davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1905-10-22
AT the TheaterS.
Belasco-Blanche Bates.

Since the announcement Of the inaug-
ural OF the Belasco Theater in this city,
the profoundest interest in theatrical
circles as well as among theatergoers
of Washington. centers in the produc-
tion of THE Girl of the Golden West. -
beginning tomorrow night, which play
ed a highly successful engagement at
Aibaugh's Theater. Baltimore. last week
There is always more or less interest
In all new plays bat when a play bears
the trademark of Mr.. David Relasco
and eInanates from his studio. interest
THE Girl From the Golden West" the
interest in Washington appears to be
doubled. THE Girl Of the Golden West"
is destined 10 enjoy a long run in New
York. and the fact that a number of
New York critics will come to Wash
ington especially to see the play in ad-
vance of the opening in New York. lends
interest To the event
Miss Bates last appearance here in
The Darling OF the Gods" attracted
fashionable crush at her every ap-
pearance. and there Is every evidence
OF crowded houses TO see her in her new
play. Robert Hilliard. who plays the
lead next to Miss Bates, is also popular
in this CIT
The Girl of the Golden West" whom
Miss Bates will portray, is a harum-
scarum sort OF a lassie. who loves with
The Washington times., 1905-10-22

and played the part instead OF being
rejects the old school Interpretation
does not indicate that I'VE think our
fathers fools. as wise we grow but
merely that the tastes of the audience
Of today differ from those of the past.
and there must be compliance with
present conditions.
Those actors and actresses who are
successfully essaying Shakespearean
roles today have finally adopted the sane
plan Of adapting Shakespeare to the
modern school That this is a hard
task is unquestioned. for the beautiful.
polished diction OF the Shakespearean
drama is not in accord with our real
istic. materialistic and unvarnished dia-
logue of today. Nevertheless. the hui
man nature of the Shakespearean char
acter Is the same as that of our TWEEN
tieth century man and therefore the in
depreciation according to modern styles
is not impossible.
Literally speaking the edict has gone
out that there must be only suppressed
emotion. Perhaps in our revision from
the old school OF tempestuous passion
we have gone little too far toward
the other extreme and the effort to beget
moderation IN order TO obtain smooth
ness may have almost reached the
state Of entire subsistence. But be this
as II may. the audience of today de-
mands that Shakespeares dramas
should be handled according to the
same methods that govern any other
plays.
1t Is a deplorabIe fact that many
OF our best actors, IN attempting to
hold the Shakesperean mirror up to
nature. succeed only In rejecting such
distorted image that IT reminds one OF
the grotesque reflections thrown by
concave looking glasses in a midway
mystic maze.
The Washington times., 1905-10-22
Rant Not in Favor
Altitude of Modern Theater-
goeIs Toward ShakespeaI-
can Productions -OcCas-
ional Lack of Enthusiasm
Due to Actors Short
Comings.

The audience does not know it's
shakespeare as in former days" de-
clared one of Americas foremost ac-
tresses recently when asked for an ex-
planation Of the lack of enthusiasm
which as a rule has marked the pre-
sentation OF Shakespearean plays in
the past few years. This actress added
that in the halcyon days when the
Elizabethan plays were received every
where with loud acclaim, the theater-
going public had made a study OF the
plays before they were presented and
that the great poets philosophy was
received by ears that were willing to
hear and eyes that were anxious to
see. Today. so IL is alleged. these con-
ditions are changed; the audience no
longer takes that interest in any spe-
eial event because OF the multitude Of
plays presented each season.
There may be much truth in such an
hypothesis, but II certainly is not one
that is fully satisfying In the first
place few Will admit that the average
audience Of today is more Ignorant upon
Shakespearean subjects than the au-
diences of a generation ago II Is true
that there were many Shakespearean
scholars then, all OF whom have not
worthy successors today. But the gen
eral average. ii would appear. is IN
favor OF the modern audience This
Is true for many reasons. primarily be-
cause modern culture absolutely de-
mands a certain amount OF familiarity
with the masterpieces of literature
There was certainly no such demand
upon the women and hardly upon the
men Of half century ago. Then.
modern inventions and competition have
30 cheapened the production OF books
that today even the humblest homes
can boast n complete set OF Shakes
peare. Furthermore, the boy or the
CIR. who does not attend college toGs5yr
10 the exception. 1t was just the re-
vofoe formerly And in every college
In the country study of the Shakes
oeasSan drama is requirement OF the
The Washington times., 1905-10-22
OLGA NEIHERSOLE'S
VIEWS ON DIVORCE
Eminent English Actress Explains That the Marriage Bond
Should Not Be Severed When There
Are Children.

