davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
"The Village Lawyer"

1t is seriously to be doubted whether
Cressy and Dayne. the two clever vaude-
Vile actors. who signalized their entrance
into the legitimate last week at the Co
lumbia Theater in a rural play called
The Village Lawyer have added any
thing to their regulations, or whether
they viii benefit financially by the
change, Mr. Cressy is very clever play
er of a certain type Of character. a type
which he has made very familiar TO
thousands through long seasons in vau-
deyllle. and for the purposes CT vaudeville
he has written a great number OF
sketches" which are dramas in minia-
ture. transcripts Of life more or less real.
Such was the sketch" which he wrote
and in which he and Miss Dayne appear
ed for two or three seasons in vaudeville
Perhaps II was his best work OF the
kind; IL was the act he chose. at any
rate. TO develop into "A four-act play. But
the humor and the parhos which. con-
densed into a twenty-mlnute act, seemed
real and vital. has lost much Of its force
I'm being thus spread out into an enter
tainment extending over two hours As
THE Village Lawyer" stands to-day II
is a pretty much attenuated play. The
central character. that played by Mr.
Cressy. is the same as in the vaudeville
sketch. and where It has been added to.
in an attempt 10 build It up, It has been
weakened. The Interpolation OF the sup
posedly pathetic incident of the old mans
longing for a clarinet and his absurd
Uretense Of playing with the village band
on a piece OF broomstick-is sheer bathos
and Stiffness unworthy Of consideration.
A lot Of supposedly rural characters
are introduced without any apparent
reason for their being. and when they
are introduced they do nothing. The
episode OF the lad found in a lions cage
is ridiculously improbable, and so are
many Of the other incidents. the forging
OF the check, the fitting Of the Swede
with suit OF cloihes-mere interpOla-
tiOns. intended 10 he funny and having no
relation ~ all 10 the play. as a play
There is no possible doubt that Mr..
Cressy is good actor, astonishingly
clever in the line OF work he has made
his own. but if he is to rise to anything
like eminence IN his profession it must
be through some other medium than
The Village Lawyer" The play is weak
and maudlin, and has not the elements
of vitality in it, and as it stands to-day
IL has not chance TO win public ap-
proval. especially when measured up to
the elaborate and carefully thought out
productions Of the present age.
Luckily there is always a place in vau-
u
awaiting Mr.. Cressy and his clever CO.
partner. The sooner he goes back 10 the
field where he has already won fortune
and some fame the better for himself.
The day VIII come when he will write
real play. and may it be soon and his
success undoubted,
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

with a French translation of ''Tke Comet"
in his pocket. and without saying any
thing 70 the Russian actress. Nazim0ya
claims an authors interest in the play,
which remains unsettled Whether she
will contest in the event That Bernhardt
should present the piece in Paris IS
mOOted question. At all events, the claim
is made in her behalf that she gave the
author the plot and the character OF The
Comet and has abundant grounds for
legal contest. What is interesting as
more than this. however. is the question
whether Sarah Bernhardt VIII consider
the play worthy OF her mettie and give it
q production
Maude Adams is paying the penalty Of
trying to follow a tremendous success,
such as Peter Pan" with play capable
OF exercising a.n equal drawing power
It IS evident that she has not found It in
THE testers" for her engagement at
the Empire is confined 10 but two weeks
more. Her work in The testers" is far
more worthy OF her than anything she did
in Peter Pan" and the play is charming
But the poetic refinement OF The Jest
ers" is no match for the drastic effects Of
her former vehicle. which appealed strong
ly 70 the imagination OF children and
women, and 10 some extent Of the men.
Two actresses well known and well
liked are on this weeks list Of prospective
brides. One is Virginia Earle. formerly
a prima donna IN musical comedy. and
lately In vaudeville. who is preparing to
dispose OF her theatrical wardrobe 20 the
highest bidder. preparatory TO going
abroad and getting married The other is
Amy Ricard. whose engagement 10 the
editor OF the Smart Set has been pub
lished. Miss Ricard. however. Is not 10
retire Immediately. judging by the an
nouncement thai she is 20 have a part in
Clyde Fitch's new comedy. Girls" which
the Shuberts are 10 produce at the Be
laScO Theater In Washington on March
3. with tsaura Nelson Hall, Herbert Stand
ing. Edward Marble and Charles Cherry
Maxine Elliott's former leading mani IN
the cast. Miss Hall who last appeared in
The Coming Of Mrs Patrick by Rachel
Crother. viii probably have the leading
part. No details are yet available as 10
the character OF the piece. Girls viii
be the first Fitch play ever produced by
the Shuberts.
Z. r. Sothern announces the last two
weeks Of Lord DundTeary' at the Lyric
At Wallack's "A knight for a Day con-
tinues 10 draw we'll and the end OF the
engagement is not yet in sight but only
one more week remains OF Edna Wallace
Hopper at the Garrick in Fifty Miles
from Boston by George COhan-
FRED r. SCHRADER.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

