Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-09

public was once content 10 wait III
"a series of bouts by minor actors uhti'
some oratorical champion stepped 1ortn
and carried all before him Some OF the
giants OF the old-time stage were orators
rather than actors. depending far less on
character analysis and consistent poT-
travail than on the thrill Which comes
with the speech OF one gifted to thrill
the populace with voice and manner.
There was never a great Shakespeareah
actor Of the earlier school who would
mot have been hailed as leader of the
peopIe had he betaken himself to politics
instead of to poetry. The audiences Tor
whom a single star sufficed belonged to
an era when playgoers wanted much
more for their money. and for the sake
of quantity were willing to make allow
ances as to quality. Suburban street
cars played less part in arranging time
schedules and the song-and-dance artist
was permitted to appear between the
acts of the play IN conjunction with the
greatest actors of the time. The gallery
god had not forsaken his Olympus and
the ambrosial peanut afforded him soiace
II the performance Jagged He was con-
tent to wait for the big scene, and
felt fully rewarded by one or two mag
nificent outbursts of dramatic brilliancy.
1t was the day when time was not so
valuable. Chmaxes were always ap-
proached with much elaboration. A few
sentences more or less by way Of mere
establishment were never grudged. Men
had but recently ceased to laoor1ousiy
pen the words your most humble and
obedient servant" at the close Of their
letters whether they meant them or NOT.
The time is different and hero worship
fades a single star, however great
cannot recompenSe the feeling or fatigue
which comes when a few cases Of true
dramatic inspiration are surrounded oy
deserts of arid elocution. The world
loves Shakespeare as 1t always mas.
There is no change of fashion in the
theater TO which his plays cannot be ao-
justed, from EHzabethan simplicity to
the most spectacular magnificence. Tne
demand of the day is for condensation
and intensification. Acting versions from
which much that Is vital has been cut are
not so much resented as prolonged dis
!pIsys of me6iocrity. Where hours of
entertainment were once expected
minutes are accepted, but the minutes
must be well employed In a Shake
fspearean cast there should be at least
two actors of stellar proficiency; six or
eight are not too many. AS the general
public becomes more familiar with the
plays of Shakespeare Its patience with
Intervals of unskilIed demonStra alton be-
comes less.
All this was shown in the engage
:ment of Robert Mantell. veteran
actor, once an idol of the melodramatic
and romantic school and now an &C
cepted favorite in the classics. Mr.
sManteu Is a player whose hold On the
popular admiration is strong, and whose
methods are replete with bold strokes,
which compel the interest of the stu
dent Yet the most brilliant perform
iance of the week was the one in which
Charles B. Hanford. who, since the
closing of the New Theater production
of Mary Magdalen." has been In this
city. assumed the role of Othello In
order that Mr.. ManteL might play Iago
without too much sacrifice of the In
terest which normally attaches to the
title role. That Mr.. Hanford gave a
fine performance was to be accepted as
a matter of course. Exceptional as the
cast was, with the addition of Hanford,
IT was no more than playgoers have
right to expect when an enterprise
OF SO much artistic Importance as the
representation Of Shakespeare is un-
dsrtaken-
Lillian RusselPs play Is called TN
Search Of a Sinner" What Lillian Rus
sell Is really In search Of Is q play
wright who will provide her with a
role worthy Of her exceptional legiti-
mate talents.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
ZELDA SEARS SIZZLING vocA-
TTONS-"C-a-s-hr'
That IL how Zelda Sears got her start.
The call Of her art wasn't loud enough to
bring her of a walk In those days. But
she came a-running when she heard the
familiar cry of the department store. 1t
wasn't cash that started her on the
road to fame her pigtails flying and her
feet making tracks through the ladies'
notions department In Shorthand like
wise In short dresses-it was In the role
of cash girl that the star of The Nest
Egg made her first appearance before
the public
I'm have to go back to Port Huron
Mich. to begin the story of my life." said
Miss Sears. brushing back a lock OF her
hair that insisted upon getting into the
picture" as actor folk say. "It was a,
the scrawny age Of twelve that I began
to be especially hard on my shoes. / got
Job as cash girl by winning ten-dollaI
prize IN a school competition for writing
the best description OF the opening of the
first department store in Port Huron
After time / was promoted to the posi-
ton OF saleslady, and for year or 30
was very. very naughty. Then the desire
to become famous writer took hold OF
me and shook me to the very soul. Il
happened that the man who owned the
department store was also the owner OF
a newspa per. When / told him OF my
great ambition he gave me a Job on the
paper at 81 a week. My first assignment
was the ST. Clair county fair. II looked
big to me-and II was After giving the
town and the chickens and he fancy
needlework and the canned fruit good
notices / felt that 1 had left nothing un.
done. But l was mistaken. The mex,
day the proprietor of the paper more ir
anger than in sorrow. informed me that
had neglected to mention the exhibit OF
one OF his best advertisers. 1t took me
months to live that down.
Meanwhile I was doing everything
from dog fight to a pink tea, and hang
ing copy on the hook by the yard.
was an authority on progressive euchr,
parties, and when II came to any ole
esteemed fellow-townsman / could writ,
him UP with one hand tied behind m,
back Realizing that Journalism was al
open book TO me, went TO the propri
etor of the paper one day and modestl,
hot 80