davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-07-26
Satire for a Past Age.
NJ. Filon Explains English Pleasure in
"The Admirable Crichton."

NJ Augustin Filon is well known as an
appreciative critic of the English stage.
and in his "chroniques" he often deals
with popular successes In England. He
has lately written a long criticism
OF j. NJ. Barrie's The Admirable
Crichton," in the course OF which he
makes some interesting remarks on the
subjects chosen by English playwrights.
Looking on the play in question as
satire on peers of pseudo Socialist ten
denotes, he observes that the English
are very fond of satire as long as it
does not deal with contemporary mat
tiers. Their satirists. he states. concen-
trate their efforts on the class which
formerly ruled, but which since 1892 has
not ruled to any appreciable extent.
They attack with great impetuosity
vices and prejudices which have been
extinct for seventy years. while the
prejudices and vices of 1908. seated In
the stalls or in the gallery, applaud the
work OF the imaginary social reformer-
But IL a comic author were to touch
on a present-day sore he would be i'm
mediately boycotted. even IL he sue
ceeded In getting his play produced.
The great theatrical successes are those
which attack old and WORKOUT objects
of satire.
There is a sort OF half truth about
his criticism A" says the London Globe.
but its chief interest lies in the light
it throws on the campaign against the
house Of lords, which is spasmodically
taken up by Lord Rosebery, Sir W. v
Harcourt. and others. The onslaught
amuses everybody ana hurts nobody
and so. like the theatrical satires, 1t
/ draws full houses"
The Washington times., 1903-07-26

Marie Tempests Kitty was one Of the
brightest features Of the London sea-
now all but past. And Nine. Reiane as
Jaequeline achieves one Of her most not
able triumphs"
OF the relative merits OF the two
actresses performance. however. Will
liam Ascher. in the World" takes a
different point Of view
The only other production of Nine.
Rejane which I vas able to attend was
La Passerelle. the original of The
Marriage of Kitty" he says.
Here l confess her performance was
something of a disappointment. Bril-
liant il IVES. sparkling with humor and
drollery: but It was not always humor
Of the right sort or in the right place.
Never having seen Nine. Rejane in Paris,
I am unable 10 judge whether her play
Ing for the laugh is a temporary con
ccssion to our island barbarism. or in
dicates a radical defect in her artistic
conscience. Be this as it may. she at
several points in la Passerelle' plays
for the laugh as unblushingly as she did
in 'Mme. Sans-Cene
Miss Marie Tempest's rendering OF
the character, while scarcely less brill
liant. was ton the first night at any
rate) much more consistent and artistic.
In the scene OF Jacquc,ine's introduction
to Roger aud Helene st the end Of the
FIRST act much of Nine. Rejane's bust
ness wash sheer Glowing; and at several
points in the second act she assumed
for the sake of comic effect. vulgarity
of information which seemed to me to
contradict the very idea of the charac-
tor
The Washington times., 1903-07-26

taking the best advice. with a view 10
preserving in the building whatever was
Of ancient value. was ignored. Il was
stated over and over again that the
corporation had obstinately resolved to
destroy IL. root and branch"
SIR. Lee thinks that the assignment
Of the premises TO a public object ron
ders possible renovation less drastic
and In fuller harmony with archaeo-
logical sentiment. Mr. Cossins. the archi-
tect. advised the corporation that the
premises could be thoroughly repaired
and adapted for the purpose Of a library
without detriment 20 any structural
work Of really ancient origin At the
same time the new modest building 10
be erected as part OF the library on the
adjacent vacant land was 10 be de-
signed TO conform ia style and eleva-
ton with the renovated premises The
corporation accepted Mr.. Cossins' ad-
vice without any demur. and his advice
has now received the full approval OF
the Society for the Protection OF An
cient Buildings"
The library movement did not. 1t ap-
pears, originate with Mr.. Carnegie's
gift Before that was In question ef-
forts were made to establish a free
library, and it was understood at STRAIT
ford that Miss CorelH. who now attacks
both trustees and corporation on thu
ground that the town has never sought
a free library at ALL generously pro-
posed TO provide site for a free libra
~ or reading room, in furtheranee Of
the townsfolks' wishes. and that she
thought 10 locate der library or read
ing room in historic Henley Street, ="
but the negotiations fell through on a
question OF orice.
Ny. Carnegie's part in the buzness,
Mr.. Lee explains. was to preznIse pay
ment for the library buildings. and he
had expressed the wish that his name
should not be bestowed en- the building.
Dir. Lee is careful 10 notify that he
writes this letter on his own RESPONSE
bilit-.
The Washington times., 1903-07-26
Mansfield in Two New Plays,
Will Present 'Tvan the Terrible" and
"Old Heidelberg"

