Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

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to her always charming work. Besides
these there will be John Gendinning. Chas'
Butler, Frederick Morrison, Mrs Gledin-
ming, May -Galyer and others. The story
of the play centers about middle-ageo
bachelor who takes girl from founding
hospital in order to educate her accordlns
to his views to be his wife. She is gaWky
and awkward, but under his influence she
becomes a sweet, lovable girl, who endears
herself to the bachelor, but she falls in love
with his nephew. The young man returns
the affection and the lonely old philosopher
after a scene of remuneration retires IN
favor of the youth fully believing the lines
of Burns. the poet, THE best laid schemes
o mice and men gang aft agiey.
Alfred Capus, author of 1.-The Two
Schools" is one of the brightest of Partisan
comedy writers. His smart dialogue and
genuinely human touches have made MIN
particularly we'll known as a writer for
the boulevards. Capus was at one time a
reporter on a Paris daily and first gained
attention by his clever feuilletons. lie is
an intimate friend of Louis Guitry, the
actor, and most of his plays are written for
the latter. He is a true Partisan, heart
and soul, and has been eminently success
full in his character drawing of familiar
types. Only a few years ago he Joined the
ranks of French contemporary writer's and
his success was immediate.
He is quite young man. Mr.. Capus has
written and produced "Rosine," Les Maris
de Leontine.' La Bourse GU la Vie?' La
deux Ecoles" (''The Two schools") and
La Chatelaine." These have all been pre-
sented at the principal theaters of Paris
and played all over Europe. The Two
Schools" was originally produced at the
Varieties Paris, where it was one of last
seasons triumphs. 1t ran all of the year
at this house and proved so popular that 1t
was again put on at the opening of this
season. During the coronation festivities
in London Charles Frohman and Maurice
Grau took the entire French company from
Paris to the English capital and produced
the play there. where it repeated its Paris
success Charles Frohman, seeing the fine
possibilities of the comedy in English, had
1t translated and presented for the first
time in that language at his Madison
Square Theater, New York.
In Chicago. during his recent engagement
there. e. H. Sothern was surprised to re-
ceive in his voluminous mornings mail the
following unique epistIe:
TO MR.. E H. soTHERN-A RARE RONDEAU.
If had two! O,Ed, If l had two
Muse with Loves longing these lame lines imbue),
To Powers playhouse, stra jghtway would CO.
And hear F. Villon sing his songs OF woe
With roses Interchangeable with rue.
I'd hate to sit upstairs o, Ed, for who
Would be cheap skate gallery god when you
Are on the stage7 For me, parquet first row
My dollars are so precious and SO few
That for your bounty for this boon l sue.
But am beastiy broke, and you know
I'd like two tickets for your regal show.
o, Ed! / know exactly what I'd do
If had two.
This was signed by a well-known attor-
ney in Chicago. who was a perfect stranger
to Mr.. Sothern. Undoubtedly ne sent it to
see what sort of reply, If any, Mr. Sothern
would make. Mr.. Sothern did not send him
the seats, Notwithstanding his soulful plea,
but in place sent him the following, which
he Transcribed to his pleading correspond
ent, Immediately after the receipt of the
letter:
To bed deadheadl and dream. for dreams cheap.
Learn we who sing must sup, who SOW must reap.
We get passes for steaks and ale.
From bread to blessings. all things ''for sale
The guard will have to snore at heavens keep
Fer you pass in for nothIng-hush to sleep!
And dream you working for the coin You keep.
To bed, deadhead.
And while you lie in nlearned slumber deep
May some good angel in your deadhead creep
And arouse your soul, degenerate male,
That, waking a new man. with tooth and nail
You'll Stay all deadheads with one mighty sweep.
To bed deadhead.
E. II. Sothern has three plays being
written for him at the present time. The
first, by Justin Huntley Mccarthy, is
a miracle play of the eleventh century.
1t will be called THE Proud Prince" the
second is a comedy which Mr.. Ernest Lacy
Of Philadelphia is preparing for him with
Chatterton as the central figure; the third
is a biblical drama in verse. on the subject
Of David and Goliath. The latter is being
written by Mr.. Gale Young Rice of Louis
VILE
But whatever plays by modern authors
Mr.. Sothern may elect to appear in, he will
revive at least one Shakespearean play each
year. In the coming summer he will pro-
duce Romeo and Juliet" in San Francisco,
with Cecilia Lotus as Juliet The year
after. Much Ado About Nothing" This
year he is presenting Hamlet.
In October of the coming year Mr.. Soth-
ern is to dedicate the new Lyceum Theater
in New York. which Is now under construc-
THE Proud Prince" Arrangements have
been made by which Mr.. Sothern will re-
main there the entire season. so 1t is not
likely that he will be seen again in Wash
ington for at least another two years.
x X
A personal friend Of Sothern gives this
description of him as he is off the STAGE"
ITO describe Sotherns personal appear
ance off the stage one would always
first commence at his eyes, which are
large and dreamy with imagination, though
often flashing with action. His hair is iron
gray, though he is still young man. He is
wrapt up in his ideals-his work. Refine
ment, kindness and intellectually are
written upon every expression. He Is al
most as shy as a woman While keenly
alive to the incentive of-applause, a speech
is a bugaboo to him. I understand recently
in Cincinnati he was asked to speak before
M 1ltf and he If anti ia-
ton really made him so sick that he was
unable to attend or to make the speech.
I'm social intercourse he is impressive,
deep and earnest. His mind runs to the
solid and substantial There is no place in
it for the light and frothy. He is quick to
take Impressions and give them. His sue
cess has been aided by his intensity and his
ceaseless application. No work is too great
for him. In this he can be likened to Ed
mund Keen, who was the first to enter and
the last to leave the theater.
His chief recreation is painting. This
was his favor!te pastime as a boy He fol-
lows it now because it helps his work in