davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23
Johnston Forbes-Robertson as Hamlet:
Appreciation by EngLand's Greatest Critic

sible for and actor to represent Hamlet
as mad He may land generally does)
combine some notion OF his own OF a man
who u the creature Of affectionate SON
timent with the figure drawn by the lines
OF Shakespeare; but the result Is not a
mailman. but simply one OF those mon
Bters produced by the imaglnary COM
bination OF two normal species. such as
Ephinxea. mermaids. or oentaurs. And
this Il the invariable resource OF the In
stinctive imaginative. romantic actor,
You VIII see him weeping buckets-fuil OF
tears over Ophelia. and treating the
players. the gravedigger. Horatio. Rosen-
crantz and 0uiidenstern as IL they were
mutes at his own funeral.
But go and watch Forbes -Robertson's
Hamlet. seizing deiightedly on every op-
portunity for a bit OF phiiosophic dis
cussion or artistic recreation to escape
from the ''cursed spite" OF revenge and
love and other common troubles; see
how he brightens up when the players
come; how he tries to talk philosophy
with Rosenorantz and Guildenstern the
moment they come into the room; how
he stops on his country walk with Horatio
20 lean over the church yard wall and
draw out the grave digger who he sees
singing at his trade; how even his fits
OF excitement find expression In deciaim-
ing scraps OF poetry; how the shock OF
ophella's death relieves itself in the
fiercest intellectual contempt for Laertes
ranting whilst an hour afterwards
when Iaertes sabs him. he bears no
malice for that at ell. but embraces him
calamity and comradeiy. and how he dies
as we forgive everything TO Charles II
for dying. and makes '.the rest Is silence
a touohingly humorous apology for not
being able 20 finish his business. See ell
that. and you have seen true and clas-
sical Hamlet. Nothing half 80 charming
has been see by this generation. 1t will
bear seeing again and again.
And please observe that Il not a cold
Hamlet. He u none of your loglcians
who reason their way through the world
because they cannot feel their way
through Il; his intellect l. the organ OF
his passion; his eternal self-critolsm is
ns alive and thrilling as Il can possible
be. The great soliloquy-nol ! do not
mean ITO be or not to be-" mean the
dramatic one "Oh. what a rogue and
peasant slave am IRIS as passionate
IN its scorn OF brute passion as the most
bullnecked affirmation or sentimental
dilution OF Il could be. II comes out 80
without violence; Forbes Robertson takes
the part quits easily and spontaneously.
The lines help Forbes Robertson instead
OF getting IN his way at every turn. be-
cause he wants 60 play Hamlet. and not
90 slip into his inky clock a chanseling
OF quite another race. II Il wonderful
how easily everything comes right when
you have the right man with the right
mind for it-how the story tells itself.
how tire characters came 10 life.
Forbes Robertson's performance has a
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23

PPRoAcHING Is one Of tho
really important episodes in
omaha's annals Of the theater
1.-The engagement OF Sir John
ston Forbes Robertson. who
ursgf anooar ~ ~. n....4 49,.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23

continuous charm. interest and variety.
which are the result not only Of his
we'll known familiar grace and accom-
plishment as an actor. nut OF genuine
delight-the rarest thing on our stage
In Shakespeare's art and q natural IA
miliarity with the plane OF his ifnagina-
ton. He does not supsrEdtonsiy wor-
ship william: be enjoys him and un-
derstands his methods Of expression. In
stead OF cutting every line that can pos
sibiy be spared he retains every gem. In
his own part or anyone's else. that he
can make time for In a splritedly brisk
performance. lasting three hours and a
hail. with very short intervals He does
not utter half line. and then stop to
act again. with the clock running away
with shakespeare's chances ali the time.
He plays ss Shakespeare should be
played. on the line and TO the line. with
the utterance ana acting simultaneous.
inseparable and. in fact. Identical Not
for moment Il he solemnIy conscious OF
Shakespeare's reputation or OF Hamlet's
momentousness in literary history; on
the contrary. he delivers us from all
these boredoms instead Of heapink them
on us. We forgive him the platitudes,
30 engagingiy are they delivered. His
novel and astonishingIy effective ana
touching treatment OF the final scene is
an inspiration. from the fencing match
onward. II only Fortinbras souId also
be Inspired with sufficient force and
brilliancy to rise 20 the wariike splendor
Of his helmet and make straight for that
throne like a man who intended to keep
Il against all comers. he would leave
nothing 10 be desired How many gener-
stions Of Hamlets. all thirsting to out
shine their competitors in effect and
originality, have regafded Fortinbras,
and the clue he gives 70 this kingiy
death OF Hamlet, as a wildly unpresent-
able blunder OF the POOR foolish old
Swan. than whom they eff knew SO much
better; how sweetly they have died IN
that faith to slow music. Like Little
Nell in The old Curiosity shop" And
now how completely Fobes- Robertson
has bowIed them all out by being clever
enough 70 be simple.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23