Much has been said during the past
fortnight about Richard Mansheld's do
ings in Europe which must be news
mongering at the expense of credulous
editors. Any such report is wholly
apoeryphal. for the distinguished actor
has not been out of American waters
since he began his vacation.
He and his family are at home on a
beautiful estate at Pequod Point, New
London. Conn, and not a quarter Of a
mile from his cottage is moored his
superb yacht. Amorita, which among
listed sailing craft stands third on this
defenders.
Mansfield is a devoted yachtsman. At
present he is accompanying the feet OF
the New York Yacht Club on its cruise
on the north coast. He has a large par
ty aboard.
However, he keeps in touch with his
managers scene painters, and costumers
in New York. whenever his boat touch
es port where telephone communica-
tion may be had with the metropolis.
Though enjoying a vacation he Is not
wholly care free and his hand is not
quite off the wheel OF other and profess
sional interests.
Mansfeld's season will begin late in
the autumn as usual. He dedicates the
new Lyric Thester on Forty-second
Street. New York city. the third Mon
day in October. He will then be seen
for the first time in Count Alexander
Tolstoy's Russian historical play. Ivan
the Terrible" This play hae been run
ming for three years in St Petersburg
and II is the hrst political historical
play which the Car has ever permitted
on the St. Petersburg or Russian stage
Following this production Mansfield
will present Meyer Fosters charming
comedy of German student corps life.
"old Heidelberg. which is reputed in
Europe to be the most delightful comedy
which a German author has written in a
generation. The version used by Mr..
Mansfield is practically that employed
The Washington times., 1903-07-26
Nine. Patti and Wagner.
One Who Came TO Laugh and Re
manned to Pray.

One Who Came TO Laugh and Re
manned to Pray.
Nine. Patti used to sheer at Wagner s
music and to declare aippantly that she
would sing it after she had lost her
voice. But she, too. has become a con-
vert An English friend of hers wrote
to Hans Richter to tell him how much
she had enjoyed the irst Nibelung cycle
given in June under his direction.
Richter promptly replied:
Il am delighted 10 think that The
great artist was satisfied with the per-
Torrance of the Ring II was a pity
thai she could not hear the second cycle,
as several details were very much i'm
proved in it. What particularly touch-
ed me was the wonderful silence which
the audience maintained during the per-
Torrance, and their enthusiasm after
the acts were over
ITO see Wagner thoroughly honored.
one really has to leave Germany nova
days and go abroad. For in Berlin the
students OF the Conservatoire are still
warned against his music, although even
at the time OF the greatest misunder-
standing of Berlioz's works in Paris 10
professor or director ever advised the
students not to study Berlioz's music
when performed. But twenty years after
the masters death IL is in Germany pos
sible to hear Richard Wagner pooh
ooohed
The Washington times., 1903-07-26

in 1865. contained in his journal OF
London Playgoer." Is recalled. One can
see that though he appreciated the en-
terprise Of the management. he was net
altogether pleased with the results. The
poets lines had been meddled with and
the Court" OF Comus had been made
too much OF a spectacle
"of the poetry. as spoken on the stag
much OF the true spirit" wrote Morley.
"is retained by the care of Mrs. Charles
Young (afterward Mrs. Hermann vezin)
who represents the lady. When
the Court Of Comus forms the whole at
traction in the way Of spectacle and the
piece appeals TO the eye most strongly
by brilliant pictures OF licentious revel
with grand display OF ballet dancers
legs. IL is essential that by every wcrd
the soul % Milton should be a clear
voiced interpreter OF what is shown
The right emphasis OF the poem is weak
ened by every stage alteration ."
IN the revival OF "Comus" the enter
prise seems to have been much more
fortunate and more successful VIII
liam Archer in a review OF the perform
ance, says:
A Means of Teaching Elocution.
IF poetry is ever to reconquer It's
place upon the stage, 1t will be through
such performances as these. / do not
mean that the masque. old or new. will
ever Gust the drama, properly so called.
from the stage. or even hold a very
IL A..
is that the practice OF speaking essen
TALLY non-dramatic verse s the best
means to the recovery of the true meth
cd OF speaking dramatic verse
I'VE have now been accustomed for
something like half century to tho
absolute sacrifice of poetic to so-eaIled
dramatic expression In all stage per-
formances; whereas the real object 20
be aimed at is an equal harmony be-
tween the two. To learn TO speak
poetry, as poetry. is the first and fun
damentaI point: and in that art 'Comus'
alone might form the basis of a liberal
education. All effects must be produced
by legitimate methods of pure declama-
ton; ana when actors have learned that
art from Milton, 1t will be time enough
for them to acquire what is equally. but
not more than equally. necessary IN
Shakespeare-the art of superimposins.
so to speak. upon the bass of poetic
defamation the treble OF dramatic va
riety and suggestion.
THE defamation of the actor in Co
mus was far from perfect. but it was
vigorous and intelligent effort In the
right direction In one case. indeed
that of Tita Brand. who played the Lady
the verse could scarcely have been
better spoken
The Washington times., 1903-07-26
"Comus" in Dramatic Form.
Millions Poem Played in Open Air
With Good Effect.

