TJTK OMAHA KCNDAY HEW: MARCH 1, 1914.
5B
A the 'r M BATE-R S
EVELYN CONWAY, EDNA BATES, GLADYS ZELL, HELEN FALCONER. t'nThcLaxJy f the tflippon MMMM
4 1;
f' ' jP
' ' "
GOULD
r VIOLET MERSERErW in
Rebecca. cJ Sunnybrooh 5vwn "
l!he3r-nclets
.IUTING to tho people of his
diocese, Right Rev. Bishop
Scanncll warned them against
a certain class of. literature,
and against going' to a cer
tain class ot plays. Ho did
not condemn literature, nor did he lay a
'specific ban on the theater. The good
bishop knows tho uso of worthy liter
ature, and undoubtedly realizes, even if
ho did not so say, that tho theater has
lt3 proper and admirable place in the
cultural llfo ot tho community. But ho
also knows, ns do most of tho people
who think, that no good purpose is
served by a great many of tho books
xnai aro pnniea, or uy a great many or it
tho plays that aro shown. That Is whfe
he exhorts his people to avoid the trashy
novels and to refrain from uttendlng at
the theater when meretricious plays are
offered.
It would reem to be not out of reason
to expect that tho pulpit and the theater
might co-operate in tlio great work of
spiritual development. They have so
much In common that one Is almost Jus
tified in saying their methods and In
tcitfcts aro idcntlcul. That the theater
has lout much because of the ascendancy
of Its commercial aspect is too patent to
icr;ulro discussion. Religion has alwayB
used symbolism in its teachings; Its ap
jicul la to the imagination of man, Its
purpose tp awaken his deeper nature
nnd to ilovolojt his higher aspirations.
It Is nut uiibellcvablo that the first
thecirical parfurmanco over staged was
u religious rite ot some sort; it Is cer
tain that an man's mind opened up and
Ills uudcrntuud'ng improved, tljo priests
nf the broadening religions used spec-tuclr-i
o't the most ambitious sort, ever
Increasing In tholr scopo and elaborate
quality, for the purpose of Illustrating
their teachings or establishing their con
tiol. This sort of cultural effort was not
disdained by tho early church, after the
Christian religion had supplanted the
pagan in Kurope, for morality .plays of
the medieval days have been handed
down and even enacted in the most mod
ern of theaters.
It was unfortunate for tho theater,
maybe, that at a time when religion, art,
letters, all that make for man's fuller en
joyment of lite, wero breaking away
from the bonds of ignorance in which
they had been shrouded during the mid
dle ages, that one of tho manifestations
ot tho now freedom should take on the
form of opposition to the theater. It was
tha fault of tho players of tho day, per
haps, a fault scarcely greater than that
of writers or painters, but it brought on
the head of the players the everlasting J
3 iTttsical. 25i2j?s - At Me Empress)
reproach and condemnation ot the teach
ers whose thought has shaped the des
tiny ot the religion ot the ISnglish-speak-lng
race. Time has softened much of the
asperity of the earlier attitude of the
church to th theater; tho broadening ot
modern thought has brought about some-
hing of toleration that was unknown
even a generation ago, but the main fact
remains, that tho pulpit and tho stage
have not yet bridged tho chasm opened
400 years ago.
- Now and then one faintly discerns a
glimmering sign ot better understanding
between these admitted agencies ot bet
terment for man, but tho most hopeful
of optimists will hardly venture tho pre
diction that tho time Is near at hand
when they will coma together. One ot
the chiefest reasons is that on which
Bishop Scannell rests his case when ho
warns churchgoers to bewaro of tho un
worthy at tho theater.' Much that Is
really unworthy Is continually being pre
sented on the stage; liberty has been
misconstrued Into license, and a steady
stream of libidinous literature has
spread over the drama ot the day, under
the guise of "uplift," until thoBe who
have tho best conception ot the stago
wearily admit that tho criticism levelled
against tho theutcr by tho church is too
often Justified. And tho danger is that
the pica of tho church for sanity of con
duct, for' rational Indulgence In amuse
ments as well as temperanco in all things,
is moro than overcomo by the evil that
Is dona by a pornographic play, or ono
that merely Illustrates without exalting
misdeeds of any sort. It Is a sorry fact
that few are Interested In tho doings of
folks who are commonplace; tho color
less existence of the man or woman who
abides always by the law Is of no uno
on tho stage. If the actor ot today Is
"holding tho mirror up to nature," what
a sorry lot we must be. Nineteen cen
turies ot steady effort to spread the gos
pel of Christianity throughout the world,
a period that has been marked by man's
advance over apparently an Immeasurable
dlstanco Intellectually and morally, finds
us following along paths that wero for
bidden when the first moral code ever
formulated took on definite form. How
ever, tho caso Is not so hopeless as it
might seem; man Is a perverse creature,
and in his freedom does many things that
may seem absurd, but at the bottom ho
is not altogether ovll, and eventually the
good will triumph. It may bo a long
tlmo ahead, but tho tlmo will yet come
when bishops will not feel called upon
to warn their followers against tho
theater.
