Evening Star Newspaper, May 23, 1926, Page 82

4 THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHIN'GTON, D. C, MAY 23, 1926—PART 8. DANCING PARTNERS BY SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS " Mary Didn’t Expect R. WIMPF had said it before. He said it again: “If there's Ing I bate. it's a nun ced paeiz.” “If that's my id the reddish stgnal to go blonde, m deaf “Why don’t you get another man”" mquired the other blonde, who was goldenish in tint Don’t know any. Didn't I tell you I'm a stranger in this town”" What did Wayloe have to go and die on us for This contribution came from the second man of the Recause,” answered the third “Mr Wimpt fed him that denat gasoline that he calls pre-war reason we're walking Wimpf.” Oh. come now, Mary— Miss Ryd corrected the girl “But Mr. Sullivan said, this being my only evening in town— es: 1 know wou're a valuable cus. same, I'm Miss mild but frm as e got to lean s a_bench.” lated the bench. Sume tnst somethin Wimpt co 1 was huddied a veddish plond: Mr. Wimpf “Hey!" said hc d » bench. and kindly stop food humored moment Mr. X My name he announced. recov- o bad. Rut what do you expect me to do about it? Do sbout what mind. Have you got pocke ed. Mr He wants a job,” a job “Neves vous Disgu np: 4ined. The benct ng that of ace partly under the v ric ligl Ryder observed, ap. praised and approved it. She stepped | forward.. The man on the bench stood up and r He w in Wimpf turned to his o he ex . follow, aght. his 1o elec warmer Mr. Wi ts you to go to a dance,” ed nunbalanced party id “If there's any BN it's a nunbalanced ‘We're a i Wimpf. hate, M cer'niy arty. 507" said Mary Ryder. with lifted rows. { I'd love to,” returned the young | man. “But— “You do have to be dressed up.” Oh. that's the least of m troubles.” His half-open overcoat shqwed an expanse of shirt-front with - Back tie, snoE in the perfect knot indler a wing collar. “The fact fs, 1 ¥ e price.” be all right.” “Come ov <he bade you forget Mary er and the § t did to . 1 suppose.” Ryde I'm Mar; " 1 accept the invita- “Thank yc tion " file along with me.” she e group set forth in pairs. ow,” proceeded presently, s the masquerade”” > There fsn't any.” v, then? I love mys- teries.” “All rig terme.” 1!l quahfy eon those wriggled shy You're such a case! o start anvthing like g gir! just from the me.” stopped directly beneath an electric light and subjected his panion to a briaf iny. ht,” he said. “T'm an. They 4 vour guardian when you 3t 15, didn't t she admitted « nothing mora 1 could teach he had to go. When did leave?” You oughtn't that with country, John Paul Jones. Now What was the folly g Mr. Wimpf for a job”" You Tle might have had one about his person somewhere.” “What have vou heen trying for?" Do T have to be something?” he arked doubtfuily right. Then I'm x Boy Scout. as one once.’ wera alread e hall i AN 1 really They the Rosemont dar bought tha tickets count nozes “Two—four- six. ‘Sall vight. 1f there's anvthing 1 do despise like poison, 1t's a non balanced party.” o at the gate of My, Wimpf turned to HAT chieflv struck woung Jones about Mary Ryder was the extraordinary atmosphere of vitality in which she had her blithe being Only the eyes. amidst her radiance of personality, gave hint of serene depths beneath Alread what th eyes. When Jones had begun to wonder thought of him—those they rested on him it pression_amused and lative. He was doing gome speculating himself while ex pertly guiding her about the well filled , floor of the Rosemont. So was Mr. | Wimpf. He was speculating upon the | gross injustice of a world in which a i pretty girl whom one had taken out | for the evening put in most of the ! time dancing with a pick-up from a ! park bench. Something of this must | have appeared in his face as Mary | Ryder swept past in her partner's) arms, or perhaps she was becoming | anxious over his frequent. recourse to | his flask. Anyway, at 11:30 o'clock | she decided that duty Jed her back to | | him. “Why?" inquired young Jones. Because he's a customer of the | g 1 Pon’t erush me by telling me that | Fou're a member of the NE | ~'m an emplove - highly valued | employe.” { You're also a highly valued part ner. “You'll appreciate my more for a little change. the gay voice becume severe you done vour worthy deed today? “Now that you mention it, I don’t belleve I hav “Then go to it. There it Is. first box to the left.” “Not the one in purple!” Tha one in purple,” she stated value Boy In the rmly. "S!yme's 40 it a day and 400 If a pouna. “Thut 4sn’t the point. danced