Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-29

limited IN scope to demonstrations of
scholarship and personal impression
The recently issued Life of David
Belasco" goes beyond scholarship and
personal impression, and yet possesses
both. Being built upon posthumous
work of the late William Winter, it
could not be lacking in the charm of
literary elegance and the stimulation
of forceful- if sometimes arbitrary
opinion.
Like a Belasco play a Eelasco book
would be a disappointment if it did
not. possess every advantage of quality
and appearance. The two volumes are
elegant specimens of typography and
illustration. The narrative discloseS
many incidents not popularity familiar.
The paper wrapper itself shows the
eminent producer in portrait between
other. Hamlet. Both these roles Belasco
played. in addition to others, SO numer-
Gus that the list occupies several pages.
Reference is made to the prominent
people of the theater with whom Be
lasco came into relationship in any
way; and this means about all of them.
There is a kindly liberality in the dis
cuSSion of merits and attainmentS of
contemporaries which evinceS Il will to
be generous and not censorious. The
atmosphere of kindness which is not
lost even in discussing some incidents
which must have left a lingering trace
of bitterness is one of the chief pleas
ures of the work.
Washington was the scene of some of
the most important struggles in the
career of the great play builder. In
deed. 1t was the city which saw the
first production of the play which es-
authority in the world of the drama.
The story of his struggles to get
1.-The Heart of Maryland" before the
public is an enlightening glimpse be-
hind the scenes. This city was the bat
tie ground of many a stand against
adverse conditions and the book does
not shirk the responsibilities of a
truthful chronicle in describing diff
cultieS with those who were once his
foes and who are now his friends.
A careful and thorough system of
fndeXing gives the work an encyclo-
pedic value in addition to it's fascina-
ton as Il narrative. There is scarcely
Z page which does not start train of
pleasant recollection in the mind of
any one who has done q reasonable
share of play-going. The subject and
the author. both lovers OF the stage to
a degree that made them Indifferent
to the box office, seem to have joined
in sentiment to contribute to the vast
vet mostly inconsequential library of |
the theater something which may just
" be accounted great work.
s. Il Sc
Tt was evidently the expectation of
Mr.. Belasco to establish himself with
a theater for first productions in
Washington. This purpose may have
been due to trace of superstition of
the sentimental sort, because it was
in the Capital city that he broke the
spell OF disappointment which was be-
ginning to hang over his efforts as a
creator and producer of individual
responsibility. That David Belasco |
has not for a long time guided the |
destinies of the Belasco Theater in |
this city was evident from the fact |,
that his new productions here were by |
no means limited to the stage of the |
playhouse to which his name had lent
distinction. Belasco now appears in |
conjunction with Shubert in the |
titles. in recognition. no doubt, of his |
continued share of interest in a pro- |
prlet1ry way. !
The great Shubert system of thea |
trical enterprises has been especially !
energetic of late in establishing play !
houses in Washington. Polls is book |
ed by the Shubert offices. bat Mr.. |
Poll has not yet decided to link his |
name with that of New York man
ayers in designating the Avenue
playhouse. Quite the most remarkable |
stroke of enterprise on the part of ,
the Shubert mana cement is the talk
ing over of the thcater at F and 9TH
streets. hit erto known as the Casino.
The double anne is again employed.
the late David Garrick being the one
whose name is brought into current |,
distinction. 1t is n slight coincidence, !
that Garrick's first name, like that of |,
BelaSco. is David. That SO extensive |
n system of enterprises should I'm |
volve some complications and m eet |
The inability If the GRACE George |
production to open on Monday might |
was, however. attributable entirely |
10 railroad difficulties. The Shubert- |
Ga rick Theater appears to have been |
Retarded in its plans by more i'm
mediate considerations. those of re- |
decoration and booking.f The opening /
which was to have taken place to- |
night is now announced for next |
rnILASbER JOHNSON
Thoughtful Sourte<y-The vaude-
willie playerst-at Keith's last week |
were given 4 Christmas eve feast by
Manager Robbins. BY special invi- -.
tation. Manager Brylawski of the Cos-
mos. with the players at the popular
Avenue place. We're included.
.T1r. Robbins action was inspired by
n telegram from Col. L. r. Albee, the
principal owner of the r. f. Keith cir
cult, which said their strenuous tasks
in connection with the war. their nee
essary absence from home and kindred
ST the Yuletide nd other conSidera-
fions entitled the vaudeville players
to especial consideration. He suggest
ed a feast of good things after the
Nnas eve show. All of which Mama
ger Robbins carried out without re-
gard to trouble or expense.
The great promenade lounge was
decorated with green things, banners,
Al. all, rffNy, N~n-
was ubiquitous in his efforts to please
and Stage Manager George T. Thomp-
son ran show that was voted supe-
rior to the one the public had just
paid to see
Origin of ..Seveuteen."-Booth Tar
kington has two nephewS, who
achieved the tragi-comic age of sew
cnteen and started their uncle pom
dering on what a difficult world it is
10 the idealism of romantic youth. He
was deeply in sympathy with his
nephews, for he remembered himself
at their age. But he couldn't help. see
ing the funny side of their troubles.
Rolling the two nephewS into one,
he chriStened the fiction lad William
Sylvanus Baxter. jr.. and presented
him to the public in series of short
stories for a magazine Then, under
the title of Seventeen" the stories
appeared in book form Mr.. Tarking-
tons genius sees both sides of Will
lie Raxter's troubles and follows the
chronicle of this delightfully."- human
young hero with both laughter and
tears.
This is how seventeen came into