THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 25, 1900.
If
tit-: yy&J dLife .Z- - -W
RaVMt's-Foot XbcIc
Der rafeteR fee eat by der lire-oak tree,
Alt' aat rafefett be oar tex- aesse'f. fr be:
"AN yea.' taae I fceaa der alggah man coy,
"Wheaever fee's walxta' along dto way,
Ifla' Xl-yl-yt!' as be slaps bis knee,
'I oeteh & rafeMt br der live-oak tree!
I eat dat rabMt'e foot oCC wiv aa. knife!
Z tek tot rabbit's foot botae ter ma -wife!
I ear, "Ma beaey. bow der good luck's beret
"VVbea yoa'se gtat & rabbit'a foot, des bo fearl"
Irttffin Ki-yi-ytl' as der ba&Jes thrum.
An' der bee-cake en. der griddle 'gins ter hum,
Alt' der atBff&h man's wife sfee dasoe an' ring-.
Oh, a rabbit's foot la der luckiest t'lnfft' "
Der rabbit be eat br der live-oak tree.
An' be ear ter htoee'f, der rabbit ear he,
'Tee bad Uf rabbUe foots all aa& bo'n days.
But dMa't 'pear ter brine good luck ma way!
AeUeUb Mathews la the Century.
WITH ENTIRE FRANKNESS
"SMt&rtn -at Metropolitan Company to
Give Clean. Drama "Too Much
JobBaea " at Cerdr&y'a.
If eae may Judge f rem the work of one
week, the newly-formed company that
baa Just epeaed the regular dramatlo sea
eon at the Metropolitan is able to give
the maoooo clean and enlivening comedy
of a low order of art, to be sure, but at
leaat decently free from the taint of cor
ruption that laf ects so much of our pres-ent-day
drama. For this reason, if for
no other. Its efforts deserve to "be en
couraged. It nay be a company of rather
strangely assorted membership a com
pany of "attests" the railroad magnate.
If only" he -wore a little more pompous and
not oo 111 at ease, would make an ex
cellent Bsgiteh butler, while the butler.
In tura, would make & first-rate Bedlamite
but these "misfits" will, bo doubt, be
remedied later on. This is a company that
makes bo artistic pretensions, and mod
eaty before the footlights la suoh a rare
quality la these daysdo let Us be duly
grateful for It In all kindness It must be
remembered that, however hard It may be
for aa actor to play "before an audience
be does not know, it Is a good deal harder
for him to play with people on the stage
he does not know.
Straisrktferrrard Purpose.
"O'Brien, the Contractor," with its crude
and MgMy-eatored contrasts between hy
pocrisy and virtue, at least has an honest,
straightforward ring to its lines, a scorn
ful condemnation of false standard In
judging JLhe worth of a man, that is in
accord with the temper of the American
people. Owing to the complete absence
of psytenologtc&l subtleties, the demand
made upon the art of the actor Is not
heavy. Mr. King, in the title role, was
the sort of Irish hero that the West likes
best, breezy and rough, in manner, but
shrewd and kindly at heart. He has a
genial personality that takes firm hold on
the heart of the people. Miss Laura
Adams struck the only note of refine
ment In the play. She is, moreover, ex
ceedingly pleasant to look at. Most of
the other members of the company
seemed more or lees out of place In the
drawing-room of well-bred society.
Georgie Cooper's clever singing of rag
time songs, her sprightly, dashing manner,
and youthful self-assurance, fit her ad
mirably for a music-hall or vaudeville
favorite. In any other form -of the drama
she Is something of a "misfit." "Even a
souhrette needs a mall amount of re
finement and good taste. Incidentally, it
may be remarked that she was Incon
gruously gowned for her song with the
two pickaninnies. It would have been
more effective if she had been "made
up" &c a negro mammy.
Will the time ever come, we wonder,
when geod taste and cheap prices will be
found te one another's company?
"Too Muoh Johnson."
Portland admirers of William Gillette,
who saw htm In the leading role of his
play, "Too Much Johnson," a few years
ego, were naturally somewhat skeptical
as to the likelihood of seeing anyone else
who could walk through the thousand and
one harrowing comntleatlons of this com
edy with the same delightful sangfroid
and eass unconcern. That skepticism has
been removed this past week. R. E.
