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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 5, 1919)
18 TIIE MORNING OREGONIAN, MONDAY, MAY 5, 1919. NEW BILLS OPEN AT PORTLAND THEATERS Orpbeum. BY LEOXE CASS BAER. FRIEND Millie Schloth. who Is an authority on swimming ana teaches it to all the little boys and Sirls who go to the public schools in Portland, told me that the thing that struck her most forcibly about Annette Kellerman's diving was that she didn't splash the water. What I know about diving would go comfortably on a postage stamp, but Miss Schloth's ob servation came back to me yesterday when I watched Lucille Cavanagh dance. The thing that struck me forcibly was that the Cavanagh personage doesn't splash in the air. She cleaves it, just as a bird might, with climac teric moments of astonishing grace. Just as Miss Kellerman steps off into space and sinks like a cupful of light and laughter into the water, so does Lucille Cavanagh -waft with a perfumed breeze onto the Orpheum stage and flash into radiant dance, easily and as suredly complete mistress, of her art. If there is such a thing as esthetic Jazz dancing, that is what Lucille Cavanagh does. Neither one nor the other, but a delightful blending of the two. She dances with the abandon of youthful spirits and the understanding of the meaning of the various movements. Tou might call it interpretative dancing which is really interpreted, for you can get what she is conveying merely by watching her. Usually, interpretative so-called danc ing means to me a careful perusal of the programmed "synopsis of the dance" and an earnest endeavor to hitch the story to the maneuvers of the dancer. To all of this Lucille Cava nagh offers welcome respite. She has one exquisite offering, an Indian moon dance, in which she glides up over a marble parapet, coming with the rising moon out of a glaring blue sky. to poise a moment at the top of a flight of steps, then to dance down and into the moonlit garden in a wild, spirited, mod ernized Indian dance, full of grace and weird beauty, stealing back to the gar den wall and away again with the moon. There's an elfin quality in Miss Cava nagh's dancing, a sort of Peter Pan girl she is, dancing for the sheer love of it and to express herself. Another number, extremely colorful, is called "Keep me dancing all the time," and there's at least three other specialties, all unique. Miss Cavanagh is aided materially by a trio of men. Wheeler Wadsworth and Mel Craig, who play the violin and saxophone joyously and in ragtime mood, and William B. Taylor, who sings pleasingly. The scenic quality of the act is worth a paragraph, a garden, all blue and gold and moonlight. A travesty of the eternal triangle receives a sparkling, new treatment in the keeping of Homer B. Mason, as the husband. Marguerite Keeler as the usual wife and George E. Romain as the inevitable "Other man." There are com edians and comedians and any one of a hundred could ruin this clever sketch, but Homer Mason puts Homer Mason in it so strongly, adding impromptu, seem ingly, flights of fun and pungent wit and his own personality and fascinating mannerisms until tho role becomes a joyous rollicking one and the audience laughs from curtain rise until curtain fall. Homer Isn't the usual husband, only in the respect that he neglects his wife. When the big moment arrives and Homer meanders home to find wifie on the verge of flying to sunny Spain with one of its native sons who wears a lavallier and chatters at length about happiness. Homer doesn't run true to form as established in the rules laid lown for wronged husbands. What Ho mer does and doesn't do make a sketch 60 clever and so spontaneously good that it will be memorable. Mr. Romain's Spanish Lothario is a gem, and Miss Keeler is attractive and satisfying as the lonely wife. Clark and Verdi, the Italian and the "wop," return to argue and Juggle with the English language. One is the walk ing delegate type conscious of his new shoes, his American polish and his su periority over the other, over here only 18 months and full of Italian conversa tion which he is desirous of turning into English. The comedy of the two has a natural flavor, a ring of honesty and is chock-full of originality. A delightful act is offered by Jack Clifford and Miriam Wills. This is not the Jack Clifford who used to dance with Evelyn Thaw, but an entirely dif ferent personage. This one is a char acter comedian of an excellency who shows us a study of an old hayseedish station agent at Jasper Junction, who carries on a skillful' parry and thrust of wit3 with a show girl who waits be tween trains. The girl is Miriam Wills, pretty, charming and possessed of a sweet voice. They wind up by singing together and individually, varying from a drug addict impersonation by Clifford to an operatic adventure by the two. Bessie Browning's best offering is her imitation of Eddie Foy, and a bad girl episode in which she crunches a. lemon drop and waxes confidential about her naughtiness. Bessie is full of pep and sings. A chap named Albert Vernon keeps the piano busy while Bessie sings. It's a capital turn all through. Jules Le Rue and Jean Dupree, in black velvet, are Parisian sand-artists who take handfuls of colored sand and fling it on cardboard surfaces and make glowing lifelike pictures