Evening star., 1902-01-25

John Drew was indeed Second in Com
mand'' in his new play at the New Ma
tional Theater this week. No more COM
plete assurance that the good nature which
makes him so popular a figure on the stage
is only reflection of his genuine self could
have been given than the conscientious
manner in which he performs role which
puts him at a disadvantage from almost
every point of view. MIR. Drew played the
part admirably but it was not an admirable
part. If Mr.. Standing continues to progress
in popular esteem he will soon be slated for
prominence in the next consignment from
the star factory. Ida Conquest, whose
work in the piece is both competent and
important, has already been discussed a
candidate for big type and the center of the
stage.
'Arizona's'' vitality is such as to give it
almost the right to claim consideration as a
classic. 1t is good, honest American play,
and the devotion with which the public at
tends it is an assurance that the popular
fancy is not so infatuated with triviality
and coarse suggestion to ignore true
merit 1t gave the Columbia another in a
long series of prosperous weeks.
y x
The Hammer Club held another session
one evening this week-the first in year
or SO. The gatherings of the Hammer Club
are always informal, and there is no regu-
lar order of business. The topic for discus
sion which came out uppermost was Mile.
Adjie and the lions who appear at Chase $
Theater, We'll known in this city as the the
ater operated by P. B. Chase.
Il am going to make a book on the
col Of
ization $50 called after the Scandinavian
god who used to crush mountains at a
single blow)- I'm going to play the races.
It's the only sure way to get money
When people go to see dumb animals do a
fake roar what's the use of trying to coax
them into the lofty realms of refined art :
Is it any wonder that with such distracting
influences the public fails to appreciate the
beauty of frankie Bailey's calves or Harry
b. Smiths Iyrics?"
But said the Senior TomahaWk-
Thrower, who had been awed into forgetful-
ness of his office by the outburst of the
chief, 1t requires some courage to get into
the cage with those lions"
Not bit of it, answered the Grand
Thor. Don't You remember that man
eating lion who came to town years ago?
They tied him up on the street corner, and
then had TO call the police to keep the
newsboys from pulling his tail. A lion Is
one of the most low-down, cowardly ami.
mails that ever walked. He's natural-borr
- renigger."
Did you notice Adjie's make-up?" an.
sTered the new member who thinks he is
pile driver when in reality he's nothins
but a tack hammer. 'She puts sometime
white on her arms. 1 suspect it Is quinine
When the lion tries to bite her he tastes the
Quinine and gets discouraged.
Maybe she has special rough-on Lions
preparation said the Grand Thor con.
temptuously. And that talk about her go
ing out to visit the lions at the Zoo Wa:
the limit"
Don't you think she was in earnest?"
"Of course, she was in earnest Why
shouldn't she be? But the Zoo manage
ment couldn't take any chances on thei,
own property. Those lions have been uset
To a quiet. suburban life. They have
gotten set in their ways. They eat oatmea
for breakfast and tell stories till half-past
at night, and then go to bed What would
happen TO them If Adjie came waltzing into
the cage with all the pomp and parapher.
MALTA of the professional lion tamer?"
What would happen?'
The government would have to get some
new lions, that's all. Those steady goins
patrlarchs of the menagerie would simpl,
lie down and die of heart failure. Tht
hardest work lion tanner has to do is t.
train the lion not to be scared"
X X
The lions did big weeks business, new
ertheless, and II they were as Harmless.
as the skeptics declare they proved them
selves excellent actors.
Charles Wyngate did some of the Low
comedy work which has made him so mucl
liked previously in "An the Comforts O
Home" Mr.. Wyngate is one of the mos
versatile of the members of the stock com
pany and is equally at home In high com
edy and farce. The character work don.
by Frederic Sullivan this week added mucl
to the esteem in which he Is held.
y y
GustaVe Luders, who composed the music
OF King Dodo.' is a humorist In his way
even though he is a most devout disciple OF
the great masters. Time was when the
Goddess OF Fortune had not given the nou
famous young composer a view of he,
smiling countenance and fair renown VIA,
not his by long way. In his early strus
gies as an orchestra leader Luders was con
nected With an opera company that spent
much OF its time in the smaller cities de-
spite the fact that It included grand oners
In Its repertoire. For time all went well
Tor salaries were paid with a sufficient de
gree Of regularity to allow the members n
the company to pose In the Iobbies of th
best hotels in the towns they visited
Finally, however. a section OF the countr
was encountered where the populace did no
hunger for opera IN any form: in fact the,
refused to taste 1t at all. Salary day wa
postponed from time to time, the PLAYER
became dissatisfied and It was a Difficult
matter for the management to prevail upoi
them to continue. One evening In small
town in the west matters reached a crisis
Faust was tAe bill for the evening ant
Luders had assembled the orchestra to pla,
the beautiful Gounod overture. In tn,
midst OF It he was disturbed by some on,
piucking his sleeve and whispering In hi.
ear, that II certain sum of money wa,
nos forthooming at once there would be ne
aefSuerite at the epinning wheel that even
hs. II was the prima donna making th.