Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-03

hy substantial musical appre
citation. 1t requires not onl!
the perception of merit, but the abiit.
to make reasonable allowances TO
human limitations. TO establish a whole
some and rational standard Of taste IL
this class of entertainment. For grand
opera no impreSario, however keen o.
discernment. can give positive guar
antee. Any one of thousand thing.
may occur to spoil a well rehearsed anC
competently cast production and the au
ditor who invests in ticket is in thu
position of a person who has placed q
wager; he may win an evening of en-.
ioyment or he may lose both his money
and his time. Grand opera is capable OF
so much establishment in the way OF
scenery. costumes. ballet and orchestra
equipment that the one great essential
the vocal proficiency of the principal sing.
ers, is not always given the consideration
to which it is entitled in popular regard
Even with the best of management these
celebrations are in danger of going wrong
and hin'.oriag rather than helping the
production. 1t is on such an occasion
that sympathetic comprehension of an
intended effect must take the place of its
actual attainment in order to permit the
enjoyment of the solid merit which In
an organization of any reputation what
ever is usually present The French
Opera Company was variable in the de-
gree of artistic efficiency which it display
ed from evening to evening, but was in
variably able to show some feature we'll
worth enthusiastic attention. Its visit
was successful enterprise and there is
every reason to hope that its parting
salutation to Washington was Eau re-
voir.''
The influence of grand opera in a COM
munity as devoted to the entertainment
afforded by the theater as Washington Is
must be regarded as highly desirable. 1t
is above the necessity of censorship where
inexperienced patronage is concerned and
stimulates an interest not only in good
music. but in good literature. since the
libretti of the standard operas are found
ed on the works of the greatest masters
of the pen. The earnest and consistent
appreciation of opera manifested by this
community is the natural accompaniment
OF its Reputation of vicious amusement.
Washington is normally clean city. not
ably free from the Haunting offense to
which most cities of the larger class find
it necessary to close their eyes in con-
fessed helplessness. 1t is only the out-of-
town manager who ignorantly measures
all classes of patronage by standards to
which he has been accustomed who ven-
lures to affront a certain civic sense of
decency which has become fundamental
social principle. Washington managers
when devising entertainments their
own account. instead of presenting what
has been provided for by previous con-
tract. never affront this sense, except
by the sheerest accident.
The idea of a police censorship of
plays, at first more or less loosely i'm
pressive. has become a serious consid-
Grafton. There can be no doubt of the
moral support of the public generally
in an effort to prevent the stage from
becoming an institution of licensed vul-
garity. Not much benefit can be ex-
pected. however. from an effort to tenn
per Justice to the feelings Of the decent
playgoer with mercy for the producing
manager who brings tainted material
to this market. No literary experiences
could redeem an Inherently and inten-
tionally vulgar play by the omission of
a few lines and the modification of one
or two episodes. This was attempted by
the police at the Monday night per-
Torrance of THE Girl With the WhoOp-
ing Cough farce which, while con-
spcuous for it's humorous ingenuity,
was hopelessly meretricious. The ut
most federation which familiarity with
the stage might invite could not devise
a reason for it's existence. The news
that the police had inspected and
changed the show Monday night was
unfortunate in permitting the inference
that the piece had been rendered fit for
further presentation. 1t was allowed
to effiuviate throughout the entire week.
The sentiment of right minded COM
munity would have supported it's in
slant suppression, even if legal techni-
calities had supervened to mitigate the
force of such drastic action.
When the Englishman's egoism is to
be satirized. only an Englishman can do
il. II takes cOmpatriot to fathom the
depths of self-esteem the British nature
may reach When an American play
wright undertakes to humorously dis
cuss John Bull he contents himself
with drawing a picture of the English
lord, real or nctltlOuS, IN search OF a
fortune Mr. Somerset Vaughan. in
Penelope" takes the deficient sense of
humor of an Englishman as his topic
and treats il with even more charming
drollery than Mr.. Barrie displayed in
What Every Woman Knows" Miss
Tempest who is one of the most gifted
players that Engish-s speaking comedy
can boast. supported by a company
worthy OF her skill. was figure Of de-
lightful consequence throughout the
week. PHILANDER JOHNSON.
TO KEEP YOUNG.-'Why did Dem
man Thompson. the seventy seven-year-
old comedian. leave The Old Homestead
farm at West Swanzey. N H., and return
TO the stage of polite vaudeville?" is a
question often asked. Here is Mr.
Thompson's own reply:
The chances are that if l were not
playing would be nodding In chair in
my chimney corner. OF course I would
not exercise any; I'm too lazy for that.
and so | shut up the farmhouse last
December and determined to go to work
for the sake Of my health.
Asked about the famous farm and its
crops. he replied:
Crops? We have large crops of corn
and wheat and oatmeal and rye bread
and corn meal mush In winter storage
1t was very successful year. Only last
year | added 112 acres to the farm. To
nv notion molds OF butter and fresh laid