Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-22

IN the midst Of our ragtfms frfvol-
ity the burden of an old song
occasionally ripples forth and
II wins anew the appreciation It
found in days when 1t was re-
garded only as one Of those street
songs that arise from nowhere in par
ticular and seize upon the heartstrfngs
In q manner that cannot be defined
Darling, I Am Growing Old" is ono
of these. Its author, who died but
recently, never gained for himself one
thousandth the recognition that the
song received. Almost forgotten him.
self, his song will linger in the hearts
Of the millions many day. People
love It as a cherished adopted child OF
their sentiment. too dearly to acknowl-
edge even in their own minds that II
has other parentage. Another OF those
old-timers Of melody Is backward.
Turn Backward, o Time in Thy Flight"
and far more recently came that much
less dignifled, though equally appeal
ing, pathetic ditty. Two Little Girls
IN Blue"
As Mr.. Belasco stepped upon the
stage Monday night his right hand
drifted instinctively as of yore toward
the lock of hair which undulates 30
gracefully across his forehead AS ne
etrove. as usual, to think Of those
thank you'-he reminded us of all
three Of the good old songs. Buoyant
as ever In spirits, alert In physical
action. Prince David OF the playhouse
Earrings of the Gods" and "Du Bar
rvs" tempt him to scenic exuberance.
He Is content with short cast, but
one so well selected that it is a host
furnishings and vast perspectives he
gives his scenes the exquisite delicacy
Of masterpieces of the painters skill.
which would be fascinating even
too, as Mr.. Belasco represents 1t, be-
gins to show the signs of mellowfng
maturity. The modern topics, the ef-
fort to thrill, with suggestions OF the
awfulness of commonplace vice, or 70
awaken piquant interest in perfunctory
naughtiness, no longer sways Its pur-
pose.
Time turns backward in Its night
and gives US for the. evening a good
old English theme as reliable in Its
interest as the adventures Of Robin
Hood or the benevolences OF santa
claus-the crusty old fe n,.x . Who
muddling people up quite a BIT. proves
itself all for the best and enables
true lovers to live happy ever a1ter
And the play was called, by way or
song heroines, THE Little Girl in
Blue" II. was changed to: Little Lady
in Blue" Little girl or little lady. as
you will, no actress could nave played
the part more charmingly than Frances
Starr.
Fair and Warmer" is a specimen OF
direct humor which in Cincinnati
French Is known as 'rfskay. In order
to avoid being cruelty shocked by its
erentiaI heed to the hints on personal
behavior, with which theatrical mana
gers now embellish their programs.
These warnings for the thoughtless
are valuable and might be better Inn
pressed il they were thrown squarely
Into the attention on the curtain IN
place of the advertisements sometimes
thriftily displayed. The auditors VINO
creMd their Wy i ana NE the s srea nef
only cause discomfort to fellow patrons.
but they miss The Explanation-which
for purposes Of sustained sense OF IN
is The ~os d,et ep"nesln,n /,
even though Il sshds tSs guests Of
the management-of course. paying
Susss 81, e , the rsraa a1S bound
whether It will be possible
10 describe in discreet and decorous
terms the scenes and speeches that
Awakened their uncompromtstng hi1ar~
~ PHIIAANDER JOHNSON
WAshdneton Square Flaye1s-In the
Of the Washington Square
Pfayers 1t the Belasoo the week Of o.
tober 20 Washington theater-goers
10, x.-> ~ ovsx>n~<unsHv ~ nha>rv5n~
one Of the most interesting ventures
of the American stage. In recent years
various attempts to establish an indie
pendent, or non-commercial, theatef
have come In glory and gone In failur3,
but II remained 4or theee players to