Life — February 16, 1905 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

as Henry Irving, of Richard Mansfield, and of the other few Gentile managers whom the Theatrical Trust permits to remain in the busi- ness, LiFe has gone furtherthan this, When good performances have been Trust management it has not stinted its praise. The regular readers of Lire do not need to be told these truths, The columns of the journal speak for themselves. The Theatrical Trust being composed en- tirely of Jews, and in many of its d with the public and with its employees others with whom it does business having hibited; the worst traits which are associated with the worst members of that race, it is not strange that Lire has spoken of them as Jews and pictured them as Jews. If the The- atrical Trust was composed entirely of China- men, or Senegambians, or Apaches, and in- dulged in high-binding, cannibalism or scalp- ing, Lire would speak of them as Chinamen, or negroes, or savages, and caricature them with the worst features of those races, This would not imply that there were no decent Chinamen, or negroes, or Indians, But as we have said often before and very recently, t bad Jew, if he is caught with the goods on, immediately sets up the how! that he is being persecuted because he /sa Jew, and expects the respectable members of his race to come to his rescue, When decent Jews stop being imposed upon by these tactics and refuse their aid to the unworthy members of their race, they will show that they are Americans and not Jews to the exclusion of patriotism, Lire, has called to the attention of its read- ers that in the present instance a leading Jewish organ, voicing, we believe, the better opinion of the better Jews in New York, has declined to be imposed upon by this racial howl of the Theatrical Trust brought to justice. This acknowledgment by some Jews that another Jew may be wrong and not en- titled to the support of the people of hi is doubly emphatic because of its rarity. Lire believes the time has come when it is incumbent on the self-respecting race, Jews who DAVID AND GOLIATH. CAN this DAVID DO THE TRICK? “LIFE: have come to America to become Americans and to support our American institutions to dissociate themselves from those who are Jews and Jews only, and who band together against the operation of American laws and customs. We do not think that the use of the word Hebrew is yet sufficiently distinct in marking this difference. When among the Jews themselves Hebrew means one thing and Jew another, we shall be glad to admit the difference and it will allow us to define exactly what we mean, As it is, we use the title Jew in no opprobious sense. In common with those who are compelled to distinguish between good Jews and bad Jews, we should be glad to have some authority for the use of distinctive terms and not be charged with condemning an entire race when we criticize oaly thoce who make prominent the worst traits of that race. Under the broad welcome and the broad tolerance America gives to the people of every race, it is the good Jew's own fault if he per- mits the bad Jew to make the entire race bear the burdens and the reproach of his wrong- doing. HE Colonial Music Hall on upper Broadway, which is to be a home of ballet and burlesque, was unable to open as it had adver- tised because a trained bear got loose and at- tempted to make a meal of some especially tender and toothsome ladies of the company. The bear suffered no indigestion, but the young women of whom he attempted to make bear-meat (no pun) were temporarily disqualified as displayers of personal pulchri- tude. ° . . Ts Madison Square Theatre, which was closed shortly after the agitation against unsafe theatres, caused by the Lroquois fire in Chicago, reopens with “ Mrs, Temple's Tele- gram.” LIFE doesn’t take the position of vouching for the safety of the Madison Square Theatre—that being just now a matter for Mayor McClellan, Commissioner Hayes and Commissioner McAdoo to look out for—but of Mrs, Temple’s Telegram" it may be said that the piece is a very ingeniously constructed farce. To enjoy it most, one miust leave be- hind any idea of probability, and simply take for possible the impossible premises on which the plot rests, ‘This done, the developments of the story, with its exhibition of lying as a fine art, become laughable in the extreme. The acting honors go easily to Mr. William Morris, as Frank Fuller, who, as an expert in the science of mendacity, makes the late 199 Prof, Ananias look like an awkward amateur. Mr, Frank Worthing also has a congenial and successful part, that of the erring hus- band who cannot lie artistically, and Grace Kimball is attractive and effective as the de- ceived wife. Preceded by a curtain raiser and condensed in time of performance," Mrs, Temple's T gram" would be very good entertainment to occupy an evening after a dioner. . * * M*** of Lire’s patriotic and well-mean- ing lay friends have given us the em- phatic assurances that the Theatrical Trust cannot legally exclude Lire’s critic from their theatres. It would appear on the face of it that they are right, but a reference to our confidential guide will show that he és ex- cluded from a number of theatres. This state of affairs brings to mind the venerable tale about the person who was incarcerated in jail for some offence not clearly proven, He sent for his lawyer and told him his story, “That's perfectly preposterous,” exclaimed It's absurd. They can't lock you up fora thing like that.” “But,” replied the prisoner, “I am locked up.” Metcalfe. the lawyer, Academy of Music. Sweet Kitty Bellairs.”” Interesting play, splendidly staged) and with Henrietta Crosman in the title part, Betasco.—Mes. Leslie Carter in" Adrea.” Gor- Ffouslymounted and well acted tragic drama by David Belasco and Joha Luther Long. Bijou.—"The Music Master.” Touching and laughter-provoking at the same time, David Warfield at his best. Casino. Lady Teazle."* Musical version of Sheridan's “*The School for Brilliantly staged and well sung, with Lillian Russell in the title part, Colonial Music Hall.—See above. Garrick. —Bernard Shaw's very amusing satire the over-educated woman, “You Never Can Tell.” Wellacted by Arnold Daly and thoroughly competent company. Lew Fields’s Theatre. —"\t Happened _in Nordland.” Mostly girls and music with some fun, Lycoum.—" Mrs, Leffingwell’s Boots." Divert- ing comedy by Augustus Thomas, Lyric—“Fantana.” Comic opera, with Katie Barry as the principal joy-producer. Handsomely produced, Madison Square.—*Mrs. Temple's Telegram.” See above. Manhattan — Leah Kleschna."? The play of the season, admirably staged and acted by Mrs. Fiske and ‘an excellent company. OWING TO THE PACT THAT THE FOLLOWING THEATRES ARE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE THEATRICAL TRUST, WHICH 1S ATTEMPTING TO SUPPR CRITICISM, LIFE IS UNABLE TO DE- SCRIBE THE PERFORMANCES THEY OFFER: Liberty. New York. : New Amsterdam. Daly's. Sarvy. Criterion. Broadway. Empire. Hudson. Majestic Herald Square. Wallack's, Knickerbocker. Garden, comicbooks.com