davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
NEW PLAYS AND OLD PLAYERS TO OPEN THE SEASON

Lear, are perhaps-leaving the larger
issue Of Hamlet's character out of the
the questionable highest reaches of
madness tragically employed. There can
be no doubt. however. that 20 make mad
ness the sum and substance of a play--to
I'LL the stage with gibbering and ges-
ticulating creatures, working up to hom-
icidal frenzy-is 80 descend to the lowest
and most brutal OF effects. 1t is to take
reason away from drama. to give to man.
for the mere sake OF horror. the sight
insttnctively most repuIsive TO him. su-
per1cially. It may seem that far xorse
things are done in a score Of melodramas
every night OF the year.
Mr.. Boucher may think that the do
ings of his lunatics are mild IN COM
parison with the things that happen in
some OF the atrocity plays by which the
stage is Just now dishgured. Melodrama
is running the gamut OF ultra-sensation.
which begins with the title and often
comes to climax with the help OF this
or that fearsome apparatus, a death
dealing machine calculated to pfle uu
the agony to an extent altogether be-
yond the old-fashioned means of knife
or pistol. Anything may happen by the
way-to quote some recent instances
from parricide TO the burning out OF a
child's eyes.
zone does not defend these 'sensa- 3
tions,' which grow IN their excesses on
the going-one-better principle. Yet the
appeal of such pieces Is not wholly NOR
bid; IL has, very freely. its strong relief.
And the appeal is to the least educated
of audiences. whose appetites In the
matter Of sensation are relatively as ro-f
bust as those early English playgoers
who could tolerate Titus Andronicuss'
which. as schlegel says, is framed ae-
cording 20 a false idea Of dramatic e.
feet; for an accumulation of crueIties
and enormities is simply a degeneration
into the horrible. leaving no deep sim-
preston behind.
"It is well that today criticism, at
the least, should be alive to a sane and
healthy drama. There is among the crit
ics, and also among Thoughtful theater-
goers. recognition that physical in
lrmity has only a small place In the
dramatist's means. and should be very
rarely resorted to. To trade upon it
sheerly for it's pitiableness or horror
is as much brutality TO a modern taste
as such an act as CornwalIs in the third
act of King Lear where with the words
out, vile jelly Cornwall tears Gloster's
eyes from their sockets, and stamps
them under foot"
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Lady Roses Daughter.

Fay Davis. who has been summering
in Switzerland. has arrived in New York,
and begun rehearsals of Lady Roses
Daughter" Charles Frohman has plan
ned for Miss Davis an extended tour OF
America and England. The play will
receive its first production at Albany
on September "a. With Miss Davis Will
be the members OF the Empire Theater
company, as the new Empire organiza-
tion will not be formed until later in
the season. other plays selected By Mr..
Frohman for Miss Davis are a play by
Pierre Berton. the author of ''Zaza." a
new play by Deflers and Caillavet, which
Madame Rejane will produce in Novem-
Der at the Vaudeville Theater. Paris.
and still another by Haddon Chambers
The Washington times., 1903-09-06

native classics says the enthusiast in
The Forum but as yet we cannot
claim one This is why he is eager to
spread the stimulus over the widest
possible area. There must be repertory
theaters, he says, in Boston. Philadel-
phia, New Orleans. Chicago. St. Louis.
San Francisco, and the great capitals of
the Northwest
America may be approaching the
limit of her wheat production. but for
native classics she is still virgin soil.
Let the miliOnaires spread Kyd over
this magnificent acreage, and sprinkle it
literally with greenbacks, and the
classics will shoot into the sunshine
from Portland, Oregon. to Portland.
Maine. But long before that happens"
concludes Jacques" Il hope they will
sprout brilliantly at Dunfermline.
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Coming Attractions.
Chase's-Henry Lee Vaudeville Com

knaSS S"neuIy Lee NduuSNAAiC SO14-
pany.
The box office at Chase's Theater will
open tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock.
when orders for the new season Will be
received. Treasurer Reeve will be in at
tendance each day from 9 in the morn
ing until the same hour at night The
season is 10 begin Monday afternoon,
September II.
The Henry Lee Company which will
be the opening attraction has been
strengthened so as 10 provide a not
able bill The company comprises.
Henry Lee, in his impersonations of
great men: Elfe Fay. the comedienhe !;
Charlie Sweet, the musical burglar; the
Musical Colby family, among the lead
ers in their line; Gardner and Maddern
in the comedy. "Too Many Darlings: ''
the Maxsmith duo of ladder balancers
and jugglers; Talbot and Rogers, and
Valmore and Horton.
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Mary Anderson TO Return.
Expected to Give Readings From
Shakespeare