"A great deal was said about the per
sonality and mannerisms OF Sir Henry
Irving. remarked Miss Ethel Barrymore
when asked whether an actor is better of
without a personality. This alone rob
bed Sir Henry, perhaps. Of a great deal
that was due a great actor. Neither A
name nor personality can win a success
by itself II has been my experience that
these things have little or nothing % do
with ones advancement. I know that a
name didn't help me: neither did II help
my brothers ! was on the stage seven
years before / was given a part that
amounted 10 more than few lines; and
the experience of my brothers was much
the same. II a name does anything at
all. IT makes the public expect more from
you than II would from SOME one whose
name is unfamiliar, and that means You
must work so much harder to win the
good opinion OF the public 7 and my
brothers realized that when we went on
the stage We were willing 20 work. and
there was every reason to believe that
We should love the work.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
FRITZ sehef.

IN the Henry N. Blossom-Victor Her
bert opera. Mile. Modiste." last week
we were treated 20 the somewhat rare
spectacle-nowadays at least-of an in
dividual predomlnating and outshining the
play in which he Is exploited. OF course,
Mile. Modiste" is a most engaging comic
opera and credit TO its American au-
tliorship in every respect. but it is not
customary for comic operas to run three
or more seasons upon their own merits.
The old Bostonians had operas which
lived much longer than that, and IL they
coald have gotten hold OF Mile Modiste"
it is safe 20 say that they would have
found in II a most remunerative piece Of
theatrical property. But that was an ex-
eeptional organization. crowded with IA
Vorites
1t was FRITZ scheff first. last. and al
the time. that attracted the immense au-
diences to see Mile. Modiste" last week.
TO hear an artist such as she is a privi-
lege that the discerning public has not
been slow 10 take advantage OF. Not
since Alice Nielsen sang in comic opera.
for some years just prior 70 Fritzi's Amer
icsn debut. has a light opera star taken
such hold upon the popular fancy. 1t
was said OF Alice Nielsen that she was
the successor 10 "Lotta," but Nielsen
was not satisfied with that designation,
and few away to Europe. to return
fulI-nedged grand opera songstress. In
many ways a light opera career is good
foundation for one who is ambitious 10
sing grand opera, but how about the art
ist who forsakes grand for comic opera?
Certainly the vocal training which made
FRITZ Scheff capable OF singing such roles
as Musetta IN la Boheme." Nadia in 7
Pagliscoi." and parts in the scores Of
such operas as The Magic Flute" Don
Giovanni" and Faust" give her the
power 10 bring cut the beauties Of Victor
Herberts delightful but less classical
music far better than one who has jump
ed into prima donna roles from short
experience in the chorus.
The Philistines are all for grand opera,
and we are not going 10 say that the pub
lie does not need educating in this re-
spect II you doubt IT, ask Mr.. Henry
Russell. OF the San Carlos Grand Opera
Company. But as long as the popular
taste runs to comic opera and the Ike. II
is a real benefit 70 have really great sing
ers IN this class Of musical entertainment.
Instead OF lowering herself 10 the level
of comic opera FRITZ Schef has lifted
her opera 10 a high plane OF enjoyment
for the intelligent music lover. No one
need be fearful OF outraging his musical
ideals by attending a performance OF
Mile. Modiste." Indeed such perform
ance is perfectly satisfying, in that it
presents a combination that is composed
OF a great singer. surrounded by capable
and intelligent actors and actresses. a
representative American comic opera OF
the better class. the book OF which is a
real book. and the music real music.
Who could help falling under the spell
OF that beautiful. dreamy waltz move
ment which predominateS Mr. Herberts
score and fills the house with exquisite.
sensuous melody and which FRITZ Scher
sings so sweetIy and so feelingIy that the
atmosphere about seems surcharged with
tenderness and delight?
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
The Ben Greet PLAYERS.

