The Washington times., 1915-05-02

except a mufncd humping that might
have come from the street: However.
the search party entered. The thump-
ing continued and Miss Bradford's rich
voice was heard In its most plaintif
and melancholy tones pleading to be
released from the closet! 1t was neces-
sary to send for the hotel carpenter
and his assistant and a locksmith and
his assistant and two or three other
mechanical specialists to pursuade the
doorknob to return to work. But MISS
Bradford was released just three min
utes before 2-and the curtain rose on
FIVE minutes late.
Legs, at their very best. are merely
individual characteristics. Even the
diaphanous verbiage by which modern
usage bows to prevailing summer fash-
ions, and drapes them-when we refer
to them smirkingly as limbs or
saoss stlss or props mora or than end
phasize the fact that they are legs.
Hence legs, as legs. can hardly be re-
garded as the features a person would
care to have emphasized at the begin
ming of an artistic career. with all due
respect TO Adonis Dixey and Lydia
RI ompson, who capitalized their UNDER
pinning'to a more or less dividend pro-
ducing extent
That paragraph was originally writ
Hodge to the readers of one OF the
products Of the spectroscoptc magazine
factory-but as they probably have for
gotten all abont 1t and i wrote II. any
tho purpose Of giving prominence where
1t belongs in the personality OF Harry
Short. who helps divide the box office
receipts of the Columbia Musical Stock
Company, as well as swell them.
Shorts legs give such an emphatic
lie to his name that he creates a laugh
whenever and wherever he happens to
appear. He has one of tho most highly
business. He has worked hard and long
in the cultivating Of the various habits
into which the legs have fallen-and
which cause him to make moro comedy
! In Washington for many months,
1t is the fame OF the legs that has Sc
cured Short several engagements. And
then he has proved that there Is some-
patrons of the Columbia company have
become convinced by this time that
there is something else to Short He
has shown a capacity for doing the un-
ea pected and for following well-knowr
stars in parts the stars made excruciat-
ingly funny-only to make them fun
nier.
During the season 90 far he has ap-
peared in parts that were made famous
by George Stone. Richard Carrie and Ton
McNaughton. and in each of them he
has given a hint Of the way the star.
did the things-1ust a hint that con
tained the best the stars contributed II
the parts. And then he has departed
from the model and introduced a few
things all his own. He IL a comedian
who doesn't disdaln imitations-but ths
limitations also have a bit Of origina
comedy that Is pleasing largo audiences
nightly.
Manager George Peck announces thai
the season Of the Gayety Theater will
close with the presentation of tho at
fractions scheduled for this week. Ant
the closing of the Gayety for the sea
the general cleanliness. brightness. anc
entertaining qualities of the shows 4
has housed during the past season ar,
a distinct credit to the manager of tn
establishment whose wise selection o.
attractions and managerial policy hav,
been responsible for the condition tina
has been attained.
George Peck is one Of the really biz
showmen left in the burlesque end o.
the theatrical business. He has beer
providing entertainment for the public
for more than half century. most O
the time in a managerial capacity. H,
came to Washington some years agt
with the intention of cleaning up th'
accomplished his purpose. Today a mai
can take his wife to the Gayety witt
more assurance of witnessing a clean
spritelY performance. than to an!
other theater in the city. week in ant
week out. Which, when you come I,
think of 1t. Is about the best reputation
theater can acquire.