davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13

were epigrammatic simply because il was
antitheticaL II is the mistake thar
other authors. dramatic and otherwise
have fallen into.
As to dramatic technique. Drifting
mas nothing that family resembles it.
mere Is hardly piece OF action in the
play that may not be criticised adversely
rom pam, common sense grounds. Into
TINS exclusive Newport villa, for instance,
money lender comes and goes without
let There Is a conversation over the
phone IN the first act, Althea trying To
1901 the money lender by a false CONVEX
sation with Nc Harrison on the other
enc II IS - obvious and puerile that it
would not deceive a child let alone a
man who was hustling to get back 5000
OF money loaned on rotten security. We
are asked 90 believe that lust because
Mrs Harrison's maid had gone out she
cannot find any clothes for herself but
has 70 come down in the afternoon clad
in beribboned pettieoat and a peienoir.
In this same first act il is suggested by
Althea that ''Tensyn ought 10 give a
party. and 10, Ia twenty minutes, before
the act is ended, here is the party all
gathered in evening regaiia, the dinner is
set on the porch and a company of ne
sroes occupies the stage. singing coon"
songs and dancing. supposedly a typical
Newport way Of entertaining dinner
guests.
But TO catalogue the arrant absurdities
in the way of violation Of all the unities
that should control drama-even a
comedy-would grow tiresome. One could
mention many more if it were necessary
TO support the ipse dixit of the observer
that the play has no technique.
And in characterization the play is
equally weak. We who write this have
not the honor of being an intimate of
Newport society. but We are quite sure
that the subject of having children or
not having them is not a usual topic in
the living halls of Newport villas. Such
is dragged in-for no appar-
ent reason-three or four times in the
course Of this play. We have pointed cut
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13

exception to the rule, for the large aud
fence laughed Just as heartily and ap-
piauded just as vigorously as if this had
been the FIRST visit OF Anne Warmers
comedy 10 this city.
Indeed, it would appear that this piece
ike others of its stamp, will never grow
old II has its defects, of course, but all
realization Of them is lost in the enjO ?
ment one gets from the lines, the action
the business, and the acting 1t has for
its theme that ever new, though world
Old story Of mother love and devotion
TO the child. which in this instance. il is
true, does not belong 10 Aunt Mary, but
who she claims through the right OF up
bringing. Of education. and of watchful-
ness. the boy whom she sees safely
through all his childish ailments, only
to find that she has more work to DO
when he comes TO mans estate-for he
gets intO troubles with cabmen. cooks,
and felines of both the biped and quad
ruped varieties. But through il all she
watches him tenderly, and at last claims
him as her boy-and gains a daughter
thereby.
There is certainly no use 10 give the
plot Of this piece-as well reteIl the story
of The Old Homestead" or way
as surely there remains little or nothing
TO be said of Miss May Robson's delinia-
ton of the character of Aunt Mary.
Suffice il to say that she Goes not act
Aunt Mary-she is Aunt Maryland long
before the fall of the curtain every one
in the audience loves her with that same
love which she begets in Jack and her
'other boys" Simple and sweet, an old
fashioned print suddenly come to life,
tender hearted and true, childless and yet
a mother-Miss Robson makes OF the
character OF Aunt Mary one long to be
remembered and loved by those who have
had the good fortune to witness her
Characterization.
Second only to the work done by the
star is the acting of Nina Saville. who
still has the role of Lucinda, Aunt Marys
maid. Miss Saville has developed into
splendid character actress, and if the
rumor Of a company of her own next
season comes true. it is only to be hoped
that she will be provided with a suitable
and adequate part
Others Of the company who helped to
make the evening enjoyable were Faye
Cusiek, as Betty Gt was noticed that her
hair shows no signs of the bad scorching
il received at a benefit performance dur
ing her last visit here): Jack Storey. as
Jack. Aunt Mary's nephew: Paul Decker.
Arthur Deering, and John Mcmahon, as
Jacks chums, and Lolita Blake in a
character bit.
II you want to find out the real way
to set about it" go and spend an evening
with Aunt Mary-shell show you how.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
Scene from Drifting at the easco Theater last night

