Evening journal., 1904-10-14


o. n Stoddart "the grand old man
OF tho stage viii make but one more
professional tour before laying down
the burden Of his honorable career.
Seventy years old seventy OF
them passed on tho stage, this modest
old man Is the admiration and marvel
of his time. when Kirke In Sheile
produced The Bonnie Br.er Bush"
he made known his desire TO star Mr.
Stoddart. but mindful OF the actors
adyanced age asked the veteran how
long he felt able TO play Mr.. stoddart
replied; Il should like to play The
Bonnie Brier Bush three years before
] retire. and | VIII promise you TO pla.
that long. God willing"
This season viii be the fourth year
OF THE Bonnie Brier Bush" and Mr.
Stoddarts last in active theatrical
work. II N.-l be a dlstinot loss TO
the public when IL may no longer enjoy
this fine old actors arr or come i'm.
touch with his gentle personality, for
Mr. S.oddart has remained throughout
a long life wholly unspoled. He is as
simple and unassuming at the zenith
Of his stage career as he was during
his early strnggles for recognition.
Naturally enough, am actor Of Mr..
Stoddarts long experience Is fire.
quently asked for his opinion as to-
the relative merits Of performances
and performers 90 the present day as
compared 10 those of the old times.l
Here ~ that opinion as Mn- stoddart
expressed II ip a recent Interview:
rlme has little TO do With ability.
lis the individual not the period The
"a
so dnnnitely more thorough as 10. admit
ofno comparison To those. however
entering the theatrical profession with
thu idea OF making IL their. life.work +.
say that I consider the old svstem'
iinmeasnrahls. better ,than-that of the.
present me =. Th6re- was NO royal road
to position 1n' the-oId days ana if one
never climbed very high. the strife and
the endeavor Of itself gave 10 him that
reposs, tnet-ease 81 depaffrhent. which
l think most essential to the actor"
-s..-..s .s,. s------'-.,.st..r..f .rss.-...
Claus Bogel and a carefully selected
company IN Ibsen's powerful drama,
Ghosts" Yin be Qpesof the dramatic
events Of the season az The Grand Op-
era House next. Friday.,a fternoon and
night Manager Baylis had consider
able difficulty in securing this .attrac-
tion because OF its remarkable success
IN New York. where n was received
with unstinted praise by both press
and public
Pecks Bad Boy IS coming to town
again and he Is an dressed up. with
everything new. He VIII be at the
Grand Opera House on Monday after
noon and night. Always welcome
visitor, he viii be even more so this
time for he Is bringing with him a
larger and better company than nc
ever had. he has new scenery. COS
tunes. songs. dances and specialties
galore.
Her Lord and Master" which Mis-,
Helen Grantly win revive at the Grand
Opera House tomorrow afternoon and
night is wholesome and entertainius
play. IL is a simple love story that hae
Its beginning under the sn0wclad peak,
OF the Rockies. aDd iis happy denoue
ment IT, London drawing room. d
Is tale u . young WOman's life.
story or 8 young wOmans heart. Al
presented By Miss Grantly and her ex
ceilent company II win be one Of thi
dramatic treats or the season.
Moralists who insist that audience.
must be fed with sugar candy an,
eprinkled daintily with rose water. ma,
complain Of the theme Of Iris. Mr.
Pineros latest play. which will be pre
,eeafsd Al the GSand QQera House. nex