Miss Olga Nethersole and the eminent
French dramatist, Paul Hervieu. are in
accord upon one thing; they believe that
divorce is too lightly regarded, and that
the future OF the nation depends upon
the home as perfect unit Much the
same idea promulgated by President
Roosevelt, in his memorable doctrines
upon childless marriages and loveless
homes; but while the President has been
stanch advocate in this country
against race suicide, NJ Hervieu has
for several years been advocating iden-
tically the same thing in Paris.
The result of his agitation was a
drama, THE Labyrinth" which created
a tremendous sensation in Paris. and led
to n senatorial inquiry as to the reason
for the decrease of the birth rate in
France NJ. Hervieu appeared before the
commission, and boldly advocated the
passage Of law to compel married
people to love each other The word
Love-" he declares, does not exist IN
the civil code regulating marriages.
Miss Nethersole. who TO a certain ex-
tent may be regarded as Hervieus dis
ciple In America, by reason OF her en-
thusiastic appreciation Of Hervieus
play, arrived in Washington Thursday,
and among other things said In connec-
ton with The Labyrinth"
The play is natures own argument
against divorce where there are children
to the marriage. 1t does not aim to re-
strict or abolish divorce altogether I'm
doubtedly there are cases when divorce
may seem justifiable, but not under any
circumstances II there are children
my new play teaches that a child wln
oIvays serve as the link to bind together
the affections of a divorced couple, ana
TO draw them, consciously or uncon-
The Washington times., 1905-10-22

sciousiy. toward one another. But, II
either Of the parties has married again,
what an insurmountabie barrier is erect
ed between them. legally, by their own
folly, when in after years they realize
their mistake, and that all their common
hopes and desires are centered in their
child. This is the situation III The
Labyrinth
THE play is a tragedy-a tragedy be-
cause 1t is intensely human. and. be-
cause IL is human. beautiful. Here Is
an honorable woman who has belonged
to two men, Both have been, and are.
her husbands The second husband she
does not love; conscience prevents her
returning TO the first. whom she does
love. How will she tread this labyrinth
she and her two husbands?
Suppose the second only leaves the
scene-he then leaves the love Of
Marianne and her first husband free,
but her honesty will not let her take
it. And hef second husband. who adores
her. will not kill himself just to let her
remarry her first husband. Yet the
first husband alone would not disap-
pear either. because he loves Marianne.
and knows that she loves him in re-
turn She Is incapable Of two loves
One solution alone is possible-the death
OF both men. There is no other solu-
ton. 1t is terrible. but 1t is true and
inevitable. and the author is TO be
praised for daring TO portray the truth.
even to its truthful end
This, then, Is the main idea Of tho
piece In bringing Marianne to her first
husband-though it was in a moment OF
erring weakness-the author has sought
to show the controlling force which
brings a woman back to the man sho
has first loved"
The Washington times., 1905-10-22
Lvceum-"New Century Girls"

1.-The New Century Girls" will be the
Offering at L.yceum Theater this week
The great success attained by this at
traction has caused the management to
add many expensive novelties The seen
cry and costumes are entirely new. and
the twenty chorus girls are said TO be
pretty ard sweet voiced. The curtain
raiser is termed 'The Taking of Raj
fes," and the closing burlesque. In
South Dakota" Both are hilarious af-
fairs with plenty of music. witticism and
general joIlihcatiOn. The first part will
be followed by an olio Of clever speci-
aities. among them Barnes and Stock
well Stewart and Desmond Adelaide
Marsden Salbini and GroVini. Barry and
Wolford ard Jack McC.abe
The Washington times., 1905-10-22
81 RLA1NCzE 1NzEeS
NTH" @N or ZT GGZZNo GZsW :"
EEZASCO WEHZZz6

