Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16

that belied it's years. 'Erminie'' is one of
the few musical productions that have
substantial story and genuine comedy Tor
foundation, and its career has been cor
respondngly extended with pecunlary re-
suits especially gratifying to Mr. WILSON,
The agile comedian has announced this as
his farewell tour in comic opera and Mr.
Charles Frohman is now on the lookout Tor
a comedy adaptable to his peculiar talents
The utmost care has been taken to prevent
the parting from being a sad one. Ii Is
true that certain liberties have been taken
with the good old opera, such as the in
PRODUCTION of the song oh, Prom
Use Me-" and of sparkling little song and
dance from one of MIR. Wilson's later pro-
auctions The cast notable one and
the audiences of the week were correspond
ingly exceptional
ON Thursday one of the most amusing
stanzas in THE Dickey Bird song, which
touches facetiously on national affairs, was
given additional point by the presence OF
the President in one of the boxes
"sNice and Mem returned to Washington
to find that the pleasant impression mace
by Miss Russell and that gentle and charm
ing old lady. Mrs Gilbert, still fingered III
the minds of play goers. These two LADIES
form charming harmony in feminine
characterization Miss Russell has a gray
ity far beyond her years. while MRS Gill
bert has sprightlness which youth IN thas
rapid and exhaustive age might envy MISS
Russels demure and thoughtful personality
makes her difficult to fit with a part But
once suited. her charm is complete and con-
yIncing. Next season Mrs. Gilbert is TO
he nut forward in a comedy especially writ
Said
deed Every one is starring nowadays
Why. it is getting to be positively undigni-
fiedi'
At the Lafayette kellar wrought his "a
miliar mysteries with all his oidtime sue
cess His tricks have lost none of their
aluremeut through long acquaintance, ana
he has always managed to secure enough
novelties from season to season to prevent
his entertainment from becoming monoton-
Gus even to those who have been his con-
slant patrons from season TO season Mr..
Stairs other theaters, the Academy and the
Empire. entertained appreciative audiences.
The lions at Mr. Chase's playhouse did
not exhibit the intense ferocity which might
have been desired by seekers for sensation
aiism. Possibly they realized the force of
Dream "A lion among ladies is most
dreadful thing" They. deserve credit for
catching the motto of the playhouse in
which they perform and in conducting
themselves strictly the most courteous
of polite lions.
The week has been especially interesting
for concerts and lectures. Ebert Hubbard
who publishes a magazine, notable for
number of things including the fact that he
spells the word through thru" and who
combines literature and the furniture bust
ness with such artistic harmony that they
do not clash gave the first of series of
lectures at the Columbia Theater on Tues
day. Mr.. Hubbard is one of the humorists
of the period. and shows what greater lite
rary heights Josh Billings might have at
tanned if he had only possessed the faculty
of taking himself seriously. This Mr. Hub
bard does with sweet perfection. In private
life he wears large, broad brimmed hat
and baby stare, so gently appealing that
it is difficult to believe he is not in earnest
when he refers TO himself Fra AIbertus
and bestows IAN apostolic blessing with
much solemn JUNCTION as if he did not thor
oughly realize that it was not worth a
tinker's anathema. Mr.. Hubbard is de-
lightful speaker. and has the faculty of
uttering familiar things In a way that
brings them home with wholesome and re-
freshing force. He gave the first of series
of lectures in Washington at the Columbia
Theater on Tuesday afternoon and the sec
ond yesterday.
About two dozen persons awaited the
opening of the Columbia Theater doors on
Wednesday afternoon to hear Mr.. Whitney
Mockridge, the lyric tenor but the doors
did not open. After a wait of thirty min
utes young man announced In the lobby
that owing to some kind of circumstances
the concert was postponed 10 some future
time He regretted to state that the ven
ture had cost him an outlay of $3.50 but
that if anybody wished his admission money
returned he could obtain it at the box
office
The sembrch concert on Friday afternoon
was well attended and proved that there is
large element in Washingtons popuia-
ton that knows music, If not technically
at least by reputation. Ii is somewhat dis
appointing to note that the capital city
must be content TO hear a single singer in
few disconnected songs, when New York
is reveling in operate productions, whose
casts enlist the services at one time of a
number of singers of equal greater emf
hence and this is coherent and scenically
embellshed production.
The Symphony concert, which occurred
yesterday afternoon. was greeted with the
enthusiastic attention of a large number of
music lovers.
The situation in New York is one of
almost utter depression. The season has
been unsatisfactory save in cases of a
comparatively few attractions, and these
are in a large number of instances the
feminine stars. Henrietta Crossman, Max
Inc Elliott, Bertha Galland and Eleanor
Robson have all established themselves as
strong successes. but as a rule managers
contemplate the future with scant salts
faction. The Chicago disaster and the
arbitrary stand taken by the authorities of
that city in compelling the theaters which
they had previously permitted to run TO
close their doors at days notice, has