The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-16
AT The THEATERS

h.
The boarders, or guests, as the land
lady insists upon calling them in
Passing of the Third Floor Back"
which Forbes Robertson will present
at the Grand tonight, are drawn from
the shabby genteel. The landlady her
self has seen better days. She cheats
her boarders, spies upon. them, snaps
her slovenly maid, backb her lodg-
ers and is as splendid a specimen of
fawning hypocrisy as could be found
There is q maid, still young, with
promptingS which would lead her to
refuse many of the mean tasks i'm
posed upon her. but that she wears
the badge of servitude and must con-
unue to be INSCRIPTIONS if she would
keep her place. There is the painted
lady of 40 years. with crimson cheeks
and champagne hair. so well made up
that she easily passes for twenty, Civ
ing herself airs, having a sharp tongue
which is alternately sweet and sarcas-
tic. There is the shrew to whom no
body looks good and everybody is a
suspect. One of the best drawn char
acterS is the Snob, a middle-aged lady,
who, though her husband was a po-
tato salesman raised to the dignity of
baronet because of charity dona-
lions, conveniently has known no one
lower than a lord and is totally ig-
norant of the upper middle classes.
n
rounded up by a hussy, with some of
the feline grace and a good deal of
the fierce determination of a Mes
salina, who is bent on running herself,
makes no bones about it and lays her
plans accordingly
The men boardeTs are in the same
class. There is the elderly bully, a
retired officer impecunious, sponging,
browbeating his wife and daughter; a
Satyr leering at every turn, ogIing
the bully's daughter, who is young
enough to be his granddaughter; the
coward, who is about to prostitute his
art that he may make money; the
rogue, who has a worthless silver
mine, and the cad, who is ready to
turn his back on those who have be
friended him whenever he feels he is
in the society of those who are, above
him.
Such then are the characters
amongst whom comes the gentle
Passerby. With a few, gentle, deft
strokes he shows these petty people
now they are missing the best fun of
hfe-the greatest happiness in life.
and as he passes out of the boarding
house he leaves content and peace in
place of sOrdidness.
At the Hip.
''Thorns and Orange Blossoms as
presented by the Oliver PLAYERS is
PleaSlilS DIG crowds This play has
done a good business here-it is still
a favorite with all theater goers
Starting tomorrow night, Madame X
Will be presented. 1t is the first time
in the history of this play that it has
been presented at such small prices.
In addition, Grocery Night" will be
used for Thursday night only. This
feature is novelty here and will no
doubt prove as popular as Pay Night"
did when it flied the theater Monday
night. Madame X'' will be produced
the last half of the week only and the
price of admission will not be in
creased.
Lyman Howe Pictures.
Inc semi-annual engagement of
Rowe Travel Festival is booked for
FRIDAY and Saturday at the Grand.
when an entirely new program will be
presented, comprising some amazing
demonstrations of the untold possibiI-
tiles of motion photography. Among
them may be mentioned the very latest
process showing the
movements of animals which ordinar-
lily are so agile that they elude the
eye.
At the Crystal.
a big double feature bill is the pro-
gram at this house today and tomor-
row. Rupert Julian and Elsie Jane
wilson show in the three reel detec-
tive drama, THE Red Lie" a play
with guaranteed punch" and kick |
combined Billie Richie, now the
reigning Broadway comedy favorite |
shows in the comedy riot KNOCKS |
and Opportunities" The week so far |
has shown the largest business of the !
year, attesting to the wonderful popu- |
larity of Universal films.
At the Novelty.
5. ]. Broughton of the team of |
Broughton and Turner, playing at the |
Novelty theater today. was much sur |
prised to find his old manager. E. f. /
as manager of the Novelty !
Fifteen years ago Manager Maxwell /
was managing a road attraction /
called THE Gay Mr.. Goldstein." in I
which George c. Boniface, jr.. Mary .
Hampton and Thomas J. Keough /
were the co-stars and S. ]. Broughton /
was a member of that company, at /
which time it was frequently wonder /
ed why he did not make use of his
excellent voice. Since then he has
played for years in the vaudeville /
houses and has been a success both
and financially. This is
The first meeting Maxwell and
Broughton have had since they tray
eled together fifteen years ago.
At the Iris
Comedy, swift action and diplomatic
angles OF two countries involving the