Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13

The Great Divide" this play depends
for its interest on the repentance and
subsequent reinsta ntement to affection
of a young man of limited breeding who
has been extremely rude to lady. The
topic is not one which admits of much
display of ingenue spirit. either in acting
or appearance. Miss Comstock reads her
lines with great feeling and effect in
spite of the dialect with which they are
burdened The dialect crops out all
through the play in variegated profusion.
Some of the players are inclined to think
they are in Vermont instead Of Texas.
The role of jim played by Fred A. Sulli-
van, was we'll interpreted 1t laid foun-
dation Of interest which, although melo-
dramatic quality. was solid and sus-
tanning. Local talent blossomed charm
ingly in the cha racter of Lone Star as
played by Edith Luckett, who though
scantily supplied with scenes or speeches,
romped through the action like a SIS
Hopkins in miniature.
1t may be that the opening of the reg
ular season inspires expectation beyond
reason in the mind of the play-hunSry
person Standards of comparison are set
by remembrance of signal successes
when the theater was in its prime months
ago There are necessarily but few great
triumphs in any one season and these
must be winnowed out of much mediocre
production. 1t may be that after some
of the claimants to consideration yet
to come are viewed "The Fighting Hope
and Jet" will by comparison. seem like
pretty good shows after all.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
FAVERSHAM'S HAUNTED HOUSES
To be able to say. like Hamlet, that you
had clapped eyes on a disembodled spirit
is the experience of few men, but rarer
still it is to have lived in two distinct and
widely separated abodes which were the
nightly haunts of troubled spirits and
never discover it. 1t Is like selling Il sup
posed chrome for 80 cents and then learn
ing too late that it is Rembrandt This
last was the experience of William Faver-
sham.
MIR. Faversham was born in a fine old
house in London at No. l Bentic terrace.
overlooking Regent Park. His fathers
estate left his mother with insufficient
funds to carry on such pretentious eS-
Establishment. The family moved into less
expensive quarters and the old house
passed into other hands.
Young FaverSham. after attending Hill
martin College. went on the stage. and
after two years experience with pro-
vincial stock company, came to America
in 1887. He has visited England a num-
Der of times since; but four years ago,
thinking he would like to show his boy,
William. his old home, he one day wan
dered In the direction of Regent Park and
stood before No. / Bentic terrace.
Judge of his surprise and disappoint
ment when ne discovered that the place
was fast approaching ruin The win
dows were boarded up and the Slass-in-
cased conservatory, which had been his
fathers delight, was smashed beyond
recognition. The house, a desirable es
Establishment, was situated in much
favored neighborhood. and why it should
have thus gone to rack and ruin was d
question of lively interest to the actor.
While looking at the old place, a de-
crepit keeper came out of the house Mr..
Faversham questioned him. The old man
said the house was reputed to be haunted
and that nobody could be found who
would live in it. Asked why the once
beautiful conservatory had been destroy
ed. the old keeper replied that it was
the legend of the neighbOrhood that the
ghost walked at midnight along its glass
roof, and that the boys therea bouts had
been busy shyinS stones at imaginary
SpookS.
Mr.. Faversham told the old man his
name, when that parsonage. with amaze
ment, informed him that the house was
discovered to have been haunted by his
family, and that nobody could be found
who would risk living there since they
had departed. This was all very curious
news to the actor, for a boy he had
never heard of any such visitations.
The same summer Mr.. Faversham pur-
chased a home at Chiddingfold, Surrey,
In the same county, and near Cart