French, that oM favorite with Portland
theater-goers, smoked his cigar and read
his newspaper. In the midst of the whirl
wind of misconceptions that his duplicity
had created, with as cool, as lazy and as
nonchalant an air as Gillette himself. This
16 not so simple a task as It seems. To
be perfectly natural, passive, indifferent,
while everyone etoe on the stage Is ply
ing hie art la a ferment of professional
activity, requires steady nerves and an Im
perturbable temper, two rather unusual
traits in those whose occupation tends to
develop abnormal emotional susceptibility.
Nothing Is so rare on the stage as repose.
There is a growing tendency to be over
careful about avoiding the least approach
to seriousness in comedy. It is true that
what the public wants nowadays is not
moraMmog. but diversion. But, neverthe
less, there is one point In the last act of
"Too Much Johnson" where anyone who is
la dose touch with the audience is aware
of a mood of expectancy for that which
does not come the one sudden, swift
stroke of earnestness, that, lasting but a
moment. Hke a lightning flash reveals
the true aspect of things.
It Is a mistake to look upon this play as
suitable for a matinee audience of young
people. A farce that if based upon a liai
son and upon deception, not plainly righted
in the end, however innocent the situations
and absurdities that make up the main
threads of the plot, cannot, by any stretch
of the tmaainatlon. he considered as ap
propriate for youth. MSRTWSTHBR.
FRAWLanr IEXS TOXIGHT.
Bts Company Presents "The Sporting
ftasheM" at Cordray's.
T. Daniel JtaawJey will inaugurate bis
saasom of three weeks at Cordray's The
ater tOBOght. He brings to us what he
ears to the heat, the largest and the most
expensive organization ever under his
management, and he will give us six
plays, five of which at least are new to
Portland theater-goers. The engagement
will begin this evening, with a produc
tion of the famous London and Hew York
success, "The Sporting Duchess," a
drama of English life, by Cecil Raleigh,
Henry Hamilton and Sir Augustus Har
ris. The story of the play was recently
told In these columns, but it will stand
repetition at the present writing.
The Earl of Desborough is on the .verge
of bankruptcy. His racing stud is mort
gaged to Major Mostyn, once the suitor
of the Countess of Desborough, and a
thorough scoundrel. Mostyn. while nro-
1 fesslng friendship for Desborough, at
tempts to ruin him. Desborough, before
Ills marriage, had an entanglement with
&'
mr
WSsHHSffi
"Ik TN
MISS BLAXCHE WALSH.
an adventuress, one "Vivian Darvllle.
Smarting under the memory of how Des
borough threw her over and envious of
his present happiness, Vivian Joins with
Mostyn In an endeavor to bring about
the earl's ruin. She meets Desborough
and tries to kindle again his old Infat
uation. Her meeting with Desborough Is
part of the plan concocted by Mostyn,
who manages to have Desborough's wife
see them together.""
The Jealousy of the countess Is aroused,
and in a fit of anger she leaves her hus
band, taking the train for London. Mostyn
takes passage on the same train and, in
London, escorts the countess to a hotel.
Here he Insults her, and his true charac
ter Is revealed. Desborough follows his
wife to town to prove his Innocence, but,
finding her In a hotel with Mostyn, and
his suspicions having already been par
tially aroused that Mostyn was paying
his wife too much attention, he believes
the worst and not only knocks the Major
down, but turns against his wife and
brings suit for divorce.
Mostyn forecloses his mortgage, and the
racing stable of Desborough is placed
under the hammer. In the stable Is the
famous racer, Cllnstone, who is entered
for the Derby and who is the favorite
with the betting public and bookmakers.
Desborough's friends form a syndicate to
buy his horses, believing that should
CUpstone win the Derby the winnings will
restore the Earl's fortune, but Mostyn
outbids them, and CUpstone is about to
be knocked down to him when the Duchess
of Melford, known as "The Sporting
Duchess." buys the horse for the Earl,
taking a chance that his winnings will
repay her. CUpstone wins the Derby;
the Duchess is repaid and Desborough's
fortunes aro restored. The villainy of
Mostyn and of his accomplice, the adven
turess, is eventually revealed, and the
Earl and his wife are reconciled.
This is the main plot of the piece, but
"""'""CBMBMBBaMra(SIOBBteaWaBBBBaBaBBaBBaBBaS
MISS GEORGIE COOPER AXD "THE CAROLINA TWINS."
there axe several sub-plots and love stories
running through the drama. It will run
until Thursday night, when "The Countess
Guckl" -will be produced for the balance
of the week.
