Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-14

@S4NsS8 INDUCED himself with increasing frequen-
cy as the Great European Free-forA
had gained momentum with the passing weeks.
For a year previous to that eventful day when the
eoosestep first resounGed from Belgian paving blocks
with an echo calling half the world to arms, NIaxey
had been directing his curses toward the movies and
the dancing craze-those Allies before which the show
business had been driven out of its trenches, fought
almost the surrenderng point Against the onsweep
of the tango and the film, however, he had batted
with both Frankel head center Of the Trust and Billy
Schel, leader of the Independents, backing him up
and sustained by the hope of early change of public
taste back the sort of "acts" in which he specialized
At last encouraged by prediction from some
gune that the approaching would bring
the much desired shift of sentiment, and approaching
the demand for foreign acts, MaXey had made hur-
red trip to Europe in the carly part of the summer,
signing up half dozen big features for which he
cipated easy and steady booking on both circuits
that it had begun to look up to the first of August,
if the future might twinkle with few more diamonds
for his wife Ray Cher visible glamour having been
what depleted by the large advance payments he had
had to make to of the acts), and jingle
with few more dollars in his pockets.
Then, because misguided Serb had fit to
sassnate Hapsburg and his consort, every European
was suddenly seized with desire to slaughter every
other European and in the ensuing clash of arms Naxeys
hopes shot away like the tail feathers of the Dove
of Peace. One after another of his big foreign acts fell
on him. and, in helpless hatred for the cause of his
misfortunes, he took to cursing the war.
With delightful neutrality cursed he it! When, instead
of the eckendorffer Sisters, Expresses Of the Slack
Wire, the last German steamer to reach New York
brought him photograph Of the twain in Red Cross
nurses uniform, Nlaxey cursed the cause of the Ger
mans. week later he transferred his anathemas to
the Little White Father when Ivan Ivanoffsky, the
Cossack Comedian, went with his regiment against
Austria; and when the Angilots, Italian acrobats two
of whom were English and two German, split up to
fight against each other the Aisne, Maxey raised his
cenched fist and hoped fervent hope that "the whole
gang kills everybody ese!'
FINALLY the only solace left was Boncourt, the
Great Boncourt, for whose piano speciality Maxey
had fought with half dozen other agents. He had
promised Boncourt to Sche who had gone enthusiast
tic over it, after dscountng Maxeys desc Upton
forty per cent? that the little agent had spread hin self on
setting for the act including special furniture special
velvet curtains, special floor cloths and various other
attractions give class to the general arrangement
The Great Boncourt due to arrive on the Phila-
delphia early in November and Schel had already
made tentative plans for his opening at the Pal ,tia
when Maxey received letter. 1t said:
Paris. Novcnbre l.
CHER MoNs.-One million regrets but shall sail
as intended have been the front called with be-
loved and patriotic heart responds But have
the hope; for powerful influence works for and within
few days shall be relieved. when shall Immediately
sail your city shall inform you of the date of
my sailing. which will be within the week
Till then for the honor and glory of France,
am, cher Mons,
RAoUL (the Great BoNcoURr
AT this Maxey breatled curse for the trcolor and
waited The days went by, and another boat due;
but there came neither the Great Boncourt tdings
from him. His velvet curtains ready, with
huge b embroidered in gold in the center of each
also the bill for them. Maxey began to worry.
"Maybe,' he had been thinking this afternoon, as
he stood looking down into the square, his gaze unco
sciously lingering the crowd thronging about
bulletin, "maybe he's havin little trouble duckin
out an can't send me word. 1t couldn't be they
wouldn't leave him goa little guy like him! But if