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