The Washington herald., 1917-11-26
Sunday Theatef
Openings
NATURALIZATION Holme. on Japa,

NathOnak-burtOm HOMES on Japan.
'Prsfacing his travel talk on Japan
at the National Theater last night,
Burton Holmes recalled the fact that
his career as a lecturer began just
twenty-five years ago with the same
fascinating country as his subject.
Since then he has visited Japan a
number of times, and the habitual
patrons of his courses have become
familiar with its best known fea-
lures. For this reason Mr.. Holmes
sought in this years journey to de-
pict some of the less commonly vis-
tied regions and aspects of the ISL
ands.
An additional source of interest
in the new slides and films proved
to be the remarkable recent develop
ments in the cities OF Yokohama and
Tokyo in the way Of large modern
buildings, improved streets, and in
creased TRAFFIC, incident to the
growth of war prosperity.
Some of <he motion picture films
of special interest showed the rail-
way journey to the provincial capi-
tai Of Yamagata; the fantastic
rocky shores of the peninsula Of
Oga; a trip by rail through the
northern island of Yezzo; patients
taking the natural hot water baths
at Noboribetsu, and many vivid
studies Of life and character among
the aboriginal Anus.
Next Sunday evening Mr.. Holmes
subject will be Alaska Today" An
extra lecture for December 8 is an
nounced. under the title "Circling
the Pacific"
Loew's Columbia, Douglas Fairbanks.
Douglas Fairbanks in his latest pho
toplay, Reaching for the Moon" at
tracted the largest crowds yesterday
to Loew's Columbia since its opening
as a photoplay theater. He will re-
main the feature all this week., Doug
las Fairbanks has appeared in a large
number of side-tickling pictures, and
it Is hard to find the exact niche into
which his current effort fits, but it is
one Of the very best in which he has
appeared.
The story concerns Alexis Caesar
Napoleon Brown, an imaginative
youth. energetic but impractical. He
loses his job, and nearly loses his
girl, but nightmare saves him. He
dreams he Is the long lost heir to the
throne of Vulgaria, title also claim
ed by his deadly rival, Black Boris.
So Brown joins the ranks of uneasy
monarchs. He cannot speak, for there
are dictaphohes all about; he cannot
eat, because his food is poisoned; he
cannot smoke. since the cigarettes are
made of the very latest high explo-
sive. Other little unpieasantnesses oc-
cur, such as the throwing of bombs
and. the brandishing Of, knives in his
vicinity. and, worst Of all; there Is the
coy but ancient princess whom he
must marry. Finally, the feud boils
down to a personal encounter be-
tween the two royal conte1aers, as
a climax to which Brown Is. hurled
over a cliff. He falls down. down,
downright out Of. bed. The final
scenes show him regaining his Job
and planning his cottage in peace
full New Jersey.
The fact that the story Is laid In
the kingdom Of Vulgaria permits of
the use of many large and elaborate
sets, together with picturesque cos
tunes and some fine outdoor loca-
tions. Against this background Fair
banks fights his way. climbing the
sides Of houses in his efforts TO
escape his enemies, and thrQwing
them in countless numbers down
stairways and through windows
Reaching for the Moon u one of