Evening star., 1925-10-11
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

Hail. Humpty Dumpty! Long, long
ago you fell from your perch high
on the wall of popular esteemi But
the calamity OF your crash was not
as lrretrievable as depicted in the
nursery myth. Somehow or other
you have managed to lie under the
grass and LEAKAGE OF many Summers
and Winters, and you have proved
the ancestral source of many Jocund
bearers of bauble and coxcomb.
X X
In fact, nothing disappears from
the theater. The Punch and Judy
show survives in more elaborate
form as mariorettes are displayed
IN the touring wagons as the au-
tomobile replaces the cart OF Ros-
cius. In the person of Fred Stone
the story of the clown is renewed IN
one way or another for each genera
ton since first he frolicked through
the realms of fairy pantomlme in
companionship with Columbine and
Harlequin. The clowning OF Stone
brings the incident of the happy
ending into the story of Pierrot as
now extant He is no longer dumb.
He utilizes the arts of speech a
little, and still asserts himself chiet-
lv by his spirit of simple kindness
combined with agile grace.
Tn Stepping Stones" despite its
scenic splendor. there comes to the
spectator the sense OF being guest
at family party in an exception
ally talented home. OF course,
neighbors have been invited in. such,
for instance, as the contortionist,
who .urpasses any of the tricks
that used to be done by the demons
who haunted the mysterious tens
where black art consplred with
supernatural yet vain endeavor to
defeat the love affairs OF gentle and
trusting villagers. The merry viii
ing with an abandon at times almost
hoydenish, but never wearing, say
ing or doing a thing out OF keeping
with the most decorous OF family
reunions. Father Humpty Dumpty
entertained with a little burlesque
parlor magic. and was seemingly
less inclined than OF yore for tests
Of athletical endurance. The infiu-
ence Of placid prosperity has
brought a touch of ingenious Dig
nitv even to our pet clown. Mother
Humptv Dumpty also disclosed ac-
complishments which won her re-
nown as one of the bellies of Broad
wav. And then little Miss Humpty
Dumpty was called forward to
show the neighbors how she could
sing. dance and recite. 1t was all
among friends. and if the little miss
had proceeded gravely to an old
fashioned parlor organ and plunked
out "Silvery Waves" it would have
been delightful and satisfactory, Tor
there is something that makes au-
diences in the theater, As well as IN
the political arena, find pleasure III
seeing the mantle OF distinguished
sire descend upon his progeny.
y x
Miss Stone illustrates the differ
ence between genuine talent. early
manifest. and the infant prodigy.
Her father tosses his laurels to her
with the lavishness that only de-
voted parental affection could
prompt. and she catches and wears
them with such dexterity and grace
as to make her performance rank
as most wonderful of the bewildcr-
ing demonstrations IN all the
Humpty Dumpty bag of tricks
Peter Pan. like the luckless fellow
in the old German tale, lost his
shadow: as Fred Stone lost his
when time brought parting from
his first dancing partner, Dave
Montgomery. He finds again his
shadow a charming one indeed in
this dainty child.
While Pierrot has climbed to a
situation of secure esteem and is as
Stunning a position almost OF patron
age toward the legitimate drama
we may glimpse across the stage at
Polls an idea of how the legitimate
drama itself is faring in the process
cs of histrionic evolution. Wilton
Iackaye, one of the most represent
ative of legitimate stars, now ap-
) pears in musical comedy. He has
the part of gruff police officer. In