some of the improbabilities in the charac-
ter of the money lender who is so easily
cOzened out of his money-there are 9TH
ers. The character of William Worth
ingtOn is not even consistenC. If ne were
such a lady-killer as he and his friends
all except Harrison-make him out 10 be,
his escapades have not taught him much,
for who but an arrant idiot who grab =
married woman and kiss her in her own
living hall with a lot OF people coming
in and geing out? This character of Mt
Gibson's meant TO be so knowing proves
by his actions to be a rank amateur.
Even the character of Tensy is alb
surdly drawn and all out of line, to use
the phrases of another branch OF art
Here Is a woman after three months of
Newport fast life and gambling: woman
who has exceeded her allowance by sew
eral thousands and who has had a bank
account for months, made to say by the
author:
There is my check for S,1O0 ! know
it is all right for / have three checks
left in my check book.
Such stupidity is not only foreign TO
the character OF a girl who has been
through such training. hut it impresses
you with the lack of thought Of an au-
LilUI WHO Slbuiu 80 Lulfcuuu d Joke tIidl
has done duty in the comic almanacs
these many years.
The acting is much better than the
play-much too good, in fact. to be
wasted on such a vehicle. Mr.. Wal
ter Hale, always d conscientious player,
really manages TO put some life into the
character of Harrison; that is, until the
absurd last act of reconciliation and i'm
possible happy ending" when even his
ability cannot galvanize the thing into
life. Janet Sothern, as Althea Anderson.
plays the part of the Villainess in quite
the approved style, and Frank Goldsmith,
as Bill Worthington. did some good acting.
But the one character that was made to
stand out was that of Hortense Harrison,
played by Miss Edith Luckett. a Wash
ington girl. She has improved wonder
fully since she was last seen in Wash
ington: she has gained force. self-posses-
sion, sureness of touch, and in this part
she displays those qualities that made
Frances Starr famous in The Easiest
Way" Given a real chance some day.
Miss Luckett will be heard from The
other parts in the play are all minor, and
make not much difference. anyway.
To think that Drifting has any
chance of success on the American
stage is to think less generously of
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
GENERAL STRIKE
FEARED AT CANAL
Commission Troubled Over
Labor Situation.

There is a serious situation facing the
government officials in the Panama
Canal Zone According to private ad-
vices received here yesterday from the
Isthmus of Panama. it Is not an improb-
ability that a general strike may re-
suit
The trouble has arisen from a demand
for more pay. The canal employees more
than year ago made the demand TO the
local officials on the zone The demand
got TO further. They then appealed 10
the War Department. and after consider
alton Mr. Dickinson. the Secretary Of
War, decided to give the hourly men.
so called from being employed by the
hour, a short annual leave, but denied
an increase in. pay.
The men then appealed TO President
Taft The President left the matter for
attention until his recent trip, when he
could look into the matter at close range
Late advices indicate that the ulti-
mate recommendation of the President
will be for four weeks yearly leave with
pay, with a proviso that the leave may
be deferred one year, TO allow six weeks
at one time Although stated that such
is not the official PRONUNCIATION of the
Presidents order, il is understood TO be
authoritative.
The majority OF the trouble now being
experienced is with the boilermakers in
the Gorgona shops. only II out of 10
first-class men being at work, according
to late cable dispatches. Men to take
their places are being recruited in diff
ferent sections of the country.
That there is uneasiness over the situ-
alton at the offices of the canal COM
mission here is also shown by the efforts
being made TO get workmen TO take the
places of those who have resigned. They
have notified agents in the Dominion of
Canada and in Europe TO do all they can.
and advertise the fact extensively that
employees. at high wages. are needed on
the canal
When asked If the importation of alien
labor to the Canal Zone would in viola
tion of the alien labor law, the authori-
ties here emphatically denied it saying
that the zone is not American territory
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
THE GAYETY.
BurIesque.