"a perfect summer night, chosen
spot in a garden. and a good performance
of 'Comus' to watch-a pleasanter en-
tertainment could hardly be devised,
says a recent issue of the London
Times" OF a special production there.
"The spot had been well and carefully
selected Two-thirds Of the background
were composed of what in the daylight
we know to be a few bushes and trees,
but at night. in a vague illumination
made up OF a little moonlight, it De-
came vertically a close dungeon of in
numerous boughs' The other third was
a pond or lake, which might have been
Severn herself when Sabrina's barge
came floating silently down it from the
hazv distance. with the nymph herself
standing erect in the stern. The mingled
light was a triumph.
Nothing was seen too clearly. Make
up. dust solid doors that CULVER when
they are touched, all the petty realities
that do their best inside a theater 20
mar the illusion-there were none of
these. Dream figures came from woods
OF waters The illusion was all but per-
delightful performance.
Not a Play for Theaters.
"'Comus' in the hall of Ludlow Cas-
tie on that Michaelmas night cannot have
been nearly so divine a thing as 'Comus'
in a corner of the Botanical Gardens. 1t
sounds absurd, but # is true, for four
walls and artificial lighting must have
brought in the sense OF the theater-a
fatal element. II you want TO get the
heart out OF 'Comus' you must away with
all sense OF the theater and all the bias
of the theater; you must look. not for
what the theater ordinarily gives you
but for precisely the opposite; a rare
mental atmosphere instead of the surges
OF passions; the pure motions of spirits.
not the shock of struggling humanity;
the majestic music Of poetry not the cut
and thrust ~ d'aioEr0
] After 'Comus' came Jonson's The
! Hue and Cry after D-.--
! Jonson at his iIghtest and best. shorn.
| Of course, of the mechanism that played
/ so large a part IN the original perform
aRce. and shorn. probably. to advantage:
/ for much Of Ben Jonsons elaborate con
( trivances must have been a little tedi-
Gus. Mr.. Latimer's few lines as Hymen
were worth coming all the way to hear
(his voice. too. was famIliarl. and Mas
ter Philip Tonge's Cupid was a master
piece.
In conclusion, we would offer two
! suggestions. The first is to the manager
| why cut a single line of 'Comus'? Nc
one would grudge the additional quar-
ter of an hour. And the second TO the
| world IN general: Go and see these pas
toral plays; get a seat in the front row
il you can; II not, go back to the fifth
You will see but Indifferent well from
the second. third, and fourth"
Henry Morley's Comment.
Apropos of "Comus. Henry Morley.
description Of the revival at Drury Ian,
The Washington times., 1903-07-26
Rejdne in La PasSerelIe. !"
RELOCATED to Second Place When Com
pared With Marie Tempest.

Apropos OF The Marriage of Kitty"
which America will see this season.
some comparisons cited in the Pail
Mall Gazette" are interesting. Rejane
has just appeared in the work which
was the source of THE Marriage Of
K!tt9.''
"Alls FISH that comes to Nine. Re-
james net. says the writer. Her roper
toire IS wonderful; to our English ac-
tresses 1t must seem even miraculous.
If she does not attack the heights of
French classic drama as Nine. Bernhard
has. she can unbend in farce, and de-
light nc less in 'Divorcons' than in Ia
Robe Rouge
Last night she was at neither ex-
IRENE. The play was La Passerelle.' the
comedy by Nine Fred Cresac and NJ.
Francis de Croisset. from which Cosmo
Gordon Lennox adapted his very sue
cessful play. The Marriage Of Kitty
Adapted seems hardly the word for now
that the original is produced 1t is seen
that there is very little difference be-
tween the two versions. 4 few incident :
have been modified. but anyone who in
diligently listens 10 The Marriage OF
Kitty can easily undo the work OF the
censor for himself. The play is es-
sentially play that depends almost en-
tirely on acting for its success. II would
be good enough to read perhaps. bu,
intolerable 10 see otherwise than ex-
cellently played The heroine has on
both sides of the Channel been slngl.
larly lucky in her exponents. Miss
The Washington times., 1903-07-26
Too Much LimeIight.
An English Opinion That the Stage
Suffers From Unhealthful Publicity.


