The Washington times., 1912-01-18

Adams production of "Chantecler,"
which opens In the National Theater
February 5, he will be the eighth Pres
| ident to have seen this star, which
Is indeed a record, considering that
1t is held by n woman at the threshold
Of the forties. Such record could.
of course, not have been held by any
but the stage child who made her
appearance when only nine months old,
In the title of "The Lost Child," when
she was carried upon the stage in the
arms Of her mother. That was In
Grants term, which continued until
the girl could take n conscious part
behind the flickering gas Iootlights and
spread her charm among the grown
ups" as Little Schneider"
Then came President Hayes admin
istration. When he first took his seat
in the Presidential box, Maude Adams
was playing with James O'Neil in
"Chums."
Garfield followed, and in his Admin.
istration, Maude Adams, now grown
TO interesting girlhood, was seen In
THE Paymaster." Then with Cleve-
land the mlsts of reminiscence parts
for all those who found themselves
within the circle Of her admirers and
who realized that they saw the woman
of their homes, not the woman of the
night-oDen restaurants, who brought to
them her portrayals of Louisa in "The
Highest Bidder the minister's sister
In "A Midnight Bell" Evanseline In
"All the Comforts Of Home" Dora In
Men and Women" and Nell in THE
Lost Paradise
Only Nineteen When She
Had First True Success.
Harrison it was, however, who wit
| messed her first marked success, when,
though only nineteen years of aye.
she became leading woman with John
Drew, playing Suzanne in "The Masked
Ball Thereafter her returns were
looked forward to when she appeared
as Miriam In THE Butterflies" and
Cleveland, like all those who have
watched her. must have felt that cher
ished suggestion of close relationship
In her to all that was sweet, and pure.
and beautiful so long ago.
No one can forget the Little Minis
ter nor has the Lady Babbie, who
fitted before President McKinley.s ewes.
dimmed in any hearts from the sweet
fresh girl of that day. who created n
new world for her audiences, a world
beautiful with the sweetness of the
soul from which 1t sprang. Now Miss
with" Mrs. Hillary" and Juliet" which
followed, her skill and increasing
strength strength, might fill the public with an
so that she might give them a being
strong, yet gentle, wise though inno-
cent, with a smile full of sad appeal.
as old as mankind; with a simplicity so
direct, SO genuine. that it brought with
it instant conviction that in her is ali
the banished youth Of all the earth.
Then in the year Of Mckinley's death,
Miss Adams left her beaten path. threw
aside her opportunities to hold her pub
lie spellbound with her touches of visit
full girlishness. For Roosevelt first saw
her from the Presidential box when she
Rayedb nR sbe IN et
filled with ideals he had no strength to
further. Here it was that she first en-
bodied for the public the elemental
audiences in her expressions of the boys
agonized protests against his own weak
ness, in the high-strung scene Of the
broken mirror. in the uncaRny glimpses
| character of the boy whose mighty soul
| consumed his delicate body, she develop
| ed theme more intense, more undevia-
| ting than ever before. theme of hope
through the world.
| fAoiA ACSoSA Az
The Great "Peter Pan"
Following "L'Aiglon." WASHINGTON
:ans, in company with their President,
saw three other plays Of lesser import
ance only when compared by the stand
ard Miss Adams had set herself. These
were Quality Street." in which she
played Phoebe Throssel. THE Pretty
Sister Of Jose" in which she was Pep
ita. and "'Op O. Me Thumb where
she played Amanda Aftleck. But later
Roosevelt saw her In the National
Theatcr. wherein she played Peter
pathos. life, romance. adventure were
children's eyes Before Maude Adams
American audiences, that have been
called cold. indifferent. seeking only
| What Is cheap in the theaters. row, by
the strength OF her being, laughed,
wept. and were thrilled as her words
struck in them chords Of passionate
longing and hope. They had felt her
very heart: thev had bowed to the spell
which true men and Homen cast when
In moments of inspiration they become
radiant with truth.
Roosevelt gave place to-, to Taft; and
Knows. whcrs, again Miss ADAMS rose
above her earlier self. You have
Inissed the finest thing in life. John"
she said to her husband Romance!"
In tndt phrase SHc pidCtu DSloe tnc
public the essence Of her belief. an
understanding of happiness here below;
happiness of the right sort: noble hap
piness
Last Of all comes "Chantecler." sing
ing TIE beauty Of his ideals. And In
this, above all other roles, Miss Adams
will have opportunity of refuting that
irritating criticism that has often been
flung at her--that her success has not
been through straight acting. but
| through ulterior causes; because Of tn"
ovableness of her character, because
| OF the power of her personality, and
the like. Here, absolutely at last, the
charm of her personality must be sunk
in the glowing detail of part which
| represents all mankind treading through
laughter and tears, the, path of self
knowledge. the most difficult path In
| the world.
Welcome Awaits Both
Star and Her Vehicle.
| 'Chantecler will be welcomed not
| only for itself, but because Maude