davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19

at the New National. This viii be Mr.
FrOthingham's last appearance on any
stage, and a splendid ovation is being
planned for him BY his many Local adj
mirers and friends.
There IS an unusual amount OF home
talent in the companies that are playing
here this. summer. In the Columbia
Theater Company Wilton Lackaye,
Dorothy HANBACK,. Guy COMBS, and
Percy Leach; in the Aborn Opera Com
pany, Huntington DIETER known 70 his
friends as -Heber'O May and Estelle
Wentworth, and In the Edwin Arden
Company, Catherine Loughran, all be
long here. though they have all made
good IN other cities and on the road.
% The flashlight photograph Of the audi
ence taken at the BeIasco last night,
and TO be given as a souvenir 10 those
who witnessed the first performance of
Edwin Arden's Company. are really
wonderfully good. Persons sitting away
back under the balcony are quite recog-
nizable- 1t is 70 be hoped that there
was no one there with a guilty con-
science-Or the wrong girl-for II there
was his sin is in fair way OF find
ing him out.
Albert Parr, one Of he leading ten
ors engaged for the summer opera sea-
son at the New National. is a son Of
Emil Parr, conductor of the famous
Pittsburg Orchestra. which for many
years was conducted by Victor Her
bert.
Autographed pictures of thu various
singers 10 be heard with TIE Aborn
Opera Company at the New National
this summer viii be given away from
week to week TO holders Of the season
seats George II. Frothingham'S pic
ture viii presumably be the first of the
series, as Mr. rockingham will in an
probability leave after the first week OF
Robin Hood"
Nat Goodwin is at It again. He can't
keep HIS hands OF Shakespeare. The
report comes up from Texas that he Is
paying Shylock on his tour through
the State II that is not bad enough.
EDNA Goodrich IS playing Portia 10
one can blame Texas for legislatfne
against the syndicate.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19
NzISL7c
Little Doing Electrically in Nequ
York, So Broadway Is Training
It's Telescope on London-Mme.
Oda's "LMk EyoH' Fiasco.
$4,000 Profits of Actors
Fund Fair.

Ew YORK year when ambitious ANA.
tours under the wing OF the
hearing One hearing enough And the anna
having done her damnedestit usually gender
life
alleged society trying seems to be
unwOntedy small Probably winters successes
still hold the boards The week has Nine
0da Danish Monday gave performance in
English Eyof" Carnegie Lyceu was the scene Of
the rather disastrous applicability adjective
be judged from the appear at matt
of house The
tina Oda
notices Little Eyof' performance.
The SPooner stock tremendously popular Brook
yn
They opened there Monday really seem to have
scored Edna May Spoone who OF company IS
likely good patrons Of the house and b
entirely adequate.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19

ABOUT IL II is TO be presumed. however.
that the British pubic will shortly real
re that, although an American actress
Julia AIarloWe is CT English birth. and
Sothern, while born on this side the
milipond. is of English family, so that
they could not have maliciouslv and
Wantonly travested a sacredIy Ioval and
sentimental British tradition. AFTER all
Mr. Majors Henry, while It may not De
remarkable as a bit OF historic Dor
trfiture. isn't half as bad as it might
be Nobody meant 10 trample Oh Brit
ish toes, certainly. and as for history
vel, history may be a bit groggy. but
it's still in the ring.
) Much interest has been srousaz -
the methods adopted by the two stars
IN their endeavor TO get first hand i'm
pressions OF the characteristics and pre-
affections Of London audiences During
the week or two that they were here be-
Iore their opening they went around in
cognito from theater to theater every
night since their arrival from New .Yorl,
in order 10 study the metropolitan plav-
gOers. They did This thoroughly. too.
for example, they viewed The Scarlet
Pimpernel' from the gallery. The Red
Lamp from the pit, Votes for Women
from the dress circle. and so on. They
say that they have been immensely edi-
fed throughout. and that they found the
study OF the London playgoers who oc-
cupy seats in the upper part Of the
house particularly profitable.
'Brewster's Millions" is being PLAYED
at the Duke of York's, over there. but by
en- English company with Gerald De
Maurier at its head. The critics were a
unit in condemning it. but the people
seem to like it.
''StrOngileart with Edeson and an
American company. which includes Ed
mund Breeze and Richard Bennett, late
Of THE Lion and the Mouse. and The
Hypocrites." respectively. opened last
Monday night. and appears 10 have puz-
zled the critics considerably, but Il
pleased the audience. which. is after all,
the mai issue.
The Red Men. or the Last OF His
Race which New York wouldn't swaI-
low, is TO be tried on London within a
week; and The Road to Yesterday is
70 succeed the Sothern-AIarIovve Com
pany at the Waldorf there. Marguerite
Clarke. who has been De Wolf Hopper's
teaolng lauy, IS TO head the cOnpanv
that goes over for it. And in the fan
the Shuberts have announced their in
tention Of sending Eddie Foy and an
American company in The Orchid" II
viii be Eddie's first invasion OF Lon
don, and it VIII be the first time that
an American version OF sn English sue
cess has been taken TO England The
Orchid" was originally an English pro
Guction, but has been Americanized. In
its English form it ran for about 600
nights in London.
4 he experiment will be interesting.
What viii the harvest be2
Joe Coyne, by the way. who is free
with the close Of Nelly Mel. has made
all sorts of a hit and It Is rumored IS
about TO sign with George Edwar5es.
who wants him for the comedian part IN
The Gay Widow" which he is getting
ready to put on at Days. Should Covno
do so, and follow up his success at the
Aldwych his fate will be sealed. Ne
viii be a fixture over there before he
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19