Madame Gervllle-Rcache has recovered
something of her breath, and from tho
security of her home In New York 'sends
out the following statement of her con
nection with tho Canadian Opera com
pany that went on tho rocks at Denver,
largely through her desertion of that or
ganization; My "desertion" of tho National Opera
Company of Canada is being mentioned
with Insistence as ono of the reasons for
the predicament in which tliut organiza
tion finds itself at present. A flattering
implication indeed against which, how
over, I must protest energetically. I did
not desert tho Canada opera company;
on tho contrary, I made real sacrifices In
order to help it over a critical pass.
When Max Rablnoft engaged me as
leading contralto my contract called for
twenty-eight appearances in Canada and
tho United States this season. While tho
dates of thoeo appearances and tho cities
In which they were to take place were not
specified, it was distinctly stipulated that
1 was not in any case to appear this sea
son on tho I'aclflo coast, when Air. Uab
inoff withdrew from tho management of
tho opera company my contract, which
was not transferable, lapsed automatic
ally. New arrangements had to bo con
cluded with Mesira. Baker and Collins.
At that time, however, very lew of the
Canadian opera company's dates had
been settled upon and I was engaged for
a limited number ot appearances In tho
following cities; Two in Toronto, two in
Cleveland, two in Detroit and one In
Kansas City. It was understood that
after my appearance In Kansas City I
would, whenever possible, accommodate
Meters. Baker and Collins, 1 did more
than accommodate them; Indeed, I went
to a great deal ot Inconvenience to my
self, even cancelling engagements in the
east when tho management of tho com
pany and several ot the artists begged
me to help them in their struggle.
While In Kansas City I was thus pre
vailed upon to go to Dallas. Then tho
organizers of the Houston performance
threatened to withdraw their support tin
lewi I appeared with the company, I
yielded to their entreaties und sang
"Delilah" and "La Navarolse" in Hous
ton on February 12 and 14.
After that I returned to Now York,
where I was to sing in concert on Feb
ruary 23. In the Interval I might have
gono to Djnver, but the management of
the company never asked mo to sing
there, although they were announcing my
forthcoming appearance in that city, as
well as in Omaha and Des Moines, and
informed ine wero delivered, I received J
no answer whatever
This is tho whole story of mv ' dc
sertlon." I shall mention furthermore that
lit order to show my devotion to an or
ganisation of which t was not a roRiilar
member. 1 cnncrlled to profitable on
(tARemrnts, one. at tho White IIouso on
February R and ono In Boston with the
Handel and Hnydn society on February 8,
and finally postponed, not without diffi
culty, n concert engagement I was to fill
on February 2.
Such nrv the facts: T shall let the nubile
place the responsibility where It belongs, i
OHUVU.l.K KBACUH.
A noto of much Interest to Omaha peo
ple who recall the days of thirty yearn
ago Is found In tho following, taken from j
a recent Issuo ot tho Grand Island Inde
pendent: .
"Tho German piny nt tho I.lcderkrans
last night was largely attended and
thoroughly enjoyed by all. Not only tho
Germans of this city, but qulto a num
ber from tho surrounding territory. In
cluding Merrick county, were present. It
wns a five-act drama, "l.lfo a Dream,
under the direction of Mr. O. It, Nie
mann, who was many years ago a mem
ber of tho profession and Is well known
na a thorough German nctor of tho older
school. The personnel was as follows.
Camlllo Niemann, O. It. Nlcmann, Rich
ard Qoehrlng, Mrs. T. M. Sullivan, Mar-
grota Niemann, Barney Kolbeck, Max
Niemann, Henry l.ocke Willie Speetzen.
Henry Speetxen, Julius Ischlnsky, Marie
Lohmann, Maude Niemann, Amanda,
Speetzen, Ernest Leuth, Una Meyer, Carl
Niemann. W. II. Speetzen and John
Meyes. Dancing girls; Alma Ironzen,
Malvtna Stratman, L.ydl& Menck, I.tly
linker, Marjrcreta Baker, Elsie Roescr,
Marlon Claussen, Margaret Meyer, Lena
Meyer. Olga Schumacher, Anna Speotxen
and Ella Speetzen. a'u parts were splen
didly staken and the undertaking was a
splendid success. After the performance
tho audience waa Invited to remain for
dancing and other amusements and thcao
wero enjoyed until 4 oclock this morn
ing."