this evening.” “Oh, well! If you really mean it.” * K ¥ X A‘l’l‘ER a suprised start and a con- cession to the formalities in the shape of a momentary hesitation, the impstsAly garbed lady with an in- gratiating smile filled—and a bit over —the curve of the young man's arm She hasn’t i questions, to Find the Needed T hird Man for the Pt\zrty on a Park Bench, But She Found sweetly, faithful emplovee that she was. “so that I could dance with you.” “The best I hope is that she falls on_him,” said Mr. Wimpf virulently. But the corpulent lady, it appeared, ! was in no danger of falling upon any one. In spite of her avoirdupois, she was i competent dancer many fat people are Better for the unhappy Jones had it been otherwise: for he then might have summoned up cour age to break away. As it was, only after an hour did he contrive to escape and return to the stern task- mistress “Enjoy yvourself”" said she. You owe me something for that!” Ill give you the next and call it square. “Hey!" rowfully. this party” ed to his passed thre of the floc “What did you converse auired Miss Ryder mincingl We didn't converse. stions. "’ What “Personal here often “Smitten with vour boyish charms,” chuckled the girl “And if I'd give her lessons and how much T'd charge.” “No! Did she? she took you for There's an ide 's the idea? And what's protested Mr. Wimpf sor Where do I come in on C the query was con- flusk. for the pair had h the guardlan gates sout?” in She asked d of questions?” She asked if 1 danced a mind. What else did she asked me,” said Jones in a voice, “whether I wouldn't e some supper with her. Do you i fair?"” Mary Ryder looked at his lips and knew ‘that they were lying, not by their expression. but by their color. “When did you last eat?" “Why, today. This—er—this after- noon.” “Your mouth is watering.” girl. “Come back to ccused the the box qufe He looked ready to run. But Ma Ryder's tact was equal to the situa- tiol “We can at least Mr. Wimpf’s flask.” Mr. Wimpf's glassy them coldly. “Help me Miss Ryde Together they convoved him to a| taxi. The girl handed the driver two | do! “Deliver him to the night| porter at the Burlingame Hotel,” she | directed en she ed her shoulders in relief. “'How about a little cating?” Mr. Jones turned a sl The fact is, I—1I “Yes, 1 understood time. There remains ice hox we walk it a crac This time he was thankful that she had said “walk"; the idea of her pay ing the taxi for him was intolerable. But he hoped that it was not far to go r was it He was admitted to a tiny tment and ed on an adapt- looking divan while his hostess| busied herself in a kitchenette. | xiha e ’1‘0 say that the guest ate heartily would be no exaggeration. Ever tactful, his hoste: him not to try to talk: she would do the talking. Ho did not try to talk. but while re. plenishing, he thought hard, endeavor- ing to selact the best of several mora or less plausible lies (chiefly less) take a look at eve greeted him out,” directed et w, painful red. you the first the old home up and hit Him and More. rd like take an He rose. “There’s no way I can tell you how much T appreciate what ou've done for me. I don’t know why ou're doing it. I'm to see you tomor- row then.” b Where can 1 Where are you staying?” “‘Out of town. “On honor, Boy Scout. you going from here? bench?" “It's a earnestly . Mary Ryder rose. *'1 won't have it." Her hand went to her purse, and then she saw him wince. No: that wouldn't do. “Will you *stay here”” she inquired in perfectly matter-of-fact tones. “Here?" “Yes. I ci two minutes. to know. You said you'd Job." zet vou? Where are Back to the very good bench,” he said n make up this couch in i OME fuss about a roused Jones early. He cast a look of distaste at his white dress shirt, hanging upon the screen with which Mary Ryder had shut off his bed then undertook to cast a glance of still deeper dislike upon his dress trousers, but it died upon the spot where those garments had been and no longer were. Nor was his coat. “Prisoner,” said Jones. “What of #t And he®gratefully resumed his slumbers. When he next awoke, it was to the realization of a feminine face, scrutin- izing him from above the streen. It was a middle-nged. disapproving face, with hard gray eyes. o ve'll be the mannie that Mary brought in," sald the voice belonging to the face. The volce was trimmed with « broad edging of Scotch. s. I'm sure I don't know why.” ot for yer beauty, so ye needna flatter verself. laddle. Last time it was a broken-legged cat. an’ the time | before that a parrot that had lost his voice and