r I'll + recently AMBASSADOR
Bryce has said in effect
that we have no play
wrigHns, and Harrison Grey Fiske
has said we have no players and no
critics. Both of these men speak
as those having authority, and are
entitled to a respectful hearing. But
if what they say is true, then, in
deed, is the theater come upon evil
days. Perhaps on the whole it will
be as well to set forth just what
they did say.
On this particular subject Mr..
Bryce is quoted as saying:
Take the case Of the drama. There
you have one. OF the most puzzling phe-
nomena OF the age. Absolutely never
was there such a chance for a great
dramatist as there is today. Think Of
st! Two continents are mad over the
theater. A quarter of a century ago a
few dimly lighted theaters In more or
less inconspicuous quarters were re-
sorted TO by small audiences of people
of little influence. PIaygoers were, in
fact, looked upon askance by people
who plumed themselves on respectable
ty. while playactors were held as quite
outside the pale. How have the times
changed. Nowadays brilliantly lighted
playhouses occupy the best sites and
stretch block after block. while night
after night the streets are impassably
thronged with professions Of people
crowding TO pay quite unreasonable
prices for the privilege OF witnessing
some eXecrable performance. Think OF
the vast sums poured out for the sup
port OF the theater, Think of the audi
once which waits upon the playwright
today Never in the worlds history
was there anything like Il: neveri In
all reason, IS II not 20 be expected that
the opportunity for a dramatist would
produce one? It has failed to do so. l
do not wish TO be unlSlnd. but the mat
ter is notorious. 1 viii not characterize
the modern play; / fear any language
at my command would be inadequate to
7 do So"
Mr. Fiske. without quoting him at
length. according TO an abstract sent
out by his own office of an address re-
Gently made before the Three Arts
: Club finds that our acting has de-
Perforated; that our actors lack versa
NA4AAgf N4ALuuSlAgs anu ldtllllN- ne Qe-
clares that "artifciality is the besetting
sin of many of our players; that the
great number of our actors are lack
ing also in technique; that the com
mercializing of the theater has led to
individual exploitation and the super
fatalities Of the mere show a"
He adds: The character of dramatic
criticism has suffered in the general de-
feline OF the American stage under its
commercial domination. There are still
men who take their work seriously, and
are thoroughly equipped to analyze,
censure, and praise, but there has crept
in new sort of writer-fiippant. in
solent person, who aims neither TO in
struct the actor and dramatist and in
form the public nor to pass judgment
with the skill of an expert and the i'm
partially of a magistrate. but whose OBJ
Ject is to be funny at the expense Of
the player, the author and, oftentimes,
the truth
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19

Il is 20 New York that one must look
for answer to these structures. for New
York is undoubtedly the center of the
atrical activity in these United States.
Consequently the reviews Of the closing
season which the New York papers are
printing just about now are more gen
orally iiluminative than those that may
: be printed anywhere else. The table
of the ten most successful plays printed
by the Evening Telegram. and the
glance at the events Of the season from
the World furnishes food for reflection.
Two hundred and six New York pro-
ductions is not so bad for a season Of
nine months-an average of about TWEEN
ty-three a month. Sixty-three original
plays is not so bad either. and the fact
that fifty-four of them were by native
authors is distinctly encouraging. Of
course. there were ali sorts among them.
Some of them Il might. indeed. test ar
! Bryce's very extensive vocabulary to
adequately characterize. But some Of
them. I respectfully submit. were good
plays. There has been as good play
construction. as cIeverly devised situa-
lions. as logical development. as incisive
character study. as brilliant dialogue,
and as lively Imagination and quaint
fancy shown in this years dramatic
,-a,ftr-estoas in anv- Individual year in the
history OF the drama. Speaking for
America alone one might say as In any
FIVE years. OF course. il is not fair to
compare one years productions or one
decades productions with the accretiOns
of the several centuries. which make up
the modern theater's past-from which
all that is trivial has been eliminated
and of which only the fittest has sur
Vived.
AS TO Mr. Fiske's criticism of the
critics-well. perhaps he's right. His
conclusion that the decline OF dramatic
criticism is due to the influence of COM
merciaiism in theatrical affairs is
scarcely contestable. With very rare
excepdons-and because II Is not a pro-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19