O. R. Niemann will bo recalled by many
of tho older German residents ot tho
city ns n member of the stock company
at tho Btndt theater in IsM and 1883. Tho
company waa under the management of
John Brandt, and was afterwards com
bined with the theater at Metx garden,
on Tenth street. Later Mr. Niemann
played In Omaha wtth tho Daniel Band
man company, Miss Mario Gelsllnger,
Pelt Gallmeyer. Frederic Hass, Carl Sonn
tag, Ludwlg Barney and others. His Inst
appearance hero was on the occasion of
the. presentation of "Die lumber." at the
Boyd theater for tho benefit of tho
Schiller monument fund. On that occa
sion Mr. Niemann played the part of
Franz. Ho is now living In retirement nt
Grand Island, but still retains a lively
Interest in tho theater nnd occasionally
assists tho local amateurs, as ha did In
the instance cttod.
Otis Skinner haa3avery great pre
dellctlon for stage rogues. He has made
a number of his greatest successes in
characters of that typo and he delights
to play such roles because, as ha himself
says; "A roguo Is always an Individual
usually an interesting Indlvldual-and
nearly always possessed ot some redeem
ing quality, such as a senso of humpr,
which makes him lovable, s well as In
teresting." Bomo of Mr. Skinner's famous stago
rogues have beon "Villon, the Vagabond,"
the light-hearted wanderer In "The Har
vester;" "Colonel Brldeau," In "Tho
Honor of tho Family," and tho bom
bastjc, old-fashioned actor In "Your
Humble Servant." In tho play of "Kis
met," Edward Knoblauch has supplied
Mr. Skinner with an entirely new nnd
very interesting typo ot rogue In ths
character ot "HaJJ, the Beggar of Bad'
dad." "HaJJ" Is unlike any other char
acter In the modern repertoire and is a
peculiar combination of humor and
pathos, which brings Into play every at
tribute of Mr. Sklnner'a art. It Is rather
late In tho day, to be sure, for American
playgoers to be making the discovery that
Otlo Skinner Is the greatest romantic
actor of the present generation, but as a
matter of fact, general acknowledgement
ot his genius was not mado until his ap
pearance as "HaJJ" In "Kismet." For
many years Mr. Skinner has been ao
AMI SKMI5NT5.
AMI S13MIJVTS.
(Continued on Pago Twelve.)
Mm a. Bessie Thomaahefskv
rrU-theKrug
other cities not mentioned In my contract,
for I had only promised to uppcur in
Milwaukee and possibly St. LouIh.
I may add that when 'I left Houston
the management uwed mo (and still owes
me) a considerable sum of money, al
though my contract called for payment
ueiuro eacn penormance.
In splto of all, when I read in the
papers that the company was In a rather
serious plight, I wired to tho conductor,
Jacchla; "It still possible to save situa
tion, will do my beat." I sent tho same
telegram to Messrs. Baker and Bauur,
adding, "Wire me immediately; will try
see Slezak tomorrow." To those tele
grams, which, as tho telegraph company
AMUSEMENTS.
rd ANncie THREE N1GHTS;
D M I1IICI9 Malinoo Wednesday
During tlio "IJcn-Ilur" season tlio curtain will rlso ovcnlnRS precisely
nt 8 o'clock. Matinee nt li o'clock. Xo ono scntou during prelude.
TOMORROW NIGHT
ALSO TUES. AND WED. MAT. AND NIGHT
KLAW & ERLANGER'S STUPENDOUS INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTION
BEH-HUR
THE DRAMATIC MARVEL OF THE CENTURY
Stirring with tlio Hcnutlful Spirit nnd Thrilling Action of General
Lew Wallace's Literary and llcllglotis Masterpiece. Produced
with more Opulent Splendor nnd Lavish Kxpcndlttiro tlinn
ever before In its Renowned and Unnpproachaulo Career.
200 PEOPLE 8 CHARIOT HORSES
Prices: Lower Floor $1.80 and $2.00; First Four ltows Balcony
cji.ou; jtcmainuer 91.uu; uancry noe.
MATINEE
AMD
NIGHT
THURSDAY, MAR. 5
MATINEE
AND
NIGHT
KLAW & EIUjAKGEK'S BXQUISIT13 rilOOUCTION
REBECCA
OF SUNNYBROOK
FARM
By KATK DOUGLAS 1VIGGIN and OIIAltLOTTK THOMPSON
A Play Aglow With tho Sunshine of Life.
Prices Matinee, !2Sc to $1.00.
KrcnLng, 23c to $1.80.
