The Washington times., 1903-05-24

of the long haired gentlemen whose
plays are not appreciated by the man
ayers scornfully referred 10 as com
mercial managers was a long windei
exposition by a venerable eX-actor now
conducting a dramatic school, who disSl
pated his ideas of dramatic art In The
course OF a thirty-minute speech TO an
almost empty house and a 500-word tel
egram from z. II. Sothern sent from
some way station in Nebraska, and dis
cussing in an argumentative way the
possibility Of establishing an art theater
/ confess that MIR. Sothern's telegram
was rather indefinite but maybe he hot
weather made it seem wagner than ii
really was While the 5G0-word message
was read I could not help wondering at
Mr. Sothern's liberality in the matter of
telegraph tolls. TIE rates from Nebras
ka are 10 cents for the first ten words,
and cents for each extra word. Nj.
Sothern could have saved $50 AMI the
feelings of his audience by practicing the
habit of thoughtful reticence.
William A Brady's Views,
The last flash of wit and good sense
came at the very end. when William A..
Brady was called upon for a speech.
Mr.. Brady is probably the most popular
manager or Broadway at the present
time He has just landed his wife,
Grace George, as a paying star after
years Of labor and hard work, and he
fairly beams with good nature toward
everyone. He has at last convinced the
public that he is starring Grace George,
not because she happens to be his wife,
| but because she has genuine dramatic
talent
| Little Miss George sat in a box and
| heard her husband make a sensible.
straightforward speech dealing with the
| difficulties of production, and the chance
of making money with an art theater.
Il have heard everyone here speak of
the money they expected to lose in this
project" said Brady, but if I were per
mitted to have a voice in the manage
ment, l would talk of making $4,000
instead of losing anything"
Washington Managers Opinion.
Brady told very interesting anecdote
| of an experience he had in Washington
with a manager Two years ago" he
said. Il went to this manager, and pro-
posed a spring season at his house, with
a certain young lady in whom l had
great faith. I wanted to give this girl
chance to learn things by actual eX-
developing the talent was sure she had.
The manager met me cordially until it
came to a question of plays. I should
like to produce The School for Scan
| dal," Romeo and Juliet" Macbeth,
and Twelfth Night said The man
ager threw up his hands in amazement.
oh, don't produce that rubbish,
he said. The public down here wants
such plays as "Charley's Aunt" and
Jane" and the other roaring farces-
You'd never make money with the
classics.
81 don't want to make money,
answered I want to give young
actress a chance to play these parts,
and l am willing to lose money, if
necessary, in order to establish her as
an actress.
What Art Theater Would Do.
Well. I'd prefer not to have you
| do that in my theater.' he answered.
mention this tonight, just to show
you that there is no place in this coun-
try where talent can be developed and
that is why 1 favor this art theater
project, because I know 1t will do for
others what 1 was unable to do for this
young girl, who, by the way, has since
proven that she has the talent l knew
she had all the time, concluded Mr.
Brady
Also, that explains why Washington
did not have a spring season two years
ago. with Grace George as a stock com
pany star
No announcement has yet been made
as 70 the next conference" OF the Ma
tional Art Theater Society. During
these early summer Sunday nights, when
| the sacred vaudeville concerts have sus-
pended, and before the roof-garden con
certs commence, the National Art Thea
ter Society ought to be able to draw
large audiences at it's Sabbath con
ferences." WILL A. PAGE.