Evening star., 1921-10-09
FIFTY YEARS AGO
in THE STAR

Fifty years ago Charles Mathews was
the leading English comedian. and his
first appearance in Wash
Charles ington was a theatrical
Mathews. sSs even. ., OF. mneansa ,a,e., GO lo 10
the local audience on m the ~ evening Of
October 2. 1871. in a double bill. Mar
ried for Money and Cool as a Cucum-
ber. The Star Of the next day. October
3. 1871, said:
His style is more quiet than most Of
our American comedians. and the nice
preciated by American audiences But
1t speaks we'll for our Washington play
goers that despite the balks in the per-
Torrance through some of the stock
company not being up in their parts, the
exquisite finish. airy grace and bril-
liancy OF Mr. Mathews acting was
recognized throughout by prompt and
continuous applause. His enunciaion is
somewhat novel here. abounding in those
rising infections noticed in Dickens in
his readings. and which pronunciation is
not, as some suppose, the cockney ut
terance, but that Of the cultivated Eng
lishman. Usually 1t is more distinct than
our pronunciation because 1t does not
allow the slurring over Of letters and
syllables as this US; but in the case
of Mathews his rapidity Of utterance.
and possibly defective teeth, make 1t
necessary. to follow him closely to
catch all he says. His inimitable byplay.
too, needs to be watched closely to be
properly appreciated. Last night is was
parts and at the same time drag the
faulty performers through theirs. pro-
noting, directing changes OF position,
etc, and all in scarce detected 'asides.
In the course of his engagement in
Wa shington, in addition to the plays
mentioned. Mr.. Mathews played In III
had a Thousand a Year." "Patter
VS.. Patter." "Gatherwool," "A Curl
Gus Case" THE Critic" Robert
Macaire." "A Bachelor of Arts" Lit
tie Toddlekins." mot Such a Fool as
He Looks" USED Up" THE LIAR and
"The Gunmaker OF Moscow"
A scheme for the development OF the
water power Of the Potomac was out
lined in an edi-
Another Plan for torial printed in
The Star October
proposition Of a citizen who had given
much attention to the question Of prac-
tical hydraulics. The plan, in brief. con-
sisted of the construction of a canal
from the level of Great Falls to George
town, thence by a distributed system
of locks to be lowered to such level as
would meet and harmonic with the in
terest of Washington city for purposes
Of power and navigation" 1t is noted
that the descent from Georgetown to a
point and outlet near the navy yard
must be provided for in four distinct
levels, on the more eligible sides of
which and in some case on both sides
mill sites would find their proper loca-
ton. Each level could supply head and
fall Of about thirty-six feet, the tail
waters of each fall to be conducted to
the next succeeding level for further use
1t is further noted that as possible
feature Of this project at the power
canal could be used for the flushing Of
the sewers, which in many cases were
so low as to receive but little benefit
from the flow of water through them to
clear away the accumulauons at their
outlets
The Star urged that despite the prob
ably heavy cost of such plan 1t should
be given earnest consideration by COM
petent engineers, adding that such an
examination would perhaps demon
strate that the advantages to result to
the national as well as the local gov
! ernments and people would fully justify
the expenditure. And it may not be coll
sidered superfluous," The Star went on.
"to advance that usefulness of such a
water power to the national government.
at the last level. in its workshops. could
not but be readily recognized and ap-
preciated by the federal authorities"