Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-14

mas and musical compositions, and would
also advocate substantial encouragement
to modern authors for the building of new
monuments in the fields Of American lit
erature
There should be an able director gen.
eral who should have about him a board
Of directors, each master in his particul-
lar line or department.; director of trag-
edy, one Of comedy, one of music and such
others as will be found necessary to carry
out the plan when the matter Is reduced to
details.
1.-The plays or operas to- be produced
should be selected and first placed upon
the stage of the home theater in Washing
ton, and then sent on tour to the college
towns of the country and such other places
as may be desirable or necessary. being
succeeded at the home theater by the next
production which shall in turn be sent on
tour.
1.-The students of the colleges should have
an opportunity to witness the performances
at a fair price of admission, and they
should be prepared by previous study and
lectures for the visit of the national theater
company, and after review following the
visit of the company the characters of the
play and the sentiments expressed would
not be merely so much dry material, but
the characters would be real, living
breathing men and women, and the fine
sentiments and thought become so familiar
and real that they would form part of
their own intellectual being. l believe that
if this plan could be carried into execu-
the study of literature and music in our
colleges in one year than can now be ac-
complished in ten.
There are other features also in the
matter of preparing and educating young
actors for the stage and giving genius an
opportunity which present conditions do
not afford, all of which could be easily
worked out in detail by the proper commits
sion with the authority of Congress to
prepare and develop.
II believe there was q bill looking to
this end before the last session of Con-
gress, and the matter will undoubtedly be
brought up again before the next Con-
gress. and I earnestly beg-your co-opera-
ton in the furtherance of this national
theater idea. 1 am sure there Is no section
of the country that would appreciate to
greater extent the accomplishment of this
idea than the people of the great state you
represent. 1 am,
VERY truly yours.
CHARLES B. HANFORD."
THE HEYDAY OF THE FAKIR.-People
who live continuously in the large cities
hardly realize the extent to which the small
villages of the country are invaded each
year by "fakirs giving open-air medicine
performances or perhaps bit more ambi-
tious show in little round tent. The sea-
son Is rapidly approaching now and the
want columns Of the professional papers
strongly evidence the activity that Is stir
ring managers and performers alike. The
managers Of these shows no doubt have
their troubles for in all the advertisements
there are 1njunctions against drinking and
extreme care is promised In forwarding
railroad fares to the rendezvous of the
organization. The advertisements are
couched in the most terSe terms of the
profession, and are as interesting to the
layman as to those directly concerned. only
in a different light One Of these ads.
reads:
HWaptod or once cketo oh team I'm in acts
and experienced in med. biz. Change for
two weeks. Gent do either Dutch or Irish.
We have black face enough. Tickets ad
vanced II necessary
And here is another:
Wanted for the Shaw Comedy Company
pianist, who doubles baritone or trombone;
also all kinds speciality people who double
brass. and change often. Must make good
and be ladies and gentlemen, also good
dressers on and off. No dogs. Pay your
own, and lowest. Sure salary. Be ready
to join on wire. Week stands usually.
Address,
The shark will be abroad in the land
once more, while the market In two-headed
devil fish women is at a low ebb and bar
gains are the rule, as these two special
notices witness:
For sale cheap-The only shark in u s.
Captured at Cape May, N. J.; one shark
banner. 7x12; little horse banner. dragon
banner, one rat eater banner"
For sale-The two-headed devil fish
platform or store show attraction ever
known"
Two other characteristic advertisements
are like this:
"Wanted-A1 comedian and dancer
sketch team, etc. Must be sober and re-
liable. Change for week. Ready to join on
wire. Preference to plano players. Other
useful people, write. Salary low. but sure
Long season. Tell 1t all first letter, and
state all you do. Ex-managers and wise
guys, save stamps"
'Wanted-Quick-Tuba player, to double
stage; pianist, to play B. drum in band
State low. sure salary Write Uncle Toms
Cabin Co., Beverly, Ohio. P. S-Drunks
unloaded as fast as they light"
THE BERGER STOCK CoMPANY.-Mr.
Frederick Berger arrived in the city this
week and announced the completion of his
general plans for a stock company at the
Lafayette Theater. which will open April
Is. Mr.. Berger. in the lease Of the Lafay-
cite to It's present occupants, reserved the
months Of April, May and June for the
stock company. He has engaged Eugene
Ermond, John T. Sullivan, Robert Rogers
Louise Macintosh and Fred Sullivan. He
is in negotiation with Sarah Truax, Jane
Remark, Lillian Lawrence, one of whom
will be leading lady. and with Grayce Scott,
Susan Jackson and Marion Beach In con-
nection with ingenue roles. Charles Beach
and Fred Sullivan will have the direction
VI TIE Stage.
WARFIELD'S ADVICE" Would you
advise me to go on the stage?" is question
often propounded to me by young men and
young women, too, as 1t Is to every actor
whose position Is supposed to give any
value to his views" said David Warfield
recently.
My Answer to this question Is, believe,
rather exceptional to the majority. for gen.
orally actors discourage young applicants
and ovsrwhelm them with the objections
which exist to a theatrical career, without
properly setting forth its inducements and
rewards. When young person Of fair in
telligence, reasonably good looks. an ap-
parent sincerity, asks me this question, I
generally advise him or her to adopt stage
career. II he or she feels SO inclined. They
are usually told, among other things, that
being an actor entails very hard work:
that is true, but success Is never achieved
in any walk of life without untiring indus
try. 1t is pointed out to aspirants that
when they have attained foothold on the
stage the life itself is exacting, they are
informed that they must have rest curtail-
ed, catch railroad trains at unholy hours.
and put up with bad hotel accommodations:
dc these evil propheSierS stop to think that