Evening star., 1902-03-01

One of the daintiest and at the same time
most grotesQue comedies of the season was
on view at the New National Theater
Ethel BARRYMORE has Captvated the thea
tergcers of this city and they will wait
with interest for better things than even
Captain Jinks." with all it's charms and
genial reminisceace offered her. The "Old
Homestead" it goes without saying. did a
big business at the Columbia. The Acad-
envy had one of the best farce comedy
shows that travels, with Ward and Nokes,
and Chase's had one of the best bills of
its history. The Lafayette played Fedora
one of the most exacting dramas on the
stage and drew large houses all the week.
Altogether, the shows in Washington fully
atoned for the lack of novelty that char
acterized the week previous.
1t can safely he said of James Matthew
Barrie. the author of Quality Street,
that few writers during the past decade
have made the world brighter and happier
than he has by his literary charm, genial
humor and exquisite character creations.
Though his fame may be said to rest main
ly on his story and play of "The Little
Minister" which this gifted American ac-
tress has helped to make household word,
he has written other plays and stories of
merit WHICH give MIN an place
In the literary and dramatic history of the
twentieth century.
He was born at Kirriemur, Scotland
May 9. 1850. He was educated at Dumfree
Academy and later on a Edinburgh Univer-
sity. Shortly after his graduation he adopt
ed the profession of journalism. His first
work, entitled Better Dead" appeared in
1851 1t was a satire on London life. In
the year following he wrote An Edinburgh
Eleven" and When Mans Single" He
afterward opened up new vein of humor
and pathos in Aud LIGHT" which appear
ed in 1SSS This was followed by ''Idylls'
and "A Window in Thrums,'' in 1880. The
latter story was descriptive of life in his
native village. His next story. My Lady
Nicotine" published in 1890 In 1891
appeared the story of The Little Minister
which is probably the best-known and IA
nous of his works. He began to de-
vote himself To dramatic writing. and in
1891 his comedy. Walker, London" was
produced. His next play was "The Profess
sors Love Story" in 1895, which proved
an immense success and added largely to
his fame. In the year following he wrote
sentimental Tommy" and Margaret Ogll-
Wy. the latter being story of his mothers
llfe- The year following he dramatized the
story of The Little Minister" The ex-
traordlnary success which the play had
In this country elevated him to the highest
rank among modern writer's He also wrote
play In conjunction with Conan DOYLE
entitled Jane Annie" 1t is a curious fact
In connection with the distinction which Mr.
Barrie has achieved with his stories con-
tanning SO much Scottish dialect that pub
fishers during early days refused to ac-
cept his stories with the dialect stating
that the public did not care for it, Mr.
Barrie refused to make any changes and
subsequent events proved the correctness
OF ms Judgment. In 1894 Mr.. Barrie mar
ried Miss Mary AuswelI. a charming ac-
tress who had been successful in one of
his plays.
clyde ftch's next play for Ethel Barry
more is now said to be an adaptation OF
Alfred Capus' La Petite Fonctionnaire.'
produced al the Nouveautes Paris in ApriI
1901. The little functionary'' is a young
girl who has been appointed postmistress In
a small provincial town. She is young,
Stylish and talented. and her brightness has
attracted the whole town \ midd1e-op ped
worthy falls deeply in love with her hrt
she Will have nothing to do with him Sha
rams IN love with young jovial gentleman
ld.fner VINO Is engaged To be married to n
widow On hearing of this engagement the
lttle postmistress is hurt to the quick and
When her other admirer offers to furnish
an apartment for her she accepts Finally
the farmer arrangeS his affairs so that he
IS IN position 10 offer the girl his hand
proprietor Wegefarth of the Empire The
eler-the new name for the Bijou-believes
there must be something in the atmos-
phere of Washington that makes orators
Prior to a few weeks ago he never made q
speech In his life. But when he deter
mined upon change of policy of his thea
Ter he not only sought publicity for his
plans through the newspapers but I'm ad
dition commenced to go before the curtain
during the ntermissions
The first speech he made he admits he
was a trt1e ratified" He told the audi
ence that the Bijou was going to have an
other namc, but he neglected to state what
the new name was to be. He stated that
the first attraction would be the Great La
fayettes vaudeville company, in addition
To the regular stock burlesque company,
but he neglected to mention that following
Lafayette there would be anything else
When he came off the stage perspiration
was standing on his brow In huge beads,
and he remarked to Manager Schlesinger:
That's the hardest job / have tried i'm
many day; | guess the actors fully earn
their money
Well. why didn't you tell the people in
front about the new carpets about the
house being repainted both inside and outo
Why didn't YOU say that a Trip to Buff
falo IN" big dollar and half musical
comedy would play here at the regular
house prices and with daily matineesP Won
forgot all about mentioning the HOPKINS
irans-oceanics, the Fulsora Stars with
Dorothy Morton as the headline attraction
and didn't hear You say anything about
Pauline Halls heading one of the bills
Did l forget all that" inquired Mr..
w
Il should say you did, and more too
You never said a word about the retiring
rooms for the ladies and the maids that
would look after their comforts neither
did you mention the fact that We would
check wraps and umbrellas free.
well. now. If l committed SO many sins
OF oratorcai omission. suppose you make
the announcement tonight" Mr.. Wege-
Iarth suggested.
Never. never: / wouldn't for a million
Dollars answered Manager Schlesinger.
'1n run the house, book the acts, write
press matter and even face young women
looking for jobs that they might become
second Lillian Russells. but refuse to go
before the curtain and make a speech"
That night Mr.. Wegefarth did not forget
20 mention quite so many of the changes
pc proposed to make in his theater, and