Evening star., 1902-08-23

for the coming season. The Empire will
throw open It's doors next Saturday night,
and the Columbia week from Monday
These will be followed by Chase's Theater
September s. and then there will be suff-
cientIy varied amusements to satisfy the
early fall theatergoers.
Mr. P B. Chase has been having a good
time with his family since July up at
Mountain Lake Park. He will return to
this city shortly and take up the reins of
management for another long and pre-
sumabIy profitable season. Since he left
here the Cleveland City Guard, the swell
military company of Cleveland. named their
summer camp Camp Chase after Mr..
Chase. 1t seems that in years past Mr..
Chase was somewhat of a benefactor of
the organization, and this summer as they
encamped at Hiawatha Park. which was
Mr. Chase's beautiful summer al fresco
amusement place near Mt. Vernon, Ohio,
the company unanimously embraced the
opportunity to testify their esteem for
him by comforting his name upon the en-
Campment. He received notification from
the captain and is proud OF the distinction
conferred upon him by his friends of the
City Guards.
Richard Carvel" that dramatic sand
wich. two slices of Maryland (acts 1 and
IV) and two slices of old England (acts II
and lid in between, is announced the
opening attraction at the Lafayette Square
Theater. September 8, and since it's last
presentation here The dauntless Carvel has
been transferred to the care Of Andrew
Robson, an actor who both looks and plays
the part with better result than his prede-
Cessor.
Richard CarveT' needs no praise at this
late day. for It has been tried and found
true 1t is a high-class play. written by
an eminent writer who understands narra-
tive and dramatic construction as no other
writer does, and one who is able to impress
you with what he leaves unsaid. 1t has
been dramatiZed by one who knows every
detail and artiflce in dramatic art, thus
giving to the text a crispness and bright
ness and to the situations intensity of
dramatic force that would have suffered
materially In less experienced hands. Mr..
Andrew Robson. as the dauntless Carvel,
gives the most artistic performance of his
career, and this seasons company, which Is
composed OF several Of the former favor
ties, seems to enter, IL is said. into the
spirit of the drama with an appreciation of
the authors lines which leaves nothing to
be desired. The scenic investiture and cos
TUNES are in keeping with the high stand
ard of everything which bears the name
of Wallace Munro's management.
Memories Of the trlumphs on the stage of
the late VIM. ]. Florence, affectionately
known as Billy Florence, at one time
America ; greatest COmeOlaD, Will De re-
vived by the theatergoers who attend the
performance of The Cowboy and the
Lady this season. Josephine Florence
Shepherd, the only daughter of Billy Flor
ence. has been engaged TO play the part
Of Prissims in the clever Clyde Fitch COM
edy in which s. Miller Kent will star this
season. Miss Shepherd is said to be
COmedierne of decided ability, having in
herited the rare JUNCTION and charming
humOr of her celebrated father. When
YOU see Miss Shepherd in the part of the
iTrepressible Prissims, It is said that you
can almost distinguish the voice, the man
ner and the art of he whose talents 8
BardweH Slote in The Mighty Dollar"
Captain Cutie in 'DOmbey and Son." and
SIT Lucius O'Trigger in The Rivals"
made men and women laugh and cry IN
the fashionable theaters Of New York and
the entire country. Mrs. Florence, of
course. too. was known as a fine actress
and a delightful woman. 1t is. therefore,
not to be wondered at that Josephine Flor
enCe Shepherd is considered the best player
Of the part Of Prissims, which is very i'm
portan- one in the artistic ensemble of
the characters in The Cowboy and the
Lady"
The experience OF Harry Fields. whose
character Of Izzy Cohen is one of the dis
tinct hits Of The Road to Ruin IS in
structive to all who imagine that the road
10 hIstrionic success is bOrdered by ex-
0tics and paved with ready money. Mr..
Fields was born in Philadelphia and his
boyhoOd days were largely spent in hang
ing over the gallery rail, munching pea
nuts and longing to be an actor. He first
Joined a Hebrew Opera Company, which
opened in Pittsburg. His percentage salary
for the night was - cents. From PIttsburg
the company went to Buffalo. where bust
ness was bad and the manager suggested
that the male members Of the company
take TO peddIing shoestrings and suspenders
IN order TO raise transportation back to
New York.
Young Fields was averse to peddling and
instead braced a friend foe the loan of
tve- Thus fortified. he next secured pass
on a cattle train. where he made. good by
singing and dancing for the caboose com
pany. backed by a large plug of tobacco
which he had purchased a paciher for
Unfriendly trainmen. Arriving in New York
where he was frightened by the elevated
railroad, the boy actor tried to buy a half
fare ticket to Philadelphia, but his size
was against him. However. he made
dicker with a ticket Scalper for transporta-
tion 10 Trenton for a dollar. When Trenton
was reached Fields was fast asleep, to all
appearances. and as the train was an ex-
press it was well passed before the con-
ductOT succeeded In arOuSing him. He was
finally pacified when ne told that he
would be shipped back when Wayne juno
ton, the next stopping place, was reached
From Wayne Junction to Philadelphia is
only a nickel by trolley. which fact the
young actor well knew and took advantage
Of. arriving home with three dollars and
odd cents Of the five he had borrowed still
in his possession.
x X 4
Some sensational novelties are promised
for Chase's Theater the coming season,
which opens September s. Mr.. Chase's for
eign representative, Mr.. Feiber, has been
unusually active this summer and has Sc
cured a long list of foreign novelties easily
surprising anything Of the past season. On
this side Of the water Mr.. Burke, the New
York representative of Mr.. Chase, has been
equally as persistent and has witnessed all
the new specialties and vaudeville creations
that have been exploited since the polite
vaudeville season terminated here In May
BY far the greatest novelty Of the year.
and indeed OF many years. Mr.. Chase prom
tses. Will be Phroso, and 1t will remain for
Washington to determine whether or not
PhrOSo is man or a doll. This question
set London and Paris agog with curiosity
and amazement, but neither the scientists
nor the populace of these two centers of in