The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-02

birth OF James Russell Lowell
60 be held next month under the
auspices OF the American Academy OF
Arts and Letters. will include a night
at the theatre. and for this event the
committee on arrangements has Sc
iected Sir James NJ. Barrie's comedy
Dear Brutus." at the Empire Theatre
on Friday evening. February 81. This
selection Is made both on account OF
the erinence Of the playwright and
the worth OF the play and also as an
act OF courtesy to William Gillette,
the star OF Dear Brutus," who is the
only actor who is a member OF the
Academy. 1t was upon his accession
TO this honor. Il may be recalled, that
. Mr.. Gillette in 1913 delivered his MEM
orable address on The Illusion OF the
First Time OF Acting"
For the party az the Empire 200
seats have been reserved. and invita-
tons to be present have been sent 10
all the members OF the Academy, as
well as to several prominent men OF
letters and artists from other countries
; who are TO attend the celebraii ion. One
OF these invitations was received. Of
course. by Mr.. Gillette. and he has re-
piled 70 II in characteristic vein.
!. Quoting the remark made by NJ
Codde, the old fellow in "Dear Brutus"
who spends his time In the Wood of
Second Chance gayiy dancing and play
ing on a whistle. Mr.. Gillette says in
his letter to the committee:
81 am rather occupied at present
but shall certainly make every effort
IA he. NJ At anti Ma
on the evening named. would enjoy
nothing more than to zee Gillette In
Dear Brutus' II is a beautiful play.
and some Of my friends who have seen
~ tell me that Gillette's performance
isn't so bad
Sydney Thompson will give a pro-
Sramme o, original PLAYS and media
val legends. in costume. at the Prin-
cess Theatre on Tuesday afternoon.
Tho novelty OF the programme Will be
an original monologue written around
the history Of Agnes Sorei. who shares
with Jeanne dare the honor Of saving
France. The three old ballads chosen
date back in source to the twelfth CEN
tury-they are 1.-THE Lady Turned Serv-
ing Man" Fair Annie" and The Holy
Well" Two OF Miss Thompson's nrigi-
nal comedies, 1.-The Missing Years" and
"A Farmers Day" win have their
hrst hearing. The farmer by the way,
is a farmerette who refuses to accept
the feminized agricultural title while
doing a mans work. The young ar
tist is q sister OF Vance Thompson.
The reopsnlnS of the Greenwich
Village Theatre with "Hobohemia'
brings back TO the village Helen West
ley. who jumped from obscurity
through her work with the Washing
ton Square Players three years ago
Miss Wesley, who has an important
role in the new Sinclair Lewis comedy
n q Brooklyn product. AS she puts
It. her appearance and disappearance
on and from stageland are but similar
TO the daily life Of the subway travel
Ter She studied w..h Sargent. trav-
elled on "the road" married and re-
tired from the stage lust like so many
others, but she heard the call Of the
Cpnft. With a few other chosen
= spirits she went "over the top" and
helped organ ize the Washing ton Square
Players. In The Critics Comedy" In
Noellers bur!esque. "Helenas Hus-
band" and other new school plays she
attracted immediate attention, only &c
disappear from Bohemia and land or
Broadway in The Lassoo." Crops snc
Choppers" and lately Redemption"
Miss Wesley confesses that she hal
two hobb!es-second-ha books anC
second hand clothes. 1T never buy g
new book or a new Dress" says Thu
remarkable young woman. An oil
cover cannot spoil a good book no'
an old dress a good woman. In
cidentally, I may remark. can wea-
anything. No. do not believe in sec
ond-hand roles. l prefer creation
when Il comes to the stage. and tina
Us why have cast my fortune witt
Mr.. Conroy and Mr.. Meltzer in tn
new Greenwich Village Theatre ven
ture. I love Bohemia. and while on
new play pokes fun at that trul
happy land II only helps to show IN
real spisit that sets the village apar
from the rest Of New York because
It's true human interest. its whole
heartedness, its childlike innocence"
Col. William A. Bishop. Canada
ace or aces, author OF w ubcu wa
fare" whose official record OF seventy
two Hun machines downed Is un
equalled by any other airman OF tn
war, will make his second public ap
pearance in New SHk at lecture h
will deliver at Carnegie Hail on bri
day evening, February II,
Some remarkable official photo
graphs. taken from the air. showing
the trench systems as they appea
from the skies including the famou
'Hindenburg line" will be shown o.
the screen by permission Of the Brit
ism Government. The most thrilling
T. part OF the young Colonei's talk, how
ever. will deal with his startling ex
periences in fighting the enemy In III
clouds
Col Bishops achievements in III
dir have won him the Victoria eros!
two Distinguished Service ISedals wit
bar the Military Cross, Distinguishe
N Flying Cross, special melai BIRTHS
cir feet committee, Legior Of Homo
croix Dc Gusrrs with p>lmA gol