couldna tell whaur he lived | Will ve have an egg to ver breakfast? Eggs is saxty cents the dozen, but she bade me ask ve." No thank vou,” replied the lodger hastily. “I think I'd better go." “Aye? An' whaur'll ye be goin’ withoot yer trousies?” Jones groaned. “Where ara they”" “Ask me no questions an’' Il tell ve no i 5 Outside the screen were sounds of heing pulled up and settled Maybe ve would like to know - is," said the voice. . ‘repiied Jones betwcen two pieces of toast “‘She’s my niece. “oh." “And a smart gell, if 1 say It a8 She makes saxty dawlors Jones songht for an adequate comment upon this and compromised Gosh!" “In an advertising firm,” continued the informant. “She's got & chance to buy into the firm, If she can raise five thousind dawlors. Tt's an awfu’ sum!” sighed the lady rbye,” she added more brightly, “that she has near three thousan’ in savings bank noo two thousan' nine hunder' an’ eight. wine dawlors, forty-eight cents. Hard she's worked for it.” continued the voice reflectively, “an’ {1l It sets her to be. splurgin’ It aboot on chance.met rels.” Quch’” said Jones. The outer door opened. admitting Mary Ryder. She hung across the screen a suit of clothes—not his equip- WHAT HAVE YOU COME BACK FOR?” to answer the expected She asked but two. Iy want a job?" wherewith “Do you re; “Absolutely She called a number on the tele- phone, then moved close to him and tilted the receiver away from her ear 80 that he could hear the still small voice from the other end. “Is this the Rosemont? I want to speak to Miss Mercer. That you, Mer- cer? When are you going to start your gigs “They're started volc replied the small nt another one “Can he dance?” “Divinely.” “Think he could teach?” “How much?" “Twenty-five guarantee usual rake-off on lessons. 15 in advance. And, M one that was dancin heavyweight tonight. “All right. T'll try him out. G'by. “Good-bye.” Mary Ryder hooked and the He'll need cer, he's the ith the purple and moved out upon the floor, where two minutes later Mr. Wimpf, who danced like a sea-cow, bounced vio- lently off the tangent of one of the pur le curves. 'TWG. the bencher pick .that violet?” he gasped. “I arranged it,” the receiver. ~“‘There, vou're fixed. “Fixed? How?” he asked wildly. “You're taken on as a gigolo at the Rosemont. All you have to do is be ready to ‘dance with the purple and partnerless; and if yvou handle them ‘right you can get some teaching at ment of the previous evening, but a brand-new suit of blue serge. “Take that into the bathroom and try it on your shrinking form,” she ordered. “The rest is in the bundle, including razor.” In sixteen minutes and a half be stood before her. “How do | they ft?" anxlously. “Awf— I mean great! ready-made, aren’t they?” She stared at him. “Certainly not. How could you think such a thing of me, Claude! I've had the entire mém- bership of Tailors and Cutters’ Union, Number 647, making them to order since 5 o'clock this morning. The bill comes to thirty-six dollars and fifty cents. Yes, I'll charge it. What's Aunt Margot been chatting to you about?"” “The price of eggs.” “Most likely she's been telling you the story of my life. It's her pet oc- cupation, when she can find any one to bore with it.” “She didn't tell me the most impor- tant thing.” ““Which 1s?” “Whether you're married. Are you? “Do I look married?”’ she laughed. “You look,” pronounced young Mr. she asked They're — dumb-waiter | like to marry you. Thus far,” he| added. “And I have a suspicion that | it'’s going to get more so as it goes farther?” “Is this a proposal?” twinkled Miss Ryder. “T haven't had one for so long that I've almost forgotten how they go." Call it a warning,” said Jones. 0w that that's over with, let's go and cinch the job." After such a manner did voung Jones get his job and become a hard working dance hall gigolo. * ® Xk ¥ GJJOW much do I owe you?” in-| quired young Jones in business- like accents. How much have you made?"’ asked s Ryder. The two sat across from each other, at the girl's six-legged table, now lit tered with designs, sketches, pencils rulers and other paraphernalia of work < “Three weeks' extra lessons, misslons, about thirty. make? Two-fifteen, isn't ‘orrect. What's your “Oh! Ixpenses? Well, they charge me ten dollars 4 week for room and coffee. Meals, two dollars a day more. Extras—I don't know. By the way, I ought to pay you office rent. I've been working here every day.” “I'll charge it to the firm,” she smiled. *“We've been able to use one of your designs—with modifications. Why don't vou study? You might