ny GEORGE BERNARD SHAW.
Forbes-Robertson Is essentially cIas-
steal actor What mean by classical
IN that no can present a dramatic hero
as man whose passions arc those which
have produced the philosophy. the poetry.
the art. and the statecraft OF the world.
and not merely those which have pro-
duced It's weddings, eoroner's inqueSts
and executions. And that Is Just the sort
OF an actor Hamlet requires. A Hamlet
who only understands his love for Ophe-
liza. his grief for his father. his vindioa-
tive hatred OF his uncle. his fear OF
ghosts. his impulse to snub Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern, and the sportsman's
excitment with which he lays tho mouse
trap" for Claudius. can. with sufficient
force OF yirtuoslty Of execution get a
great reputation In the part. even though
the very intensity OF his obsession by
these sentiments (Which are common not
only to men but 70 many animals). shows
the characteristics side OF Hamlet. the
side that differcntiates him from Fortin-
bras. Is absolutely outside the actors
CONSEQUENCES, Such reputation Is the
actors not Hamiet's. Hamlet is not a
man IN whom common humanity Is
raised by great vital energy TO heroic
pitch ike Coriolanus or otheilo. On tho
contrary, ne is a man IN whom the COM
mon personal passions are 30 superseded
by wider and rarer interests. and so
discouraged by a degree OF critical self
consciousness which makes the practical
efficiency OF the instructive man on
the lower plane impossible. TO him.
that he finds the duties dictated by con-
Venti0nai revenge and ambition as dis
agreeable q burden as commerce Is 20
poet. Even his instructive sexual Inn
pulses offend his intellect; 20 that when
he meets tho woman who exoites them
no invites her 70 Join him In bitter and
scornfnl criticism OF their Joint absurd
ity, demanding What should such fell
lows as I do crawling between heaven
and earth - why would'st thou be a
breeder OF slnnera3" and 20 forth, all OF
which ls 30 completely beyond the poor
sirl she naturally thinks him mad.
And. indeed. there Is sense in which
Hamlet Is insane; for he trips over the
mistake which lies on the threshold Of
intellectual solf-consciousness: that OF
bringing to utilarian o. Hendonistic tests.
thus treating Il as a means instead OF
an end Because Polonioua is a foolish
prating knave.r because Rosencranz and
Guildenstern are snobs. he kills them as
remorseiessly a. he might KIN q flea.
showing that he has no real belief In the
Bupertitious reason which he gives for
not killing himself and. IA fact. antici-
pating exactly the whoie course OF the
intellectual history of western Europe
until Schopenhauer found the clue that
Shakespeare missed. but 20 call Hamlet
mad because no did not anticipate Schop-
enhauer Is like calling MarceIlus mad be-
cause ne did not refer the Ghost 70 tie
Phychieal society. It Il in fact, no, pos
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23

cohan and Harris' farce. 1T Pays to
Advertise" win be presented early next
month at the Brandeis thester.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23

At the Boyd Tor two nights and mat.
inee. February Il and u. May Irwin viii
present her latest play, No. $. washins-
ton square MIR. George Clark. an
Omaha boy. Is her leading Juvenile.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23

cast In one Of the important parts. Others
are Mignon McGibeny. Helen Clarke.
Charles Judels. George Lydecker and Carl
Lyle.
An occasion OF moment In local tho
atrical history will be the accomplish
ment today at the Empress of its third
year OF consecutive performances under
the present management. Three years
ago today the present policy was
brought forth and carried on successfully
to the present day. To commemorate the
day the Empress sheater will give its
patrons one OF the best vaudeville bills
obtainable. In addition to the vaudeville
the first episode OF THE Strange Case
OF Mary Page. win be shown with
Edna Mayo and Henry B. walthai late
star Of the Birth Of Nation" Harry
Hayward and company. in 'rhe Firefly," :"
will be the feature act 1t is g little
pIaylet OF a working man ana two girls
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23