The news that Mary Anderson de Ma
varro has practically consented TO re-
turn to public life for brief time was
brought from Europe last week.
Robert Grau announced while abroad
that he had entered into negotiations
with Nine de Navarro to give a series
of readings in America. Nine. de Ma
varro declined the offer. but in such
way that Mr.. Grau said he felt hopeful
OF winning her over from her oft re-
ported refusal 10 return TO public life
Just before Mr. Grau boarded the Lu-
cania for New York he said he received
from Nine. de Navarro a practical ac-
ceptance OF his offer 10 her of $225. 900
for one hundred and fifty readings from
Shakespeare and other poets OF this
country during the winter OF 1904 and
1905. This statement was inserted In
the wireless bulletin published aboard
ship.
Naturally none OF the details Of Nine.
de Navarro's temperance have been
arranged. even IL the message received
by Mr.. Grau would warrant him in so
doing. He seemed confident. however,
of bringing the noted actress back 10
public life again. Whatever the eondi-
tions are. this is the first offer to re
turn to the stage 20 which she has not
positively replied mo"
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Primitive North Dakota.
A Ranch Where an Eastern Business
Woman Opened Her Eyes.

H Winifred De Witt. general mana
ger OF the Chase circuit of theaters, has
returned from North Dakota with stories
of her experiences that possess all the
newness and spice to be found in those of
owen Wister.
Il spent the time since July I, when
the theater here closed said Miss De
witt, ION ranch The ranch was reach
ed by train from Minneapolis 10 James
town. thence TO Darlington. The woman
with whom I was 10 stay was 10 have
met me at Darlington. When I reached
there she was not 10 be found and I was
dismayed. I did not fancy the looks of
things in Darlington, and thought if
could get a cup of coffee I would con-
trive with il until I reached Goodrich.
A circus had reached town that day and
the prairie and every bit of space was
occupied by farmers and miners and
cowboys teams and horses.
AT the hotel I offered the proprietor
a dollar for a cup of coffee, but he re-
fused to serve il owing 20 his prepara-
tions to feed the circus people. wander
ed up the main street bordered by one
story shacks. the larger number being
saloons, until I found the only drug
store in town. I asked the person at
tending it where I could obtain a cup
of coffee and he directed me across the
way TO forbidding-looking place which
he said was a restaurant.
Seeing three tough locking men about
to enter l asked one did ladies 90 there.
"'Our ladies go thar he said so loft
lily that was squeIched.
81 crossed the street and found myself
in a grocery and timidly inquired where
they served meals A back room was
pointed out to me and I squirmed into
It through a narrow entrance. where ]
found the room filed with cowboys
miners, and farmers. in their shirt
sleeves and with hats on. with now and
then woman at the tables.
Inside the door burly fellow accost-
ed me and in response TO my request
for a cup of coffee he held out a dirty
paw and said: You get a square meal
/ for 25 cents. and take the money now.
I handed him the quarter and sat down.
All I took was the coffee and had my
suspicious about that Then l returned
TO the depot TO board the train. which
only goes to Goodrich three times q
week.
shortly after I was seated with few
other passengers the conductor came
in and inquired if any OF us wanted &c
stay to the circus. I told him was in
| a hurry to get to Goodrich. He can
vassed the other passengers and finding
that the majority had leanings towart
the white tents he announced to all o.
us that the train would not go until af,
ter the circus. So the engineer banked
his fires, we were thrust out of the
coaches, the doors locked, and the othel
passengers and all the train hands
went TO circus. BY the time the show
opened there was not a solitary store II
town open Even the depot was closed
So ! had to wander around for four an'
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
A Matter of Kyd2

