Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-05

lishment at that time, a tavern, drove the
ond Charles farther west.
The successful actors and actresses OF
the time then moved into the vacated
houses OF the great. and here Nell Gwynne.
Sweet Nell of Old Drury," and Nance
Bracegirdie lived for a number of wears
But the neighborhood then began to assume
the character of disrepute and disorder
that has since disgraced It. and by the time
OF Queen Anne's reign 1t was thoroughly
foul and disreputable. 1t became crowded
with taverns. where RECALLED the drabs and
bloods of Drury Lane" and Jack Sheppard.
living In Wych street. hard by had made
1t one of his favorite haunts. The Old
Harp. which is now about to be sacrificed
to the new Strand thor0ughfare. had bet
ter reputation. and most OF the great ac-
tors have slipped rum punch in a coy little
bar whore kean, one night In temper.
flung a pewter pot at the head of a friend
who was overcoming him in a heated argu-
ment.
If money is made apace in the theatrical
world 1t also goes apace. The Shubert
brothers. the lessees of the Waldorf have
in ten years become the owners of as many
theaters. Poor Sam Shubert, who persisted
with tragic suddenness last week in the
train fire in America, leaped in year or
two from poverty and obscurity to riches
But there Is the reverse side of the shield.
For late West End season f20.OO0 was set
by the hacker" an American plutoc, at. as
limit to any loss of the season. The
A peep at the Waldorf reveals charm
ing addition to the long and still growing
list OF Londons play houses. The theater
which looks out upon the Gaiety on the
western spur of Aldwych, the new crescent
which will carry the new Holborn thorough
fare into the Strand. and commands an ex-
cellent sight of the Strand, Is planned on
imposing exterior lines. Fairly large and
roomy as the auditorium is, holding $50
persons. the architect has secured a draw
effect, with Louis XIV deco
rations. in light tones and the ever favorite
rose Du Barri drapings. and here and there
a shining mirror and slight coored mar
Bile column. The architect has reverted to
house of three-tier design, but without
any sacrifice of the comely proportions
which two tiers give to an auditorium of
comfortable size such as the Waldorf may
be said to be. A great opera house the Wal
dorf is not 1t suggests rather a delight
full comedy theater. Opera at moderate
prices will alternate night by night with
standard drama in italian by Duse for the
opening week of this American enterprise.
which starts on Monday with decidedly cos
mopolitan fare.
Art Treasure Brought Vast Sum.
For days it has been certain that the very
fine prunus-pattern vase and cover in the
splendid collection of oriental porcelain be-
longing to the late Mr.. Louis HUH would
fetch a big sum. but none was prepared for
pronounced yesterday in a sale room packed
with an expectant crowd of connoisseurs,
dealers and onlookers for mere curiosity's
sake. The oviform prunus, or hawthorn
pattern, vase and cover which caused all
the sensation is by general consent of quite
remarkable quality, and throughout the
marbled blue ground is of the accent"
that connoisseurs will give almost anything
to procure No end of collectors have dur
ing the last few days carefully examined it.
The ginger jar, which is ten and half
inches high, and was originally bought in
secondhand shop for twelve shillngs was
put in at $500. from that Immediately
doubled, and by stages of c1OO or so was
raised to 92,000 At about this stage it be-
came evident that there was to be a de-
termined duel between two big London
dealers, Messrs. Duveen and Messrs. Part
ridge, neither of whom is easily daunted
when a thing of undoubted quality and
rarity comes up. Mr.. Partridge in the end
secured it at $500. This is more than four
times as much as has ever before been paid
for a vase and cover of the kind. 1t is
record not only for an old Nankin vase, but
for a vase of any kind.
Mr.. Andrew Carnegie is now a card
maker as well as card player The wor-
shipfuI Company of Makers of Playing
Cards yesterday conferred its honorary
freedom upon the American millionaire
The certificate of freedom was inclosed in
a carved oak casket, containing. in addi-
ton several packs of cards specially de-
signed under the guilds auspices. The
cardmakers are among the poorest of the
city guilds, their annual income being less
than G100 They We're Incorporated by
Charles l. but have long ceased to control
the making of playing cards. In their arms
the of hearts, diamonds spades and
clubs are displayed in the four quarters
and the crest is an extended hand playing
what is the guilds trump card-the ace of
hearts. Having no hall of their own, the
card makers conferred their freedom upon
Mr.. Carnegie in the beautiful hall of the
SINNERS Company l.. H. MOORE.