really make something of yourself.” Think so? Bill, please, lady.” She made a swift reckoning. “Give me twenty-five on account.” He pro- duced the money proudly from a roll which she contemplated with a curi- ous smile. “Is that the first money you ever earned. I wonder. No, don't answer. It isn't a question.” “It wouldn't be. You've never asked me anything about myself yet." “Why should 1" He sighed elaborately. “Your lack of interest in my worthy if unalluring self pains me. Nevertheless, with your kind permission. I will tell vou a short but realistic tale. There were once two young fools— “It seems. interrupted the girl dreamily, “there were two Irishmen, Pat and Mike.” “All right,” he accepted. “‘Have it you own way. Pat'—he m a wide, vague gesture—"and Mikdy’' He pointed to himself. “They went to a house party and stayed drunk for three days. The listener began to show interest. “Was that their habit?" “T don't think so. Mike had never been drunk but once hefore, and he did not like it then. mostiy bacause it cost him his place on the foot ball team.’ M wages. seventy-five; hundred and ten: com. What's that " net?"” Vhat did he repeat for. then “Because he was bored. So was Cart—Pat. They began by reflecting how worthless they were—got ali wet and mushy about ft—and then they began to dispute about which was the more worthless. It ended in—-" A bat.” hazarded Mary Ryder. Not exactly. A challengs. They agreed to leave all their money but a dollar, and go out on their own." For how long?" Six months.” “What became of Pat?" “He reneged.” _!;‘:rhnl lets Mike out, then, doesn't it? No, because he didn't make the agreement with Pat alone; he mada it with himself. “Mary Rd. still, enveloping giance was upon him. “You may do cout,” she pronounced. e's the storv. Any ques- Yes. What have you been doing all this afternoon?" | “Touching up this. Tt's something | T roughed out months ago, and tiied on—on a man 1 knew in the Ever wear Tire Co. They wouldn't have it Mary Ryder examined the sketch,, then looked up quickly. “The Ever-| wear? Wa'va been trving for that account for three vears.” She exam- ined the sketch. “The four winds of heaven blowing up the four tires. and Jove's lightnings bounding off of ‘em without harm, eh? Pretty classical; but it might be all right for maga- zines—with modifications. What's this_thing in the corner? “Oh sort of private monogram of nin Mary ,Rider was musing. “The Everwear. That's a three-hundred- thousand dollar account. If I could land that, T could pry the firm wide enough open to let two of me in." Young Jones started to speak. but thought better of it. * ok ok x T“’O days later he received a letter | from his father's extra-private sacretary, who had adored him since his babyhood. and with whom, alone of his home environment, he kept in touch secretly. It was on the letter- head of the Waverly Jones Co. Manufacturers_ of Everwear Tires, Office of the President, and sald in part: “This morning a girl came in to see your father, the prettiest thing I've set eves on in a year. But that was not what got her in, but her statement that she had direct infor- mation about you, and she had some sort of document to prove it. & sup- pose she had seen the notice of re- ward in the Philadelphia papers (The reader started.) “I couldn't stop him doing that. And I guess she got the reward. for she came out of your father's office with her eyes just shin- ing. As soon as she had gone, he telephoned a detective agency; so per- haps you had better move.” 1t was 1 o'clock when the letter came. Mary Ryder was at the office or out at lunch. Her aunt had gone to Brooklyn. The coast would be clear upstairs. Slow of step and heavier of heart, Waverly Jones, jr., climbed the stairs, opened the door with the key that Mary had given him, and proceeded to collect his pa- pers. Part of them were in a drawer with some of hers. As he ran through them he came upon a Jersey Central time table and a clipping from a Phila- delphia newspaper, telling of his dis- appearance and of the $2,500 reward that was offered for Information. He went to his room to pack up, and write his resignation to the Ros mont. No sooner was it finished than he tore it up. He could not resign until he had money enough to pay his debt. If they did trace and find him there, what did it matter? What did anything matter! Aunt Margot returned at 6 o'clock, to find Mary Ryder with all the vital- ity ebbed out of her face. “What is it, dawtie?” she cried. “Ye're il The girl shook her head. “No. I'm all right. Her hand