The Washington times., 1911-02-21
MINISTER BEDLOE
VISITING CAPITAL
William H. Crane Returns to
Washington in Diplo-
matte Role.
Have you ever heard of Caribay?

Have you ever heard OF Caribay?
Doubtless If you have your knowledge
has been gained through a Chautauqua
travel course or through the alluring
descriptions of some steamship COM
pany. II so it Is also probably true that
You long to visit there. But before you
do anything rash like buying tickets,
STOP look, and listen.
In fact 1t might be we'll to consult
Col. jackson Bedloe, of Springfield. Ac-
cording 10 him, no less an authority
than United States minister to Caribay.
it is not the paradise 1t is pictured.
On the other hand it is the original
home of the hookworm, a place so slow
that Philadelphia on a rainy Sunday
afternoon is a hurricane of activity by
comparison, so hot even in midwinter
that one has TO hurry to keep ahead of
a sunstroke. and altogether undesirable.
All this information was garnered first
hand by those who made the acquaint-
ance of the colonel, better known as
William II. Crane, last night at the
National at the first production here Of
George AIDES sparkling play, United
States Minister Bedloe."
Audience Distinguished.
Minister Bedloe fguratively shook
hands with a goOdly number of
Washingtonians, including the Chief
Executive, last night and while he
possibly does not rank very high as
a diplomat, personally he made a
very favorable impression and
will doubtless make many friends
mere before his weeks visit is over
Colonel Bedloe was one OF the promi-
nent citizens of Springfield. one of the
thirty towns by that name on the
map. He ran a paper there for many
years before he became a power in
politics and sought recognition. He
also had a charming family and A
dashing Young prospective son-in-
law and a secretary who was former
Iy a sporting editor. All OF these ad-
juncts ard accessories were taken
along when he was sent to Carfbay
as United States minister.
Just at first things we've very dull
in his new post, but along came a
revolution and there was action
enough for a Yankee colonel, title de-
rived from service on the governors
staff. Forced into the game the new
iliislStoi "iNCS III ONtl Ills Hedu. anu
while maintaining a strict neutrality
takes personal charge of the opera
bouffe war and turns the republic
topsy tprvey and then goes home.
Satire Is Clever.
George AIDE, in providing Mr.. Crane
with his vehicle, has written a clever
satire upon our diplomatic service. OF
course, Colonel Bedloe is not a real
diplomat, for his theory of What do a
few rules and a little red tape amount
to when it means turning down a
friend" would not hold water in our
very best diplomatic circles. But Mr..
Crane makes his Minister Bedloe a
very delightful and amusing example
of an exaggerated shirt-sIeeve di-
plomacy, and George AIDE has given a
full quota of his brightest lines to the
play.
Possibly the most interesting figure
in Mr.. Cranes support for old acquaint-
ance sake is Mrs. Thomas Whiffen. who
gives a natural, easy portrayal of the
coloners wife. The support in the
main is good. and, save for an occa-
sional lapse, the action of the play runs
along unhaltingly.
Last nights audience showed its ap-
proval so heartily that the star was
forced to make little speech of thanks
at the end of the third act.