Evening star., 1912-09-08

NAk farewell to the vanishing
wv stock season than IN Its well
come to the regular routine,
apparently, the Washington theater-solng
public will now begin to plan for lts iaii
and winter entertainment in the dranauc
field. Those who can afford II Will not
be much perturbed. because they VIII go
as heretofore to see the new plays tlat
come or enjoy again those that nave al
ready been seen. But those who measure
the dollar by the close rule OF economy
and there are many of them even IN
Washington. the less costly purveyors ol
amusement must now entertain. WASH
ington is well equipped to meet the de-
mands of both classes. Its people VIII
not lack the opportunity to smile, thrill or
shed sympathetic tears over fictitious nap
penings, or chase away care with llgnt
and frivolous entertainment during the
long season until its favorite stock play
ers return again. Washington managers
have long since learned the art OF spe-
cializing to divide a generous patronage.
Tho Columbia Players wisely chose
"Her Husbands Wife" as their fareWeli
Offering for in 1t the several members OF
the company indelibly stamped their
worth in the dramatic line and left the
pleasantest of remembrances until they
come again. Miss Nelson has never ap-
peared 10 better advantage, and MT.
robins easily shared the honors with her,
with Miss Thatcher close, If at all, be-
hind them. The farewell ovattons through
the various performances of the week
were marked demonstrations evidently
as sincere as they were unusual.
Checkers at the hands of the popular
Poll Players lost none of It's brightness
and cheerful humor. 1t was delightfully."-
played and thoroughly enjoyed by large
audiences the entire week. How much
better are such plays for the entertain
ment of the summer stock patronage
than the somber. the demorahZing ana
the utterly impossible plays OF sex prob
lens and suggestion.
Sir Arthur Pinero who ought to know,
referring to theatrical conditions in Eng
land, is reported as saying: Our actors
are not trained-that is. our younger
actors. They are not versatile. We feel
the need of the old stock company sys-
tenn, which was the most perfect train
ing school OF the actor. Look at the
older players, the disappearing genera
tion, and at ours. Every one OF them
was the product of the stock company.
Are equally capable actors coming along
to take their places? i think not"
That splendid and experienced actor,
George Arliss, it is said, echoes the Senti-
ment in part. and says: If you want to
learn to act endeavor to get into a stock
company.
Yet some Of the leading producers. the
hunters after types" are said to have
actually put the ban upon stock company
players. But the public, which pays for
the entertainment, seems to be strong for
the stock company all over the country,
and many Of the big cities have stock
productions all the year round. Another
fact not to be overlooked Is that they
seem to grow more enthusiastic over the
utn sha,, fhny- 6n a
carefully prepared productions Of the
regular season. Why?
The Cosmos Theater this week cele-
brates its fourth anniversary in elaborate
fashion. and seats during the week will
doubtless be difficult to obtain. The
house for four years has catered with
refined vaudeville of the better class to
Washington amusement lovers. and num-
bers among its clientle Washingtons
best citizens, as well as thousands who
cannot afford more than the very mod
crate charge which it exacts for its en-
tertainment. Small wonder that its sue
cess seems long assured.
OPALESCENT PERSONALITY why
have / never married." said Frank
Metzerott. repeating question asked
him when he seemed in a pensive mood
one day last week. 1t startled his friends,
who Immediately pricked UP their ears
for a sensational disclosure. Well" re-
sumed Frank, 'it is a sad story. It is
because I fear have an opalescent per-
sonality.
a what?" came the chorus Of his
friends
IAN opalescent personality. Yes, I'm
afraid that's the reason.
.'Well. explain yourself shouted the
most eager OF the bunch. 1T sounds
good. anyway"
Well 1t isn't good. at least for me-"
replied Frank. / once knew a girl-angel,
perhaps. would describe her better. for
picked her out of thousands. It was not
her youth. or her beauty. or her per-
sonal charms that attracted me. For
strange as 1t may seem l never saw her
"Oh, / say, Frank, get back on earth.
That's just where | am with both
feet firmly planted. / never saw her.
but l "sensed" her as these occult
mediums sometimes put 1t.
'Thatcher's story in The Sunday Star
some weeks ago about a mysterious 1T"
Is what revived the memory.
When We first began with the Colum-
bia Players four years ago | received an
anonymous letter one week commenting
upon some of the players. / did not
know how to answer II. yet ! felt an ir-
resistible impulse to do So / persuaded
one of my friends connected with the
dramatic staff OF "A local paper TO do it
for me. He wrote story that was Deem
ed clever. My correspondent was clever
enough, however, to perceive il was a
reply to her letter. and she came back at
me. The correspondence ran thus for
several weeks
but one week. in some way / do not
know precisely how. he injected some
thing into his story that brought me the
most mystifying letter l ever received.
My correspondent, limiting at the latest
story. intimated that 1 had three person
aiities, that / was a sort of composite
picture of DR.. Jekyl and Mr.. HYDE and
Sir Galahad all rolled into one. She had
held the magic glass before my face and
shown me up. I am thoroughly familiar
with the knight errantry and splendid
nobility OF Sir Galahad. the sanctimonious
sobriety and uprightness OF DIR. Jekyl
and the satanic deviltry of Mr.. Hyde.
But ir my life depended upon II. j could
find no resemblance to myself in any one
OF them
personality which l think is peculiarly
my own. but II is different from all OF
them. Often I have sought in novels and
plays 10 find my counterpart. but in vain.
So 1 puzzled my head with guessing.
my story writer could not help me. He
carefully dissected his latest story with
the skill of a true vivisectionist. declared
he had received my full approval OF every
line, even said had told him he seemed
10 reflect my very thoughts. but be that
as IL may, somehow he had Injected
personality into the story that frightened
my correspondent. She frankly told me
So and she gave me to understand that
while she could endure the dual per-
sonality' I seemed to possess. the inter
loper was not welcome. and like little
Miss Muffet the spider had frightened her