Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-23

EskI
torium, and setting off with supernatural
effect the faces of the chorus and princi-
pals. Suddenly in the midst of our work
we heard a yowfing out in the dark audi
forum, if mailman was running
amuck. and the noise of falling seats added
to the scare. AS soon we recovered
from the first shock number of the men
ran out. and there they found that the
hubbub proceeded from a man who had
gone to sleep during the church service,
and had been left unnoticed and alone in
the theater when the audience went out.
Imagine his feelings as he came to himself
half awake, in the darkened theater, con-
fronted by the weird scene of the incanta-
ton in the Sullivan opera. He confessed
that he first thought he had passed from
this mortal sphere and had gotten into the
very place he had been so industriously
trying to keep out off,
MR.. GRESSITT AND SAPHO.-The mis-
understanding between Manager Henri
Gressitt and his star, Miss Eugene Blair
has by no means been settled to the salts
faction of either of the parties concerned
Miss Blair still contends that the staircase
scene In Sapho is artistic and absolutely
necessary to the play, while Manager Ores
slit insists that 1t is nothing of the kind
and that the plays success without it
speaks for itself There seem to be several
reasons for Mr.. Gressitt's aversion to In
sorting this notorious portion of the drama
chief among which is the action taken by
the pastor OF his church, after a meeting of
the deacons, in informing him by letter that
the class of plays presented by him, If not
modified, must necessarily result in his be-
ing expelled from the Eutaw Place Baptist
Church, of which he has been a member in
good standing for years
Mr.. Gressitt is Virginian by birth. but
has resided in Baltimore since childhood
Trnp Er,ic h.
commercial carer in Baltimore, and from
that decided to take up the theatrical BUSH
ness. He worked his way faithfully from
various minor positions in the business part
OF the Downing Blair combination until
finally ne was able to have a share in the
attraction. Later on he determined to pre-
sent Mss Blair as a star, under his sole
management. How successful he has been
has been proven by the large audiences
which greet Miss Blair everywhere 1t was
eight years ago that she made her debut in
this city star, under Mr.. GresSit.S
management, and. strange to say, her first
performance was East Lynne In a let
ter replying to tire pastor of his church,
Mr.. Gressitt makes a lengthy defense of the
play produced under his management,
and quotes several newspaper criticisms in
dicating that portions of it heretofore crit
icised as gross are not presented by Miss
Blair in such manner as to be objection
able. In closing his letter, Mr.. Gressitt
says: My views of life are naturally very
broad, for instead of living in my sweet
home, surrounded by those L love, l am
bird Of passage, here, there and every
where; and l see men and women. and
know that We cannot have the blessings
given unto you. the good deacons and the
members of the congregation, and live by
the rules of the church.
Yes, l said l would withdraw if the Of
ficerS of the church wish 1t, for with all my
shortcomings 1 wish never to bring dis
credit to any one or any body of people. and
certainly never to be a stumbling block.
l am perfectly willing for the church to
make an example of me, and even thrust
me from it's doors, although from boyhood
1t has held the most cherished memories.
And when pass from it, don't think 1t will
make me lose respect for church or clergy
men, for l number some of my best friends
among the clergy. who have always well
coined me to their churches as well as to
their homes, and l am confident that they
will continue to do so until L pass to the
great beyond. 1t will not. Instead L think
that 1T will but make my love stronger for
that broader church of brotherly love whose
temple is covered by the blue sky of
heaven, and whose membership Is composed
of men and women who serve Him best by
their service to those upon this earth; and
whose mantle of charity Is large enough to
permit each to remember to "let him that
is without sin cast the first stone
OPEN-AIR SHAKESPEARE.-Du the
engagement of "Everyman" at the Column
bia Mr.. Ben Greet was quite busy touring
the different parks with a view to giving
outdoor performances Of las You Like It
and Twelfth Night" Arrangements have
been perfected with T. Arthur Smith to give
two performances Gin the aid of charity at
the old naval observatory grounds, I'D and
E streets, on Monday. May 16.
The afternoon performance will be las
You Like It. with Miss Matthson as Rosa
lind. The night performance will be the
Twelfth Night"
Mr.. Greet was charmed with the site
selected-the old observatory grounds offer
Ing many opportunities to make this an
ideal affair. The seats will be planned In
amphitheater style, and will be placed on
sale in a few days.
POLITE VAUDEVILLE FOR CHARITY
The Friend and Foe" garden party and
fair to be given next Tuesday and Wednes-
day nights by Countess Cassini, the niece
of the Russian ambassador. in aid of the
Red Cross fund. will have polite vaudeville
of its own in consequence OF a courtesy ten
dered by Mr.. Chase.
When Countess Cassini stated her inten-
ton to raise a fund in this manner for the
benefit of both Russian and Japanese suf-
ferers during the present European war,
Mr.. Chase communicated to the countess
his sympathy with her effort and offered to
donate the eight boxes in the theater Tor
Monday evenings performance, May ., 10
be auctioned off at the fair in the expscta-
ton that considerable sum would be real
lied.
Countess Cassini FASTENED to express her
warm appreciation of the tender, and asked
instead that Mr.. Chase lend her some or
the artists in next weeks bill for the even
ing OF the Goth instant. believing that this
would constitute a great attraction among
the features of the fair.
AS Mr. Chase Is now absent from the
city Miss De Witt, the manager of Chase's,
promptly acquiesced and suggested to the
countess that she have representative
witness at the performance next Monday
matinee. when it can then be determined
what acts will be suitable and the neees-
sary arrangements made
SUMMER OPERATING Lafayette Opera
House will be the home this spring of the
Aborn Opera season. Their presentation
last year of THE Wizard of the Nile"
1.-The Fortune Teller 1.-The Highwayman,"
The Singing Girl ETC., ETC., will be well
remembered. The attraction for the OPEN
ing week, May 8. will be The Singing
GIRL
Cor1ING ATTRACTIONS
EnlYrrn bia