WEEK OF SUNDAY. MARCH 1ST
TAYLOR'S LIONS
Ths Greatest Aaimal Act In
vauaovuu.
3 MUSICAL HIS
In
A Kflnd Muiloal
Offsrlnf.
MONAHAN
"Ths Oommsrclsl Travslsr."
MACK & SHEFTELLS
A Man ana a Maid In Bonr
of J.lt.
TXS BEST OF FHOTO FXJk.YS
Always First Son.
Tour shows BaUr. at
8. 3130. 7(30 and 0 V. it.
10c Admission 10c
Rsssrrsd liats. 10oEtr
THREE HI6HTS--Mar.6 & 7 and Sun., Mar. 8
SATURDAY MATZIfCB.
Onarlta BlUlng-ham Prtssnts "Tha Barnuni Is Bulls? of Musical Comedy",
MONTGOMERY & STONE
In tbo Musical rantasy In Throo Acts
THE LADY OF THE SLIPPER
Book by Ann Caldwell and Xiauranoa KoOarty. Lyrics by Jams O'Bsa.
Muslo by Victor Xsrbert.
Osa Year at tha Olobe Theatre, XT, Y. Beats on Bole. Prices COo to 93.00.
Thret Nights March 9, 10, 11 Wed. Mat.
CUXTAUf AT 8 8KABF. MATINEE AT 3
KLAW AND ERLANGER Present
OTIS SKINNER
(Uy Arrangement Willi OIIAIILES FBOHMAN.)
rai
in KISMET
By EDWAItD KNOBLAUCH.
Produced and Managed by
HARRISON GREY FISKE
Beat Bale Tomorrow. Prices, 00a to $2.00.
MATINEE
3:15
EVEItY
NIGHT
8:10
ADVANCED VAUDEVILLE
Week Starting Mat., Sunday, Mar. 1
Telephone,
Douglas
484.
LILLIAN
SHAW
America's Premier Vocal Dialect
Comthedlenne and Entertainment.
Here's
BILLY GOULD &
BELLE ASHLYN
The Last Word In Vaudovllle.
ED GALLAGHER
aid BOB CAHLIH
In a Nautical Travesty, "Before tho
Mast," by Ed OalUser.
SIX SAMARINS
Whirlwind Dancers.
MORI BROTHERS
Japanese Juintlers.
ED--CORELLI and
GILLETTE-CHAS.
The Odd Pair.
MORALIS BROTHERS
In ''TBachelor'a Dream."
WORM EVENTS PICTURED
By New Sellfr Service of Motion
Photography.
ft
Prloen Katlaee, OaUary loot Sest Seata (ezoopt Saturday and gnnday)
aoo migmu, ico. boo, eoo ana voo.
oicaxav run obktsb.
Bally Mat.. 10.30-304
BvnCS., 15.35-B0.73t
BIO BUTCH OOOPBX'B KBW SXOW.
RuSELAND GIRLS
In "Hoclety a la Carte." Efferscent
little Ulllun VlURerald (late of "The
Merry Whirl"). Holly Ward and an ex-
xoritlonsi east. Blc Beauty Chorus. 1
r.inTTV DT1SB MAT. WEEK BATS. '
6LUCK-WERRENRATH
CONCERT
AUDITORIUM rondchv2edn,ng'
The advance sale of tickets to this concert warrant us
in saying that the seating capacity of the Auditorium will
have been sold by Monday evening.
We have arranged to have chairs placed on the stage,
but to avoid confusion make your reservations before Mon
day night.
POPULAR PRICKS..
$2.00, $1.50, $1.00, 75c
BOX OFFICE
NOW OPEN.
KRUG
FRIDAY NIGHT
MARCH 6
Edwin A. Itelkin, Presents
The Popular Yiddish Soubrette. j
2CMB. BSBSIB THOMABKErSKY,
fiUDEKirted by an excellent cast of play
em and singers direct trom New York
City, in her greatest success,
THE OKEBW BOT.
Chesapeake
RESTAURANT
Popular Prices
Midst Leading Hotels
Opposite Auditorium
1510 Howard Street
... nfm .. 11 a
nz,.,...n-M.,-ir nunr r octets
4Rh 3 sfllLLflraM
KRUG
4 DAYS ONLY
COMMENCING TODAY
11 A. M. TO 11 IP. IVf.
THE SUNKEN VILLAGE
A Lubii Pluto Play Masterpiece in Five Reels
A Thrilling Melo-Dramatic Story of Wonder Moving Oc
currences Depicting a Terrible Mine Explosion and Fire
and the Subsequent Sinking of an Entire Village Into
the Earth. DON'T MISS THIS FILM.
Prices 5c and 10c, No Higher