while we wait happily. The bill opens with a comedy bicycle turn, sponsored by Harry .and Emmie Lamed in which Harry rides up and down steps as his big bet. P. S. There will be no show Wednes day night. in at Baker. PRIDE striving for supremacy against generosity and the spirit of the great and untamed west is the dominant feature in "The Great Di vide," this week's attraction at the Baker theater, which opened yesterday afternoon. "The Great Divide" is the story of an eastern girl whom chance and fate have for the moment left unprotected in her brother's cabin in the midst of a mountain wilderness. Three drunken men find their way to the little cabin and in desperation the girl, Ruth Jor dan, throws herself upon the mercy of the least aggressive of the men, prom ising if he will protect her she will marry him later. The bargain is made and the new life commenced. Then it is that the insurmountable pride of Ruth, a part of her inheritance from Puritan ancestors, refuses to accept the generosity and true comradeship of the man. It comes, but only after the soul of both the man and the girl have been cruelly bared with much suffering. Miss Olive Templeton plays the role of Ruth Jordan. In her quiet, unpre tentious way. Miss Templeton portrays the stubborn pride which is keeping the girl from happiness. The part calls for a large display of emotion, which might, with many interpretations, be come less dignified, even ridiculous. Miss Templeton sustains the part with a fierce determination which makes the more effective ultimate surrender to Stephen Ghent in the climax of the play. There Is about Albert McGovern. who portrays Stephen Ghent, the quiet dig nity, by reason of which these two characters are outstanding In their ex cellent work, giving to the whole cast a finer and more finished atmosphere. Albert McGovern breathes the primi tive western atmosphere. He typifies in his interpretation of the role the squareness and the bigness of the out door man who is at home in the moun tains, and at such a disadvantage in homes of artificial culture and refine ment. His rebirth drom the drunken beast of the first act to the generous hearted husband of Ruth does not need the lines of the play to make itself evident. By his complete transforma tion. Albert McGovern, the actor, has told the story. Verna Kulton furnished the comedy that keeps the other emotional roles in the right perspective to a well-balanced melodrama. In the part of Polly Jordan, sister-in-law to Ruth Jordan, she declaims on every eubject in the world from Dante and his inferno to man in general, and on every subject with the same amount of laugh-bringing wisdom. Her spontaneity and whole-hearted goodness are essential to the production. Mrs. Jordan, as played by Miss Anna McXaughton, is irresistible, simply be cause of her likeness to the ideal mother. Her white hair, covered with a black lace cap, her white fichu and her general mothcrliness make her a delight. The western atmosphere is brought into the Baker production of "The Great Divide" to an extent by the light ing effects obtained during the first and second acts, which are laid in the mountains of Arizona. An effective and dramatic scene is presented in the first act where Ruth Jordan leaves with her drunken fiance, the stage be ing darkened, no word being uttered, the two silhouetted figures only, speaking eloquently. The cast of "The Great Divide" Is as follows: Philip Jordan Lee Millar Polly Jordan, hia wife. ....... .Verna Kelton Mrs. Jordan, his mother. .Anna McXaughton Ruth Jordan, his sister. .. .Olive Templeton Winthrop Newbury ............ .John G. Fee Dr. Newbury, his father. . .George P. Webster Stephen Ghent Albert McGovern Lon Anderson Walter B. Gilbert Burt Williams George P. Webster Dutch William Lee Pedro .Irving' Kennedy A contractor. ... ........ .William Lee An architect.... Irving Kennedy A boy Walter Corry Strand. Help! Police. tCJ T ELP! Help! Police!" is an erai- X X nently fitting title for the new George Walsh photoplay at the Strand theater, for George, he of the sunny i grin and athletic performances. Is ac-ii cused of almost every crime in the cal- endar. from arson to kidnapping and ' ta keeps his muscles In play every minute i of the five reels, battling police and , crooks excepting a few moments when he has his girl resting in his arms. Business rivalry and romance are re sponsible for the series of thrilling and laughable incidents in the new Walsh picture. Hero and heroine have dads who are bitter business, each engaged j in making rubber heels. There s noth ing smooth about the course of their love, for circumstances, aided and abetted by a suspicious father-in-law- to-be, cause George to be accused of burglary, arson, house-breaking, kid napping and grand larceny. . George brings his dad to the verge of ruin by forcing from him JIOO.OOO for bail, but he squares things in the final reel by bringing the real culprits into court. The rounding up of the crooks is a single-handed affair involving an auto race with an express train and a fight against a sextet that makes one mar vel at the physical prowess of the hero. There are a bundle of laughs in every vaudeville act, from Lucy Lucier s im personation of rollicking May Irwin, singing a coon song, to the eccentric dancing and funny grimaces of Jalvan, a dusky chap