New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-26

"Mary Xmas; or, Mrs s. Claus by
Proxy" a play in kind acts. At the
Standard.
THE CAST.
Title role OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. May Irwin
Santa Claus. Observation-Disclosures Walter label
a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Dennis Flanagan
An actress may be greatly admired
for the quality of the stage tricks she
sells over the footlights, her fund Of
humor, her engaging presence, and she
may yet hold very different place in
the hearts of those who are so fortu-
nate as to know what we may call her
lay self in the non-professional mo-
ments in her day-that is, she may be
quite as fine as she is in her work,
though in completely another manner.
But the high climax of her career is
the performance I'm which she YIELDS
together the two seemingly contrast
ing elements of her dual personality.
Such performance was the one Civ
en- by Miss May Irwin yesterday at the
Standard Theatre. Never before has
she displayed as great sincerity in her
role or struck the human note with so
clear a ring. And she was excellently
supported by Walter label, adiutant Of
the Volunteers Of America, es Santa.
and by Dennis Flanagan, Of the New
York police, as a cop
The little play was staged in the lobby
OF the theatre at noon yesterday. Miss
Irwin sat behind table, with dolls
and toys piled high about her, with
Santa Claus at her side and the coop"
standing at the door as master Of cere-
monies.
The only thing not in readiness was
the audience, for this was to be the
Christmas stunt" arranged by Miss
Irwin in cooperation with the Volun-
teers Of America for the benefit of the
poor children living near Broadway
and goth ST., and the audience was not
al hand, because, II seemed, there were
no poor children living in the neigh
borhood. So when none appeared out
went the cop the stage manager, the
assisting Volunteers of America and
the friends of Miss Irwin to bring the
children IN from the adjacent byways.
You should have seen the children
they brought back with themi The
poor little destitutes of West End av.
and Riverside Drive. They were shah
billy dressed in little sealskin coats
and white leather leggings, one with
a pair Of silver-plateG roller skates
under his arm, another driving in q
miniature automobile, little girl bur.
dened with as large a vanity box as
her mothers and still others with
arms full of mechanical toys and wood
en- ducks with tails that wagged. Poor
/ kidlets!
But the news began 20 spread ere
long, and the less fortunate found theii
way 20 Miss Twins arms i'm ever in
creasing numbers, until a steady stream
of two and three foot midgets came
pouring from the eastward, and the
countenance OF the stage star bright.
encd and her wit began 20 sparkle.
"Here, little girl, shake hands with
me and I'll give you a doll. See how
pretty 10 is, and when il lies down
just see IL closes its eyes to fall
asleep"
And the child TO whom she said this
particular thing began 10 blubber and
Sob and finally succeeded in imparting
the information: 81 don't want to be
called little girl; Use a big boy, and
dolls is for girls"
The tragedy was mended with a box
Of leaden soldiers 81 deserve a spank
ing for that" said May Irwin. You'd