BliAXCH WAXSH AT aiARQTTAM.
Will Open In Sardou Repertoire To
morrow Evening.
One of the most attractive engagements
of the season at the Marquam will begin'
tomorrow night, with the appearance of
Blanche "Walsh and Melbourne MacDowell
in a repertoire of Sardou' s great plays,
"La Tosca" and "Cleopatra," These plays
will, It Is announced, be given witix all
the wealth of scenic magnificence for
which their previous productions were
noted. The present engagement Is of more
than ordinary Interest, because of the
fact that Portland theatergoers are to
see a new Cleopatra, In the person of
Miss "Walsh. Miss WaWh Is no stranger
to the city, but she has never appeared
here in roles calling for such an equip
ment of youth, beauty and real histrionic
genius as those for which she Is now
cast.
It is quite generally conceded that Miss
"Walsh is tiho possessor of these qualities
so essential to great success upon the
stage, and that sfae has discovered how
to apply them la shown by the favor ac
corded her everywhere throughout the
country.
The characters of Scarpia and Marc
Antony in "La Tosca" and "Cleopatra"
respectively, are in good hands, in the per
son of Melbourne MacDowell, who Is an
excellent actor, and whose rapid rise of
recent years has caused much comment
In the theatrical world. Mr. MacDowell
Is fit support for Miss "Walsh.
The Queen of Egypt has for centuries
presented an altogether unique study for
the historian and all other cultivated peo
ple, and faithful dranmtlc Interpretations
of her complex character have always
found enthusiastic favor with the play
golng public. Miss "Walsh's presentation,
along the lines laid down by the late
Fanny Davenport, is said to be one of
the best yet given It, while the setting
of the play by the MacDowell-Walsh
Company Is one of the finest yet attempt
ed. As to the play itself, the story Is in
Sardou's most dramatic style. The tragic
love of haughty, powerful, heroic Marc
i Antony, and the daring, willful, serpent-
wise Cleopatra, is told In masterly fash
ion, and is placed in a setting of spectac
ular magnificence.
"La Tosca" Is a play which presents op
I portunitles for nay. demands expression
J of about all the passions which, at one
time or another, rack tlhe human body
and mind Jealousy, anger, terror, grief,
intense love, desperation and Joy, almost
to the verge of delirium.
On Monday and Tuesday nights and
Wednesday matinee, "Cleopatra" will bo
presented. "La Tosca" will receive but
one performance, and that on Wednesday
night. Owing to the length of both plays,
the curtain will rise at 8 and 2 o'clock
evening and afternoon respectively. The
i advance sale of seats is reported to be
large, and to insure excellent audiences
for the engagement.
"RED, WHITE AN BLUE."
Metropolitan Stock; "Will Present a
Patriotic Piny This Weclc.
Tonight the stock company of the Met
ropolitan will Introduce "Red. White and
j Blue," a drama founded on the recent
Spanish-American War. The scenes are
laid In Cuba, and each act Is said to have
I plenty of strong situations, ending with
J tableaux that arouse the enthusiasm of
American audiences. Special scenery has
I been painted for the present production,
I and other preparations have been made
to give the piece a satisfactory presenta
tion. The company has shown, during the past
week. Its capabilities In the production of
melodrama. "O'Brien, the Contractor,"
did a good business, and on Friday even
ing the members of the Frawley Company
visited the theater and gave Mr. Charles
Klnc aulte an ovation. Miss Geonrie
Cooper was then at her best, and her rea
71 . "?i.
grv
METROPOLITRN THEATER
COMMENCING
Sunday
as -tssr natal' ay
1QQ&J)Q&n&CsSJ&9&J)G&J3tJ)Q&J)Q&JQ&J!0&Jll
P5P9?X6?2PP)6D29$
5flTo3 tfoNa WOO UOU dJ UoQUOVao fttavVd UouoUaToUirJ't
POPULAR PRICES'
People's Popular Playhouse
Matinee Saturday
'HOW
'T illOiO,
PRICES Lower floor,
dltion of "The Carolina Twins" received
several encores. Her efforts were also well
received when she sang, "I'd Leave My
Happy Home for You.' Miss Laura Adams
made a hit as Mrs. Van Buren.
Managers F. A. Cooper and George F.