who offers a juggling and balancing novelty with some new stunts. However, the chief funsters are Jacque and Clarke; and Cooke and La Grande. "Oh Listen, Red," is the skit title of the Jacque and Clarke offering. the act introducing a red-headed vamp and a peppery chap who relieves hir self of some rather spicy jokes and i scores a hit with the mother song, "If You Had All the World and Its Gold.' A dainty maid, and a Fatty Arbuckli type of comedian are Cooke and La Grande. They joke, sing, clog dance. and the rotund chap belies his avoirdu pois with gymnastic work. WAR MATERIAL NOW DISTRIBU TED TO COAST FARMERS. Lyric. COMPLICATIONS came so fast "Mixed Pickles," which opened the Lyric theater yesterday afternoon for this week's attraction, that the audience had difficulty in figuring what was coming next. The big "mix er" was Joe Berry, played by Jewell La . Velle. Al Franks as Ike Leschinskt and an "Irritating" wife and a beautiful daughter. There was a. minister who wanted to win the girl's hand and competing against him was Joe Berry and the deacon. Finally Joe decided to send the preacher a telegram calling him out of the city. While he was away Joe. impersonating the parson and while In the garb, made love to everyone in sight. Of course there was a grand climax when the pastor re turned from the wild-goose chase. Even Ike had troubles over the situation. Tho Rosebud chorus was featured in "Good-by, Wild Women, Good-by, After the First of July." "Some Sunny Day" and "Just Give Me a Week in Paris." while Madeline Mathews stopped the show with her attempts at dancing to and singing "When J Woke L"p in the Alorning He Was Gone." Dot Raymond sang "Amo" and was ably assisted by the Rosebud chorus, as was Jewell La Velle in "Mother of Mine." Clarence Wurdig made a good impression with his "He Likes Their Jukelele," while Billy Bingham started he musical interruptions with "Camp Meeting Band." "Mixed Pickles" will continue the rest of the week, with the regular Rosebud chorus contests Friday night. DWELLING CRISIS OCCURS High Rentals Boost Own-Your-Own Home Movement. WASHINGTON. In view of the sud den speculation in apartment buildings in New York City, residents are now forced to consider the "own your own home" idea as never before, and, the United States department is receiving letters from many persons who are con sidering plans for building in suburban towns. Dithin seven weeks In the early spring one apartment house was sold four times. This speculative activity due to the realization of the shortage of houses makes certain the rise of rents, and for that reason flat-dwellers of every class are now finding themselves compelled to consider the one great measure of protection the owning of a home. . The fact that the state of New York sent to the war more than 250.000 men who are now returning has brought the housing situation to a crisis, and the summer will mark such a trend toward home owning as has not existed since multiple family dwellings became pop ular and necessary as part of the econ omy of crowded city life. One temporary solution of the hous ing problem will be found by many residents of New York in retirement to the country or to seashore resorts long before the usual vacation time. For this reason hotels and boarding houses in the city will continue to'be filled by heads of families and by women in business, while children with their mothers and aged relatives will find safe havens far from Manhattan. The fact that building and loan as sociations and banks are preapring to assist builders on the most favorable terms possible is encouraging invest ments in homes. COINCIDENCE Housekeeper IN SUICIDES Example of Grand Lecturer Visits. CENTRALIA. Wash.. May 4. (Spe cial.) M. W. Anthony of Ritzville. grand lecturer of the F. and A. M., is paying official visits to the Masonic lodges of southwest Washington. A meeting was held Friday night in his honor by Centralia Lodge No. 63, at which a banquet was served. Follows Wife One Year Previously. HATBORO, Pa. Miss Eleanor Mat thews Good, housekeeper in the home of William H. Craven, committed sui cide in the same room and in the same manner, in the Craven house, along the Old York road, as did the wife of Craven just one year ago. After the Miss Good ot manage the household. Returning to his home he smelled gas, and found the housekeeper dead upon the floor of the bedroom. A rubber tube was attached to a gas jet. It is believed that meloncholia, result ing from illness was the cause of the suicide. A letter found near the body contained comments on the fact that Miss Good .expected to be married, but also expressed the fear that her ill ness might affect her mind. BANK FAILURES ARE RARE Only Two National Institutions Fail In Past Four Months. WASHINGTON, May 4. Controller of the Currency Williams in a statement today called attention to the solidity of the national banking system as il lustrated by the fact that in the last four months only one small national bank, with J25.O00 capital, failed. In the last 16 months onl ytwo nationa bank failures were recorded. At the same time the number of na tional banks is growing and their earn ings are increasing, said Mr. Williams. Dry slabwood anl Inside wood, green stamps, for cash. Holman Fuel Co. Main 363, A S363 Ady. 2 I armistice the war department released i m