Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-04


quitting the Peoples Temple he devoted
| himself to the lecture platform. Mr.. Dixon
| believed that his earlier work In the law,
the ministry and on the lecture platform
were all in the nature of preparation TO
produce something worth while in lltera-
ture. The first of his novels. THE Loop
ards Spots" came out In March, 1902. II
attained immediate popularity, 1ooO0o
copies being sold the first twelve months.
The novelist followed this success with an
other. The One Woman" in which he lett
his Carolina stamping ground for por-
trayal of socialism as deadly force, de-
eclipse of faith. His third novel, THE
Clansman," published January J. 1905, re-
verted to the southern theme, taking up the
reconstruction period. Encouraged by the
extraordinary success of these southern
books. Mr.. Dixon got vigorously to work as
a dramatist. and early last summer hao
ready the manuscript of play based on
the two novels referred to ana emitted
the management of George II. Brennan at
Norfolk. Va, on September ~ last. Two
companies are now playing II, one In the
east and one in the west
A SERIOUS MOMENT.-There Is one in
cident in the production of "The Rollicking
Girl" that is really serious. This dramatic
moment Is when uona, the runaway girl
uIattie Willams), and Fanchette esther
TittelD, the leading lady, who uona has
supplanted at the Royal Theater, cross
swords In dead combat. Both Miss Will
liams and Miss Tittell are experts with the
swords, and although the author OF THE
Rollicking Girl DEGREES that Iona must
be wounded, there have been several oc-
casons when Miss Tittell has been pinked
by Miss Williams. Between them has been
ever since the beginning OF the season q
friendly rivalry and every night Sam Ber-
nard and others of the company gather IN
the wings to watch the duel. Every touch
is recorded by Bernard, who has promised
a handsome pair of foils to the one who
scores high at the end of the season The
tips OF the foils are guarded with buttons,
which are carefully chalked so that the
record may be copied after each duel scene.
According to the count Miss Williams has
been killed six times. and seriously wound
ed twice while Miss Tittell has suffered an
equal share OF mortality and been no less
fortunate in narrow escapes.
FRITZ WILLIAMS MOST KISSED OF
COMEDIANS One of the several episodes
which appealed strongly to the feminine
portion of the audiences at the Manhattan
Theater, New York, during the long run of
Before and After" Leo Ditrichsteln's
famous laughter play, which will be seen
at the Belasco Theater tomorrow night,
was the evident sincerity of the kisses be-
slowed by Fritz Williams In the character
OF DIR. Page upon Katharine Florence, who
appears as the wife of the eccentric physi-
clan. Instead of the perfunctory 'tpeck''
common to the stage delineation of this
most common caress there is no doubt of
Mr. williams and Miss Elorence's oscula-
tory demon STATIONS. Their kisses are given
and received with a seriousness that adds
much to the realism of their performance
| and occasions pleasure TO sentimental spec
| tators of sentiment.
To quote the gallery comment, 1T is on
| the level" this exchange of tender lip sery-
/ ice, for Miss Florence is the wife of Mr.,
| williams off the stage as well as on, and
J their loVerlike attitude has been a mat
| ter of complimentary discussion among fell
| low players ever since their marriage ten
| years ago.
AS actual kissing frequently disturbs the
| necessary makeup 1t was suggested to
Miss Florence. or Mrs. Williams. you
will, that in her scenes with her real and
mimic husband she should resort to the
usual little tricks of histrionic artifice, but
this she refused TO consider.
"He is my husband and my sweetheart -
| protested the dear,and most loyal woman
| land | will have no make believe kisses
| from him like to kiss him, and / don't
| care who knows it,
And Just TO emphasize her determination
| TO do as she pleased in regard to exhibit
ing her love for the clever comedian she
asked that Mr.. Ditriehstein incorporate in
| to the parts played by her and Mr. VIII
| lotted them.
! Thus it may be said that Fritz is the most
kissed man now on the local stage.
| NINE. SEMBRICH'S CAREER.-ATarcella
| Sernbrich is the daughter of poor Polish
| musician, Casimir Kokhansky. and was
! born at wisnowczyk. Galicia. Her father