The best evidences OF The high character
Of the Ben Greet performances IS the uni
formIy large size Of the audiences, and
the notable Intellectual quality Of the ma
jority Of the persons in attendance There
IS an easily perceptible absence of the
mere seeker Of momentary sensuous en-
joyment. while the student. statesman,
writer. and lover Of the dramatic classic
is always present in becoming numerical
proportion. There is no denying the value
of the productions to each and all Of the
classes enumerated. and particularly IN
the case Of the student class: for while
the mere reading and study of such
things may give a partial understanding.
the demonstration by object lesson, in
presenting 20 the visual and perceptive
senses reproduction Of the things as
they actually occurred, Is OF lncalculable
benefit.
The greatest benefit is perhaps derived
from giving the Shalsespearean perform
ances without intcrmission. and with the
fun text. thus presenting an unbroken
panorama OF the transpiring events in the
manner in which the author intended; an
garbled acting versions. In these per-
1ormances the unsurpassed dramatic mas
tership OF the bard is made manifest by
the swift. absorbing. and lifelike moving
of events and there is no detraction by
scene shifting. spectacular pretcnsions. or
scenic novelty.
Many persons protest that they do not
Ike Shakespearean plays. and when close
" questioned the fact is revealed that
the chief reason for the failing is the fact
That they do not clearly understand them,
state of affairs readily traceable to
several causes. In some cases the blank
verse is so poorly rendered as to make
the meaning almost unintelligible. the
connected train OF thought being OBJ
scured. and The only benefit derived being
the catching of few well-known quota
tons. Then. again. in most of the mod
ern stage versions the action is so discon-
nected as TO break UP the sequence and
make the matter of following the plot
intelligently depend on the amount Of
previous reading or study. Almost any
modern vehicle. treated In the same man
ner, would fail in the same degree. In
other instances some star is exploited
with an inferior supporting company. the
lines sometimes being ruthlessly tampered
with for the purpose OF allowing the head
liner to shine paramount. The onlooker
knows that at some critical period the
principal has been tearing some passion
70 tatters." but the general motive of the
playwright, the realistic nature OF the
events, and the human nature of the
characters are wholly lost
Mr.. Greet seeks 10 obviate most of these
difficulties. No stars are obtrusively
billed on the programme. The play IS
presented as the author intended and the
poetry is expressed with such a scholarl,
degree Of elocutionary finish as to make
every idea clearly apparent. AS an edu-
cational experiment alone his efforts en-
tirely deserve the success that up TO the
present moment has attended them
Jack Standing has joined Olga Neither
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
MansaeId,s Picture, to he Sold.

The art property of the late Richard
Mansfield viii be offered at unrestricted
sale at the American Art Galleries on
March and 3. The collection will be
placed on public view on February "a. It
comprises valuable portraits and other
paintings, antique furniture, Flemish
tapestries. carved wood mantels, ceramics,
china. Bohemian glass, textiles. relics,
etchings. prints. and many other objects
of interest anad value
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
BeIasco Theater summer stock Co.

The Guy Standing Stock Company sea
son in Washington this spring, under the
management or w. a Page. VIII be
played at the Belasco Theater. after all.
instead OF at the Columbia. as al first
announced. There seems 10 be some
question as 10 just when the Columbia
passes into the control OF Fred G. Berger.
who manages the house next season,
and in view OF Mr.. Berger's inability to
give Mr. Page any definite information as
10 when the other theater would be avail
able Mr. Page has arranged TO present
Mr.. Standing at the Belasco Theater. in
stead Of at the Columbia. Mr. Standing
will open at the BelascO on May II with
THE Mummy and the Humming Bird"
and with Miss Dorothy Hammond as his
leading lady. Others in the company viii
be Alice Butler Jeffreys Lewis. Alfred
Hudson. jr. and Samuel Klawans.
In view Of the interest aroused in Mr..
Standings prospective appearance. Mr..
Page has arranged to have the tickets
for the first night. May Il sold at public
auction in the BelaScO The1ter some
afternoon week in advance.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

Bumbard-The success of Maud Adams
as The Jester is remarkable.
Jokesmith-Remarkab indeed Shes
about the only jester ever heard Of that
makes hit every day.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

