New-York tribune., 1918-02-16

Strangely enough. some of the gay impu-
dencc of vaudeville appears to have gone
somewhere else momentarily. giving way to
an amazing shyness.
All the dramatic critics in New York
couldn't produce the effect of one critical
Presid. ntial eye. Mr. Alexander Macfadyen
makes a strange hash of List. although
have heard him play it before with as much
charm as any one can play an Hungarian rhap-
sody to variety audience. Miss Josie
Heather, usually self-possessed, forgets a
line out OF a new song, RECEIVERS instanta-
neously, and plunges under the Presiden- n
tlal scrutiny, directed through pair
of black opera glasses.
AS the entertainment proceeds and no
calamity impends this nervousness of sea-
soned performers wears off little. They
display discriminating delicacy in their lit
tie tribute to the right side OF the house
Mr. Billy Halligan adventures with the con-
vlcton that the Patriotic League ought to buy
fifteen lots in the centre of the Sahara Desert
lie bases this opinion on the further opinion
that it would make fine summer home for
Senator La Toilette.
This goes home. The President smiles. not
too widely, although rccognizably, and Mr.
! lialligan having scored once tries again. He
has now turned to knitting, he informs his
partner, Miss Dana Sykes. and upon the in
cvltabe query he drives in quickly with the
/ information that he is at work on nut1er
for Senator Chamberlain
The smile is wider this time. although
even round of applause sweeping across the
house Will not bring the two hands to add
to the smile.
Not that Mr.. Wilson isn't generous. When
Professor servais LIE Roy, epinent European
magician iilusionst, puts Mile. Mercedes
lalma, slave OF mystery, into a box. covers
her with cloth, picks her up in his arms
and suddenly whips the cloth off to show the
lady has disappeared, the President leans
forward with keen interest, turns to Mrs
| wilson with remark and applauds vieor-
ousy
craftsmanship and diplomacy and politics
too, have their magcs, their illusions. their
dlsappearances. Possibly the resemblance is
divcrting.
A War Appeal
in the lntermission Blanche Bates. who ia
no" Mrs George Creel, appears and talks to
!ne auclence on the need Of buying war saw.
lngs stamps. Mr.. Wilson approves Ho Loan
forward. He brings the glasses to bear on
Mrs. Creel. Mrs. Creel was an interesting
ana pleas1ng actress. She speaks now with
lhleiilgence, with a command Of speech that
- s'at'iylhs' sprlnglng so suddenly out OF
the mutations of the average variety uer
former Her appearance is in ;tse,f ar+o~
tanning, appealing to part of the mind thai
is concerned with determinations that find
no exercise at any other part of the evening
Possibly Mr. Wilson is interested in cor.
trasts, although it may not be 50 strono an
interest as to keep him from attend;no
helth's when another week has swung aronrd
Inc programme is more than half wa,
through when the newsboys begin callne
hoarsely outside the theatre Their shon,s
creep through the walls, add faint e,nei,,
chorus to the chorus under the proscen;,,r
arch The manager of the theatre anneare
near the Presidential box then little kno.
Oh men gathers, punctuated by tall and inn.
presslve policeman. The President pocs or
smillng' applaudng, interested, never bored
re remains to see the motion pictures tbonsr
nan the house disdainfuly elbows its wa,
out With the opened exits the cries oe ~,
newsboys are louder. shrill and penctratiro,
Here and there the audience already tnoue.
inc meaning of extra editions at mian;obt
Only the President gives no sign. The ,n+o,
with the large seal of these United st.ta. -,
Its doors winds slowly through the c,o,ra.
packed about the theatre and smooth1y corr;a,
the party to the White House, a few blnoL,
away. D'oeN a.