Life — June 2, 1898 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

An Afterword About the Season, THE theatre-going pubic never looks tack eXcept to remember ste Bat th publle that cares for things theatrical should oc. castonally take pause to ret rain: ments for which it has paid its money and which have proved to be failures Thanks to the Theatrical 1 which looks at stage affairs only with the idea of making money, the season just passed has given the American public very few artistte When the Trust goes over its books itn ft regurd- ing the staye simply as a ¢ lity fs not profitable, With the Trust's books the p Lic has nothing to do except to hope that they Will always show a loss. What the pablic wants from the stage—or the Tru tertainme Preferably wholesome and artistic, The past Beason has furnished little that was entertatr much th ud tnartistte, The new productions that were artistic Mr. Coghlan’s “The It “The Devil's Disciple,” Mrs. Chelsea? and Love Finds the Arthur's “Lady of Quality,” Mr. 1 First Born,” Mr, Sol. Smith + Iachelor’s Romance,” and Miss Anuie Russell's * Danger- field, °95." Mr. Daly's productions are always artistic, bat in this season be has done vothing, except “The Country Girl,” new enough to be chronicled among the season's artistic novelties. Mr, Fite ye Moth and the Flame ts artistic Ina way, but tt ts so thorongtly ephemeral that It can hardly be counted on asa serious success, “The Little Minister” has been an artistic success, notwithstanding the tnartistic effects that the pecullarities of Trust methods tntroduced, From the fnanctal point of view, two of the greatest successes of the season have been “The White Heather” and “The Conquerors.” The former was a scenic production which tuvolved only a targe Uh picturesque mountings and stentorian actors, The latter brought In obscenity as its princtpal attraction, and appealed with more or less ste »ple who were fond of obsceulty. It goes without saying that both of these attnictions were offered to the pubite by the Theatrical Trust. “The Tree of Knowl edge” uy be classed with “The Conquerors” as a fluanctal success. The conspicuous fall Mr. Willard and Mis which were fatlure ther the en! twas unwholeso were Way es, artistically, have been Davenport, both In plays worth producing. ‘The financtal e bee nfined tolight-welght ed by the Trust on the strength of thelr Previous popularity. Two strong plays of Thsen and one of ( ced under the most un- favorable auspices, ha fed Impresstons Which may produce results hereafter, In them selves, these performances of plays not calculated Al to the general public have done good tn making some theatre-goers think what the theatre might be. jetty ¢ *LIFE> One of the most enconraging things of the past season las Leen the great popular success that has attended the enterprise of giving excellent representations of favorite opents, fora reasonalie price of admtssto the American Theat New Yorkers have been so accustomed to being bullied by theatrical managers and thelr em- ployees, and to being switdied tn the prices they paid and the entertainments they witiessed, that the seaso Castle Square Opera Company has bee ation, At the Henud Square mnpany Is trying > some. thing the same in dramatic produetions, but It is experiment will succeed, In light opera and extrivaganza the se has been prolific, bat with no expectally marked sucess outade of “The Highwayman” and “The French Mata, For the paucity of good art in th on af 1897-08 the public may thank the Theatrical Trust. what wholesome entertainment we have had, the pniise goes to those who have dared to stand np against that Hebrate institatton, Im Is to raise the price of admission and depreciate the quality of the entertainment, Metcalje. early to sy how th “on whose Tz blind despise a man who cannot read with his fingers. Help the Soldiers. HILE it is the aim of the government to supply our soldiers with necessary supplies, our regiments have been called out so hurriedly that many things have been overlooked, and in consequence of this there is. a painful Jack of clothing and other necessaries, Many of tho men are without blankets, and a large number aro destitute of other important essentials to active fleld work, and as thoso in camp are likely to be called to the front at any moment, it is highly important that th be amply equipped. For this purpose the Soldiers’ Re! Association has been formed, and Squadron, Aisat present working for the immediate needs of soldiers in eamp. Contributions will be gladly weleomed, and for this purpose they may be sent to the offices of the Knickerbs Trust y, New York, Company, 66 Broad wa VERY woman is a species by her- self; she cannot be generalized. Our Flag Afloat. YARD-ARM HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, By Midehipman Martinspike, vy. PORTER'S FIRST CRUISE. AVID PORTER was commander of the Exsec when the war broke out, and did not get to sea with the squadron under Rodgers that allowed the Betcidera to escape, But shortly before the Consti- tution took the Guerriére he did sail from New York, and, cruising at random, took several prizes. Then on August 13, 1812, he disguised the Exsez asa merchantman, and succeeded in fouling the English sloop Alert, so that vessel fell into bis hands. And hero we aro introduced for the first time to David Glasgow Farragut, who, later, in the civil war, was heard from with such gree results, The Essez was crowded with prisoners from the Alert and other prizes captured, and a conspiracy was formed among them to capture her. But Captain Porter was not tho only “Wasp” anp “ FROLIc.” Ccomicbooks.com