The same writer appears to be quite
Theater of New York is concerned. Th's
as irreverent where the National Art
is what he says upon that subject;
There is no such reserve in the Ma
tional Art Theater Society of New YORK
This body has a fiscal problem which 1t
desires 10 press upon the sympathetic
mIIlionaire-how TO carry on theater
In which artistic principles shall not be
unduIy dominated by commercial consid-
erations.
The National Art Theater Society was
enrolled in February. and so far. l un-
derstand, the millionaires have made 10
sign. Tho tragic muse beckons plain
lively to Wall Street. 'Tis she: hhe
waves her lily hand: she wanders w
and down. but so do the shares end the
Insecurities, and all the public notice is
for them.
still. although commercial considara-
tions are so battling, artistic principles
are strong and eloquent. find them set
out in the Forum by an enthusiast,
who tells me that the English classics In
the American National Theater will be-
| gin with fifteenth century moralitiss,
and enc or two representative pre-
/ EIizabethans.'
Now, 1 know why William Archer
| talked to me Of Kyd when we met in
the dream train; for Kyd's plays are TO
| figure in the American repertory. to-
gether with Ben Jcnson. Lyly. Peelo,
Nash, and Lodge. Congreve Will join
the illustrious throng. which will spar
| kle with the chaste conceits Of Mrs.
/ Ashra Behn. Thus. broadening down
from precedent to precedent. the roper
tory will arrive at Ibsen and II. ]. By
ron. For the benefit of the public this
policy must be always pleasing. never
didactic,' and for the benefit of young
Americans who want to learn how tc
write drama 1t must show them the
worlds theater classics, not in the H.
brary. but on the stage
Imagine the delighted audiences fol-
Peele and Greene. and the tremendous
development of budding dramatists after
a course OF Kyd.
Not Money-Art!
Look here, upon this picture and or
this as another preceptor remarks. Con.
trast the mystery which hangs about
Mr. Carnegie's scheme with the lucit
perfection TO which the repertoTy hal
been brought in America" continue!
Jacques"
There you have the artistic princi
pies. but no millionaire. AT Dunfermlin'
you have the millionaire but no artists
principles. This state. IL not the mor'
gracious, may be considered the mor'
fruitful, for you can borrow principle:
I when you cannot borrow money. If, a
suspect, Mr.. Carnegie has no fxe'
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Done Better in America.

Done Better in America.
81 have visited a great number of
theaters in London remarked Mr..
mire on the stage and in the house But
the smaIlness Of the vestibule and pas
sages surprises me. On our side they
are very much wider. The floor space.
too, with US is usually on the street
level. and the audience can get away
much quicker than is possible here.
Another difference is that with US there
are no saloons or drinking bars permit
ted in the theater.'
Actors -on the road in the United
States have. he believes. to work very
much harder than the provincial players
here do. We have many repertoire
companies giving two performances
every day in the week, and the members
Of those companies must be able 10 play
in Shakespeare. musical comedy. farce.
and drama They pay their actors very
badly as a rule, and many OF The
younger people who join them in order
10 get some experience of acting do so
for their board. OF course. in the good
theaters capital companies are 10 De
met with. and their receipts viii aver
age a great deal more per week than
those returned in the large provincial
cities OF England.
"In America said Mr.. Crane. in
conclusion, there's a chance for every
actor, however humble. That's the fas-
cinatfon that led so many others, like
myself. who never had a relation on the
stage. TO seek a fortune in front OF the
footIights'
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Melba to Sing Here.

Prominent among the musical attrac-
tions to be heard here early during the
coming season is Nine. Melba, unGues-
tionably the leading operate artist OF
the present day, and who has not oeen
in this country for several years
Nine. Melba has decided that she VIII
not make another tour Of Australia. de-
snite the fact that her last tour netted
her $210. .O00 in five months.
She says the journey is too long. ana
the enthusiastic reception accorded her
last time rather overcame the diva Her
fathers health was seriously impaired
by the excitement brought on by his
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
For the Reneft of Carnegie.


In his entertaining column. The Pass
ing Mood" this bit on Mr.. Carnegie's
endowed theater is contributed by
"Jaccues:.
Here a stranger, with slightly Scot
tish accent. asked US il We knew whittier
the nadding crowd had fed To the
north. sir, after grouse. said the arm
chair which has charge OF this subject.
It's TO Dunfermline.' said the Scottish
gentleman earnestly, and there's no
grouse there, I'm thinking
with this oracular remark he took his
leave. and there arose grave debate as
to'his meaning. There were many Scots
in London, We knew; but they could not
all have come from DunfCTmline. and If
they had it was incredible that they had
gone back.
The company broke up without any
light on the enigma; but that night /
solved IL in a dream. I found myself
in a train with many distinguished per-
sons. including william Archer.
Z" Where are We going? inquired OF
him
- To Dunfermline,' he answered.
" Good graCious! l exclaimed, '"hal
for? Let me out,'
Man aIive!' said he; don't you know
this is a great day for the dramatic
crowning mercy? We are all going TO the
opening Of Carnegie's endowed theater
for high-class plays. You can't get out,
for this is a special train, and doesn't
stop. o Scotland, o my country He
seemed TO be in a very excited state.
Don't tell me- / gasped. that they
are opening with Ibsen.' 'Ibsen! he
echoed with a raptuTous smile. Not
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
From the Press Agents.
Iohn Drew's Company.