There is no question that the ''Roniek-
ing Girls at the Gayety this week, is
properly named, as the fair sex is prom
inent IN all parts played in last nights
show. The show is devoid Of all sugges-
tiveness and is bright and sprighuy in
songs and dances.
Morva Williams. as the female drum
mer, is a young lady whose type is sell
dom seen in a burlesque house. She
plays her part and sings her songs in
manner that would do justice 10 any
first-ciass company. Loretta Moore is
an extremely dainty young miss, who
took the house by storm in her first
number. entitled ''Sleepyhead." Audrey
Lang, as an actress. had very pleasing
voice. and was seen al her best in "Oh.
Mister Moon" Jimmy Connors did very
well In his parodies. and Russell and
Robinson. as the Fright brothers. gath
cred in a few laughs
The performance Is a musical comedy,
divided in two acts. the first being in a
department store. and the second on a
roof garden. AS stated before this show
is a typical -GiTiie" show. and the audi
ence demonstrated by prolonged ap-
plause that this is the kind of show that
takes at the Ninth street house.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13

scenes echo the sbrieks of the choking
heroine, the crack OF pistols, and the
iangle of handouts or skeleton KEYS.
cioclSwork guN, sliding panels, and
Knockout drops are mere incidents in the
daily lives of Alice Craven and her little
brother she has sworn to protect. For
Alice Is heir TO an uncle's fortune which
Jannett BOynton desires for her own. So
the lady adventures forms a partnership
with Hungry Joe, postgraduate crook.
and thereafter excitement reigns until
1915
The things that happen 10 those two
children and their protector. a handsome
ioclIsmith, are enough To turn the hair
OF any normal person. but in the end
love doesn't laugh at the locksmith-
that would be quite against the rules.
The necessary relief for strained nerves
is furnished by two tramps. who provide
plenty of comedy OF the slap-stick va
riety often verging on rough-and-tumble
burlesque IN mounting. the funds have
chiefly been expended on gowns for the
vilIainness and gunpowder for the entire
cast
Evelyn Faber is the prosecuted Alice;
Rene Grau, the little brother, and Lynda
Earle the seheming woman, Ralph Mac
donald and Arthur Devoe have the prin-
cipal male roles, which are as conven-
tiOnal as the entire play.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
THE COLUMBIA.

Instrumentation OF Aunt Mary"
God Intended us all to be happy, only
some OF US don't know how TO set about
it,"
Thus spoke May Robson-pardon, Aunt
Mary-at the close of the performance OF
The Regeneration Of Aunt Mary, -
which opened its third return engagement
at the Columbia last evening. but II APP
peared that the remark was entirely SUI
perf1uOus. for the entire audience had
spent the evening being made happy by
Miss Robson and her excellent company,
whom the programme said were fresh
from distinguished success at Terry 5
London
BE that as it may, 1t is almost certain
that the success of 'The Remuneration
OF Aunt Mary has never been more dis
than on the occasion of its
visit 10 this city, and last night was no
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13

Aperican audiences and their intelli-
gence than We would willingly do Nor
would IL be just TO let this perform
ance Of Drifting pass without a ref
erence 10 certain passages OF vulgar
ity and cOarseness that should be
enough to condemn a play tinctured
with cleverness. which this play is not
Aiming to be smart" IL Is dull and
impossible: attempting TO draw char
aeters, il present. manilzins; giving forth
what are meant 10 be epgrams. they are
found 20 be meaningless witticisms
Drifting, which might have been sup
posed 10 point moral and teach tale,
does neither; it points to several i'm
morals and IL recites an improbable fairy
tale.
The play received some applause last
night but it was applause muffied by
long. white kid gloves. 1t was the ap-
plauso of friends-not admirers-and
friends never carried any supposed work
of art to any sort of success.
HECTOR FULLER.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
THE NEW LYCEUM.
RurIesaue.

The Merry Maidens, at the New Ly-
ceum this week, have one Of the best
shows seen here in burlesque this year
The incidental music is original and only
such popular songs as have not been
heard in this city are sung by the large
company. Sam Rice heads the list OF
funmakers, and that in itself is a syno-
nym for fun. The opening burletta, Fur
nished Rooms serves 10 introduce the
entire strength of the company. Mr.
Rice's associate comedians are in keeping
with the high standard he himself set,
and the chorus and principal women are
above the average burlesque actresses
The chorus is especially good The clos
ing buriesque is entitled "AI Aboard, 3"
and several entertaining specialties are
introduced by the company.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13