| been allowed TO run itself out, II might
have stayed longer than some OF the
| others on Broadway. That also explains
why some other plays such, for instance.
| as The New York Idea" produced by
Mrs. Fiske's company and limited by
| contract &c four weeks in New York. 30
! not figure among the seasons successes.
AS to Mr. Fiske's criticism OF actC rs
well. I don't know I am not IN a
! position to compare the glorious past
with the palmy present-at least not 10
any great extent, don't remember the
giants Of other days. But 1 do think
We have some pretty good actors TODAY.
Honestly, Of course. I know that there
are score or more who are featured
as stars who are only near-stars. and I
think 1t would add more 10 their repIlta-
tons If they were content 10 be leading
men ard leading women in good stock
companies deplore the decline OF
these quite as sincerely as Mr.. Ffske
does. ] know they aren't stars. and
you know they aren't stars But they
don't. or course they are prejudiced.
But perhaps that's only natural
To return to the plays: Looking over
the list OF the seasons successes and
through the classified table OF produc-
tons one must admit that the theater-
going public has a catholic taste. Any
thing, so it's good" And the drama
lists seem to be producing all sorts 10
meet the demand
George Henry Payne. who is respons-
ible for the list of the ten most SUCCESS
ful plays. says frankly that the biggest
success OF the New York season was not
a play, but musical comedy. He saws.
NO play. operate or otherwise, has
been as successful this year as The
Red MIL Of Henry Blossom and Vic
tor Herbert II is hardly necessary to
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19

ducing center, this applies less to Wash
ington than to most places-the dramatic
critic who dares appraise plays on their
merits, to the best of his judgment, is
likely to discover the unwisdom Of
arousing the hostility Of managers.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19


arousing the hostility of managers.
While New York Is the producing cen
ter. New York success is not invari-
ably a success on the road-and vice
versa. Amelia Bingham said not long
ago. when The Lilac Room" failed alb
sOlutely in New York. that she had had
TO come to New York TO be sure that
she had a poor play. Well Miss Bing-
ham was a bit dense. The newspapers
all along the line told her so. It didn't
penetrate because she did a reasonably
good business She had played largely
In towns that do not get the dramatic
cream. towns where engagements are
only sor two or three nights, where
frequently for half the week. sometimes
even for two or three weeks. the one
theater is dark, where, consequently,
anything goes" Naturally, when an
actress Of reputation visits such towns.
bringing with her a fairly capable COM
pany, preceded, Of course, by an ener-'
getic and imaginative press agent. the
house is sold out in advance. The good
ness or badness. Of the play has little
bearing on the business IL does.
The New York critics naturally took
Miss Bingham at her word and laid to
their souls the fattering JUNCTION that
they are the only ones who know a
good play when they see it-or a poor
one. They should have seen the no
tees The Lilac Room" got on the road.
Again, 1 remember being amused at
Mr.. Bullock in the New York Press,
who. after expressing his own vigorous
opinion OF The Marriage Of Reason"
in which Kyrle BelleW and. Fannie
Warde starred, said that the play had
met with general approval Of the critics
in other cities and it had better have
stayed in them. The play practically
opened right here in Washington and
don't remember a good word being said
for II.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19

OF the ten most successful plays only
four have been seen in Washington. and
they have not been among the seasons
startling successes here. In fact the
most successful Of that quartet here was
His House in Order" which on Mr.
Payne's list is one Of the least success
full. That Is. Il ran only sixteen weeks
in New York, while The Hypocrites. !"
The Great Divide and Caught in
the Rain have New York runs OF
twenty-eight weeks, entire season, $50
times, respectively, 10 their credit.
though none Of them did any great bust
ness here. It is only fair, however TO
note that His House in Order" was
foredoomed to a run OF not more than
sixteen weeks in New York where 1t
was produced. The Empire Theater was
under contract for Peter Pan, and Miss
Maude Adams by Christmas. Had It
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19

at the New National This viii be Mr.
rockingham last appearance on any
stage, and a splendid ovation is being
planned for him BY his many Local ad-
mirers and friends
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19

George II. rockingham will appear as
Gomez, the tailor. in THE serenade,'
the second of the summer opera series
The Washington times., 1907-12-16
GOLDFIELD STRIKE
INQUIRY IS BEGUN,
GUNS EVERYWHERE
Presidents Commission
erStoInyestigate Charge
of Terrorism Arrive
on Scene.