The extraordinary fuss made by some
of the London newspapers over the ac-
ton of the county council in making 8
manager remove signboard which he
had no right to erect moves a more
sober minded journal to remark:
Hardly a week passes without some
incident more or less exciting connected
with the theater. This is no doubt good
for business, but the result is that the
theater has begun to assume place in
public interest out Of all proportion to
its real Importance.
obviously the public does take an
interest in theatrical matters that is
positively astonishing Otherwise the
theater would not continue TO figure so
prominently in the Gews of the world.
But whether that interest is q natural
one or whether it is an exotic growth
sedulously fostered under the glass. is
another matter.
with every respect for the drama
and for its opponents, 1t is permissible
10 look upon this increasing prominence
with some anxiety, SIS upon An air ball
loon that may go scat at any moment
For it is hardly credible that the stage
and its work should forever continue
TO take precedence not only OF all the
other arts and sciences. but OF politics.
philosophy, and commerce as a subject
OF controversy and conversation.
The Washington times., 1903-07-26
Vandalism" at StratfoTd.
Charges Against Mr.. Carnegie Which
Are Not Sustained.

Sidney Lee. writing to the Chronicle
on the subject OF the alleged vandalism
at stratford-on-A Avon. finds that $50 far
from destroying historic Henley Street.
the trustees and the corporation.
through the generous aid OF Mr.. Carne-
gle, are doing precisely the opposite
They are permanently preserving all
structural work in houses under their
control there which has proved on accu-
rate examination TO possess any kind Of
archa illogical interest. The process OF
undermining Henley Street had in past
yoars progressed very far, and OF late.
but for Mr. Carnegie's interposition.
threatened a conspicuous advance. The
process has now. at an interesting point
in the thoroughfare. been arrested. and
some careful and scholarly restoration
has been made practicable"
or all the censure passed on the cor
poration or trustees in the course of the
controversy Mr.. Lee considers that
probably the least justihable is the ad-
verse criticism leveled at the corpora
ton on account of the policy that it
adopted in regard TO its Henley Street
premises Cnow used as china shop.
"All manner of erroneous information
The observesl has been put into circu-
lation on the subject. The present con-
dition and the historical associations OF
the building have been recklessly mis-
represented. II has been christensd
quite enormously the house of Shakes
peare's cousin and that misnomer has
even defaced a resolution passed by The
British Archaeological Association The
fact that the corporation was .-atlenLly
The Washington times., 1903-07-26
GTieq a Reformer.
The Originator Of Much Which Now
Distinguishes Richard Strauss.

Referring to the recent celebration OF
Edward Grieg's sixtieth birthday, Die
Zeit" of Vienna says that when his mu-
sic first became known in that city IL
impressed the hearers as the work OF
reformer- Previously the only Scandi-
navian whose music had become familiar
there was Gade. and he, follower OF
MendeIssohn, fell from grace with his
master.
In Grieg everything was new and
original. There is in his best songs and
instrumental pieces a specific individu-
ality distinct from that OF all other mu-
sicians. Hans Won Bulow aptly called
him the Norwegian Chopin: others have
compared him with Schumann. and an
English musician recently pointed out
''unmistakable analogies- between the
harmonic peculiarities of Grieg and those
OF Richard Strauss. So far as these ex-
list. Grieg, of course. is the originator
and Strauss the imitator. Grieg, it may
be added, is also infinitely more original
and fertile as a melodist than Strauss;
yet the myopic critics treat Strauss as
the greater man Of the two. simply be-
cause his works are bigger. Jumboism
in music. and always Jumboism,
Grieg is now passing through that
stage OF experience in which Chopin still
was twenty years ago when the Evening
Post took up the cudgels in his behalf.
even as IL does now in behalf OF Grieg.
to the "amazement" OF those who were
equally amazed twenty years age.-New
York Evening Post
The Washington times., 1903-07-26
A Play of Old Georgetown.
Preparations for Polly Primrose" Made
Here in Washington.

