The San Francisco call., 1908-08-18
By Walter Anthony

much IKE q mOQeSL AQGIu III Inc OA4e
nal garden, Ferris Hartman, late OF
oakland but once more of San Fran
CISCO shouted to a multitude at the
Princess theater: Haven't you any
home at all? The author of the verses
10 this song has left the house, and its
too late to get him over the phone"
How much longer the show kept going
1 am not in position TO state, for the
eXigencies Of morning newspaper work
and the eccentricities of CaIhoun's cars
would not permit a longer stay, and so
I left. Maybe The Idols Eye" is still
blinking. It is not the fault of Hart
mans friends If it is not, and it is not to
be placed against the Elks of San Fran
cisco and Oakland, nor the automobile
tourists from Los Angeles, who came in
a body. If the curtain is not still up on
Hartman and his floral offerings.
MAKES THREE SPEECHES
What was the occasion? Have you
read the story Of the prodigal son?
Well, that's Hartman. He has been
away from San Francisco for four
years. Now he's back again, and was
given reception last night. The ex-
cuse was The Idols Eye" but any
other would have been as good for he
had TO make speech after the first
act; he had to make another after the
second. and he made still another dur
ing the third. For all I know, he made
still another after the finale
They made il too hot for me-" said
Hartman, comedian. after the curtain
had fallen on the first act, two years
ago Although I wasn't higher IN
I had TO go somewhere and hide You
know where I went (referring to oak
land)- II you think I'm not glad to
be back you think wrong. I'm glad TO
see you all again, and I want to tell
you that my voice, which you used to
admire years ago. is better still. The
difference between an audience in San
Francisco and an audience anywhere
been-they sit back and dare YOU to
make them laugh. Here everybody
says; We're here for a good time.
Turn loose I'm loose"
1T Is VERY FUNNY
Does that sound funny? I'll swear il
did last night, and if Hartman will re-
peat the dose tonight you'll swear it's
funny, too.
The show has been written about
before Frank Daniels used to do it.
and Hartman used to play it at the old
Tivoh. Abel Conn is one Of the whim-
sical comedians best roles. Last night.
IN spite Of frequent Interruptions and
embarrassing calls for a personal in
PRODUCTION TO the star, the production
went with spirit and dash, although, to
be rldiculOusly captious, the tempt
as they say in grand opera-might be
taken a little quicker without doing
violence to Herbert's muse.
Zoe Barnett came nearly sharing
honors with Hartman, and that was a
big achievement. She played the role
Of the oriental girl with vivacity and
daintiness. That word, indeed, fits
Miss Barnett's work best of all. She is
there will be other individual hits to-
night besides hers and Cunningham's
and Brownlow's; but last night Hart
man, formerly of the Tivoli, later of
Idora and now of the Princess. walked
away with all the honors, smiling ex-
pansively meanwhile.
HARTMAN'S NIGHT
It was Hartman's night. and even his
effort TO share the success with his
former associate OF the Tivon. Stage
Manager George Lask, whom he led
from the wings after the second act.
was not altogether successful, though
it was very graceful and proper. for the
play is well staged and costumed and
the business" is well taken care of.
Walter Catlett, as McSnuffy, was given
hearty reception, and Evelyn Frances
Kellogg came in for a goodly share of
is worth seeing. and Hartman. very
much at home again, will make you
forget there ever was fire in April
VAN NESS
After six weeks Of unusual success
the Henry Miller season at the Van
Ness theater comes to a conclusion with
revival OF Moody's splendid drama,
The Great Divide" Last night Miller
made his temperance as Stephen
Ghent, and was greeted by a large and
enthusiastic house. The performance
this week Of the great American play Is
fully up TO the initial production in this
city, the cast remaining exactly as il
was six weeks ago save for the role as
sumed by the leading woman Mary
Hall impersonates the character of Ruth
and her work last night was approved
by the large and fashionable audience
present Laura Hope Crews won favor
as she did before. by her clever inper-
sonation Of the role of Polly Jordan
The other members Of the star cast re-
peated their former successes in their
various roles, and the play will prove =
hit at the Van Ness for the balance of
the week. Monday night Cyril Scott
viii appear. at the head of clever
company Of players in Broadhurst's
drama, The Man of the Hour
NATIONAL
tional theater this week who gets from
his violin that rare quality of SOUND
that makes tears come TO the ewes ot
his hearers. What the technical merits
Of his music may be, the audience die
not care last night, for they got thai
feeling, and II did them good. II was
very sweet, and, even when he dropped
to popular airs, ii remained sweet Lee
Filler, the Russian boy violinist" Il
the way the program names him. Ia.
zeIle, Vernon & Co. in comic pantomimt
gave horseplay that was really funny
and it was out of the ordinary, being il
costumes and situations Euronear
enough to make one believe 1t was al
announced, Fresh from the Euglisl
music halls The Bell trio appeared II
nice, cool looking, gray tuxedos and
they sang well A sketch, 18th.
Rounder," by ]. c. Nugent, was funn,
until the end, when it had a thorough!
pointed moral.
CENTRAL
Virtue is being rewarded and vic,
hissed with unprecedented vigor thi.
week at the Central in kidnapped" tn,
comedy melodrama by David Higgins
with Herschel Mayail, James Corrigan
C,-fr