moved among some papers on the table. The grim Scotchwoman picked one up. “Don’t read it,” warned the girl; “oh, yes; go on, read it. You might as well.” Aunt Margot read the letter aloud: “ ‘Congratulations on your work as a sleuth. Well, $2,500 is a lot of money. I suppose it was my private signature that clinched it for you. You'll make a valuable partner for your firm. I will send check to square our account later. “‘] have had a lot of disilluslon- ments about women in my life. Any fellow has, I guess, who. nothing | said Mary -Ryder $5 an.hour, ‘What's wrong with- thate-Jonss —deliberately, “as if; 3 showd-to do and more money: bo — to do it with. But I have always kept a dream that some dav if 1 waited I would meet a girl who was as straight as‘she was lovable. Well. my dream ix split and vours has come true. so that makes us quits; but I wish vou had left me on my bench. Good luck and gqod-b; * » XACTLY as Waverly had predicted to himself. it thus turned out. Staring wearily across the gaunt, spinsterish shoulder of decrepit but indefatigable patron of the dance, he saw his father. .Jones sr, was in a box. Well, he wax glad it ‘wasn't any worse. His mother might _hate come, too Might as well face the music’ the o clusion of the number. Jones, fr. walked over to the box. bade bis father good evening and sat down This was against the rules, but he did not care. A strange expression undid the grimness of the the father only said: “T've take vou home' T prefer this.”” “You like your job”" The son winced. “What difference does that make? It's a living.” “Hm!" sald Jones, sr., and repeated it. “Why did you put that fool ad in the paper?” demanded young Jones. “No ad Js a fool ad that produces results. This one did.” “What do vou want me back for?" burst out the other. “You've told me often enough 1 was a worthless young scrub. Why can't you let me alone?” Precisely the advice T Jones, jr. At momentarily But have had from a k -er—on Mi expert might say 3 T be W Mary Rvder here.” said Mr. Jones 4 busi ness woman. She got to me by a sub. terfuge. having seen my advertisement of the reward. And she went aw with one of the biggest advertising ts we have ever given out. isn't all she got out of it, is Ignoring the question. the senior continued: “1 don't know where she got it. but she had a little square of paper with your trick signature on it The one you d to use —in the days when we wrote to each other.” He paused. Jones, looked up sharply at Jones. sr.. then looked away again. It struck him that his father had grown old, and for some uncomfort able, deepinglde veason it hurt him I suppose you've been writing to talk about you. and then she brought out xome sketches for a series of adver- tisements, and in an hour had me completely sold on them." “It didn’t take her that long to sell me, I suppose,” muttered young Jones. “The idea was the four winds." pur- sued his father, intent upon his own main intere: ‘each a separate ad saying its say about the tires, and for a finish the four grouped in a design that seemed familiar, as #f I'd seen it before somewhere She ad- mitted that it wasn't her own. id it was by a new artist that her firm was about to employ, and guaranteed that it had never been used before. I like that girl. 1 believe she would be useful in our business, it she could be hought away from her concern.” “She can. She'll do anything for Il be no trouble about the When a thing is w ay- I'm alwaye w 5§ Jr., slowly: money ing for, Said Jone lieve she i “Don’t believe she fs wha “Worth paving for. Not as a busi- ness proposition.” “Why not What's the use of fencing You know she sold me out for the twenty- five hundred doliars’ reward.’ “She never sold vou out. She ab- solutely refused to teil me anything about vou, except that you were well and working and had hetter be left strictly alone. And when I asked her whether she expacted twenty-flva hun dred dollars for that. she suggested {that T use it"—a slow. rather grudg ing grin complicated the features of | Waverly Jones, sr to endow a chair | for the higher education of parents. After that we became almost chummy.” Then how did you trace me?” ery simply. Had a detective pick up her trafl at the train and shadow her until he got you. Where are you going?” You might do worse, son,” said Waverly Jones, sr. ‘“Your mother,” he added, “is at the opera. We were thinking or going to supper after- ward, &0 v it practicable party to—er—make it a SAID THE REDDISH BILOND: “THERE'S YOUR THIRD MAN." Light was shining over the door of Mary Ryder's