives the
same salary that is paid to Maude Adams
and more than double that paid to Annie
Russell, but what she does to earn her
income is problem that would discomfit
actuaries. Her fortune proceeds from
simple ballad which she was coached into
singing by the authors and manager of
THE Belle of New York" At that time
she had no pretension further than to
earn an honest living in the chorus of
the Casino. Her face was demure and
pretty, her air was shy. her general APP
pearance suited the song, and she was
selected to sing the only song only on ac-
count of her general appearance. The
ballad and balladist made a hit at the
Casino, and that success was trebled in
London. The bashful little Salvation
Army lass was taken up by the high
society of British noblemen and smiled
upon by the Prince OF Wales himself
Evil communications, says the Prayer
Book, corrupt good manners. Edna May
has lost the charm that she had gained
none that she did not have. Her face
is now hard and naughty and grown old
in a short period AS an actress she has
all the qualities of poultice without
Its occasional warmth. AS a singer she
is an Illustration of the epigram:
Swans sing before they die; 'twere no bad
thing
Did certain persons die before they sing
However. 1t is not the first time that
Charles Frohmans pursestrings have
been looSe0ed literally by a song. He