Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-19


Among these experts of moving picture
technics the small boy takes the lead.
True. he doesn't read enough to hurt
him. but he grasps facts and fancies that
drop from the lips Of moving picture en-
ployes. He is the most devoted slave OF
all movie slaves. He hangs around the
theaters at odd times. as his prototype
generation ago hung around the big
top Of the circus.
There were four boys. newsboys most
likely. who attended the performance at
the vaudeville theater. They were seated
well in front and they openly jeered
those features Of the performance Of
vaudeville which they did not like.
''Shove on the pictures" they kept urg-
ing in voices just sufficiently modulated
them forth by the scruff of the neck.
When the lights went out the screen
announced that a comedy was forth
coming. and in few moments the au-
dience was giggling at the antics Of a
hugely fat man who Is perhaps best
known Of all movie actors.
front happily. And thereafter they
were models of good order.
Seated not far from the boys were a
haired. bearded. frock coated and pre-
senting perfect picture of extremely
dignified old age. The wife, a sweet
faced old woman with Iron gray hair,
sat beside him with his hand clasped
in hers.
They were not Of the wealthy class.
When the lights went up you could
see that the impressive frock coat was
dingy, hopelessly out Of date and pre-
served only with infinite care. The
- H., 81
appeared, in spite Of It's neatness. to
have been worn for many q year. They
were almost the only people In the
theater who showed emotion while
the films were being exhibited. And.
conversely, they were about the only
willie.
To them the moving pictures seemed
a return to life Of the plays they had
seen in days gone by. when the melo-
drama was the attraction Of the great
American middle class. Throughout
the portrayal Of the movie drama they
nodded and smiled unconsciously.
The investigator strolled back to
where one Of the officials OF the thea
ter lolled against a brass railing in
the rear OF the hall.
Them old people?" said the Official
Yep. / know 'em-that is. I don't
know their names, but I know their
faces. When we first opened up they
started to come here. First the old
boy came by himself. Then he brought
the old girl with him. They come
about once a week on an average.
''An', say-those people that knock the
movies ought to see what they did for
that couple. When they first came here
the old lady had a look In her eyes that
made you want to give her theater-
anything to cheer her up. She looked like
one Of the kind that's been standing a
life without any fun in 1t, uncomplaining
and trying to pretend she was happy.
The old boy looked like fate had been
walking up and down his neck ever since
he'd been able to work. He had that
hazy look that man gets when he's
been kicked around too much.
well. sir. after they started to look at
the movies you ought to have seen 'em
change! That couple In three weeks
seemed to get ten years younger. Fun
NEST thing ever saw"
The Investigator was about to start
back to his seat when the official called
him back.
"wait till they come out" he advised.
''They'll astonish YOU
Obediently the INVESTIGATOR waited. and
In a little while the performance being
over. the old couple slowly followed the