The Washington times., 1909-08-31

Three years ago I was the best tele-
graph operator in these parts. Now I'm
a drunken bum. That's what drink II
do for a man. I've been kicked out Of
every place 1 tried to get work. every
body has a cuff for poor Billy West
now wipes away a tear. but I'll make
EN- take notice. (Straightens up III
cut it all out. III be a man again, III
do all that. Adele. if you will help me-"
III be your friend always. Billy, but
taking both his hands,, / can't marry
YOU
Between seasons. after we have been
surfeited with tragedies of the classics,
and had enough of drama and while
we are waiting for the new seasons
brand of heart interest plays, It is worth
while to see a genuine old-fashioned
melodrama such as Wanted by the Po-
lice at the Academy.
Talk of your problem plays. Ibsen
was never like this. No blase first
nighters there. They are the. busiest
little critics that ever happened and
away up I'm the peanut" are the gal
lery gods who are the real Billikens
of the melodrama as it ought to be.
There isn't the lack of demonstration
the big league" managers complain of.
n lAfN AtAAUiAoLldlG very clearly WIaL
they like and what they don't like. Cat
calls, not critics, mark the failure of a
melodrama. Kisses form the highest
stamp OF approval, for they mean that
the villain is 'on the job" which is
the acme Of h melO. And If they like
it very much they veil. and if they like
IL too much that Way the big policeman
up there taps his stick on the iron rail-
ing and the lights go mp, and another
meiodrama has registered a hit.
Old Scout Baf1ed.
The police reporter was along. He sat
down with his pencil stub and tried 70
make a diagram of the clues. It was
too much for him. The author, Lang
don Mccormick. who also wrote 1.-THE
Life of an Actress The Convict and
the Girl" and Money and the Woman"
had him guessing from the curtain call.
Villains don't always wear checked
suits and bis. black moustaches. Mr..
Alfred Kingdom was one OF the most
g-entIemanly villains that ever donned
a long black OvercOat to hide a revolver.
But the CLEAN in his eye was wicked,
there was no mistaking that. and Miss
Lena Won H"aufenStau1en mad the
swer. Every time I look into your
face, quoth she, Il see a murder
There wasn't any time wasted IN
showing his hand either. The curtain
goes up. the villain enters stealthily
Gust as they always do mutters some
thing and the front door of the "old
homestead opens. on the threshold
stands Miss Doris Moore.
You here again.. I hate YOU. Co
away. I'll pay the rent this evening
when sister comes back from New
York
Il don't want 70 throw YOU ali out
into the street. Why won't you take me
at my word. I'll have a carriage wait
ing tonight"
"He wants 70 spirit her away hoarse-
ly whispered some one in the fifth row.
Spirited Away
of course he did. Villains all do that
But there's action there! The curtain
up only two minutes and we are right.
into the middle OF things, and the fun
hasn't half begun
Then you will take the consequences"
cries the villain.
as to clothes and unsteady as TO foot.
stop! That is no way 10 talk TO a
lady"
II is Billy WestI
What is that to you. you drunken
bum?"
u may be drunk, but I haven't for
gotten my manners. You get out Of
Ordered off my own property, en-?
that CBHly falls). And clicking him
that. and that!'
Say, that's enough Of that; never
kick "A man when he Is down"
That brings them way up there In
the seats Of the mighty. Did you hear