The Washington times., 1906-12-16
Another Wall From a Victim
Of LU-Mannered' Theatergoers

| H. MacDonald, held Tuesday afternoon
at the Broadway. II was a truly remark
able tribute TO the widespread popularity
| OF the old BOstonlans. and IA singular
| proof of the affection with which their
| old leader has been regarded both by
the profession and the public.
The curtain went up at / o'clock, and
/ Victor Herbert's orchestra opened the
program with a fangasie from The
/ Serenade." Half an hour later the i'm
| nense theater was packed solid, and
standing room was at a premium.
Twenty numbers were given in all
including scene from About Town, ."
the hrst act OF The Great Divide. 20
Eleanor Robson In "A Tenement Trae-
cay the second act OF The Chorus
Lady, and the supper scene from
clarice' The hit OF Shs afternoon was
Hattie Williams in u selection from
The Little Cherub.' which. according
10 the words of the truthful program,
vas ''interefered with" by a dozen
prominent male stars. who did their
comieal best to impersonate chorus girls.
Henry Clay Barnabee himself feeble
and almost overcome with emotion.
finally appeared in the famous .Tinker's
Song and chorus from Robin Hood.
The applause on his entrance was dear
ening and prolonged. During the iirst
verse he was supported by a regular
singing chorus, which later gave way
10 a chorus of fifteen noted comedians
After the song he read a short speech.
expressing the gratitude Of Mrs Mac
Donald and himself, which conclusion
10 The program was unaffectedly touch
Ing. When he finally retired from the
stage probably never TO reappear, the
applause was even more enthusiasts
than on his first entrance.
During the performance RAYMOND
Hitchcock auctioned a program bear
ing the autographs Of all the performers
Tor the tidy sum Of 500. paid by George
KessleT.
II II has been a somewhat dull vreeJ,
In the dramatic line there has been no
guinness in grand opera. Both Conried
and Hammerstein have been husy s,I
"hlle no new opera has been presented
at either house. new singers have r.ae
Hood and Old favorites have gained new
laurels.
A The Metropolitan the week openea
win La Damnation de Faust" an
wednesday Lucia de Lamme-mour.,
was the bill; on Friday. Romeo ana
Juhettei at Saturdays natipe.
fedora,' and in the evening Tam
haeuser. At the Manhattan. Nonda,-
HIsoIettoi" Wednesday, Don t;io,e1-
M FRIDAY, Carmen" SATURDAY hon
GIOVANNI at the matinee and "Cs,-
men IN the evening. Between the -.
mere was certainly enough 10 sstisf,,
the most eNacting operagoers. tbo,,-,
there was no novelty presented at eitbeT,
mousse The most notable perforr,s,,..
or the week was from an accounts m,
Don Giovanni OF Wednesday n,gbt .,
lhe Manhattan. The critics seem 10 81
thAt In that performance Hamroer-totr,
mas distinctly JUSTIFIED himself ana b,e
undertaking. "''N HIS
IN tact' Oscar Hammerstein is omit.
the most talked Of man on Broas,,,a,-
yuS' now. Ills grand opera venfure
eel'Is 70 De making good, in spite of an
d apPaIehI reluctance to admit the possf
unity that a new enterprise, however
aS' ana however well conducted can
PosSloiy cut any considerable figure
against the old-established MetropoIitan
opera House institution. 1t Is upda-
hlaDIy the fact that Mr.. Hammersraip
- presenting his operas upon a scale
oL magnitude and munificence consider
aDiy beyond the COnried limitations and
Il - none the less certain that the Deo-
pie VINO patronIze opera because tbav
love music are rapidly falling into line
as the most earnest and ardent s,1n-
porters or the new enterprise. The ticket
spectators who used TO have a ready,
sale or seats in the METROPOLITAN ar
largely advanced prices upon all occa-
slons complain OF having been stuck
nearly every night since the Hammer
stein opposition put in an appearance
and this situation, Of course. is sufa-
,lenuy significant to speak for itself
MI Hammerstein has not experced n
make a great profit upon his first season
II grand opera. Indeed. IL is known
nat before he threw open to the pubIic
he portals OF his superb temple of mn
SIC. he laid aside in cash the sum of
100000 10 be drawn upon for any deficit
hat might make its appearance. The
'hances now seem TO be. however. that
he HammeTstein sinking fund will
how no appreciable dent at the end of
he season, and that the record OF the
winter at the Manhattan Opera House
viii be such as 10 insure a large and
'aying subscription for next year.
'iaLllAi4SI stem no" mas q steamship
'oker room yarn TO match against Con-
led's monkey house According TO the
atest yarn. Amedeo Bassi, one of the
'nly Oscars tenOrs, fell into the hands
II pair OF American card sharpers
While on the way from Colon 10 New
FORK. and lost pretty much everything
'ut his voice between Watling's Island
nd the Scotland IIghtship. Bassi still
ccording TO tho story has castles aDd
hings in Italy. and will recover. It IS
oW Mr.. Conried's press agents move.
Several Of the seasons successes are
'egtnning their last week. John Drew
nds his New York run in Pinero's His
House In Order next Saturday-not be-
ause Of any falling OF in popular in