The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-26
Wndsom Does Thousands of Dollars Damage Property Cap
SPANISH ENVOY
TOENTERTAIN THE
LANDOF JOY CAST

Americans have long been grateful -
Spain for financing the expedition that
satisfied the curiosity Of Columbus. for
giving to the world Of letters Ceryantss.
creator Of Don ouixote." and SoraIla,
the artist, whose works grace many gall
leries.
America, or at least that portion Of Il
in Washington and New York, IL now
Indebted to Spain for Euiogio Velasco
and his brother. Francisco. who have
brought to this country The Land Of
JOY" the attraction at the National
Theater this week
During the three months The Land
OF joy has been playing in America
thousands OF persons have had to revise
their opinions Of Spain.
spain Combed.
The velasco brothers. both actor-play-
wrights. combed every province OF Spain
for the flower OF the stage who could
best interpret the Spain Of long ago
and the Spain OF today. with IL
romance, its vivid but not vulgar color1.
with its grace and charm. with Its anil
nation. and its tuneful melodies.
King Alfonso and members Of the
royal family saw the play in Madrid
and pronounced It truly Spanish; Senor
Don Juan Riano Gayangos. Spanish
ambassador to Washington. and other
embassy attaches last night saw Il ~
the National in this city, and pronounco
il breath Of Spain. as Spain Is today.
Senior Velasco accepted for the
company OF about sixty the invita-
ton Of the Spanish ambassador to .
reception in honor OF the company
at the Spanish embassy on Friday AZ
ternoon Of this week.
The Velascos hail from Valencia
the land of oranges and OF valen-
ciennes lace. Therefore, the abund-
ance OF orange colors and flowers in
the elaborate costumes OF the dancers
In THE Land OF JOY"
Name Changed.
Senior Velasco told a Times repre-
sentative that he first named the
play, Women and Flowers" but
changed the title after reaching
America. He has written half o
dozen successful books and lyricas
and the music has been written By
Quinito Valverde. leading composer OF
Spain, who Is expected to join the
company in Washington this week
Washington audiences, both men
and women, have been struck by the
super-abundance Of clothing worn
by the Spanish women, which IL IN
striking contrast to the abbreviated
costume which is the mode In so many
American shows
Eighteen dancers in the second act
wear shawls of Yalenciennes lace
which, Senior Velasco states, cost p
81 900 each, ard are worth at retail
81. 400. Twelve dancers in the sixth
scene of the second act wear shaWlS
that cost $500 each, wholesale.
Much Work On shawIs.
1t required the combined efforts Of
six experienced women. working ten
hours daily for six months, to produce
a single shawl.
Washington women have been inter
ested In the large ornamental tortoise
shell hairpins worn by nearly all q
the dancers. This decoration in Spain
is known as a 'peina." They are
made OF the highest grade OF tortoise
shell and cost SIS to SIS each -
Although they were the mode In
Spain 100 years ago, the popularity
OF The Land OF Joy" has again
brought them into use there and New
York manufacturers are planning to
put them on the market In America.
More than a score OF the colorfui
costumes used in the show are cos
tunes with a history Some OF them
came from China, others from Japan
Costume $50 Years Old.
The costume worn by Senorita
Luisita Puchol when she sings la
Tirana" is more than $50 years old.
It is orange and black silk, with real
gold and cut glass trimmings. 1t for
merly was worn by a woman OF
wealth and position in Madrid. After
giving her number in Spanish, the
senorita gives II in English She II 20
the only female member OF the COM
pany able to speak English and she
does not boast of fuency.
Senior VelascO. through his inter
prefer. declared he would like to re-
main in Washington always, because, .
like Valencia. there are SO many trees,
parks, and flowers.
Francisco Velasco Is now In Ha-
vana. Cuba, with a company OF Span
ish players. A third company, under
the direction OF the Velasco brothers,
Is in Spain.