Here in Washington.
George town is to be the background
of one of the important plays of the
season. The sleepy old city on the rocky
heights just at the edge of Washington
has not been used in a play. II memory
serves. yet 1t is the shrine OF many an
old Political and social romance. The
day was when the Southern families of
Georgetown's precious old aristocracy
scorned social Washington and chung to
the county society to the south of the
Potomac.
1t is Just such a patrician family to
which Mistress Polly Primrose belonged
and she is the heroine of Paul Will
stach's new comedy, Polly Primrose"
In which charming little Adelaide
ThUrston is TO be seen this year The
period is 1863, and the current dis
turbances form a background. but there
are no particularly strenuous obtru-
sions. no battles, no military, no uni
forms; not even pistol or a title. The
flavor of the comedy is wholly domestic
though supported with sufficient back
bone TO give It vital interest.
Miss Thurston is at present In France.
but Will return early next month and
the rehearsals for the September pre-
sentation of Polly Primrose" will at
once begin. However, other preparations
have long been under way. Last spring
one of the oldest of Georgetowns show
houses was thrown open to the scenic
artists for sketches to serve in painting
the scenery for Polly Primrose" Last
week Mr.. Wilstach was seen busily rum
maging among the second hand stores
for mahogany chairs, tables and daven-
ports. delightful old brass sconces. can
delabra. paintings. and other furnish
ings 10 give character 70 the stage The
prize which he bore away with most
pleasure was . genuine old mahogany
harss!chord.
Miss Thurston Will doubtless make 4
notoble success as Polly Primrose. MI.
Wilstach Is dramatic writer of expert
ence and accomplishment. and II is
said that this is the best product of his
pen. His star is a beautiful and gifted
young girl OF roguish charms and much
blithesome comedy She Is known over
wide circumference OF territory and
wherever she has been seen has been
much admired.
The Washington times., 1903-07-26
Paul KeSter and His Work.
Almost Finished With dorothy Yer
non" for Bertha Galland.

nun lOI be~Lla Odliduu-
Down in historic Fairfax county. Va.
in an old-fashioned historical mansion
worthy OF the scions of England's BRAY
est old mobiles, is being written the play
in which Bertha Galand is to star this
season.
II is decentralization OF Charles Ma
jor's Dorothy Vernon though il is
limited that the dramatist has departed
widely from the book. The conversion
Of the story into dramatic form IS be
ing made by Paul Kester. at his home.
Woodlawn Mansion.
Dorothy Vernon" is all 5ut COM
pleted. It is TO be in four acts and is
light and vivacious on the surface. with
substantial substraturn OF dramatic
interest II will require a large cast,
already engaged. which will include VIII
liam Lenero and Frank Losee. The
scenery and costumes are now perfect
ing under many busy fingers Melville
Ellis has written a score Of special mu-
steal numbers.
Mr.. Kester is a prodigious worker
fond of his work, and devoted to his
country life, so that he rarely leaves
WOodlawn Mansion, Many OF his plays
viii be On the stage this winter in ad-
dition TO Dorothy Vernon Sweet
Nell of Old Drury'' is still being playet
in Australia. India. South Africa. anc
by Julia Nelson in England. Mrs. Lang
try will continue TO give his delightful
Mile Mars" and THE Cavalier" viii
be seen on tour. Mr. Kester IS al
present considering the story Of a play
he Is TO write next winter; It is to be foI
Elsin ne WIZ
The Washington times., 1903-07-26

by George Alexandra during the seven
months run of the play in London, the
past season. Mansfield will play Prince
Karl Heinrich.
Both plays will be given thoroughly
fine and artistic presentations. The
scene models and costume plates for
Ivan were made in Moscow. and for
Heidelberg in Berlin.
The Washington times., 1903-07-26
Mr. Irving and the Gaiety.
"Auld Lang Syne" Takes the Veteran to
the Close of the Theater.

The farewell night at the Gaiety
Theater IN London was a notable occa-
sion. Many OF .he old favorites OF the
popular little house once more appear
ed upon fits stage in an Up-to-date YER
sion OF The 1nkmans" written by
George GrOssmlth. jr. Florence St. John.
Ethel Hayden. Lefty Lind, Charles Dan
bv Arthur Williams. Seymour Hicks. aud
Louis Bradhell resumed their original
characters. and a host of weli-known
actors and actresses assumed subordi-
nate parts or discharged the duties OF
su1ernumereries.
Sir Henry Irving delivered one OF his
felicitous addresses. and Florence St.
John and Hayden Coffin sang alternate
verses Of AUD Lang Syne.s the whoio
company joining In the chorus Some
desperately silly stan vas flung over
the GaietS footllghts now ana thea. but