The Washington herald., 1908-02-02
Women on the Stage.

There is a new Richmond in the field
This time the sword and scabbord give
way TO the evening gown. the tuxedo
beats a hurried retreat and the field is
taken by the cIinsing tafeta, the Gains
borough replaces tile high silk tile, and
even the hard wooden shoes Of thu ever
present clog-daucer are reduced 10 the
uppers by the advancement Of the tiny
Trilby pumps that support the bespan-
gled toe dancer.
Are the women Of the stage replacing
the men? EmphaucaIly. yes. The learned
historians Of the theater twenty years
hence. VIII not look back upon the Ameri-
can stage and exclaim; Booth, Barrett,
Mccullough, Keene, Forrest" and so on.
and so on, 20 the contrary. il viii be. ac-
carding 10 present and prospective indi-
cations. "Marlowe, Anglin, Russell, Car
ter. Nethersole, Robson, Mauuering.
Allen The list might be continued in
definitely. but that too strong a compari-
son between the women and the men OF
the stage might reduce the light Of the
latter 10 a mere candle power. scarcely
discernible in the dust that arises from
the sWishing lingerie and the flowing lace.
Those lovers of comedy and the dance.
the mimicry and the farce, viii forget to
say Hopper. DAILY. Robson. Foy, Jeffer-
son. Crane Bernard, Mann. Cohan.
Fields, Wardeld. Weber. and the Others.
The big array of talent in this field is
represented by Templeton. Held. GIaser.
Williams, CrosmaH. Schen, Janis, Irwin,
CahiII, Dressler, LOTUS, Fay, and the
tremendous majority OF women enter
taiuers
And what is the cause? The genesis
may De set down as energy. It is but
necessary 10 look into the faces of q
dancing chorus. Every girl is working as
hard as she knows how. And what is she
doing? Is she looking out to her au-
dience with blank expression? Is she bent
upon giving the impression that she is
working Just the opposite Her eyes
sparkle her countenance is lighted up
with captivating smile. her manner is
That of the schoolgirl at play Does it
count? Do the patrons remember the
smiles. the eyes Of crystal. the merri-
ment and the utter joy Of it all? Do YOU
suppose that when those same dancers.
or that one particular dancer, returns
again that am ovation is not In waiting?
Smiles are always preferable TO blank
emptiness OF face and bearing. Work al
ways brushes away the mildew Of sordid-
ness and idleness. Ambition will ever
surpass resignation
And there YOU have the answer to the
question: What is the cause? II it were
not that the smiles and the refreshing
manners of the women of our own Amer
ican staSe were rapidly securing strong
toothold in the hearts of playgoers it
would not be possible 10 record-as il is
to-day-that more than 50 per cent of the
stage entertainers to-day are women.
This does not apply simply to the dancers
they ere always in the majority. II ap-
plies, directly, too 90 the legitimate dra-
matic stars of the present OF the eight
cen recognized stars on Broadway al the
present time thirteen Of them are women.
And in those productions where there is
no particular featured performer the
women have the upper hand over the
men. Take. for instance. such produc-
tions as Miss Hook of Holland" '.Tbe
Warrens of Virginia" "The Waltz
Dream" Polly Of the Circus" THE
Merry Widow, The Soul kiss" and the
half-dozen other big attractions now cur
rent on Broadway. In every one OF these
mentioned the women outHumber the