John DreWS S company
John Drew's company. with which ne
is 10 open the Herald Square TheateF on
September Is, has been completed IN
Captain Dieppe,' the new play by An
thony Hope and Harrison Rhoades. John
Drew will. of course, take the title part
He will be supported by George How
ard, Charles Lane, Louis Baker, sydney
Herbert, O. Kane Hollis. and Robert
Schable in the male parts Margaret
Dale is the leading woman. The other
three woman parts are taken by Ethyl
Hornick. Alison Skipworth, and Con-
stance Bell.
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Americas Stage Through English Eues.
Londons Reflection of Interview With Crane-Satne
From Jacques on Endowed Theaters-Money and
No Support VS., Support and No Money

IT URN about is fair play. and now
William H. Crane. following the
precedent of foreign actors who
visit America. has been giving his i'm
pressions and pointing out contrasts for
the benefit of the Londoners. Thus
moralizes the New York Times" in
contemplating the following comment
in one of London's foremost papers:
1.-The great difference that Mr.. Crane
sees between the English and American
playgoing people" says the Mail. % lis
that an individual success in America is
sufficient TO make a success of a play
that, taken as a whole, might possess no
great dramatic strength. In England the
play is the thing. and no cleverness on
the part of the leading player in charac-
ter sketching will make it or save it If
the story is weak Mr.. Crane made his
reputation in plays like The Senator,
The American Minister Brother John
and David Harum, all of which offered
present types familiar in his own coun-
try. He has played David Harum' for
the past three years. and has been
pressed to give a season in it in Lon
don, but he fears that the character Of
David Harum. who is engaged in two
such varied interests as banking and
horse trading. might not be understood
here
with regard to audiences, Mr.. Crane
thinks that Americans are quicker 10
appreciate a good play than the Eng
lish, that they are more ready TO ap-
pIaud when pleased, and very slow TO
show any signs of disapprobation.
Problem plays they do not care much
about They Ike wholesome plays. but
those, says Mr.. Crane, are the most
difficult TO obtain.
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
InfiTmitieS and Art.
The Limit to Their Use in Dramatic
Productions.

How far il is legitimate TO make use
of madness or any other malady. or any
infirmity or deformity on the stage is a
difficult matter 20 decide" says "The
Stage"
THE infinite pathos of Ophelia, or the
sublimiIy of compassion surrounding
The Washington times., 1903-09-06

Fleming. Edna Page Preston, Viola Mon
creif, and Annie Allison.
Lyceum-Weber's Partisan Widows.
L. Lawrence Weber's Partisan Wild
ows," burlesquers. billed to appear at
the Lyceum Theater this week. will not
be found lacking in any of the elements
calculated to please the patrons Of the
Lyceum Two burlesqUes are promised
the titles Of which are Roses and On
ions" and "The Widows at Sea" by Bert
Leslie.
Stage settings and costumes are new.
The vaudeville portion OF the bill in
cludes Bert Leslie. assisted by Marie
Richmond and company; Bison City
Quartet. the Simpsons, drum and xylo-
phone artists; Annie Peyser, and Charles
Falk.
The Washington times., 1903-09-06

yet; they'll come to him in time. It's
Kyd.'
1.-The word, regret to say, had hum
orous associations for me.
Come, Archer l laughed, confess
that this is what the whole thing is!'
But he glared horribly, and then l
awoEe."
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Wit From Paul Bourget.

