Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1914-01-27
Mr.. BATHS PLEASES
LARGE AUDIENCE
Society Well Represented at the
Government House
REPRESENTATIONS OF DICKENS.
An Evenings Entertainment Of
Characters 10 Nicholas
Nickleby"

Ii was a large, fashionable and ap.
preciativt audience that assemble d
last night in the Government House
for an Evening with Charles
Dickens, given by MIR. Stirling
BATHS. Every available chair in the
State parlor, dining-room and blue
parlor, or reception room, was occu-
pied, when, at 80 the program COM
menced with piano selections by MIR.
Adolph Torovsky, Jr graduate of
the Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore,
and young citizen of whom musical
Annapolis feels Justly proud.
Since mere boy, MIR. Torovsky
has bsen a musical prodigy Now
he is q musical genius. His selec-
tions last night at the Government
House were we'll chosen and were
executed with that technique and
finesse that stamp him the skilled
pianist he lie, and master OF the
instrument of his chosen profession.
Mr. Torovsky delighted the audience,
among whom were a number of must
cal artists.
DR.. McComas introduced Mr.. Stii
ling BATHS, the entertainer of the
evening, although Mr.. BATHS scarcely
needed an Introduction, having been
heard with great pleasure here last
summer at Chsutauqua. Dr.. Nc
Comas made a very happy little
speech, briefly reviewing the literary
tastes of the days of Charles Dickens
when he wrote under nom de plume.
Mr.. BATHS, before presenting his
character impersonations of "Nicho.
las Nickleby," gave a brief review
of Dickens works in general, aud this
one in particular. He said many Of
Dickens characters had been grossly
exaggerated and held up to ridicule,
but the author had made q careful
study of these creatures of his brain,
and they were true to nature.
Especially is this true of the char
acters in Nicholas Nickleby, written
to emphasize the bad methods of
schools, such as that taught by
Squiers, in which "Smike" the half
witted waif, is subjected to the sew
crest punishment and cruelty, from
time to time. Mr.. BATHS said Dick
ems philosophy is a 'quirk in the soul
makes quirk in the body" Thus
Dickens outlined his char Acters max
ing men and women with physical de-
formities, creatures of mental de-
formity as well. This was especially
true If Squiers, who had but ore eye
and q twisted mouth.
AZ d.
characters he was to present, and
said the book would be divided into
four acts, for the occasion, with a
brief intermission between acts two
aud three. He gave such vivid de-
scription of the characters that each
was easily recognized ss ii was pre-
scented, without further announce.
ment. Everybody who has read Dick
enc is familiar with Ralph Nicklebv.
the sordid villainous uncle of Nicho-
las; with Mrs. Nickleby, the meek
widow, and mother of Nicholas; with
Kate, the sister; Squiers the school
master; Mrs. Squiers. his wife
Smike, the mysterious deserted waif.
and man Of all work at the
Squiers school; with Noggs and the
rest of the coterie Of characte rs,
each and all of whom were imper
sonated by Mr.. BATHS.
Too much cannot be said in prais.
Of Mr.. BATHS, known everywhere 81
"The Dickens Man" His characteI
impersonations were excellent, espe.
cially those of Ralph Nickleby
Squiers, Noggs and Mrs. Squiers
His facial expressions were true 4
the several character impersonation
given and the changes stampet
Mr.. BATHS the artist he real
ly is. His viIlainous characters wer
especially presented with most strik
ing nsturalness, and his imitation O
the "cockney" English was faultless
Too much cannot be said in com
mendation of Mr.. BATHS, wht
held bis audience in wrapt at
tention for over two hours. An
man whJ can do this and imper
senate the various characters Of /
book such as Nicholas Nickleby Wit
out makeup" is truly an entertaine
ar above the average.
The entertainment was given unde
the auspices # the" Permane Mt Con
mittee of st. Anne's parish, for th
benefit of the Parish House.