and fun Of real incidents. Prince and
Dearie, the college boy and the maid.
q comedy talking and singing act. Alice
Hamilton, all by herself. depicts a pep
perry old lady with such iifeiike coiors and
such unctuous humor, that the audience
is for her unanimously. The Harms trio
or clever entertainers in their peculiar
ways. The photo pictures will be "A
Telegraphio Tangie," sidney Drew
comedy and full of life: "A Frenzied
Finance brokers' story; closing with
seilg-Tribuns Weekly No. 9. Mary
Page" will be shown after each vaude-
vile ahow.
With the million Dollar Dolls" that
noted burlesoue organization. which is
considered one of the best attractions OF
the season. at the popular Gayety. this
week. admirers OF musical burlesque
have an opportunity to enjoy burlesque
de luxe. as exemplified In musical
comedy, '.Hotel do Glnk." Crispness.
snap. and go are emphasized by the
producers and the company. Most OF the
time the comedians are furnishing a
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23

riot Of fun on the stage. but when cir
ctimstances take them behind the scenes,
the chorus Is present 20 lend ksleido-
scopio dash Of color to the stage pictures.
and to sing the latest metropolitan hits
or whiri and glide IN new dances A
production Of beauty has been provided.
with an excellent company headed BY
Lew Hilton and Lester Allen, whose
names are familiar to devotees OF bur
lesque. In the supporting company arc
Bob Evans, Frances st. clair. Elsie
Meadows. Raney q Gibson. and savo,
Today's matinee starts at o'clock.
-
The American de0ut OF Ciccolini. the
great Italian tenor. marks one OF the
most important musical events OF the
season. He comes TO the Orpheum this
week az the stellar attraction. The
story OF Ciccomni's career is very unlike
that OF most artists. for the greatest
obstacle IN his path was wealth lie had
hard struggle 70 overcome the con-
servative traditions OF his old Roman
petrlcian family when he decided TO be-
come singer. Harry Green Is present
ing a character farce by Aaron Hoffman.
The Cherry Tree" The one-act play Is
n moral QiSsuleeu IN cOnlC atliTe+
"NIftynonsensc" Is the name OF the
slSit to be offered BY James Diamond and
sibyl Brennan The Call OF the six
ties musical melange offered by
y D.addius and idiiian scarlet. caOabie
banjoists. One OF the bct dramatic
EPISODES seen on the vaudeville stage Is
the tale Of a crook. a play called
Straight" II viii be given by Arthur
sullivan. who is supported by capable
company. Valentine and Bell have an
act called The Furniture Removers.'
The team Is made up Of q man and a
woman who are bicyclists OF an unusual
sort. With an offering that is original.
Stevens ana Fake will make their local
bow For the exclusive feature Of mo-
tion pictures the orpheum Travel Weekly
is to show horse breeding farms at
Perche. in the valley Of the orne,
France. and VIII also give views Of the
narrow passes of the Tarn river in
France.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23

phlstieatod band OF first-nightern OF Man
haitian es q since has proved to audiences
In other centers. For "'rhe yellow
Jacket Is wholly unlike anything the
Occidental stage has ever seen.
There never was any doubt OF Its ar
tistic success II was Immediately pro-
claimed by the critics work OF great
artistic worth. and when the public did
not flock to see II. following the firs,
impassioncd outburut OF the reviewers. a
number OF literary men OF New York
constituted themselves first-eid band
and issued a round-robin. urging all in
tereetcd IN the upilft Of tho stage 70 sec
Il. The Drama league. too. buIletined
tho play Then the public rushed 20 see
II and these unusual recommendations
resulted IN productions Of the play In
London. Berlin. Munich. Vienna. Buda-
pessh. Moscow and other European
cities
The story OF ''The yellow Jacket Is
world-old tale OF young love thwarted
aud then triumphant II Il simple. naive.
symbolic and touched with the charm
ana poetry Of authentic legend. It Is
beautifully acted. too. II tells us more
about China then a thousand missionary
reports or learned books BY visiting saw
ants. Il teaches Us. by its manner OF
presentation. what an utterly conven-
tional thing our present-day scenery
after all Il. Finally. and best. Il sives
US genuine theatrical pleasure. the pleas
ure OF novelty. OF good acting. Of un-
folding story II h production nobody
can afford 70 miss.
sidney Davies. light comedian who
plays the humorous valet IN the famous
music comedy "Adele." which comes TO
the Brandeis on February 6 for an en-
sagement Of four days. Il a mining en-
giaeer. has been IN every country on
the face OF the globe. is a remarkable
mimic. can reproduce the sound OF any
animal from tho singing OF the canary
to the roar Of the Hon, Is lecturer OF
no mean order. a soldier. . carpenter, a
seaman. ABB; singer with a splendid
voice. humorist Of the first order.
At the Boyd for two uiEats and mat.
inee. February Il and Il. May Irwin viii
present her latest play. No s.. washins-
ton square. MIR. George Clark. an
Omaha boy. r. her leading Juvenile.
cohan ana Harris farce. II PAY, 10
ADVERTISE" will be presented early next
month al the Brandeis thester.
Nobody Home that successful mu-
slcel farces direct from a run OF slx
months n New York and -four months IN
Boston and Chicago. win be presented by
y. Ray comstock and EiiEabssh Mar
bury a fhs Boyd theater for three nights
| btGInuInn Sunday February a .vlth an.
original company headed by lawrence
Crossualth. wdllknown English comedian.
Mildred Elaine VIII play the leading fe,ni-
nine role and Maude OdoI. Tor a num-
Der Of years faosrite Ia this city. il
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23

