The Washington herald., 1921-09-08
|NeAb6rkCity
|DaEEByDays

NEW YORK, Sept. ,7.-Most OF
cur stage testers, 1t Seems to me,
are merely whistiers IN the dark.
jaunty souls who find life too seri-
GUS to take seriously. The comic
mask of the mime hid the heart
aches of the famous Slivers who
several years ago sought surcease
in suicide. 8 .
SllVers with his grotesQuo feet
and ridiculous pantaloons was the
acme Of light-hearted gaiety,> yet
all his life tragedy and sorrow
swirled about him. He once told
me that when he tried to laugh he
wept.
Lew Fields. the comedian, has
just gone into bankruptcy. Who
can forget his Mike. / luff your"
choking scene with Joe Weber?
Raymond Hitchcock declared him
self broke in the courts a few
weeks back. Yet Fields and Hitch
cock have been unusually funny
this season. Their drolleries have
been responsible for two successes.
Their hearts were heavy.
These are dark days along the
Rialto for the jester. There are a
few engagements in New York but
not many, and the road show seems
temporarily doomed.
1 know a comedian who Is in one
Of the most notable of New York's
few stage successes. Medical dag
nosis has confirmed his growing be-
lief of a fatal malady. He bravely
asked for the verdict. and il was
given to him. According to materia
medica. he has only a short while
to play the buffoon.
Yet in my opinion he is doing the
very best work of his illustrious
career. Even the critics who
formed the first night Death Watch
at his premiere commented upon
his sprightliness. his new mode of
attack.
Scotch sureon. DR.. Abernathe was
visited by a patient suffering from
depression. The doctor found him
sound of body and recommended
gayer living. brighter environments
and less introspection.
"Dine out" advised the doctor
Dance more. Attend the theaters.
Go see our famous Harlequin at
the Globe-he'll make you laugh"
A wan smile fitted across the
face of the visitor. Il am Harle-
Quin." he said.
1t was atop a lurching. lumber
ing Fifth avenue bus. where New
York's great middle class does its
love- e-making. He was making no
progress that was evident. Other
couples were cuddled up in each
others arms unabashcd. He and
she sat straight and prim. You
didn't like olives at firstr' he asked.
She agreed. But you like them
now" She nodded. 'Well.'S he
pleaded. certainly you will give me
the same chance thai you would
an olive"
Boulevardiers claim that pro-
hibitlon and the resultant small
tip have driven all the good walters
out of New York hotels. They
claim that the only requirement
for the average cafe waiter these
days is stupidity. The following
story almost bears them out.
Jimmy Allison. the newspaper
correspondent, went into cafe
rear the Forties and said to the
waiter: Bring me coffee without
cream
After a time the waiter returned.
you IL nave 10 tame II WITHOUT
milk. We haven't any cream"
Jimmy missed him with his plate.
He is the kind who knows all
about art and what he doesn't
know he makes up as he goes
along. He was invited to a gather
ing where the subject of Chinese
vases came up. He talked on and
on extolling the works of this dy-
nasty and that May ask" in
quired one guest, do you ever
decorate dishes?" 20 my. indeed
yes" was the reply. Which was
his nearest to truth. He owns a
chain of delicatessen shops that
have made hiV rich