English course. Still another evidence
OF the peoples interest in Shakespeare
is the fact that upon the announcement
In any city OF the early appearance of
Hamlet" Macbeth" or any other Of
his masterpieces, the public Libraries are
Immediately besieged by readers eager
to secure annotated editions OF that
particular play. These facts. apparently
at least, indicate that the public is
only too anxious to welcome a creditable
production.
Where the Fault Lies.
Is not the fault rather to be found in
the actors misconception of just what
the public desires in the matter of inter
probation? An incident occurring IN
one Of the Southern States last sea-
son Will serve to illustrate the idea.
A weIl-known travelling tragedian was
presenting Macbeth" and he was quite
severely criticised in one city for
mouthing his speeches and Saving the
air with his hand" In other words,
he was accused of tearing his pas
sion to tatters. to very rags. and split
ting the ears of the groundlings." The
actor in question was goaded to n re-
ply, and in an open letter declared that
he was giving a faithful reproduction
of Forests Macbeth" Now, assum-
ing. for the sake of argument, that
his rendition was a fairly good imita-
ton of Forests performance, IL was
at best nothing more than an imita-
tion and this word in itself is In almost
every instance a bar to greatness. But
even the fact that his acting was an
imitation would probably not have call
ed forth such criticism as he received
had this been all. The cause lay much
deeper.
An entirely new school OF acting has
come into vogue in the past decade
The actors and actresses of today no
longer advocate the robustious. grandiI-
oquent and stentorian style in other
plays. Why should they do so in
Shahespearean roles? IL would seem
that many actors. who endeavor TO pre-
sent Shakespeare. have the idea that
they must throw aside all that they
have followed and learned in the new
school OF acting and must assume the
old school style. because the pubIf,
once applauded that.
Public Is Logical.
AS a matter OF fact the playgoing
public is perfectly logical and II de-
mands the same standard of work in
Shakespeare as In the modern drama.
An otherwise praiseworthy production
of THE Winters Tale" was marred
recently by the rantings of Leontes
and Polixenes in the first act. and even
the Hermione of the occasion momen-
tarily fell in line with the old style
The Washington times., 1905-10-22
Columbia-"The County Chairman

The County Chairman" with its
original cast. including all the favorites
Will be the attraction at the Columbia
this week, for a return engagement
Ne play produced IN recent years has as
many elements to attract lovers OF
comedy. and the pungent wit, clever
satire, and happily drawn characters
easily account for its long runs in New
York and other cities.
But 1t is in his types that Ade is
seen to advantage and characters from
every day life and those known from
association are vividly drawn with lust
enough caricature TO make them stand
out boldly from the canvass Espc-
cially noted is the painting of the BLUM
Jim Hacker. the county chairman. He
Is an easy going open-hearted spender.
but one whose energy is aroused when
upon set purpose. The sort of man
who would stay up all night to defeat
The Washington times., 1905-10-22

share. Every act is replete with STIR
ring situations. which crowd each otner
TO such an extent that the auditor never
wearies. First, the working OF the
police is shown. Next there is a thrill
ing fight in an opium joint. ana an uii-
derground chamber OF mysteries IA
which the hapless victims are terrori-eo
by a villianous criminal, who praeeices
In their presence some OK the ihSs. Ile'
of the Far East. The final climax = an
strong one. IL SHOWS 'ie
blowing up. by dynamite, Oh TINS
some place. and the excitins anu I'm
ly rescue of the unfortunaees ps .he
-, of one of the New York police
The Washington times., 1905-10-22
Coming Attractions.
National-Yicla Allen.

The theatergoers of Washington have
treat in store for them next week
when Miss Viola Allen, one OF the most
popular actresses on the American stage
presents Clyde Fiteh's play, The Toast
of the Town. at the New National. Miss
Allen has presented many dramas of
sterling worth during her career, and
has enjoyed such wide popularity that
much was expected. Mr. Fitch is said
to have written play which, while pos
The Washington times., 1905-10-22