Mothersole are making arrangements to
produce, from time tb time, such plays as
"Peaceful Valley," "Dark Secret," "Su
sanna," "A Prodigal Father' "Chlmmle
Fadden," "The Stowaway," and "A Bow
ery Girl." They eay that this week, In
"Red, White and Blue," they will have
over 50 people on the stage.
KEEDED REFORM.
"Late Theater Arrivals Should Wait
for Their Seats.
The Oregonlan is in receipt of the fol
lowing communication from a long-suffering
theater-goer who Is properly resentful
of the annoyance caused by the seating
of late comers at places of amusement.
It is an evil that is not peculiar to Port
land alone, but which, Is being brought
under control in many Eastern theaters,
where patrons who arrive after the cur
tain has gone up on the first act are com
pelled to wait, as The Oregonlan's corre
spondent suggests late arrivals should,
until the act Is ended, before being con
ducted to their seats. It is not right that
the attention of auditors wlio have come
before the beginning of a performance
should be diverted and the enjoyment of
a piay be Interfered with by laggards.
At the recent Marquam engagements of
the Nelll Company and the Bostonlans,
this was acknowledged, and people who
came to the theater after the first act was
begun remained in the foyer until it was
concluded: '
To the Editor: Now that the theater
hat question Is settled, cannot something
be done to compel people to be at the
theater before the curtain rises on the
first act? In vain have I waited, hoping,
each time I go to the theater, that I may
be able to seo the entire first act. But
no; scarcely has the first act begun, when
some one comes hurriedly down the aisle
to a seat somewhere In front, causing
those already seated to rise to admit the
newcomer. Of course, the view of a
dozen or so people is completely ob
structed. Not only once does this hap
pen, but many times'. The rustle of the
skirts and shuffling of feet forbid even
the doubtful pleasure of hearing without
seeing the play.
I admit there is some slight excuse for
those living in the suburbs, and those
who are dependent on a poor car service.
But even these lata arrivals need not dis
turb the greater part of the audience.
In Seattle and a number of other cities I
can name late comers are not shown to
Immense
METROPOLITAN THEATER COMPANY
NEW
CORDRAY'S THEATER
TONIGHT-SUNDAY-TONIGHT
ENGAGEMENT OF THE FAMOUS .
L.L I
Presenting for the First Time Here the Great London and New York Success
SUNDAY, MONDAY. TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
The Sporting Duchess"
THURSDAY NIGHT AND BALANCE OF WEEK
"The Countess Gucki
( By Augustln Daly )
The best, largest and most expensive company ever un
der my management T. Daniel Frawley.
73c; lege seats, $1.00 ; boxes (4 seats), $5.00 ; balcony Ioges, 75c: balcony
Matinee prices 25c, 50c and 75c
their seats until the intermission. They
wait In the foyer, until they can be seat
ed without spoiling the play for others.
One usually wishes to see all the first
act, as it serves as an introduction to the
remainder of the play. At the perform
ance of "Macbeth" recently, I saw only
about one-third of the first act, owing to
the number of people passing in front of
me. It seems to me that these late com
ers should consider the rights of those
who have made an effort to be on time,
anA that t iha nchfti-a anil mittflPdrfl -will
not perform the duty incumbent on them,
they should voluntarily remain in tn
foyer until an Intermission. Is It that the
management is indifferent, that this mat
ter does not receive attention? E. A.
IN THE STJNNT SOOTH.
Nelll Company tolne a Blgr Business
In California.
The big business that Mr. James Nelll
and the Nelll Company have been doing
in the "West has created comment among
Eastern managers. The receipts for the
first two weeks of the organization's stay
at the Burbank Theater, Los Angeles,
exceeded $9000, while the five previous
weeks in cities on Puget Sound produced
gross receipts of more than $20,000. The
plays presented during the first weeks
In Los Angeles at the Burbank were "A
Bachelor's Romance" and "A Gilded
Fool."
Augustus Thomas, the dramatist, who
Is spending the winter at Santa Barbara,
CaL, Is writing a new play for Mr. Nelll,
in which that actor will appear next sea
son. Extra matinee performances are
now being given in Los Angeles by the
Nelll Company, In order to accommodate
the Burbank Theater's patrons. Eleven
performances In all were given during
the week of February 18.
GOT HIS GOAT.
Frank Clayton Has the Tables
Turned on Him at Carson.
