The Washington times., 1924-09-20
NEW THEATER
. TO BE ASSET
TO SOCIETY
Flaunts Emblem of Rams
Head Players; Decora-
tons Artistic
By JEAN ELLIOT.

BY JEAN ELLIOT.
wv ITH the well appointed, lit
W. tie theater at Wardman
Park Hotel at their dis
posal, the Rams Head Players are
now faced with the opportunity OF
their career and the opening Of
their season is waited with con-
siderable interest.
This time the stars are working
together for their success. Both
Robert Bell, director of the Players,
and the gifted art director, James
REYNOLDS, are bur recently back
from Europe. fired with enthusiasm
and full OF original ideas. And,
with the increased size Of the play
house, particularly the stage, there
will be room for much greater latj'
tude in the selection of plays.
Indeed, much may be expected
form an organization which actually
achieved the impossible in presents
ing plays of spectacular beauty on
q stage the size of a pocket hand.
kerchief. Rostands AigloE,
which is promised as the opening
production, could not, OF course,
have been done at the old RAMS
Head Playhouse in Eighteenth street
nor, probably, the colorful new
drama from the pen of Jimmie
Reynolds, which Is also to be a
feature of the season.
Presumably the little theater at
Wardman Park Hotel will be used
for amateur productions and other
purposes when not needed by Mr..
Bells organization. But it flaunss
the emblem Of the Rams Head
Players in score of places, from
the great rams head in dull geld
over the proscenium arch to the
smaller ones which point the way
down the long stairs to the audi
forum.
Built on the side Of a hill, the
little theater is approached by flight
after flight of steps, progressing
mysteriously into the bowels Of the
earth. But at their end one finds a
charming foyer and lounge, with
perhaps the prettiest auditorium in
Washington, and trip behind the
scenes discloses a large and well
equipped stage and really luxurious
dressing rooms.
The decorations show the master
hand of Mr.. Reynolds. The audi
torium is done in rough plaster,
deep cream in tone and shading
to tawny, with lighting fixtures,
holdings and the decorations about
the proscenium arch carried out
In gold Is rich and duh as to sus-
kest bronze. But the happiest touch
of all is contributed by doors Of
bright laquer red and broad splash
CT the same gorgeous color in the
pareling below the stage.
vNIo Mill Han1ln1rSN
seat about four houndred persons
and the seats, upholstered in dull
velvet, look amazingly comfortable
y \
Social Usage in America" Is M
Contribution to polite Literature
"A significant contribution to
polite literature" is Social Usage
In America" - which may be added
to the shelf of books on etiquette
now epidemic, but which has a
claim on attention all its own.
Written by Miss Margaret Wade,
who has been a Washington repre-;
sentative of the New York Times
: for many years and who has served
as social secretary to a number
of women of importance, including
Mrs. Charles w. Fairbanks, wife
Of the former Vice President, It has
its grounding upon social life In
Washington as an arbiter of conduct.
Here one finds a society represent
Ing the best traditions of both
North and South, with a flavoring
from abroad, and etiquette is per.
haps more standardized than In
any other American city.
While Social Usage in America
touches but lightly upon the prob.
lens Of precedent and precedence,
which add zest and interest to the
social game in any great capital,
It is sometimes more than a traa.
tise on good behavior It gives
also the why and wherefore and
cites by illustrious examples the
reasons for social procedure. T. is
not enough to be merely well bred
and considerate; one must also he
posted on the niceties of conven.
ton. Thus q book Of etiquette
may have a recognized place in
the education Of the young. al.
though nothing can quite take the
place Of that ingrained nicely Of
conduct which comes from early
NSSOSA~SNN "ASA PSOPAS "a ESllH0.
ment.
Each chapter of Miss Wada's
book discusses some practical as.
pect of entertaining, OF attending
formal or informal functions Or
of other forms of social intercourse
In such an Informative and yet
stimulating fashion that 1t can De
read with profit. And the writer
has tried to record for her readers
those unwritten precepts which
reflect the same principle of good
viii, good feeling and kind inten-
ton that prevail in all parts Of
America where the pioneer stock
remains and the newcomers If
good intent accept the best tradi.
tons, follow the best examples and
hi DnArnRnvY A NyNSW,eu IM