GOLDFIELD, New. Dec I6.-special
Commissioners NELL. Murray. and Smith,
the experts chosen by President Roose-
welt 70 investigate strike conditions in
the Goldneld mining district. with their
secretary, F. x. Patterson, began their
inquiry today
The operators of the larger mines,
their superintendents and officials and
leading members Of the miners union
w'n be the most important witnesses.
Summons have also been sent, how
ever. 10 many citizens, who. not direct
~ concerned on either side Of the con-
trOversy. are thought likely 70 possess
information likely 20 be valuable TO the
CT mmissioners in reaching their con-
clusions.
Especial attention will be paid TO the
complaint by representatives of the Am
erican Federation Of Labor that the
Western Federation OF Miners have so
terTorized them that they are com
PEELED TO 90 constantly armed, that car
pepteTs have 10 work with revolvers OF
their benches. and that practical sus-
pension Of some branches Of work has
been deemed necessary TO protect the
workmen from surprise by the miners.
The commissioners report IS likely
to be OF vital Importance in determining
the Governments policy, not only IN
the pa esent case, but in establishing a
precedent for the future throughout the
entire section IN which the Western
Federation OF Miners dominates the Ia
Dor situation.
we are here to investigate indus
trial conditions leading up 10 the strike"
said Commissioner Nell. and will also
look into the reasons for bringing Fed
eral troops into the district We have
full power to go into every phase Of the
situation"
The inquiry is expected TO occupy
about a month. While there Is a dis
position on both sides TO produce q good
impression on the commissioners by
maintaining the best possible order. the
situation Is growing more seriously
strained Both the miners and the op-
orators gun men arc heavily armed
and the least spark threatens an ex-
plosiou.
The Washington times., 1907-12-16
Wife Wrote in England;
Husband Sees Her Here

NEW YORK. Dec. 1S-"Absence
makes the heart grow fonder'' is a
tme-honored adage which is disputed
most emphaucally by Edgar Breden.
an actor in Maude Adams Peter Pan
company.
En- route yesterday for Brooklyn.
ment tonight, Mr.. Breden was in cheer
full mood. A welcome letter had glad
dened his heart.
Breden is an Englishman Of the his
toric town OF Bournemouth, where,
three years ago, he left wife and four
children to seek fresh dramatic
triumphs. He has been moderately Sic
cessful here.
The letter from home bore the famil-
lar signature Of Breden's wife II was
an afrectionate missive. that breathed
Of wifely devotion.
In the rig Pennsylvania depot, Breden
staggered along under the weight Of
two travelling bags en- route for the
Brooklyn Annex boat. Suddenly he
halted. His eyes. fixed upon a tall wom-
an. fairly popped from his head. The
heavy bags slipped from his fingers.
The tall woman was his wife.
She. who was presumably in distant
Bournemouth, ministering TO the four
little Bredens, was there IN the Penn
sylvania station.
Suddenly a new figure appeared upon
the scene This was stalwart. we'll
groomed man, who darted up to the
waiting lady, exchanged a swiftly eX-
ecuted series Of hugs and kisses and
led her away toward a Washington
train.
The Washington times., 1907-12-16

Ex-senator and Mrs. J. b. Henderson.
Mrs. Gardiner Hubbard
DR.. G. ". Needham and Mrs. Need
ham.
Justice and Mrs. Seth Shepard.
Mrs. John Stevens.
Mrs. Nicholas Anderson.
Prof and Mrs. Graham Bell.
Mrs. Fairchild
Mr.. and Mrs Charles J. Bell.
Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Boar nan.
Colonel and Mrs. BrOmWeil
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gaff.
General and Mrs. Gillespie
DR.. and Mrs. GoldsbOrough
Hon Wendell Phillips. S. G. d. c.
Mrs Stafford
Mrs. Elizabeth Wanbridge and Mrs,
Briggs.
Mr.. and Mrs Theodore Moves
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Noyes.
Mr.. and Mrs. Isaac Thomas Mann.
The officers OF the Aid Association
are Mrs. Charlotte Emerson. president:
Mrs. Josephine Jacobs, secretary, and
Maj. Richard Sylvester. treasurer. Mrs.
NJ. X Merren is manager Of tie ball
She reports an unusual sale of tickets.
The Washington times., 1907-12-16
BOY KILLS FRIEND
ON EVE OF LARK