When the Jessie Shirley Company were
playing "Moths' In Carson, Frank Clay
ton, who plays the role of Correze, found
time hanging on his hands, as he does not
appear In the second act, and thought he
would have some fun with the property
boy, who in some way has earned the
sobriquet of the Carson Hoodoo.
Correze, It will be remembered, was a
goatherder In his youth, so Clayton re
quested "props" to secure him a goat for
the third act. The boy looked blankly
at the actor and swore that there was no
goat on the property list. "No matter,"
said Clayton, "the show cannot go on with
out a goat." The Hoodoo disappeared and
inside of five minutes walked In with a
fat goat, and the actor admitted that the
Joke was on him. It cost Clayton several
dollars to make his fellow actore forget
the occurrence.
Where the Hoodoo due up his goatshlp
Success!
IN THE GREAT FOUR -
MILITARY DRAMA
FIFTY SPECIAL PEOPLE
WHITE
SCENERY
MATINEES-SATURDAY AND
Evenings.
Matinees
59
MARQUAM
CAIiVIK HEIUO, aiAKAGEK.
Sib? FEBRUARY 26, 27 and 28
ANNUAL ENGAGEMENT OF
BLANCHE
WALSH
MACDOWELL
IN SARDOU'S
Monday and Tuesday Nights f I Zf DATDA
and Wednesday Matinee ... VLLUr A 1 t
WNt?htOnly LA TOSCA
NOTE. Owing to the extreme length and
tain will rise at 8 and 2 P.M. sharp.
PRICBS
Entire lower floor $1.50
Balcony, first 3 rows ... 1.00
Balcony, second 3 rowa 76
Same as evening.
rears, EOc to any' part
at 10:30 on a stormy night he refused to
state, but the fact remains that Clayton
had to pungle up a dollar to get him to
take the animal out of the theater, before
it ate up the wardrobev
Symphony Concert.
The third concert of the Portland Sym
phony Orchestra, will take place at the
Marquam Grand, Thursday evening, March
1. at 8:30 o'clock, Mr. Dom Zan, sololso.
The sale of seats will open on Tuesday
j morning, at 10 o'clock. Scale of prices:
1 Entire lower floor, $1; entire balcony, 50c;
Dramatic Notes.
Owing to the length of the performance,
the curtain will rise on "The Sporting
Duchess" at Cordray's at 8 o'clock.
1 Seats reserved in advance for the per
Crowded Houses I
ACT
AND
SUNDAY
15c, 25c, 35c, 50c
15c and 25c
JOHN F. CORDRAY, Manage?
Matinee Saturday
BLUE
PANY
Harrington RernoWa.
Francis Byrne.
J. R. Araory. ' '
Clareace Meatalae.
"Walktee Shaw.
George Gaston.
Harry S. DafflsW.
Frank Mathleu.
Clarence Chase.
Thomas PhMMpa.
Harry Atweod,
Miss Keith "Wakem&n.
Miss Mary Van Bursa.
Miss Phcoa McAlMeter.
Miss Lillian Fearl Landers.
Miss Marlon Barney.
Miss Minnette Barrett.
Miss Christine Hill.
Miss Lillian Stafford. '
BegisaM Travera. '
Joseph C Botiey. -S
James Hamilton. ??
AKD
T. DANIEL FRAWLEY
circle, 30c J gallery, 25c.
THEATER
MATINEE
...WEDNESDAY...
AND
MELBOURNE
GREAT PLAYS
atuceBdowe Bredaettoa of "Cleooatra." at
Balcony-, last S rows .
BA
Boxes and tegw aeote 2.09
Gallery as
ChlMren asder 12
of heuse.
Seats saw as aala.
formances by the Frawtey Camany, at
Cordray's, will not be held later than 7
o'clock each evaateg. If they are not
called for at that tfeae, they wttl he placed
on sal
Maaager John B. Sehoeffel, of the Tre-
moat Tneater. Boston, write that the
Business which. Frank Daniels is doing at
Ma theater is the largest ever played to
by a eoraie opera company m Boston.
The house week before last was sold out
at every performance, the matinee Includ
ed. It would seem as if Daniels' new
comic opera, "The Ameer," had struck
the Besteatane 1b the right spet.
Star Gaaers.
As taey skated, tkear leaked1 at faa stara
13era were a. ariNtta. pe aeri
Thefc neels Hcwaa aat taer a&serred.
A few taasTd. aet eea feenre.
CMeage OTeiHk