Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-11
Two Wars Furnish Background for heater Tales by RAM

Y you have not come to the end
NJ of the Washington theater
story, but trudge on with me
il and you will reach the end.
I believe you have interest in
this matter. I believe this because
Il interests me, and it is one weakness
of man to believe that what interests
him should interest everybody. The
fellow whose taste is not our taste is
an ignoramus. Our taste is best; our
understanding is best. What we
know is really worth knowing and
what the other fellow knows is not.
He has a batch of information, gath
cred from unreliable-even unreSpect-
able sources-and it is impractical
knowledge which the world could well
be rid Of But our knowledge is the
real thing.
1t is not a new trait in man to
think himself wise. The Greeks had
o compound word for the malady-
doxo-sophis-"wise in his own con-
ceit," and another-moro-sophos-
stfoolish wise"
The Rambler assumes your inter
est in the theater stories because you
have told your children that you were
q devil so years ago; were first
nighter at every show; drank Han
cocks punches with great actors and
took actresses a-driving in a hack.
Your wife knows that you were a
fourfiusher, but she hates to give you
away before the children.
l believe you are interested in the
old theater stories, because they bring
you recollections. When / write the
name of David Garrick Smith, the
monstrous tragedian, / can see you
take your glasses off, wipe them rem
fniscently - wipe them reminiscor-
hke-sigh, and say to yourself. but
also that the family may hear,
ALAS, Poor Dave, How well / re.
member thee, We were like brothers
---except-that we go on we'll together.
Why, we were such chums that after
y Dave played Richard Third we went
out for some refreshments and slept
together in the guard house! Them
was happy days.
Let us resume our reading of a. I.
Mudd's paper, EARLY Washington
, Theaters," where we left it last Sun
day: Mr.. Mudd:
THE players never failed to honor
the anniversary of our National In
dependence, and, on each recurring
Fourth Of July. patriotic and appro-
pirate performances were given. Dur
ing 18121S15 a part of the evenings
entertainment was frequently devoted
20 the commemoration of the victories
of our gallant little Navy, and trans
parent portraits were shown of the
naval commanders, Commodores
Perry and Decatur and Capts. Hull
and cambridge, who, by their heroic
deeds in defense of their country,
aided in the preservation of liberty
and earned the everlasting gratitude
OF unborn millions of citizens of this
great Republic, which today stands in
the foremost rank of the nations of
the earth and has won the admira-
ton of all civilized peoples.
Those who lost their lives in the
same great cause were not forgotten,
and feeling tribute was paid to the
memory of Gen. Covington, who fell
ct the head of his troops at the battle
OF Williamsburg; Gen. Il. NJ. Pike and
the gallant and lamented Lawrence
and Ludlow
ION July IL, 1918, the theater was
again offered for sale. A few days
later the British forces that had for
some time been in the lower Potomac
were reported to be on their way up
the river to attack Washington, and
July II the public was informed that
there would be no more performances
nj the theater until further notice.
The report. however, proved to be in
correct and 10 days later, when the
R~:tfsh had left the river. the theater
,et aeneG. the season closing Sent"'n-