Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-14
Photo by Mojonier.

glad-er-er-er; that he was grateful
for the applause-er-er-er; that he didn't
know what to say--er-er-er-; and
THANK You" That thank you was
pronounced with an upper case inflec-
ton; and 1t was very evident that Mr..
Galbraith meant it.
I don't know why Mr. Galbraith didn't
prepare a neat little speech for the oc-
casion, but he didn't. Maybe he modestly
thought no speech would be called for.
However. George Barnum, whose home
coming is scheduled for next week, may
we'll learn a lesson from Galbraith's blum
der, for when he is called upon we shall
expect something worth while in the mat
ter Of polite acknowledgment.
GaIbraith the Whole Play
All this. however, is quite apart from
Mr.. Galbraith's achievement. He played
"a Gilded Fool last night to the very
obvious delight ola large audience. There
were other players in the cast, competent
players, too, but they were there merely
to make a Galbraith holiday. The eX-
real estate man was the whole thing and
he seemed to enjoy it quite as we'll as
selling corner lots in the suburbs at
downtown prices.
There is little need to say anything
about the comedy. 1t is pretty well
known to the present generation of thea
ter goers; and though it is a rafting
good comedy. it didn't matter much in
the circumstances. Last nights audience
would gladly have applauded twaddle If
Galbraith had only twaddled it for them.
Truth to tell, however, Mr.. Galbraiths
Chauncey Short lacked something of the
ease and aplomb he used to impart to his
comedy roles, which is not a. all surpris-
ing when you remember the exceeding
cordiality of the house, a cordially so
pronounced that it must have fiattered
the home conner tremendously. When he
succeeded in forgetting the applause Mr..
Galbraith's "Gilded Fool was a highly
effective Characterization; and doubtless
1t will improve as the week advances. Ne
would have been more than human had
he been at his best last night.
Handshake a Hit
The Galbraith partisanship in the house
was responsible for one round of APP
piause in which Richard Vivian had a
share. When Vivian first appeared on
the stage, in the role of Jack Duval, he
walked toward Galbraith, as the business
of the scene demanded, and the two men
shook hands. That handshake was the
hit of the performance. The friendship
of the two is well known and the audi
ence applauded enthusiastically.
For the benefit of those whose admira-
ton for Mr.. Galbraith still leaves room
for appreciation elsewhere it may be said
that Harry Glazier gives finely finished
portrait of Bannister Strange, the finan-
cial spider who spins web for the Gilded
FOOLS undoing only to be himself in
volved; that Richard Vivian makes of
Duval very likable chap; that William
Yerance contributes another of his eff
fective old men portraitures; that Howard
Scott is an excellent pseudo-dominie; that
Miss Adele harrington gives us still an
other excellent caricature of an eccentric
splnster, whose admiration for poor dear
papa's achievements makes us marvel at
the longevity of her memory; that Miss
Katherine Emmett permits the Gilded
Fool to make love to her quite in the
way other Margaret Ruthvens have done
It in the past, and that Dorothy Bernard
is winsome and sweet as Nell Ruthven,
If her lisp and stutter were somewhat
elusive.
. But before the comedy, during the COM
edy and after the comedy there was all
ways Joseph Galbraith and applause.