when NJ. Paul Bourget was in Amer
ica q few years ago he was entertained
at the Tavern Club, Boston, and there
was taken TO task by a divine who
wanted to know why French authors did
not choose the good. pure. and innocent
women as the chief characters Of their
plays. And. said Mr.. Crane. Paul
Bourget simply raised his head and re-
piled, What is there to write about
them? That, I think. covers the
whole question of the drama. If you
meet ladies at any gathering and point
out 10 them a woman possessing all the
virtues IN the world, she doesn't inter
est them. If. however. the woman hap
pens TO be one that has had a past. you
cannot be quick enough to let them
know all about her.
4" What our people may talk about
outside of the theater they do not want
20 see represented on the stage. That
ig why the problem play is not a sue
cess. In America, however, we have a
cosmopolitan audience. and nearly
every sort OF play gets some cnance
on the whole the taste Of the people
has been advancing, advancing faster
than the authors. and good plays with
interesting stories are very difficult "a
find. Another trouble has arisen in
theaters. for there are not enough at
fractions for all of them. We come 10
The Washington times., 1903-09-06

England, France. and Germany for
plays. and personally 1 think that the
German authors Who are giving us the
domestic drama are providing the most
interesting material. American authors
in their treatment of a story are quite
equal to any European writer's, but it
may be owing to America being quite a
new country that they are not offered
the same scope tor plots.
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Academy-"The Child Slaves of New
York"

THE Child Slaves of New York" an
original melodrama by Charles e. Blaney
and Howard Hall. will begin a weeks
engagement at the Academy on Monday,
September IA
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
At the Theaters.
Lafayette-"The Pride of JennicO."

Lafayette-"The Pride of Jennico."
The attraction at the Lafayette Theater
this week will be THE Pride of Jennico. .
Edward R. Mawson will assume the
role formerly played by James X. Hack
EFT. Mr. Mawson won distinction in The
Prisoner of Zenda' and play called "A
Fair Rebel"
The Pride OF Jennico" was written by
Abby Sage Richardson and Grace Living
ston Furniss from an incident in the
novel of the same name by Egerton Cas-
tie. The company supporting Mr.. Nav
son includes Helen Holland. as Princess
Ottilie; Mary MacGregar. as Marie OF
title; Helen Harrington, as Michel; VIII
liam Hawley. as Eugene; Morris Frank.
as Janos, and John Morrisey. as Fabula.
The play is of the same order as The
Prisoner OF Zenda," and has everywhere
been pronounced as distinctive in char
acter and ingenious in mechanism A
special matinee is to be given tomorrow.
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Empire-"The Lighthouse by the Sea-

One OF the latest plays of the current
season is The Lighthouse by the Sea"
which has been we'll received during its
initial engagement In New York. This
attraction will be presented at the En-
pire Theater week of September Ii.
The Washington times., 1903-09-06

EmpiIe-"Searchlights of Great City. u
"Searchlights of a Great City will
be produced at the Empire Theater this
week. Many have undertaken the writ
ing OF the history of Madame Frouchard
The Washington times., 1903-09-06
Academy-"The Men of Jimtown."

Howell Hansel will head the com
pany presenting w. V. Ranous' play,
THE Men of Jimtown,' at the Academy
this week.
The play deals with the inhabitants
of a newly founded border town called
"Jimtown," on the Oklahoma strip. Jim
Redfeld. as portrayed by Mr.. HanseI. is
said to be manly and clever telegraph
operator. He has succeeded an perfect
ing a patent in telegraphy. which prom
ises great results and a vast fortune,
but being in financial straits he is
obliged to divulge the patent TO a inan
cier named Rawlston. Rawlston appro-
PIRATES "Jim's" ideas and realizes an
additional fortune. Jim's daring and
exciting mode of recovering the profits
Of his invention forms the basis of the
story. Interest is heightened By the
love of Jim for an attractive girl.
There are four acts Offering many op-
poTtunities for good stage effects. a
special matinee of The Men of jim
town" is to open the engagement to-
morrow afternoon.
The Washington times., 1903-09-06

IT URN about is fair play, and now
William H. Crane. following the
The Washington times., 1903-03-14
SACRED HEART.

Beautiful and impressive was the pub
lie service in honor OF The Holy Father
al the Church Of the Sacred Heart. on
last Sunday morning The Rev. Josepn
ThoraI. Of the Marist College. officiated.
The Right Rev Bishop Conaty preached
a mastery sermon The regular choir.
augmented by other talented singers.
rendered. under the direction OF Prot.
Eric Rath, Gounod's mass OF ST. Cecilia.
The ''Veni Creator" was beautifully
sung bv Miss BastinelH. with violin ac-
Compartment by Miss Meyer
The Rev. John Conway. s j.. vice
president of Georgetown College, viii
preach at late mass tomorrow.
The Rev. Father MCGEE will continue