The Washington times., 1911-10-17
Belasco Patrons in Ecstasy
at Scotchman's Droll 4
Humor. ~
SINGS OF BONNIE
LADS AND LASSIES
Sweetness oft His Wit Causes
~ Laughter That Is Touched
With Teara.

surrounded by a company or
than ordinary merit. Harry Lauder yes
terday afternoon and again last night
entertained for forty-five minutes a
large audience In the Beiasco Theater
with his delightful songs and his more
captivating personality. The drawing
power Of this diminutive Scotchrnan
with the infectious smile is not to be
gainsaid.
Perhaps, it'is his own enthusiasm that
infuses his audiences with the ardor
that Is shown constantly during the
time he is on the stage. amusing with
his queer little tricks and his quaint
Scotch ballads.
From the time the curtain rose yes.
terday upon the very excellent enter
tainment provided by William Norris,
until the singer made his appearance,
there was an atmosphere OF expectancy
In the audience, and while the eccsn-
trio and temperamental music of Tro-
vato charmed, and while the tricks OF
Grin. the English wizard and comedian.
were delicious in their humor. whils
Mexkel, the German mimic, gave ex.
cellent limitations Of all the great men
Of the century, dead and alive, ana
while the Tiffany Sisters delighted with
their songs. and the Satanella trio gave
wonderful exhibitions Of Russian
dances. 1t was not until the little man
In kilties made his appearance, that
the audience became quite satisfied.
There was lifting little melody from
the orchestra, which was drowned almost
as soon as It commenced in the thunder
Of applause shouted at the queer little
man whom the audience had been sit
ting on the edge of seats to welcome
ever since the performance had opened,
The little man stepped upon the stage
wearing q Scottish costume, and sup
ported by the most drunken corkscrew
of q cane anybody ever saw before. and
the like of which nobody ever expects
TO see again except in the hands of.
Harry Lander. Moving about in a half
skip and half dance, swinging this
grandfather of all crazy canes, the
CHEEKY smile of the little Scotchman
was reflected in hundreds Of faces Of
the audience. II there was anyone in
the Belasco Theater yesterday after
noon or last evening who took their
troubles there with them they went
away without them. am sure.
In two minutes the audience was mag
netized into common impulse Of fas-
cination for the droll little man. a sort
OF hypnotism that is difficult Of dag
nosis. An atmosphere had blown In
with him that dissipated in some un-
known and miraculous; fashion any dull
ness that may have been lurking in the
minds of anyone there. In the twink
ling Of an eye every mind was concen-
trated on this cheerful little man, his
clean humor. every note of his simple
little songs, every word Of his delicious
Scotch patter. 1t was an overwhelming
tribute to his personality.
Sings of
Highland Lassie.
LADDERS first song was a description
of Highland lassie, and II the High
land laddies sing their songs to those
lassies In the fashion that Lauder sang
Queen Amang the Heather yesterday.
wedding bells must be ringing constants
ly in the Land of the Thistle. Tho
second number, "Roamin' in the GloamI
in" is a dainty little gem Of a song.
in which Lauder told of his love for d
lassie, the delight of ''roamin'" with,
her on the banks of the Clyde, closing
with a quaint allusion to q love affait
between the teakettle on his own
hearth singing love songs to the teaI
pot. the same songs he had sung to his
Ia ssie while "Roamin' in the Gloamin'."
In another song Lauder made his en@
trance on decrepit velocipede. and hid
attempt to dis,odge q lollipop, which
had been stuck somewhere between the
roof Of his mouth and his throat. kept
the audience convulsed. There were
other songs, all given with that delight@
full vein Of humor that characterized
this little man.
While 1t is admitted that the world
contains cleyerer comedians and fun-
nier singers, he Is perhaps the greatest
of them all by reason of his personality
plus his gifts. He has a wonderfully
sympathetic voice, a face fulk Of exI
preston, and his work is artistic, never
for one moment descending to horse
play or caricature. His songs Rra
sweet, his music light and easy. and,
best of all, they are entirely different.
lr fact, they are frequently of that ex4
quisite brand Of hImor that Is closo
akin to tears. Some OF the eyes in yes+
terday's audiences were suspiciously
moist when he sang his songs Of the
hills and heather, the bluetells. and
bonnie lassies. He never approaches
the vulgar, but out of his wonderful
smile he can bubble into the most In.
fectious laugh that was ever heard II, q
theater. He tells his stories, which ha
has probably told a thousand times be-
the first time and enjoying them in+
menscly himself. This lit man de-
serves all the fame that Is coming I'd
him. for he brings into the monotony Of
everyday existence a shaft OF wit 81
clear as the sun that shines upon hI3
native hills, breath of humor al
wholesome as the breezes that blow over
them. JULIA MURDOCH.