The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1910-03-03
COL. GORDON CHEERED
AT WASHINGTON PLAY
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSISSIPPI
SENATORS AND DIPLOMATS ACCEPT
HIS INVITATION AND GREER RIM
WILDLY. he DECLINES TO SPEAK

tional capital went wild with en-
thusiasm tonight at the presen-
tation of THE Gentleman from
Mississippi" at the Columbia
Theater. Senator James Gordon,
seated in the front row, shared
honors with the play in which
his prototype of character and
wholesome sentiment was the
star feature. AS a farewell TO
| his colleagues, Senator Gordon
had invited them all to attend
the opening of the weeks sea-
son of the play, including the
President himself, and as a re-
suit all Washington tried TO
crowd into the theater.
1t was in the intermission be-
tween the third and fourth acts
that the audience broke loose i'm
demonstration for Gordon.
Thomas A. Wise, who was play
ing the part of the Gentleman,
finally responded with a speech
in answer to the repeated cur
tain calls. He spoke Of the risks
the company felt in presenting
in Washington a play that dealt
such singing criticism Of the
national solons. He rippled
along humorously and then spoke
of the presence of Senator Cor
don and the speech he delivered
in the Senate a few days ago,
breathing such good, homely
thoughts as it was hoped the
play might inculcate.
Reference to Senator Gordon
let loose the flood Of the great
audiences tribute to the retiring
Senator Alice Roosevelt Long
worth from her box led in the
ovation. She reached out her
hands toward the aged Senator
sitting abashed in his front row
seat. When the cries of
speech" and Senator Gordon"
went up she reached out her
hands appealingly toward his,
clapping them with enthusiasm
all the while.
Representative Iongworth was
no less demonstrative than his
wife. Ambassador Bryce, in an
adjoining box, could not resist
the contagion of good will and
did the best he could to show how
happy he felt. Austrian Ambas-
sador Baron Hengelmuller also
was demonstrative. In all the
boxes, filled with diplomats, there
was a remarkable exhibition
toward the plain, but distin-
guished citizen from Mississippi,
The audience of senators and rep
resentatives and all official life of
Washington was no less eloquent
in its tributes. The hand clap
ping swept through the galleries
and the storm calls for Gordon"
grew more and more insistent.
Actor Wise from the stage be-
came master of ceremonies. He
waited patiently for Senator Cor
don to respond. He let the audi
ence have it out with its enthusi-
asm and for fully fifteen minutes
the demonstration kept up. Fin
ally Senator Gordon arose, waved
his hand and bowed to the audi
ence. That only kindled the
flame. The ovation reached its
highest pitch in its clamor that
the Senator should speak. But
Wise signaled for silence and
then he explained that I'VE must
respect the gentleman's becom-
ing modesty."
There was one more wave Of
vigorous hand-clapping in a final
testimonial Of the audience.
Unfortunately President Taft
was prevented from attending,
but Mrs. Taft was present and
she was no less enthusiastic than
all the rest.
One of the boxes was decorated
with the coat of arms of Missis-
sippi. The management had in
tended that Col. Gordon should
be seated there, but again a be-
coming modesty prevented him
from being conspicuous. He pre-
ferred the seat right down i'm
front, where he wasn't prOmi-
nent and where he could hear
well.