Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-10

What Mr.. AIDE wanted with farm was,
until last week a mystery. He is no farm
err glance at him is enough to show
that he could not play checkers or chew
straw or say gosh darn at a pillow horse
with any natural grace whatever. This
ideal picture of Mr.. AIDE sitting now
ing machine and evolving sage comments
on the foibles of social ambition is nom
sense If he were a real farmer he would
never be bothering over a show away out
east right in the middle of haytng time.
The people who inhabit rural community
represent the merchandise that he brings
TO market. and the chances are that
man who looks quaint and talks curiously
can get work on the AIDE plantation, re-
CARELESS of his record as a farm hand. He
doesn't put his index finger upon his brow
and conceive characters as authors are
proverbially supposed to do. He raises
them on the farm and goes out and picks
them as they are needed.
strange fate befell THE Mayor of To-
kio." As a musical comedy production II
ranks high. Irreproachable as to scenery
and costuming and Astounding in the femin-
Inc graces, II was disregarded by playgoers.
1t is true that the season Is still young,
the opening of d legitimate theater before
September has passed is always a doubtful
experiment, but 1.-THE Mayor OF Toxic Of
fered so many things that ought by all
the rules OF musical comedy to present an
Irresistible appeal to the devotees of that
style of entertainment that 1t should have
found something better than utter neglect.
The ''knell of musical comedy" has been
rung so often that II has come to be re-
garded as a perennial false alarm. The
lack OF interest in The Mayor OF Toxic"
may bring it forth once more, but 1t is
probably the weather and not any revul-
sion OF popular taste that is accountable for
the relaxation of enthusiasm.
AS matter of fact musical shows have
never stood higher in managerial confidence
than at the present time. The chorus lady
is still supreme. The demand for comely
young women for musical productions of
the higher class has been so great that
managers of burlesque attractions have
been at their wits ends to secure choruses
One burlesque show that recently opened its
season In Washington went TO Annapolis
TO hold it's rehearsals TO prevent rival man
ayers from enticing away It's members. The
quest of show-girl talent is such that the
department stores and other establishments
employing women in New York have been
invaded by polite strangers who open the
conversation by saying, How much Is this
a yard?' and Immediately follow this ques-
ton with the wholly irrelevant query. Can
you sing?" Color IL lent to these reports
by the number OF raw recruits plainly no.
ticeable In almost every burlesque show
that visits the city. And. curious meeting
OF extremes. a similar dearth, though not
so great. Is complained of by managers en-
gaging companies for Shakespearean per-
formances. Time was when experienced
Shakespearean players out of engagements
were plentiful even unto pathos. But the
lively interest recently developed in the
legitimate drama has put them in demand,
and the allurements of other fields of work
In the past have thinned their ranks until
the supply can look the demand squarely
In the face without hinchIng.
Personal beautJ has played important
part In many stage successes that It was
interesting this week TO observe two ac-
tresses who made ungainlness their chief
appeal The two "homely girls" of tho
week were Miss Emma Janvier, the gaunt
comedienne of THE Mayor of Toxic. and
Miss Carolyn Lee. who impersonated the
hired help in The Bad Samaritan" All