Homer ]. Kenyon's dramatization Of
Bertha M. Clay's story. ''Thorns and
Orange Blossoms.' viii be the offering
OF the North Bros. stock company. at
the Krug theater. for the week starting
matinee today. II IL generally know that
the story teens with human interest
MIR. Kenyon's adaptation for the stage
brings out the strong situations in
striking manner The usual scale Of movie
prices will obtain for the weak and re-
served seats for entire week will be on
sale today. Family nasinees win be given
on Thursday and Saturday. Tne pelicy Of
politeness goes on forever at the Krug
and each succeeding week finds the
North players stronger In the hearts OF
omahans. The Chicago Ladies' or
chestra win have another program Of
popular. music. Anna Henderson will
make her debut with the company today
IN leading role. Miss Henderson
comes we'll recommended to Omaha.
having been a member Of several well
known stock companies. She win be
strong addition to the company.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23


The repertory from which Ciccolini Will
select his program at each OF his four
teen recitals at the Orpheum, starting
Sunday. January e. Is as follows:
celeste Aida" (''Aida'O. "cielo mar
(''gioconda'). La Donna . mobile"
('Rigoletto'O. Flower Song Carmen.
Aria" ('Masked Ball''), "Romanza"
('srraviata'), ''Le Reve." THE Dream
("Manon'). in French; 'Elegie." by
Massenet. in French; Claire de lune."
by Szule. in French; 'Romsnce." by
Debussy, In French; "Serenade," by
Schubert, In German; Mamma mia" and
'Marecchiara." Neapolitsn songs; I'm
tn," by sanderson. In English. sisnor
Ciccolini will endeavor to comply with
the desires OF his audiences In arrang-
ing his programs. The orchestra will be
under direction OF Carol Edwards, who
was the first American grand opera con-
ductor in Italy.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23

The yellow Jacket" which Mr. ana
Nfs. cqbun win present At the Brandeiu
% Bebfuary q 4 ana s. Is play by
George G HaEeIion ana Benrsnlo. dons
So The Chinese manner When Il waa
first acted three yearr aso IN New York
= ~ q. startling q novelty TO the So
New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-10-18
La Toilette Defends LoaU

Passage of the .Adamson eight-houl
railroad law is strongly defended by
Senator Robert M. La Toilette of Wis.
consin. Over signed editorial in the
current issue of his magazine, Senator
La Toilette says:
"The Eight-hour law is not a force
bill. The Railway employees demanded an
eight-hour day from the railroads.
They made no demand on Congress.
AS was their right, they set day to
quit work in case their demand was re-
fused. Then the railroads inaugurated
strike against the public. They refused
to accept freight for shipment, especi-
ally perishable goods, in many parts
of the country. They spent tremendous
sums of money in an effort to influence
public sentiment and this money must
eventually come out of the pockets Of
the people. The strike meant appalling
disaster to farmers, to fruit growers,
great damage to all business, including
the railroads.
'The President was not successful
in averting the disaster, the railroad
managers being particularly obstinate
and refusing to concede the principle
of the eight-hour day. The President
put the matter up to Congress, and
Congress, considering only the public
good, acted in the public interest. 1t
was not forced by any demands of the
workingmen or of the railroads. The
public interest demanded immediate
action, and Congress acted and passed
the law. Every Wisconsin represen-
tative present voted for the bill, and
believe they were right in doing so. I
believe in the eight-hour day.
"Did Congress act without due con-
sideration? The question of the eight
hour day for skilled labor was not new.
Every congressman alive to the issues
of the day must have been familiar with
the subject.
when the sixteen-hour limitation
for railroad employees was under con-
sideration it was met by the same argu-
ment made against the eight-hour law.
Railroads and some other large employers
are slow to learn, but experience has
abundantly shown that for the trades,
professions and crafts where skill, cour-
age and caution are required the eight
hour day is the maximum of efficiency"
Senator La fallette was the only Re-
publican senator to vote for the measure.
New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-10-18
HUGHES ANSWERS HIMSELF