sessing many diverting situations, Is stin
a drama OF great force and power. One
critic described The Toast of the Town
as being a play OF thrills and tears. love
and laughter 1t Is the best made play,
according to all accounts, that has come
from Mr.. Fftch's pen in years. 1t was
expected that Mr.. Fitch would write q
play for Miss Allen which would be
something more than a comedy &C man
ners, for the reason that Miss Allen Is
an actress whose abilities are not cramp-
ed and confined, and do not run In q
single groove. She is a comedienne OF
delicacy and charm. and yet capable OF
sounding the deepest emotions of the
human heart.
The supporting company is of top
notch excellence and includes 1sabelf
Irving, Mrs. Fanny Addison Pitt, A z.
Anson. new leading man from Lon
don: Harrison Hunter. Hassard Short.
James Young and c. Leslie Allen.
Columbia-"Little Johnny Jones'"
George NJ Cohan. who Is at present
fulfilling a highly prosperous engage
ment of two weeks at the Chestnut
Street Tn, ater. Philadelphia, where
Little Johnny Jones' (although in its
third repeat in the Quaker City,, is
packing the theate- nightly, will come 10
the Columbia Theater for Fl return en-
gasemtnt of one week beginning Noa-
day. October go.
Mr.. Cohan's company remains exactIv
the same as when presented here last
year; the only change that Will be
noticeable is in the costume and scenic
environment. which will be found abso-
lutely new and attractive
The sale OF seats for Mr. Cohan's en-
gagement at the Columbia Theater win
begin at the box Office of that playhous.
on Thursday morning next.
The Washington times., 1905-10-22

out bounds. and who. actuated by love
overcomes and surmounts obstacles
which heighterr the color her charac-
ter and make OF her a heroine with
whom every one falls in love. The play
is full Of heart interest. and is filled
with highly dramatic situations
The Girl of the Golden West" is a
play full of sentiment. It depicts life
in California In 1s49, when the gold fever
ragged, and men struggled for self. lost
their identities. and struggled, laughed.
gambled, cheated, cursed. killed loved
snd worked out their strange destinies.
The pictures of the play include scene
in the Sierras. the Polka saloon. the
home of ''the girl. the dance hall OF the
Polka saloon. and a s-ot on the prairies
of the Far West at dawn. A feature Of
the production is the special music run
ming all through the play, written by
Mr.. William Furst. who IL kindly re-
membered in Washington, where his
operas have always enjoyed great vogue.
National-Olga Nethersole.
Miss Olga Nethersole will appear at
the National Theater this week in the
first American presentation OF Tho
French drama, lie Dedale. which scored
great triumph when originally pro-
duced at the Comedie Franchise. This
will be Miss Nethersoie's first appear
ance In America in more than four
years. and 1T viii also be the first per-
formance of the new play in English.
Written by Paul Hervieu, the eminent
French -dramatist and author. THE
II oh, vfv,rI1
interest IN Paris that It's author was
elected a member of the Academy Of
Forty, commonly called the Immortals,
while Nine. Bartet, the actress who
created the role of Marianne de Pogis,
achieved the extraordinary distinction
OF being awarded the button of the
Legion OF Honor by the French gov
ernment-an exceptional honor never be-
fore awarded to an actress.
Miss Nethersole appears as Marriane
de Pogis. who, after two marriages.
returns TO her first husband in a mo-
ment OF weakness, and then finds OBJ
stacles that make it impossible for her
TO be happy with either. The denoue-
ment is as unexpected as ii is thrill
ing, but every student of human nature
will concede that 1t is the only logical
solution OF the problem. Miss Neither
sole brings her entire London company,
including Hamilton Revelle, Hubert
Carter, Harry Dodd, William Farren.
jr., Charles Quartermaine. E. c. Ash
ley. Miss Louise Noodle. Miss Cicely
Richards, and Miss Dorothy Grimston,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Kendall
who has never been to America before
Miss Nethersole's tour is under the
direction of Charles Dillingham;
The Washington times., 1905-10-22
Academy-Shepard's Pictures Tonight.

Moving pictures this season are bet
ter than ever, as the subjects produced
during the summer months just passed
are far in advance in every respect OF
last seasons productions. The Offering
at the Academy tonight win include a
long list of these new features, among
whici. Will be seen one OF the greatest
comedy hits of season. "The Whole
Damn Family also one of the most
dramatic pictures plays that has ever
been produced. For a Fathers Honor"
Then there is Hop % my Thumb a
familiar fairy tale. in which every char
acter will be recognized by every one
who has heard the story. There win be
a concert by the Academy Orchestra
during the entire performance
The Washington times., 1905-10-22
Belasco-"Mrs. Temples Telegram.

