The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-10-26
HOW OMAHA TOOK WHITESIDE
Actor Who Pleased Norfolk Last Week,
Made a Hit in Metropolis.


How Omaha received Walker White
side is of interest in Norfolk just now
because of the play of that actor here
last week. The following extraordi-
nary tribute is paid to the actor in
yesterdays World-Herald:
Boys" said the Real Estate man,
as he pushed back his chair and re-
garded his two companions critically,
this week has been pretty fine doin's
at Boyds. Anyway, the first two
shows were good. You geniuses may
think a whole lot of Walker White
side in his new piece, but | pass him
up like snake Me for Willie Collier
and THE Free Lance" That's my
size, so now get busy and jump on
me-"
The jumping was slow in coming,
for both the Artist and the Actor were
busily engaged in delving into the hid
den mysteries of lobster, which, as
everyone knows, demands deep and
conscientious study. Finally the Act
or mumbled over a huge chunk of
claw:
Jaw, shut up, will you. You're moth
ing but a big laugh and so that's all
you like. Whiteside made me cry
and there weren't three dozen people
in the house. l call that acting
against such odds"
Huh! That show was enough to
make anybody cry. l don't care a
whoop if there wasn't blame soul in
the house" This remark from the
eccentric Real Estate man demanded
immediate attention, and as he con-
TIMED the other two dropped the
claws, feelers and other remains Of
the lobster on their plates and cooked
an eager ear toward the vender of lots
and subdivisions.
you call that great show. You
call Whiteside a great actor. Well,
he's a clever enough chap, but what
crazy ass wrote that thing he came
here in beats me. Look at the drivel-
ing idiot-Helmar, the leading charac-
ter-the part Whiteside played. A
little sawed.off fool who claimed he
didn't care for money little bit-all
he wanted was recognition and SINH
lar hot air He ought to get 1t. An
other thing about him that made me
sore-the impudent way he bawled
out Rawker, the only man in the whole
bloomin' play that ever made any
money. That's the way with these
artists and musicians. No respect for
fellows who have the brains to make
more money than they do. Just soft
soap along and pretend that their
hearts are in their fiddles. That don't
90 with me. That kind Of talk is just
a four-flush to get some newspaper TO
write up a big article on the 'eccen-
tricity of the genius of Hans De So
and-So.' | call it rot. or course
Whiteside's all right-but what's the
use-with a blame fool play like that"
"Of course the play wasn't very
strong in the first and third acts,' In
terposed the Actor, "but In the second
it was magnificent. Not so much In
the construction, but in the vivid Gil
makes. AS for Whiteside's work IN
those climaxes-it was certainly one
of the best evenings acting ever saw,
7 wouldn't try to criticise the theme
the playwright introduced to make
his play. If he wishes to create strl1e
between the musician and the mon
eyed man that is his privilege l
don't pretend to know anything about
the temperament of genius, and don't
think you do, either, old Real Estater'
The Artist Joined in at this point
with a rush, carrying all before him'
"For once you are right, Actor. NO
one knows anything about genius-not
even the genius himself. Helmar, as
Whiteside played him, was real ge'
nius. and was not aware of that quail
itv anv more than a selfish man would
realize that he is not generous. No
one understands a musician of gen
nine temperament, That Is one rea'
son why probably most people VIII not
understand the real force of The Mag
10 Melody This business man mere
evmnathizes with the Monarch OF Mon
ev Jordan Rawker, who has piled up
hiIIions and practically rules the coun'
trv. He cannot understand how a
weakling musician like Helmar can
feel himself more powerful, more use
ful greater than the successful man
Of wall street. There is the trouble
with the play. 1t will appeal but 10
Il. onnraoiota art and an art