to the department of agriculture lll'OOO i A tons of nitrate at a salvage price. To i J this quantity is added 40,000 tons re- j R Chile by the department , 0 NITRATE IS IN Great Stock Intended to Blow Ger man Armies Off May Be Used to Increase Fertility of U. S. Soil.' OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington. Demands for nitrates from the fruit growers of Oregon, Wash ington and Idaho reaching the Pacific coast office of the Bureau of Markets, department of agriculture, are accepted as an indication of the progressive type of farmers who inhabit those states. The bureau announces that up to this time more than 1000 tons of nitrates have been shipped from San Francisco in the short time since gov ernment nitrates originally intended for the war were turned over to the department of agriculture by the war department for distribution among the farmers. More than hundred thousand tons of nitrates, originally produced to help in blowing the German armies off the map of Belgium and France, this year will be put to the more peaceful work of increasing the fertility of American farming soil. After the signing of the ceived from Chile by the department of agriculture too late for distribution last year, so that 151,000 tons will be sold by the department of agriculture to farmers under the authority of the food control act, which provided for its purchase and sale by the govern ment to farmers at cost. Through this arrangement it is es timated that 100,000 farmers will save about $1,500,000, according to the open- market price and the S1 a ton f. o. b. shipping point charged by the govern ment. Farmers have taken up the full 151,000 tons in order ranging from a bag of 200 pounds to an order for 300 tons. The price last year was $75.50 a ton, f. o. b. shipping points, located at six Atlantic and Gulf ports. The depart ment of agriculture last year arranged for the shipping of 120,000 tons from Chile, but shortage of shipping space kept the quantity transported in time for use last year down to about "o,000 tons. This yea's price was announced early in 1919, and application blanks were sent to county agricultural agents for distribution to farmers. Harbor strikes at Charleston, S. C. and New York city have seriously in terfered with shipments form these points, but a recent arrangement for lightering nitrate destined for New England and New York points from the Erie basin in Brooklyn was made with the union in New York city, and the nitrate bound for these points is to be moved at once. Shipments are now being, made from 21 storage points, and to date shipping instructions have been sent from Washington to forwarding agents covering about 125,000 tons. Records show that about 110,000 tons have actually been shipped, and it is ex pected that the entire 151.000 tons ordered by farmers will be shipped be- rore the end of May of this year. The bureau of markets, which is in charge of the nitrate distribution for the department of agriculture, has appointed at each storage point a for warding agent and has chargeed him with the duty of even-weighing, re conditioning, loading. an shipping the nitrate on orders received from Wash ington. These representatives receive form the department of agriculture $1 a year plus the regular commercial rates for services rendered. Where county ' nitrate requirements are very light, farmers have been re puested to forward cashiers' checks or New York drafts in payment for ni trate at the time of filing their ap plications, after which the nitrate is shipped direct to them. Where county requirements are comparatively heavy. federal nitrate distributors have been appointed by the bureau, on the recom mendation of county agricultural agents, to act as consignees and dis tributors for all nitrate shipped to such counties. These federal nitrate dis tributors collect money from applicants, send shipping instructions to Wash ington, receive nitrate and distribute it to farmers. Shipments are forward ed to these distributors on order notify bills of lading, with eight draft at tached. The bureau has designated about 500 federal nitrate distributors. The Quality Store Established 1857 Store Opens 9 A.M. Store Closes 6 P. M. BAY! As Told of iii Our 4-Page Aiuiomicemeiit In Each of Yesterday's Papers (Section 1) MEIER & FRANK; Begins the Celebration of the Second Week of Its 62d "62 Years in Portland" Amriversarv Out'of-Town Visitors: Oar Free Auto Bus Meets Trains and Brings You to the Store Free. Sales Practically Every One of Our 70-Odd Departments Joins Insuring Patrons of the Quality Store Choice From Create e Hew Merchasidis in Portlaec Nearly All of It Taken From REGULAR STOCK As to the SAVINGS Anniversary Brings tock's of SELLWOOD all people in skuwood should trade: at WOOSTER'S Worklnrmens Store, CLOTHING, SHOES. .1-10-15C MER CHANDISE:. Take Your Car Home From WOOSTEU'S. OPEN EVENINGS. ASS to 40 Washiagtoa Street. I 5 Pr ices Tell the Story Will Pay You to Read Our Sunday Ads But Above All Make It a Point to Again GOME WITH TO THE THE CROWDS TODAY QUALITY STORE Our Permanent Guarantee: No matter where you see it advertised or hear of it, the Meier & Frank Store sells the same or better quality for as low a price or less than it can be bought elsewhere in Portland. r Tut Quality" Sto re- of- Portland rK. 2ocUvforriay Alder 33. 1