The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-19

Barr McCutcheon, the author, might con- sider some of his other and later books worthier of the honor. But it is a well known fact that artistic creators are in- variably bad judges of their own master pieces. William Cullen Bryant wrote '.Thanatopsis" at the age of IS, and re- fused to agree with the world in con- sdering it the gem of his efforts-su-
 perior to the work of his riper years. The
 public estimate, however. is usually a pretty correct one. The booksellers ledgers would undoubtedly measure in prosaic dollars anc cents the vast amount of the greater popularity of "Graustark," not only to MT. McCutch- cons other books, but to the novels of any of his contemporaries. That 1t should be made into a play was inevitable, and George D. Baker, the adaptor, has han dled MT McCutcheon's book with sympa- thetic discretion, following the story closely MT. James w. Castle has brought all his genius as a director and
 producer into play with the result that admirers of the. novel find their pleasure enhanced by witnessing the drama. The scenery, so beautifully described in the book, Is before them. The characters, each especially selected for his fitness to the role, seem as if they had stepped from the printed pages of the novel, so closely do they fill MT. McCutcheon's de-
 scriptions. The play comes to the Bi5ou soon.
 The seat sale for "The Girl, the Man
 and the Game,' which will open at the Bijou on Monday. will begin on March 6. This new attraction, which is called 1 musical fantasy in two frolics, comes
 highly recommended as laughter pro- voker, and 1t is said that 1t affords Billy | (Single) Clifford the best opportunity Of
 most successful career for high fun
 maker. MT Clifford has dozen new l. and popular songs and the attraction is right down to the minute in every par ticular.
 Rehearsals of Fritzi Scheff's new opera
 "Rosita' have begun.
 Marion Fairfax Is writing play for
 Fully Marshall. who is still playing in
 "The City"
 Joseph w Herbert has left the cast of "The Princess in order to be present at rehearsals of "Rosita," the book of which
 he is the author.
 Kitty Gordon, Maud Raymond and liar " Fisher are three of the principal
 players announced for the Winter Gar
 ten.
 During holiday week the Messrs. Shu-
 bert had five special trains running on the same railroad the same weekend, and these passed each other between
 Chicago and Minneapolis. There were 30
 Pullmans and 15 scenery cars en route the same night, and in these were carried over 300 people-the players employed in
 up and Down Broadway" "The Jolly
 Bachelors and the New York Hippo drome show.
 Miss May Bo1ey was the first actress to
 introduce the bfurcated skirt % the stage In "The Balkan Princess" she wears a creation that is distinctly the first and last call on the present panta- loon craze. The garment has a sugges- tion of pajamas below and sleeveless evening gown above. This Is ''set off" by g hat such as astrologers in the old pie ture books are made to wear, and is trimmed with fur and lace to give mod ern effect.
 Miss Marie Rose, who plays the role of "Olga" in "The Balkan Princess,' is the daughter of William A. Brady, the manager. Miss Rose had hoped to keep her identity hidden, but Boston inter- viewer let the cat out of the bag. Off