Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-16

fought in the courts for nearly year. Gil
lette meanwhile scoring a tremendous sue
cess in the role of the clergyman. At last
a decision was given in Palmer's favor and
Gillette abandoned his own production,
afterward appearing under Palmer's man
agement in the same role.
The production of the comedy at the Be-
lasco this week is of especial interest, be-
cause Gillette was playing an engagement
in this city, at Ford's Theater now the Ma
jestic, when the decided against
him. and many veteran theatergoers re-
member the time when he Cancelled the bal
ance of his engagement here in The Pri-
vate Secretary" The last time the play was
done in Washington was about ten years
ago. when a summer stock company Of
fered the play with the late Charles Coote
in the role of the clergyman, to be played
tomorrow night by Edward Ellis
SCHOOL CHILDREN ATTRACTED
where do they all come from?" was a
question asked at the box Office of the New
National Theater last Wednesday after
noon, as over 100 school children, were seen
to enter the theater just in time to the
curtain go up on the second act And the
same inquisitiveness. that prompted the
question was shared by many of the sum-
mer opera patrons they turned to see
the little ones being seated so late In the
afternoon The ordinary latecomers at
sured a considerable amount of attention
as they move about the playhouse IN
search of the usher but it is doubtful IL
King Edward himself would attract more
attention than do these youngsters as they
run about the theater, school books In
hand. trying to make their way to the
special seats set apart for them.
The answer is simple 1t was known to
the management of the theater that the
children could not possibly take advantage
of the special priced matinee for them
and enjoy all of the various operas with
out missing a certain amount of study at
school. 1t was therefore arranged that re-
served seats be held for the latecomers
until after ; o'clock. and the children have
taken advantage of the lnducement by
going direct from their schoolrooms to the
theater and enjoying as much of the
opera as possible from then until the
final curtain.
! Interest in these matinees for the chill
| dren has gone far beyond the most eX-
travagant expectations of the manage
ment. All of the singers in the Aborn
company have welcomed the children, for
their attention to the singing and acting
rivals that of their older associates.
There is something about the pleased
expression on child's face that compels
your very best work" said Miss Went
worth the other night in her dressing
ROOM | look forward to the school chil-
dren's atinees with just about as much
enjoyment personally as | know the little
| ones have in being able to attend. 1t has
certainly been "A pleasure for all of us to
sing before them. for We know what TINS
musical treat will mean to them In the
years TO come.
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS A
WEAR FOR STAGE DIRECTOR
Granville Barker, who at the tiny Court
| Theater in Sloane Square, Chelsea, England.
! has directed a stage that has become the
! epftome of perfect artistic taste in Eng
| land. is to be drawn away from the scene
! of a series of triumphs, attracted to New
! York by a salary that will place the dra-
matte profession a few notches ahead OF
anything yet to its financial prestige N this
I country.
1t is well known that the incst. rs OF