Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-28

sire to sail and Ash. two pleasures not to
be INDUCED at that season of the year ex-
cept in the extreme south.
THE very first night l arrived IN the
little town l noticed handbills at ever
corner announcing a performance that
night in the Opera House My curiosity
was aroused. SO l squandered 10 cents for
a front seat. I discovered the company
was putting on a new play each night.
and l wanted to know the genesis
of the coming attraction. 1t was billed
as The Cowboy of the Canyon. BY
good luck / was able to recognize It. 1t
was William Waugh Moodys The Great
Divide
AT the end of the first scene, acting
on a sudden impulse, l went back and
asked for the manager With perfect
gravity, and looking as indignant pos
sible ! told him / was William Waugh
right he was presenting my play under
a faxed title The manager was com
pletely bluffed. He believed my state
ment. and began a farfetched defense /
refused to accept any explanation, and
told him intended to communicate with
the town authorities and. IL he continued
the play. take drastic action against him
at once.
You won't have to. Mr. Moody he
declared. This whole thing Is a mistake,
Go right back and sit in one of the boxes.
/ won't play another scene. Come back
after the show and 1 Will tear up the
parts WNlle you WdlCn me.
" But how about tonight? ! demanded
Your audience has paid to see the play
YOU announced. and won't stand for get
ting just one act Of II. What will you
dol?
Don't you worry. Mr.. Moody It will
| be all hight. You go back there and
watch us
II went back and waited. After q really
brief delay. the curtain went up. and the
play went on. give you my word that
nobody IN the audience seemed to observe
anything out OF the way. But the man
ager had kept his word In less than ten
minutes he had shifted plays. Before my
trip behind the scenes the company had
played the first act OF The Great Di-
vide Following the intermission they
played the last three acts of The Girl of
the Golden West"
PEG wOFFINGTON's PARTY.-one
of the pleasant events Of the past week
In theatrical circles was a Peg Wof-
fngton party" given in honor OF Frances
Nelson by a party of friends who were
admirers OF her impersonation OF the
great actress the week before.
Although the gathering was in Miss
Nelson's apartments on Washington
Heights. II was an entire surprise to her.
and will long be remembered by all who
participated. The success of the enter
prise was only made possible through
the connivance OF Miss Nelson's maid.
who by feigning illness was excused
at the theater in the early evening. She
admitted the conspirators to the abode
Of the popular ,eading lady.
When Miss Nelson's taxicab drew up
| at the door Of the house she was some
what startled TO see her apartment bril-
| nantly lighted and still more surprised
/ to find, on hurrying upstairs, the en-
tire place filed with number OF her
| warmest friends.
| The dining room was beautifully dec
GRATED with palms and cut flowers, while
4 In prominent places upon the table were
to be found .'Cholmondeley chand
wiches." "Colly Cibber cobbler.' Polly
Wellington pickles" and hot Beliamy
biscuit" The ice cream was frozen in
the form of a donkey. as a reminder OF
| Polly's first entrance in the play. while
| the favors were dainty figures OF aero
| bats and French dancers.
David Garrick (Mr. Robins) alone was
a little late in putting in an appear
| ance, which he blamed on the street
! cars. Later. he admitted he had lin
gered to- read the base ball bulletins.