Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-24


q done eminently successful. The
III Wallis of Jericho" which was shown
for the first time in America at the
New National Theater Monday night,
harks back to the days when TAX
was considered a fine art, when men
took even as much pains In moiolhs
their phrases as the modern disciple OF eie-
gance takes in tying his necktie, Mr.. HACK
EFT was unknown to us until Monday night
40 an exnonent Of the physiological drama.
Hitherto he had presented himself as
hero of physical courage; knight errah'
who rIghted the wrongs of innocence; VINO
asked no reward, but managed somehow TO
get all that was coming to him, just the
same. Mr.. Hackett is now In process Oh
promotion. He has assembled TO more per-
ilous though less spectacular heights OF
heroism. He no longer defies stage Villains
whose plottings have become so ramiliar
that 1t scarcely seems worth while taking
up the time of first magnitude star 10
foil them. In his latest play he undertakes
the subjugation of self-willed woman ana
the task assumes double difficulty when
Mary Mannering, she of the regal eyes ana
magnetic smile, espouses the feminine
cause.
1t is a wordy warfare for two acts, with
much verbal skirmishing by partsans OF
both sides The auditor is almost in doubt
whether Mr. Hackett is to have an oppor-
tunity TO display his old-time heroism
amongst all this sharpshooting of wits
from ambush. But in the third act ne
takes up the weapons of the period IN
which he finds himself and holds the crowd
at bay single-handed and unsecured. Hack
EFT is himself again.
The London audience has a decided ad-
vantage over the American audience IN
viewing THE Walls of Jericho" Much OF
the language which is so lavishly employed
doubtless has a local significance which
appeals TO our cousins who figure in pounds
and shillings instead of dollars and cents
The enormous success of the play In Lon
don might be construed as indicating pop
ular apprehension concerning social condi-
lions. This apprehension does not exist
over here to any serious extent. 1t is nee
essary to interest yourself in the doings or
London town as a distant and distinct So
ciaI center before you will fully appreciate
the play America has its smart set, true
enough-but 1T is not doing any widespread
damage and some of its members occa-
sionally buy literary gold bricks in a man
ner that is refreshingly democratic. It is
not exercising any influence that threatens
popular respect for the simpler virtues.
Newport gets an occasional scolding, but
the deviltry of American smartness is d.
luted and initiative. AS an admonition THE
Walls of Jericho is not particularly needed.
But as q study of conditions abroad it is
likely TO awaken interest. The curiosity to
know how people BEHAVE in the gilded cir
cles will give the picture a pessimistic fas-
cination. but the mood it produces will be
n different from that awakened in the Eng
lish spectator. The Londoner who views It
goes home with a feeling of righteous
wrath and a belief that some step should
be taken; but here we Will merely expert
ence a complacent sense of gratitude that
we are not as other men. 1t is a long time
since an English writer has given US
chance to feel so sweetly superior
X * X
The changefuIness of things is shown in
the crowd that passes the seller of gallery
tickets at a first-cIass theater. The gall
Iery god, that shirt-sleeved Jove who so
often held theatric destinies IN his palm,
like other mighty ones, has vanished in his
turn. Where he has gone there is no tell
Ing. His days were the stalwart days of
tragedy He has forsaken his old haunts,
and should he return he would find him
self unwelcome and estranged. The patron
age of theater is no longer divided within
Itself on lines of social distinction. The
audience of a first-class theater is now
first class all the way up to the roof
Young women frequently stand In line
waiting for the gallery ticket seller to ap-
pear, and the floors aloft, which have
cracked with peanut shells, are now strewn
with the paraffne paper in which one time
reposed the caramel There is a multitude
of theater patrons now who, rather than
see a frst-class performance from one of
the less expensive seats. prefer to attend
house where an orchestra chair may be Sc
cured at slight cost. Taste may suffer, but
pride Is satisfied. The establishment of the
Beiasco Theater in the place of the Lafay-
cite will mean no less than three frst-class
1heaters in this city, while the popular
price patronage will be concentrated in the
two already highly prosperous houses that
maintain low tariff. Unless the lines
now so sharply drawn can be demolished
and the amusement seekers who have been
accustomed TO enjoy first-hoor accommo-
dations at slight cost can be wooed by the
temptings of higher art to accept less pre-
ferred places at the same figure, it is diff
cult to see how there will be enough audi
tors to go around. 1t may lead to a con-
siderable readjustment of playhouse condi
tons; bat, whatever comes. 1t Is unlikely
hat the gallery god will ever again return
to his own. Some day the theatric chron-
icler may even doubt whether he existed.
He Will be numbered among the myths.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.