Valerie Bergere was the subject of
published appreciation" recently from
the pen Of Caroline Lowery in the Broad
way Magazine.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

Jack Standing has joined Olga Neither
sole's company 10 play important roles
in her repertoire.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

The announcement that Mss Olga Meth
ersole viii be in washington next week
in a repertoire Of six plays brings to the
surface a natural inquisitfveness regard
ing the many plays that this gifted artist
has presented since America nrst paid her
tribute as an actress. some reason for
her appearances exclusively in emotional
roles may be found in the fact that she
is of Spanish descent. Il Is doubtless
this Spanish blood IN her veins that has
led her 10 favor the strongly emotional
roles with which her name as an actress
has been Identified. Here is partial list
Of the plays in which Miss Nethersole has
appeared since her debut as an actress. al
the age OF eighteen. Harvest" The
Profigate." La Tosca." The Second
Mrs TanQueray." Diplomacy a
FOOLS Paradise - s"rhe Silent Battle"
The Transgressor. Carmen" The
Termagant." -Sapho" Camille" ''Ro-
meo and Juliet" ..Frou-F'rou." "Adrienne
Iecouvreur. The Labyrinth The
Awakening, I Pagiiacci. The Enfg-
ma" ..Magda." and Cleopatra Mss
Nethersole's first American appearance
was under the management OF Augustin
DAILY. This was IN 1884. at Wallack's
Theater The play was ''The Transgres-
sor." Her first tour IN this country was
one OF the most notable in the history OF
the American stage at that time. Miss
Nethe-sole. 10 satisfy a lOng-cherished
desire, played a weeks engagement last
June 1T the Theater Sarah Bernhardt,
IN Paris. She presented seven plays IN
English from her remarkable repertoire
and scored 4 pronounced success ia the
French capital
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

II a bit Of scandal now and then can De
said to be relished by the best of men. I
cannot refrain from recording a break in
tween ALA Nazimova and Owen johnson
down 70 the time that The Comet was
produced at the Bijou. Nine. Nazimova.
as the story goes. tried to show her ap-
probation Of the friendship manifested
for her by the literary Johnsons wlaffe
she was playing at an East Side theater
with the Russian company by encourag-
iag Owen TO write play in which she
might appear. According TO the same au-
thority. she gave Johnson the plot Of
The Comet and under her suggestions
and promptings II was rewritten four
times before il was announced The
Comet presented a character, but it
lacked the peculiar vitality OF a dramatic
success. 1t is said that from the morning
after the premier. when the papers were
anything but enthusiastic. a change in
the personal atmosphere between the au-
thor and the actress set in Soon rumors
began 10 circulate that the author blamed
the actress for the failure of his play
She had neither expressed his meaning
nor allowed the performance to be de-
veloped into a rounded and consistent
unit. Then followed a complete suspen-
sion OF the former pleasant relations on
both sides, and The Comet dragged out
its weary existence TIL the close Of the
engagement last Saturday.
The Johnsons are people Of influence in
literary circles. and it appears that the
author succeeded in interesting Sarah
Bernhardt in the play. Before the close
Of the run, Mr.. johnson set sail for Paris
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

Wilton Lackaye has been entertaining
the patrons OF the Grand Opera House
Chicago. with nightly curtain speeches.
and James O'Donnell Bennett said they
were more valuable than his play. The
Bondman"
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

The concert by the Washington Saen-
gerbund will take place al the National
Theater Sunday evening. March Is. There
VIII b. a chorus Of 2o0 male voices and a
specially augmented orchestra.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

The jota- a distinctively Spanish peas
ant dance. probably never before seen in
this country. IS introduced In the first act
OF Marta of the LowlsnGs" BY a native
OF Catalonia, wherein the scene Of the
play is set
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

Marta OF the Lowlands. in operatic
form. was produced in Berlin in October
ast. The eminent composer. Eugen d Al
bert. wrote the score. II proved an i'm
mediate success and Is drawing crowded
houses.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

Henry kolker and Josephine Victor
haye been engaged by Doris & Rosen to
play the leading roles in Marguerite Mer-
ington's play. "Till We Meet Again"
which they are preparing to produce on
March > Miss Victor Is the young Hun
sarian actress who scored a success IN
The Secret Orchard" Rehearsals of
Miss Merington's play began last week,
under the direction Of Max Freeman.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