for the younger members Of the fam
lilies. a boy and girl on each side. are
in the throes of a double love affair, and
the affair is settled really by this exist
ence of facts in this specific instance
just as the general question is being
settled BY the world at large. In each
succeeding generation the old preJudiees
and traditions are growing weaker. and
the tendency TO judge man or woman
by intrinsic personal value IS growing
stronger. Irrespective OF the opinions or
ones own relatives or the relatives OF
the party Of the second part There Is
considerable comedy, mostly OF satiricai
nature, in the play, which invites interest
along with the paramount question I'M
der discussion while the characters IN
troduced are distinctly characteristic and
current. The Aaction has been given in
detail before and Ii is not necessary 10
sum up how, further tnan to say that
the production is a Gle yer discussion Of
world-old question, seery interestingly
exploited. and finely interpreted by the
company.
Mr.. Dodson is a character actor Of the
highest type. His art is the power OF
upholding his charaefeT's part In the
drama without allowing that character
To lose fof moment its identity. Iiis
portrayal OF Sir John CotswOld is cameo
ike in-4ts distinctiveness, and viii stand
as the best of his career and as one OF
the best that has honored the English
speaking stage Besides the mere effect
OF makeup and business. II has intel
lectuality and study behind it. In fact.
as an exemplihcati0n OF an individuai
member of a class it Is superb
The Sir Isaac Jacobson OF Frank Losee
is also a clever bit of work. for he, zoo,
effectively diseloses the individual repre-
senting a type-the liberal, enlightened
Jew, who is doing more TO remove the
social incubus from his race than a
thousand STEPPED in the old prejudices-
for it must be admitted that there are
prejudices on both sides, and must
also be admitted that they are disappear
ing gradually as a result of the growth OF
liberal influences on both sides
The whole company. for that matter. ia
very competent Miss Ruth Chester APP
pearins as Lady Cotswold, Miss Olive
Temple as Ubrica Cotswcld, Miss Lorena
Atwood as Lady Jacobson, Miss Fania
Marin0ff as Esther jacobson. Mr.. Harry
Ingram as Cecil Cotswold, Mr.. Henry
Warwick as Capt. Trevar. Mr.. John cros-
ney Davidson as Adrian Jacobson. Mr..
Frank Burbeck as Waiter Lewis and
Messrs. A. +. Hendon and Charles Deem
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
THE NEW NATIONAL.
'sThe House Next DOOR,


At the New National Theater last
night Mr.. J. E. Dodson opened his sec
ond engagement in 1.-THE House Next
Door" the comedy adapted from the
German by ]. Hartley Manners, and both
play and star must receive again the
favorable verdict rendered before. The
former, on account of its exceedingly
interesting exposition of a vexing ques-
ton. and the latter for his remarkable
characterization OF the chief figure in
the drama
The play is based on race prejudice.
as existing between Jew and Gentle. On
the one side is arrayed an English aris-
tocrat and his family. while on the other
is found a Jew who has risen TO af-
iuenee from nothing and his progeny.
The older representatives Of the two sides
Just about represent the situation as III
has been supposed to exist for centuries.
The Gentle Is unaIterably opposed 10
any ahiliation whatever, and the Jew
is disposed to intermix to a great extent
but balks at intermarriage, and that is
just where the crux OF the matter lay.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
THE CASINO.
VaudeviIIs.


Capacity houses greeted the bin pre-
sented at the Casino Theater yesterday
or the several unusual acts the chief at
traction was undoubtedly that billed as
1.-THE Balloon Girl" which, though sensa-
tional in character. was most refined and
enjoyable.
The musical Macks, with a handsome
stage equipment Of musical instruments,
which included about every instrument
from a violin to a bass horn, and numer-
Gus oddly contrived pieces from which
the musicians evolved harmony; the
Tod Nards. with acrobatic feats, FL Cor
do. in magician's tricks which provoked
much laughter; Myers and Tomsel, with
clever shadow dancing; Ash and Carr,
dancers. and the usual motion picture
plays completed the bin.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
THE ACADEMY.

ssrhe House With the Green Shutser..y
The hidden life of the underworld has
that same curious fascination for the ma
jority Of worthy and upright citizens that
the closed door exerted over the wives of
Bluebeard. There IS an Irresistible de-
sire to penetrate into the forbidden do
mainland SO dramatists provide the
criminal play as key with which the
timorous may enter and take a peep.
In THE House with the Green shut
ters' one is given fun look with money
refunded if not satisfactory. ThrougfSsen
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
CITY HIGH Up IN
WINTER BUILDING
Only Twelve Others SurpaSs
1t Last Month.