Mr.. Hughes argues in a circle in his
comments or the eight hour law, as
found in his speech at Newark, N. J.
He first declares himself in favor. of the
principle of the eight hour working day.
He goes further and declares for '*the
limitation Of the hours Of labor, that a
man shall work eight hours and no Ion
err" He denounces the Adamson law
because it does not make such a lirnita-
ton. He says. '*There is no fixing of
hours of work; there is no prohibition
of working more than eight hours
The words inclosed in quotation marks
are exact quotations from his Newark
speech.
Having thus placed himself on record
as favoring eight hours of labor and no
more, with prohibitions and penalties
for work done in excess of eight hours in
any one day, the candidate proceeds to
demonstrate that such limitations
would be wholly impracticable on rail-
roads, because, the railroad train must
complete its run to the division point,
regardless of the unavoidable delays
that may cause its time for making
such run to be in excess Of the eight
hours permitted by law Ma1ekuto
Revieav.
New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-10-18
Give Boys ot Border q Vote

That the Minnesota troops now
stationed on the Mexican border should
not be disfranchised, is the contention OF
many Minnesota people, and the Civic
and Commerce Association of Mime
apolis, is not only urging, but demanding
that the legislature be called together
at once and proper measure be passed,
enabling the men away on military duty
to vote at the election next month.
At recent meeting of the association
a resolution was adopted providing that
"a committee should be appointed to wait
on Governor Burnquist and urge the
prompt calling of the legislature together
for the purpose of enacting the necessary
measure.
The Wisconsin legislature, within a
few hours after converting, enacted a law
that will permit her troops now in Texas
the right to cast their ballots and there
is no reason why Minnesota should not
do the same.
Leading business men of Minneapolis
have expressed themselves in favor of
the extra session.
New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-10-18
MINNESOTA EDITORS COMMENT

If Hughes is elected, Teddy will be
'the power behind the throne" and when
political patronage is distributed ffNo
Germans need apply" -Waseca Herald.
Election is less than month away,
but no one in these parts would know
that there: was an election to be held this
fall, except for a. candidates picture once
in a while. There isn't much election
excitement -Hutchimsow Leader.
Opponents of President Wilson con-
denim him for maintaining peace by
rneans of words, or for securing what
is good and desirable with rhetoric And
then these same critics are trying to get
control of the government by the same
means, upon their own solicitation. We
don't follow their logic. What's: the
answer?- Star.
s'What would you have dGne?" That
is the question the general public wants
candidates for office to answer, who have
been criticizing the fellows who are in.
It's dead easy to roast the other fellow,
but then it does not go down we'll any
more without the candidate saying what
he would do under similar circumstances.
lie Sueur Leader-Denocrat~
New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-10-18

countrywide Federal reserve system
under public controls?
ID. Would you, If elected, urge the re-
peal OF the tariff commission law and the
Federal trade commission law?
Is. Are you in favor of compulsory
universal military service?
l6. Are you against compulsory univer-
sal military service?
II. Are you in favor Of larger military
expenditures than those provided for at
the session of congress recently ad-
journed?
ID. Do you believe that property
rights should come first, or human rights?
10. Do you believe that the army and
navy should follow all foreign invest
ments, and that we should not hesitate
to go to war to make those investments
good no matter how hazardous they may
have been? ...
No man should be voted for who
leaves the answer to any of these ques-
tions in the dark.
Mr.. Hughes persists in leaving the an
swers to all of them in the dark.
Everybody knows where President
Wilson stands on all of them. Why
changer Herald.