Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-12

The thermometer tells of Chesapeake
Beach or Cabin John. rather than of the
delights of indoor amusement. Neither Of
these resorts, which undertake to supply
respectively the pleasures of seaShore or
mountains to the Washington public. had
q fair chance this summer. owing to the
cool weather. Chesapeake Beach, however,
has been maintained in as good order ana
repair and improvements have been Kept
up as regularly as If the weather hao
forced the entire city to seek Its salt water
breezes. There is evidently an invinclble de-
Termination to make Chesapeake Beach as
complete success as the Washington pub
lie will support. At present Its improve
ments are obviously far in advance or wat
the available patronage will support, out
there is no diminution of interest or &C
tiyity. The trains, the merry round and
the gravity railway all run on schedule
time. and the band plays whether there is
an overwhelming crowd or not. Cabin John
maintains it's position one of the most
picturesque and well-appointed suburban
amusement resorts of the east. Its man
ayers the Noonan Brothers. made record
with THE Lagoon at Cincinnati some
years ago which left no doubt as to their
competency In this field of popular enter
tainment
Still the theaters who thriftily threw open
their doors early in defiance or posslpie
warm waves. have had a following. which
has no doubt drawn largely from the pa
tronage which ordinarily confines its atten-
lions to the higher priced drama. 1t Is
somewhat remarkable fact that OF the
Washington houses In which Manager ker-
nan or his business associate. Mr.. Stair, Is
interested the one to offer the best show
should be the Lyceum. That theater Is or
dinariIy regarded as a temple of bibulous
low where cleverneSs is not essential. SO
LONG as Bacchus and Terpschore have their
innings Bert Leslie, who spent summer
here as resident comedian of the Empire
Theater when that house was devoted TO
stock burlesque Is evidently the inspiration
Of most OF the original fun IN the snow
although fresh. pretty costumes. gooo
scenery and well-arranged ensemble spe-
cialties contribute a great deal. The CLOS
ing skit is satire THE Stubbornness
of Geraldine" which has genuine quality.
II the coarseness which Is regarded as es-
sential to an entertainment for drinking
houses could be winnowed out or II, IL
would be worthy Of consideration as a first
class entertainment. The Academy had
The Men of Jimtown." play which con-
as to construction and stage management
that It scarcely looks like one Of the sea-
sons permanencies. At the Lafayette The
Pride of Jennico' served to exploit several
asplrants for distinction as successors to
the players who were originally so popular
in the piece.
f H. Sothern Is now rehearsing in New
York the company which is to present his
new play, with Virginia Harmed as the star,
at the Columbia. 1t will have a rather
lengthy title. The Light That Lies In Wo-
mans Eyes" Washington is to be favored
In the matter of first productions, the Ma
tional Theater's first Offering being Check
ers" There is little basis for speculation as
to the nature or merits of either produc-
ton.
Every now and then some breezy Nttera-
teur takes up the festive chorus lady as his
theme. Some time ago E. D. Price. vete-
ian writer. evolved THE Letters of NIL
dred" whose startling unconventionalities
were as amusing they were unexpected
from so reverend source. Roy L. Near
dell. who has hitherto devoted himself to
gentle fancies in verse and to discreet
though effective drolleries in prose, has
broken out with a poster-coyered volume
entitled CONVERSATIONS OF q
1t is unique. The casual reader is sure to
laugh and the photographer who believes
that the slang of today Is the accepted vo-
cabulary of the future ought to find 1t an
invaluable study.
Scenic Artist Thompson Is the hero of the
hour at Chases Theater. He has done
some much-needed work in providing a
color scheme for the auditorium which
wholly removes the barnlike impression
that a large theater always gives unless
embellished with great taste. 1t now stands
as one of the handsomest playhouses In the
country.
Charles b. Hanford is making elaborate
preparations for his coming tour. He is
the only prominent actor who makes Wash
ington his headquarters froxn year to year
to the extent of designing and equipping
his productions in complete shape for the
season. He has added Richard III and
The Merchant of Venice to his repertoire.
Mr.. Hanford has a farm and bank
account as souvenirs of last years work
and has been encouraged to make the most
will be accompanied by Miss Drofnah as
leading woman and f. Lawrence Walker
will be his manager as before.
Following Virginia Harmed at the Co
lumbia will come The Sultan of Sulu." In
the cast are noted all the original members
who scored so heavily. including Frank
Moulan. Maude Lillian Berri, Gertrude
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