Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03

not seemed 10 aIIecl Ine a. N''~
theaters very materially. At the Belaseo
the Adventures OF Lady Ursula" has been
played to fairly good business and pleased
quite a goodly number of people. That
sterling old comedy still Waters Run
Deep" was done in good style by the
Columbia Stock Company to its usual clleh-
tele and words of praise were heard TOT
Mr. Guy Standing and his associates. An
innovation OF opera by the Wilson-Greene
company was gwen at the National Inca
ter, and the productions were generally
pleasing and well applauded. As the most
of the people were amateurs the large at
tendance at the performances and the en-
phatie applause were tributes to the excel
lent work of those who participated
The career OF John Mason, one OF the
ideal stage lovers OF this country. who will
have the leading role in the production OF
1.-THE Liars" at the Columbia during the
coming week. has been filled with interest
from the very moment that he contradicted
all the indications Of family heredital iafiu-
ences by casting his fortunes with those Of
the footlights His family was one of the
best that had figured in the development OF
the state Of Massachusetts, and none of
his ancestors or relatives had anything 10
do with the stage. His grandfather, DIT.
Lowell Mason, was prominently ldentlhed
with church movements and was the or
ganizer OF many Of the early church choirs
in the United States, from which fact he
became known as the father of American
church music" DR.. Lowell Mason COM
posed the tune TO which Nearer, My God,
to Thee" is now sung by millions of people
all around the world. mis- was one of the
favorite hymns OF President Mckinley, and
lie vrr,v1 hta n #p6
NJ Buffalo. The hymn was written by an
English Unitarian, Sarah Flower Adams
about 1910. Its original music was written
nv her elder sister For long time many
churches would not use the hymn because
II was written by a Unitarian. and 1t was
mot until after il was set to the music to
which II is now sung that the hymn gained
It's worldwide vogue. Four Of Johl
Mason's uncles-sons of DR.. Lowell Mason
were possessed OF great musical taien /
Three Of them established the Mason q
Hamlin organ. and the fourth, Dr. william
Mason. who is yet living IN New York was
a famous music teacher and was once the
favorite pupil Of the great List
Mason had appeared in an amateur pro
auction Of WukIe Collins Man and Wife
vrhi-b had been given at Days old Fifth
Avenue Theater for the benefit OF the CUBAN
sufferers. He met young woman VINO
asked whether he would ike 20 appear III
a professional performance. Mason thought
the matter over and decided that he would
try his luck with the stage. Inc pay
failed and Mason received only 50 for his
weeks work He had pluck and determlna-
ton and decided To look around Cor another
opportunity. IL came from Philadelphia IN
the form of = chance to become utllty
man" I'm the stock company OF the ola wal
nur Street Theater. He spent the entire
season there in various capacities. ana
during this. his first season on the
stage he met Lawrence Barrett who
came to the Walnut as star, to
be supported by the WaInut's permanent
stock company Otis Skinner, who was in
the Walnut company, was TO have played
the part OF Francois to Barrett hlcheileu'
but was picked OFT by Booth Tor another
production. and Barrett, who formed a llk-
ing for Mason asked him to be the Fran
co.'s of the production at the Walnut Ma
son gained much experience and grew rap
idly under the influence brought TO the
stock company at the Walnut by such stars
as Mary Anderson, Barrett, Frank G. Bangs
John Mccullough, Lolita, Ellie Ellsler and
Nine Janauschek. and Barrett thought the
young actor would prove a valuable acqui-
siuon for the famous old Boston Museum
Stock Company.
Barrett had been very prominently asso-
ciated with that theater. and a letter from
him to Its owner. r. NJ. Field, was given TO
Mason and In 1889 Mason joined the most
famous Of all Boston stock organizations In
one Of the most noted theaters in the entire
country. entering upon period of training
which stood him well for his future engage
ments with present-day stars. lie served
five consecutive years at the Boston, I'm
close contact and association with such
players as William Warren. the last of the
Old-school stock comedians; Annie Clark
and Charles Barron among others. In 1854
Mr.. Mason went to New York to join the
Union Square Theater OF a. Nj. Palmer,
which included at that time J. II. Stoddart,
John Parsell Sarah Jewett and Cazauran.
He remained there an entire season ana
was with the company at the time 1t went
out OF existence.
The next year saw Mr. Mason back in
Boston at the Museum and there he re-
mained until 1850, when he went to London,
but not continuously. for he left the Mu-
scum one season to make tour with Nat
Goodwin In Turned Up" In London he
made great impression at the st. James
Theater where he was engaged by George
Alexander TO appear in the original pro-
duction Of THE Idler" He was the only
American in the company and played the
only American part in the play, which ran
more than 100 nights.
The following season he was back I'm the
United States, and created the part OF Drake
in the original production OF The Chris
tan" in this country nine years ago From
The Christian" cast he went again inlo the
I.yceum Theater Company, playing with
Mary Mannering in ''Trelawney of the
Wells" Wheels Within Wheels. The Am
bassador'' and The Interrupted Honey
moon" and with linda Spong In the origi-
nal production, OF Lady Huntworth's Ex-
pertinent"
Then, after n starring tour in The Altar
OF Friendship" he appeared with Elsie de
Wolfe TN her production of THE Way OF
the World" and this brought him down TO
the original production of Mice and Men.
in which Annie Russell starred, opening her
season In this city. He played as her lead
ing man IN this play nearly two seasons
and since leaving her has been under con-
tract with Mrs Fiske her leading man.
creating the parts Of Ebert Lovberg In
'iedGa Gabler' and the elegant Paul Syl-
vain IN Leah Kleschna," which she pro-
duced with striking success Mr.. Mason is
stu. under engagement with Mrs. Fiske and
Is only permitted to come to Washington
under a special arrangement entered into
by Messrs. Luckett and Standing managers
OF the Columbia company.
MT Priestly Morrison, stage director for
the Odptte Tyler ComDany ts an axcsflan,