The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-10

Lyman II. Howe's suolimated motion
pictures were seen by an audience of
dimensions usually attracted only by
musical comedy in Richmond. And for
that matter, the route of Howe's travel
festival has included Richmond often
enough for its theatre-going public TO
have learned that this almost unique
entertainment offers. besides Its re-
markable Legitimate" piatures. chuck
ling comedy in abundance and music
of sorts.
The comedy element consists or posed
pictures OF the French character.
farces in which everybody and every
thins moves at eye-baffiing speed. up
setting. demolishing. build!ne, falling
flying in utter absurdity. and OF tn
cleverest kind OF photographed me-
chanicai arrangements, which grow
more and more amusing each year.
Chalk drawn ostriches pluck feathers
from foolish thermometer and STICK
them where they belong: one bird with
an lmpossibly imposing bill ships on
another birds beak, and the fallen
pieces pick themselves up and run OF
into a corner. where they form figure
Of their own: an deliberately drawn
picture OF something or other simply
explodes and flies into thousand bits.
which Immediately click together anc
spell "Intermission.' and dozens OF
other fantastic conceits are shown all
Of which doubtless sound childish and
bsurd I'm the telling. but al Of when
are also exceedingly amusing TO VIII
ness.
II YOU fancy that YOU are too high
proved 10 enjoy this elemental FORM
Of fun. take your children: IL you
haven't any. borrow some and take
thon-a child who wouldn't squeal It's
little self half into Mysteries through
sheer delight at this happy foolish
ness would say, Pray, sir. may l go
home and study"
But the comedy is only a part OF the
entertainment 10 he derived from these
pictures small part, probably 70
those who want to be thrilled. TO be
amazed. and to be shown Things OF
beauty and grandeur, or OF mysterious
half-hidden interest
In the reel showing the Simplon tunnel
little Of particular interest is seen save
the scenery surrounding the approaches
TO that great feat OF engineerihe' pu'
the next serious picture shows va
riety. Of jellyfish swimming in the wa
ter and at close range. Hardy pref
". hardly art, but certainly unusual
Then there is shown one way OF ac-
ouirinC ancestors: a very vivid series
Of otion-pictures demonstrating the
Uay of a man with a monkey, Wheh
one sets about capturing the otheI'
Ironical interest attaches also TO inns
nicture on account OF the monkeys
mental methods. They insert their
hands into the neck OF a cdlaoaSn'
cfcse their fists about the bait within
inc
they cannot withdraw them again
Man comes. the monkeys struggle
frantically, but they never let go the
bait.
Tho roaring gorge Of Niagara IS
shown In its turnblinS, raging might
views Of Holland are exhibited with
60 much art in the making and pro-
iecting that they seem sometimes
nain,inrs sometimes engravings. eA-
cent that they are alive; men are
seen moving carelessly about on inc
frame work of skyscrapers miles IN
the air-one man slipped, ana caus'tt
myself by so close q margin that in'
heart stopped for an instant-and III
Tie baby birds begging open-moutheo
in their nests are photographed from
So short a distance that their bare
,ass seems immodest. Hon drama
is so we'll PLAYED that ii frightens
mountain is blown UP with dynamite
So that when huge masses OF cart"
aud rock fall forward the auoiehce
lodges. and excellent pictures OF INC
cadet corps of Culver Military AcaueHiy
arc shown. <.,,ra
bur the big, really gripping feature
NJ the performance is an exhibition OF
rnaniacal. suicidal riding done by iot
Of continental demons in the cavalry
and artillery arms of their careless
country's service. The program de-
scribes these feats as being repie'e
with hair-breadth escapes" but many
of those that I saw weren I escapes
they we're catastrophes. The stepping
Of a horse upon a man was mere In
cident- II was only when horse fell
rpon his rider and remained upon him,
cnnceaIing him from view. that the
other savages seemed TO notice it.
And all the time, an army. or two or
three men and women, behind the
screen initiated every sound that man.
beast. or natural forces ever emitted
Mr.. FELTON,, that inner and outer
piano player. who can rag the Fire
Music" with one hand or play The
Chocolate Soldier from the picture 10
adve-tiserne IS missed from this
seasons travel festival. though the
present pianist. whose name is not
mentioned. took everything of the
piano except the back. last night, and
won the hearty applause OF the house.
There will be two performances to-
day.
". Douglas Gordon
y-.u-xy, Radcliffe Gourerf