Special 10 The Washington Herald
New York. Feb. 22-No player has met
with more hearty reception this season
than Otis Skinner. who on Monday even
ing succeeded Ethel Barrymore at the
Hudson. and presented for the first time
IN New York the four-act play The
Honor of the Family"
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

II was reported from Rochester last
week that Henrietta CrOsman will leave
the stage temporarily this spring 10 so to
India 10 claim fortune left by her
grandfather, Charles Crosman.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

+. II. Sotheru will revive IF l Were
King at the Lyric Theater. New York
the week OF March > The following Mon
day he VIII offer The Fool Hath Said
There is No Cod
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
PLAYS AND PLAYFoLK.

''Brewsters Millions has passed its
3o0th performance n London.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

Grace GriSwOld wrote "BHIies First
Love- IN which Valerie Bergere is star
ring in vaudeville. Miss Griswold also
had the pleasure Of playing one Of the
parts in H. She played here in the Ber-
ger Stock company all one winter.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

Edward Everett Pidgeon. for some time
dramatic editor Of the New York Press.
has been engaged as general manager OF
the Circle Production Company, headed
by Felix Isman
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

Florence Kahn made her first appear
ance IN London at Te-rys Theator on the
afternoon of February 10 as Rebecca West
in 'RosmershOlm'
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

William H. Crane has sold his summer
home at COhasset Cove. Mass. 10 the
Rev Howard n Barton. OF Cohasset
The property Is valued at x25.0oo
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

Frank Reid has gone back TO his old
position as advance agent and is on the
Frohman stsff ahead OF THE Dairy
maids" His partner. Robert Hunter. will
operate stock company al the Franklin
Square Theater in Worcester. Mass.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

New York viii get its first glimpse OF
George AIDES Father and the Boys on
Monday. March .. when Charles Frohman
will present William f. Crane at the En-
pire Theater I'm the Hoosier author
greatest success.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

In his recent speech TO the graduating
class at West Point. Secretary Of War
Taft brought his remarks 10 a close by
saying: Il shall not speak any longer.
for j know you are all anxious to get TO
The Merry Widow this evening in time
for the first curtain. ! don't blame YOU
1t is a great show" few hours later
the West Pointers occupied the majority
Of the orchestra chairs.
The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-12-02
GOODELI-TALLMA
SUIT is CONTINUED.

In the middle of the trial of L. w.
Goodell against c. L. and E. R. Tall
madge, over land deal, which was
on in district court two days, the plain
tiff moved for a continuance late yes
terday afternoon, and the case now
goes over until next term, the contin-
uance having been granted. E. R. Tall
madge, who was here for the defense,
left this morning for Chicago. H. w.
Embree, Charles Brown, J. R. Stan
ley, Walter and Roger Elliott, NJ. M.
Brunk, Theodore Burr and A. E. Macy.
who have been here several days as
witnesses in this case, returned to
their homes in Dexter last night.
With the dismissal Of the jury in
the Goodell- madge suit, all of the
territorial petit jury of this term is
excused, the others having been dis
charged several days ago. Court Is
now meeting in chambers and viii be
occupied several days with the trial
of civil suits before Judge VIM. n.
Pope.
The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-12-02

The ninth annual meeting of the
opened at the First Baptist church of
Roswell at nine-thirty this morning,
and will continue through four days
until Saturday night. Forty delegates
from all over the territory and num-
Der of prominent visitors from various
states were in attendance this morn
ing but fully a hundred Baptists from
other places are expected to be pres
ent before the close of the big meet
ing. Morning, afternoon and evening
sessions will be held throughout the
convention.
The first days program was devot-
ed~to Sunday School work, and the
remainder to the church proper. j. L.
Rupard, Sunday school missionary OF
New Mexico led the meeting this NOR
ming and conducting the program. Rev
E. P. AlIdredge, of Portales, was ell
ected chairman, after call to order at
$3.50, and presided throughout the
morning. Glimpses from the field
were given in talks by Rev. R. c. Med
aris, of Pecos; Rev. J. o. Heath. OF
Santa Fe; Rev. w. C. Grant, mission
ary- of Portales; Rev. D. B. Jackson,
of Lincoln Association; Rev. r. P.
Pope and DIR. L. C. Barnes, Field Sec
retary of the American Baptist Home
Missionary Society
Reports were received from a num-