Evening star., 1915-05-09


Charles Frohman in the Lusi-
tania tragedy comes with
note of deep sadness to all who
prize intellect. art and gentflity
in the drama No drift or fame or for
tune ever tempted Mr.. Frohmar to the
decadence Of the theater for commercial
ends. He stood for the best in plays.
playwrights and production. and his loss
will probably be regarded as one of the
severest the American theater, and, in
deed. the theaters of the world, could be
called upon to suffer.
1t IL not often, even during the regular
season. that the offerings at all the lead
ing theaters are as attractive as those
recently scheduled, nor. indeed, as rule.
are they as well presented, all things
considered. Captious, indeed, must be the
patron who can find a flaw in the Column
bia company, and the Aborn's splendid
organization is too well known to need
commendation.
At Polls the regular stock company
has been winning laureis in some pre-
tentious efforts, while the Keith program,
week after week. is SKINNED from the
very cream Of vaudeville, besides dra wing
some choice things from the legitimate
drama.
It is not possible to present such operas
and such plays as have furnished the
weekly entertainment since the spring
season opened without the payment of
substantial royalties, and good perform
ers, as rule, are too careful of their
stage reputation and standing to make
their talent a job lot commodity to mark
down for summer bargains.
On the other hand. the patronage that
pays makes these things possible. If
Washington wishes such entertainment to
continue. the theater box Office is the
place to express the preference
Manager George B. Peck of the Gayety
Theater has announced his retirement
after fifty years of service in the bur-
lesque field. His withdrawal is made
necessary by falling health. He will
carry into his retirement the good wishes
Of the hosts to whom he has 50 success
fully catered in his many years of service
ana the kindly remembrance of the many
friends he has made in Washington.
A UNIQUE Bet-LiIliam Concord. the
prfma donna with the Aborn organiza-
tion, considers betting a great fallacy
and delusion, and she has yet to make
her first bet. But recently she won
bet just the same.
Her French maid had become con-
vfnced that Miss Concord had an ap-
pointment at q certain hour with a
Ai~ m
she had not. The maid, however. want
Cd to bet on it because she felt 1t
part Of her duty to impress upon her
mistress how anxious she was to serve
her well at all hazards.
Miss Concord reprimanded her for
suggesting such a thing as a bet, but
the maid felt impelled to make her at
titudA logical So she repaired to her
own room. took dollar bill from her
purse and secreted it in a dresser draw
er to itself. The next day Miss Con-
cord was surprised and perplexed
when her maid handed her a dollar
bill and told her it belonged to her.
But why does 1t belong to me?"
Miss Concord asked.
We'll. you won the bet you wouldn't
make yesterday" the maid explained.
Miss Concord protested and refused
to take the money. but the maid in
sisted upon losing with this remark:
Il gave in to longing to experience
the sensation OF having something at
stake on a wager and you won. 1
am satisfied. But l promise you not to
bet again"
But suppose you had won instead?'
said the mistress. "You couldn't have
collected from me, for / wouldn't have
considered the bet as made"
"rd have collected all right" said the
servant. but you wouldn't have known
when ] paid some bills yesterday Here
it is" And she handed Miss Concord
another dollar bill.
4 PHma Donna's ScAedule.-Here is
about the way Miss Henry. the CO.
lumbia's prima donna, puts in her
time:
Breakfast, 1880 o'clock. followed by
an hour of study. Then a walk to
the Columbia Theater. where morning
rehearsals are called for $50 or 10
o'clock. This work usually lasts until
noon matinee days and ] o'clock other
the production in hand. from a half to
an hour Is devoted to luncheon. and
the work OF rehearsal is continued for
another hour or two in the afternoon.
Shopping or 4 trip to the dressmaker
10 always in order in leisure periods.
II there 10 no shopping or fitting to
be done there is time for a walk or
ride. and Miss Henry is particu-
larly fond OF the latter. trio. COM
posed OF herself. her sister and Miss
Leonore Eovasio. has toured to all the
beauty spots of the Mall and Potomac
Park.
Dinner at o'clock is followed by
rest, and then to the theater, for the
curtain Is up at s:15, and every mem
Der OF the company must be in the
theater by 7:45 pm.
prima donna must have her beau
ty sleep" and so there is but a short
he Aro t1tr -
evening. a change to street attire and
bedtime.
From time to time. OF course, there
Is . slight variation from this rou-
fins-matines days and periods where
moro study or rehearsal are required
but 1t amounts to very busy day,
tugt the same.
0IUlqBA
Naughty Maristta,' Victor Herbert's