Evening star., 1913-04-20


competition as is being presented IN
the theaters this spring. The Wash
ippton play patron has often demonstrated
that he is climate proof. The fact that the
thermometer registers a temperature
which impression associates with the reg
tlar season does not prevent the pubic
from being fastidious and even captouS
in bestowing the attention when MARKS
a big week. And when the mercury
rises to a point which, as theatrical sea-
sons used to be scheduled, records the
natural wane of foothght interest
crowds will gather to welcome a novelty
or an old friend that has been so for
tunate as to establish confidence.
The effect of the Garden of Allah on
the consciousness is something IKE the
influence of the desert, as the play oe-
scribes it, The fascination Is 1ndennapie
but strong 1t is the object OF resent1ui
protest; yet the mind is unsatlshed uhui
tho remarkable influence has been felt
II ls not "A powerful drama. 1T is, IN the
conventional phrase, a spectacle. But its
pictures are worked out with such 1lne
detail and with such poetic power that
tho anpeal to the senses and the imagina-
ton silences the demand for dramatic
ar emotional display. The production mad
ono of the exceptional weeks of the cur
rent season.
Eva Tanguay said Il don't care. ana
then to prove it did one of the most re-
markable Salome dances ever per1ni'teo
TO roam at large. This extraordinary
performer sings her own CRITICISMS ana
is more severe than any reviewer win
a spark of justice or generosity IN MS
nature would be. She is unique; and 10
be unique in any form of pubic enter
fainment means to be mlsunuerStoou'
Like Mr. George Cohan, she must Won
der why so many people who dlsappfoVe
of her insist on going to see her at every
opportunity. But the Salome dance was
not merely unique; it was grotesqueiy
impossible Even the papier-mache race
she introduced seemed to wear a de-
risive grin.
.sOld Heidelberg was given by the Poil
PLAYERS in a way that proved their capa-
bilities in the presentation of the hner
phases of comedy and sentiment. The
Columbia Players returned with the con-
fdence of old favorites and the welcome
given them proved that their confidence
was not misplaced. The stock company
such challengers as ''Ben-Hur, The Re
turn of Peter Grimm" The Follies'' and
Little Women still TO be heard from,
they will not dare to relax the high
standards they have set for themselves
..REN-HUR" IN AMERICAN POLL
TICS-"Before Cen Lew Wallace went
to Turkey he had achieved great literary
fame through the novel 'Ben-Hur.' His
reverent and effective treatment of
delicate theme and the marvellous pic
lures he revealed of the people and GUS
toms of the time of the NaZarene set him
at once before the world student and
genius. and entitled him to place in the
worlds gallery of immortals. After the
general became a resident of Turkey and
had every chance to learn the ways,
wiles vanities and other human char
actersticS of these people. and had ac-
cess to the archives in which were treas
ured the prize records of the oriental
race he wrote The Prince of india, an
elaborate novel of action and deeds. Yet
this work written with everything it had
to make it definite and colorful met with
only mild success compared with Ben
Hur.' the simon pure creature of his
imagination. Even in Turkey. those who
sit in literary Judgment upon publica-
tions. liked 'Ben-Hur' best so that it
would the man who writes from
facts, il he has the imaginative faculty
and convincing style. rs apt to have
harder job in pleasing the reading world
than If he lets his imagination go far
aield and is endowed with good judg-
ment.
1T was the reading of this book which
induced President Garfield to appoint
Gen. Wallace minister to Turkey. One
of the Harper brothers is said to confirm
this in the following conversation:
i called on President Garfield one
evening He came into the room with the
book 'Ben-Hur in his hand and fingers
between the pages
do YOU know anything about the
composition of this book you have pub
lshed?' asked the President.
Il think / do | replied
We'll. said Garfield. it has made a
good impression me. I offered Wallace
a place in South America. which he
would not take. | think / Will send him
to Turkey In the place made vacant by
Horace Maynard S death. "Ben-Hur'' in
dicates that he can improve his opportu-
mites in the east
TRIXIE AND SHAI> DSPEARE
Don't put the brakes your emotions
If you want TO be beautiful says TriXie
Friganza. Repression is uslness. Emo
tional candor is the only road to come
illness. Don't you believe it?
Look" she says. lat domestic mar
tyrS-did you ever see one that was good
looking? l never did. To me they look
like a street before the asphalt is put
down.
If you're naturally patient-that's an
other thing, but when you try to repress
Sour emotions the unnatural effort pro-
duces a grossly inferior counterfeit for
which the woman must pay terrible
price. Shakespeare wrote:
Give words
The grief that does not speak
Rings through the caverns OF the fTeighted heart
Aud bids il break.
Cnspoken emotion ruins the complexion
and here again Shakespeare warns us
when he makes Viola say:
She never told her love, tut
Like worm in the bud
Feed on her damask cheek,
She pined in thought and with green
And yellow melancholy