The Washington herald., 1907-08-25
OPERA SEASON ENDS
Stirring Scenes at Local The
aters Last Night.
PERFORMERS GET OvATIONS
Miss Charlotte walker at BeIRsc0
Overwhelmed with BOuquets-She
Makes speech Thanking Patrons.
Enthusiasm Runs Riot at New Na-
tiOnaI at the Last Performance.

Two OF Washingtons first-class thea
tiers. the New National and the Belasco.
closed their doors last night 10 prepare
for the regular season. which opens in
about three weeks And with the closing
Of these two theaters ends the most sue
cessful season of summer stock in opera
and drama, that Washington has ever
known.
That both the Aborn Opera Company,
at the New National. and the stock COM
pany, at the Belasco. headed by Charlotte
Walker, were prime favorites with the
theater-going public of Washington was
shown by the demonstrations at the two
closing performances at each theater
yesterday. The houses were packed with
enthusiasts: floral tributes in great abund-
snce were sent TO the favorite players,
fine performances We're given, and there
was general regret expressed over the
departure OF the actors
Gets Loads of bouquets.
If Miss Charlotte Walker had any lin
gering doubts as to the hosts of friends
she has made IN Washington. those
doubts must have been forever dlssi-
pated yesterday. The two performances
at the Belasco Theater were record break
ers in point OF attendance. and during
these two, the closing performances Miss
Walker received enough bouquets to stock
June bride Of Pittsburg millionaire
A great many of them were from women,
and one, a large bouquet of white roses.
was the gift OF a bevy OF young girls
who have been constant patrons Of the
Charlotte Walker matinees.
There was nothing cut-dnd-dried about
the farewell at the matinee Word had
been given out that Miss Walker would
hold reception on the stage after the
performance, but no one quite seemed 10
know what 20 do. At the end Of the
play there WAS tumultuous and long-con-
tinued applause, 20 which the curtain was
raised a dozen times at least. and then
the people got weary of applaudIHS and
started to leave the theater. The place
was nearly empty when the curtain rose
once more. and there sat Miss Walker in
a big armchair and looking really a little
pathetic in her loneliness.
Asks Friends 10 Come.
1t was with a queer little note in her
voice that she said: 4 should ike ali
my friends to come up here and meet
me-"
The one invitation was enough. The
audience had been waiting outside the
theater. It focked back at once. and
soon a long line was formed. mostly of
girls, who went up on the stage shook
hands with the star. and received her
heartfelt thanks for al their kindnesses>
Several hundred people went up to shake
Miss Walkers hand. and for each she
had some kind and gracious word
At the night performances. the theater
was literally packed: every seat and all
the boxes were taken. Every time the
curtain dropped az the end Of an act,
there were curtain-calls galore. and each
time huge bouquets were passed over the
tootights. The play went very we'll. al
belt each member of the company. feel
ing that this was the farewell perform
ance, took liberties with his lines, but
this only added 10 the general sort Of
jubilee feeling
bIr. Hudson had a scene with Miss
Walker in the last act in which he has
TO beg her not to go. and last night.
taking her hand, he turned TO the audi
enee:
1--WE don't want her 10 60, do WEI" at
which happy Interpolation there was loud
applause.
All Generously AppIauded.
When the play ended, the applause
lasted for several minutes. Then the
curtain rose. and one by one the players
walked across the stage and bowed their
farewells. Each was generously APP
plauded. Miss Walker came last. bowling
and smiling but at the heartiness and
the real feeling Of regret manifested by
the audience she was deeply moved. and
tears stood in her eyes.
Timidly she came toward the foot
lights:
I have never made a speech in nv
life" she said. I'm sure 7 shall break /
down. I cannot go, though" she con-
tinued without expressing my deepest !
thanks 10 ali Of you for your great
kindness and generosity 10 me. / thank
the men much; but my best thanks are
TO the women and the children who have (
supported me so nobly al the matinees
during this long and trying season. Be |
heve me, dear friends, / am grateful.
very grateful. for your appreciation. |
When I first came here, dear friends.
you remember, two years ago, I had only /
been under one manager then, and it was /
said that / could not act without his |
guidance. But 1 came here before YOU
and the play was Mrs. Danes Defense
it had not been long since I had been |
taken out Of the chorus; that was nv /
first role; and yOu-you-dear friends. |
stood for it. Nv, do you think I should |
ever have dared to play 'Zaza' in any
place but Washington? I shall never be |
sufficiently grateful.
Is Cheered Up Here.
And then I went TO New York and suf-
fered failure after failure. until 1 was
nearly broken-hearted. but there was one
thing cheered me up through all that time |
Of trial. and that was the thoughts of YOU /
here In Washington, and how you had
stood by me. And now I go back 10 New
York. TO try a new ard q larger venture /
in my profession, and I take with me
dear friends, the courage you have given
NE by your fine encouragement and sun
port, and knowing that l shall always /
bear the memory of it in my heart, I go /
away thanking you and blessing you.
Good-by."
1t was very pathetiCally delivered. and !
it was moving to listen TO. Amid a tu-
mutt OF applause the curtain dropped: the
season at the Belasco was ended and
Miss Charlotte Walker took the midnight
train for New York
Similar scenes at National.
The closing performance Of the Aborn /
Opera Con1nanv az +be N-a.fo,,, MI.