MOBILE. Ala. Dec 16.-Victor John
son. eighteen years old. was killed yes
terday afternoon by his close friend and
companion, J. Delmar. aged nineteen
years, at their room IN a boarding
house in this city The shooting occurred
about $40 O'Clock and the coroneTs jury
held that II was accidental
DeIma- claimed that he unlocked his
trunk fcr the purpose OF securing some
money. rs he and his friend were pre-
pairing 70 go down into the city for a
lark TIE pistol was IN the top tray OF
the trunk. and Delmar picked IL up He
withdrew the cartridges and believed
he had unloaded the weapon, which he
began swapping One cartridge had
been overlooked and the bullet was fred
into the head OF young johnson. Both
men were from Pensacola, Fla, and
were employed by local firms.
The Washington times., 1907-12-16
FINDS BABY ALIVE
AND TWO DEAD IN
GAS-FILLED FLAT
Father Returns to See
Daughter and Nurse
Beyond Hope.

NEW YORK. Dec. 16.--seated on a
chair in front Of the uniighted stove in
his aartment at 221 East Hath street.
when he returned to his home today.
Adolph Winter found Mrs. Anne 1iordeI,
nurse to his two-weeks-old baby boy.
In the adjoining dining room, on the
floor where she had evidently slipped
from the sofa where she had been
asleep. lay Alice. his four-year-oId
daughter
The death Of both was due 10 mumI-
mating gas with which the rooms were
filled Anxious for his baby. but not
for an instant thinking he would find
the boy alive, Winter went 20 the bed
room, which was also impregnated with
gas. and heard he little fellow in the
bed murmuring softly and kicking his
H;tle legs IN the air. The baby was ap-
parentiy none tie worse for the gas.
The Washington times., 1907-12-16
Cabinet Officers and Am
basSadors Among the
List of Patrons.
George K. Vanderbilt
VIII Grace the
Affair.

Plans for the charity ball to be given
at the Arlington on December 20 at Q
O'Clock in the evening have been per
fected and It promises 20 be one OF the
social successes OF the season. The ball
viii be given under the auspices Of the
Aid Association for the Blind OF the
District, and patrons and patronesses in
clude several ambassadors and their
wives. and the wives Of the high
est dignitaries OF the United States.
Among the notables VIII be George X.
Vanderbilt. millionaire OWne- OF Bnt-
more. n. c. A list Of others who have
signifed their intention OF gracing the
bail with their presence follows:
Vice President and Mrs. Fairbanks.
Secretary OF the Navy and Mrs. Met
calf.
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor and
Mrs. Straus.
Mrs. John Hay.
Assistant Secretary OF the Navy and
The Ambassador from Great Britain
and Mrs Bryce.
The Ambassador from France and
Nine. Jusserand-
The Ambassador from Mexico anG
Mime. Creel
The Ambassador from Japan and Wis
countess Aoki.
The Minister from Haiti and Nine
Leger.
The Minister from Bolivia and Nine
CalderOn.
Secretary Of Mexican Legation and
Nine. Godoy.
Charles NJ. Pepper and Mrs Pepper.
Commissioner and Mrs. West.
Senator and Mrs. Burro Us.
Senator and Mrs. Flint
Judge and Mrs. Gould
The Washington times., 1907-12-16
GEESE HEAR PH0N0GRAPH,
QUICKLY COMMIT SUICIDE

GEORGETOWN. Del. Dec 16-Mills-
DcFo gunners are QUarreline over a story
that has arisen among them az 10 the
Prowess Of one Ace GOodhiu. who has
had surprising success Of late In The
shooting Of wild geese. So hot has be
come the controversy that President
Roosevelt, In his capacity as naturalist
and sportsman may be asked 10 render
judgment as 10 whether the tale Is a
nature fake or not.
The friends Of Ace-and they are
many-declare that he IS not only a man
OF truth and prOb,ty. but an inventor
worthy OF a medal His tale which MS
friends emphatically support, IS that he
uses monograph TO lure the geese.
his machine IS loaded with a cylinder
mat regularly and correctly sounds the
Wild goose call. 'Honki Honkr" and
when the gueese hear Il. they walk M
10 slaughter. thus committing suicide.