New building in Washington for the
month OF November was only 50 Der
cent less than that Of November. 1909
and Sl4 per cent greater than that or
October, 1919 Ia table showing build
ing operations in eighty-fve cities in the
country. there We're thirty-two cities
showing an increase and ffty-three a de-
crease from November, Of last year. The
expenditures in Washington for new
building last month. according 10 the
report issued by Bradsreets, was SSIS, Gl5.
Ihls was exceeded in amount by only
twelve other cities in the United States.
The total amount spent for building in
the eighty-five cities reported on for the
eleven months of the year was s753. 5i3.l47
which was a decrease Of 81 per cent from
that of the corresponding month Of last
year
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
BRIDGE OVER THE RIO GRANDE
Takes the Place of the Brownsville
siatamoras Ferry.

Austin, Tex. Dec. I2-The International
bridge across the Rio Grande, connect
ing Brownsville and Matam0ras, Mexico,
was opened to vehicle and foot-passenger
traffic to-day Its opening marks the end
Of the primitive ferry which James Still
man. of the City National Bank OF New
York, has operated across the river be-
tween the two places for forty years
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
THE COSMOS.

Robert Mcdonald and company. in "A
Friend in Need" have a comedy drama
that pleased two appreciative audiences
yesterday.
Woodford's midget animal circus made
a big hit with the little ones and their
friends, while Boldue and Roy present a
very acceptable musical act
Springer and Church, in a new farce
who Is It?' have laughing hit, aud
frankie Farrell a singer; Lilly Lang
don, an engaging little comedienne. COM
pleted bin that is one of the strongest
seen here this year
The entire bill viii be changed Thurs
day, with the exception Of the feature. ,"
which Will be retained for the entire
week.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13

in the roles the servants in the two
families y
The dIscus9ioR,is interesting, the inter-
pretations Artistic, and the denoueHrent
pleasing so that the siEgElarly effective
Characterization of the star is not the
only feature OF the production. It Is sat
isfactory as a whole. and the audience OF
last evening unequivocaliy renewed the
appreciation accorded UFOn its former
presentation.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
THE ARCADE.

The first Of the novelty races that have
been announced as a special card in the
skating auditorium az the Arcade, Four
teenth street and Park road northwest.
viii take place this evening. One event
Is an obstacle race. in which a large
field of entrants will compete for prizes
offered by the management. The race
will start promptly at $50 o'clock. and
at its completion skaters will again have
the right of way on the floor.
Tomorrow evening the first weekly
session of the ballroom viii be held.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
THE AVENUE GRAND.

Sam Thornberg and company. appear
ing In comedy playlet, captured the
honors of the programme at the Avenue
Grand Theater last night The house
was cFowded long before the curtain
rose, and the large crowd was generous
in its expressions OF approval of the diff
ferent offerings Dale and Dale, a clever
pair Of vocaiists. won encores. Dunbar
goat circus excited amusement. The ami
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
THE MAJESTIC.

An entertaining show was presented at
the Majestic TheateF yesterday TO a large
audience. The four feature acts include
the Five Musical Lovelands. high-class
musical act: the Three Clares. comedy
acrobats; Lem WEIGH. Hebrew and dia-
lect representations, and Marion Kay.
singing and talking Coincidence. The
majestograph concluded the performance
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13

Vienna Dec lZ-The government has resigned IN
Consequence Of the DETECTION Of the Poles, which
destroyed the government majority. The Polish
party insisted that the ship canals between the
Danube and Oder the Construction q which was
promised nine years ago, should be built while the
government declared that the work impossible
IN the present condition Of the finances the cost
z0ald be huge.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13

mails perform many seemingly impossi-
bic tricks. Boyd and Lorentz demon
strated their excellence as singers and
dancers The motion pictures depicted
several humorous ana dramatic subjects
The Avenue Grand Theater now has
afternoon performances each day al 3
o'cl6ck.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
THE PLAZA.

To-day at the Plaza first-time shown
picture "A Tangled Masquerade is the
feature. Another interesting picture that
viii be pleasing to all is Rachel. /"
Messrs. Wallace and Harkins will con-
tinue in special song offerings all week.