Week beginning October 80 the attrac-
ton ct the Beiasco Theater win be Mrs.
Temples Telegram" a farce of exceed
ing cleverness. 1t abounds in coYna5,.
situations and clever surprises, each On
leading up to the other until the au.,s-
The Washington times., 1905-10-22

an enemy. Jim Hacker is a curious
composite Of easy good-heartedness,
sentiment. and fierce hate His frequent
illusions to what bill says" (referring
to the mortal bard) are extremely
amusing.
The village ne'er do well, the fat.
slothful husband Of the energetic board
Inghouse keeper; the elderly candidate
for Office; the editor of the county
paper. unssrupulously tail. lean, and
fierce; the smart, scrappy youth of the
grocery store, are other amusing char
acters.~
The cast is the same one which figured
IN the long run at Wallacks and other
American cities. including Maclyn Ar
buckle, Willis p. Sweatman, Grace
Fisher. Cecile Calhoun. Edwin Chap
man. George s. Christie. Charles Fisher,
Fred Book, Thomas Lawrence. George
Ricketts,. w. ]. Gross, j. Sidney Macy,
E. r. Phillips. Guy Tully, Martha Con-
way, and Anna Buckley.
Chase's-Berzac's Circus.
Chase's faces this week with the su-
preme confidence that 1t has arranged a
polite vaudeville program of rare amuse-
ment proportions as one that will bear
comparison more than equally with the
most memorable bills in the history OF
the Chase regime. First among the finest
will be Berzac's circus which Chase
has secured at extraordinary cost only
three weeks since its arrival in this
country. Its merits can best be sum-
med up by quoting from the usually con-
scrvative New York Dramatic Mirror
which stated: 1T IS a pleasure to be
able to record an extraordinary hit In
these days of cut-and-dried vaudeville
Never has such laughter been heard as
was caused by Berzac's circus, which
was seen for the first - in Amer
lea last week" Another impersonation
that made an American debut in the
same bill with Berzacs circus. will be
the great Salerno. the Juggling wonder
of Europe, beside whom, Ii is said Gin
quevalli and Kara are maue to appear
as mere apprentices IN the art illusive
The Gilmore sisters. constituting the
third especial engagement for this bill
will vie with the circus in arousing
laughter. They have been some time
out OF vaudeville, and were starred in
Mrs De Laney. of Newport" The
court artist to the Sultan of Turkey. an
Algerian. by name Abd'el Kader, will
be presented with his three yelled houris
from the Far East. 1t is said ADD ell
Kader does an unparalleled and ex-
traordinary feat of gigantic painting In
tempera colors,- creating perfect and
beautiful color effects with lightning
rapidity. George w. Day. the black
face sobriety disturber, will be another
of the popular offerings Rae and
Brosche will illustrate "A Woman of
Few Words" Kimball and Donovan will
give their fine banjo playing OF operatic
and popular selections. The comic mo-
ton picture subject will be the Sum
mer Boarders Down on the Farm"
The Washington times., 1905-10-22
Academy-"Dangers of WORKING Girls u

In point of novelties. the new melo-
drama. DANCERS OF Working Girls"
which will hold the boards at the Amad-
emy all w-rk. has more than the usual
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-16
Grain, Provision and Cotton Markets
Postal Card Puzzle Again.
From the London Times


correspondent writes that when re-
Gently In Luxembourg and In Belgium he
was informed by the postal officials in
both places that a five-centirne stamp was
sufficient for picture postcard, provided
that there was no written matter other
than the address. Acting upon this advice.
he sent several such cards and has since
learned that upon some OF these cards there
was a surcharge of one penny. while others
were delivered free. In the case Of two
cards posted at Larochette at the same
time and delivered at the same address in
Kensington there a surcharge upon
one and not upon the other. He suggests
that. in view OF the popularity of picture
postcards. of the apparent ignorance OF the
foreign postal officials and of the demon
strated inconsistency Of our own, 1t would
be we'll II the public could be Informed
what are the regulations which should con-
troll their action in this matter. After cor
respondence with the postmaster general
he has been Informed that the postage to
be prepaid on postcard from Luxembourg
for this country is 10 certmes. Each of
the cards which he sent from Larochette
was prepaid centimes only and should,
charged one penny. representing double the
deficient postage. on delivery. Through
mistake one of the cards was delivered free
of charge. If. however. the title Carte
Postale" and Its equivalents had been de-
leted and the word 'Imprme'' substituted,
the cards could have been forwarded for a
postage of centimes each.