Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-11


because with all the talk there ola
not seem to be any effort toward a re-
alixation of the expectation. 1t mas
remained, however, for P1impton B. Chase
to make good with the propositloh'
That he has done so completely ano'
satisfactorily need not be doubted by
those who take the trouble to see wnat
a masterpiece Of art and comfort IS
his new home Of polite vaudeville. which
he will open to the public next Mon
day afternoon.
For two things certainly local amuse-
ment lovers are indebted to Mr.. Chase
the opportunity to enjoy the best there
Is of the highest type Of polite vaude-
VILE and one Of the most beautfful
theaters In the country. 1t Is doubt
full il any one within the four corners
of the District does not wish MI. chase
the best Of good fortune in his new
theatrical home.
All the local theaters, except the Ma
tional and the Belasco. have announced
the date of their reopening for the new
season.
Lovers Of the local stock work have
reason to be grateful for two very sue
cessful productions during the past
week-"A Single Man." at the Column
bia Theater, and "The Deep Purple" at
Polls. What though there may have
been something here and there In each
to criticise, 1T was evident from the
enthusiasm of the audiences. which
time and again insisted upon curtain
calls, that they were satisfied. and after
all, isn't that pretty nearly all there
Is to It?
That vague, intangible. irresponsible
something called gossip" has been
busy lately about the Poll Players and
Polls Theater. Assurances have been
given by the Poll management In the
most positive terms that these rumors
are unwarranted, that the stock sea-
son is to be continued indefinitely and
that the company Is to remain intact.
Announcements Of plays yet to be pre-
scented would seem to be verif1cation OF
this claim.
WHY HE STAYED.-Here's one Of
Mark Kent's stories:
ut was during the big Occur d'Alene
mining riots. back in the nineties some
where. We were playing there in one
that were quite popular in that locality.
The tension was rather taut between the
miners and the authorities, and. II you
remember. the United States troops were
ordered to the scene and martial law
was proclaimed.
IT was playing the role Of Nugget
BILL and Nugget Bill during the play
more than once redeemed his reputation
as a dead shot'In the play, of course.
A corporaI's guard of the 25th Infantry
was preserving order in the house, which
was one of the favortte resorts for the
miners In those days. and its members
were quite as much interested in the
progress of the play as were the miners.
many of whom had, as was customary
in those times. hckered up for the &C.
casion.
The play had proceeded without moro
than the usual interruptions for melo-
drama in frontier town. and it looked
as If we would pull through without in
cident- All the lines that might be con-
sidered incendiary, or likely to arouse
the passions in the issue at stake with
the miners, had been eliminated. and the
play was unfolding simply the rough
shod romantic story that remained.
The villain had come to the point
where he defied heaven and hades to in
terfere with his plans. The heroine had
vainly appealed to every power magma
BILE for assistance, and at last she uttered
a wild shrek, oh, If Nugget Bill were
only here to protect a miners daughter
from this dastardly outrage OF the rich!'
II have heard of the famous rebel
YELL but believe me there was never
heard before such a yell as arose from
the copper-lined threats Of that audience.
Unwittingly their passions had been STIR
red by the speech and they thought only
OF their own wrongs. As Gen. Sherman
says, There was-wen war there for a
few minutes
When the smoke cleared away. /
found myself with several of the miners
imprisoned in an improvised log lookup.
My costume had misled the colored
soldiers and all miners looked alike to
Them to all intents and purposes was
one.
1T was very embarrassing. We were
TO leave town that night I must rejoin
my company or get left. The guard
was rather strong. armed as it was with
the regulation deadly rifle and untold
quantities Of ammunition. 1t could not
be bribed. and 1t would not relent.
Finally a thought occurred to me.
made friends with the corporal, explain
ed matters to him. and suggested II he
would give me chance could leg i,
away.
Dat wouldn't do. boss he replied
You'd git hurt, deed you would
But how? You surely wouldn't fire on
me, would YOU?
Boss he came back. very earnestly
EFF desc men saw you boltn' of, dey d
try to bolt after you, an eff dey did say
boss. dis ammunition Amt costin us a
cent an de govment's done already tole
US to be reckless wild it
i stayed
STOCK COMPANY PATRONS.-"On,
OF the most interesting psychologist
studies imaginable Is the enthusiastic
patron Of stock company performances
said Manager Fred Berger recently.
For many years 1 have been connected
with matters theatrical. and have al
ways been q close observer.
The patron Of the theater during thu
regular season goes to see a play be-
cause he or she has heard 1t highly rec
commended. or has read something abou
1t to excite curiosity or interest. 1t may
be a really great play, and the emotions
OF the patron may be stirred to their in
nermost depth. But after 1t is all over
the big memory is always, and as a rule
only OF the play. never Of the individual
players.
But even suppose 1t Is a great play
the regular season patron does not 'gt
NJ over it, 10 the extent that he or sh,
lows 1t up with weekly patronage O.
the theater. Perhaps he or she will no
90 again to the theater for weeks, ant
then only because of the same reasons
that prompted the going to see the pre-
vious play.
Now this Is not SO with the stool
patron By the way. let call him o.
her 1T" for the sake OF convenience, TO
believe me the stock patron. he or She Ii
really TT of the most pronounced
individuality.
well. tt goes to see a stock play: Il
pleased with the production. goes ava.