apartment when voung Jones reached it. Mechanically he felt for his key, then remembered that he had forfeited that right. How much else had he forfeited? He stood, hesitating. when the door opened. Mary Ryder stood in the doorway. Sh moved aside to admit him. “What have you come back for?" “My dream “It's sopiled “1 know. T've heen fool and-- and a mucker and evervthing that's rotten. Put T've only juet found it out."” “How did vou find it out?” ve seen my father. He trafled Yot through me,” she said quickly. “No: I realize that now. But just the same, it was through vou. He put @ shadow on veu. And when T found the reward clipping and the, time |table in vour —in our desk—and {knew that vou had gone to the offica ~well, 1 know it was rotten of me not to trust vou, but what was T to think?" 9 Mary's face crinkled delightfully “That's the kind of trick he played me! Tn spite of it. vou know, Boy Seout. 1 like that old man. He's as hard as rock. and, T'1l bet, just as reliable." “Tie and mother #nd I are going to meet for supper tonight,” said young Jones eageriy. pink if you'd ma She closed her ey over—which. from one point of view, was a mistake. for before she could really get a fair start on it, his arms were around her and his lips on hers. “How about it, Mary, darling?" Mary Ryder leaned back from him, though not too far. “If there's any- thing I do hat: she murmured, “it's a non-balanced party! (Copyright. 1976, Noted Stage Family Visiting America Has Won Popularity as Spanish Artists ]H\' 1SABEL MARGARITA ORDETZ. UST as this countrv haa its Barrymores and Drews, Spain has its Guerreros and Diaz da Mendozas, who have made their bow to New York. Maria Guerrero, the great actrees. admired and beloved wherever Span- ish is spoken, and her husband, the equally great actor, Fernando Diaz de Mendoza. Marquis of Fontanar and Count of Balazote and Lalaing. several times s grandee of Spain, rather than bask in the soclal promi- nence to which their undisputed aris tocracy entitles them. have preferred to reap the laureis of artistic recogni- tion, devoting their talent, wealth and name to the lifework of their art, which has met with the success so richly merited. Fernando and Carlos, the two sons of the illustrious couple, are young actors whose extraordinary promise is_already turning into brilliant ful- fillment, and are proving themselves capable of carrying on the glorious tradition of father and mother, while their young cousin, Maria Guerrero Lopez, the charming daughter of the veteran actor, Ramon Guerrero, bids fair to prove how much there can be in a name, when that name happens to be Maria Guerrero! The Marquises de Fontanar, or rather. Dona Maria and Don Fer- nando, as they are called by their reverent and devoted public, have their home at Madrid. in the beauti- ful Princess Theater, and in America own the Cervantes Theater at Buenos Afres, one of the luxurious and mod- ern buildings of its kind. For many years the dream of all Spanish playwrights has been to have a play accepted by Dona Maria and Don Fernando, who, with their actual dramatic genius of the highest order, are most admirable exponents of what culture and breeding can do on the stage, knowing no rivals In those dramas of court intrigue and nobility, treason and chivalry, based on epi- sodes of Spanish history, which are so compelling and powerful on ac- count of their truth as well as of their beauty. and in which no state- lier queen or prouder hidalgo ever appeared than Dona Maria and Don Fernando, whose names are as regal as they are Spanish! The task of the Spanish actor is a well nigh gigantic one compared with that of the artists of the English- speaking stage. The Spanish actor Is supposed to give a performance of a different play almost every evening and at two matinees weekly. After its premiere, a play, if successful, is performed a small number of times, and after that other new plays await- ing their premiere, or favorites of past_seasons, claim the stage, which, needless to say, requires constant rehearsing on the part of the actor, places an enormous burden on his memory, and necessitates a by no means inconsiderable disbursement to present each play, and especially his- torical ones, in a corresponding set- ting. As can well be imagined, in their long and brilliant career, Don Fer- nando and Dona Maria have acquired a most extensive repertoire, from which they selected seven plays, with great discrimination, for their week’s apj at New York, at the Man- hattan Opera House. Chief among these was “Dona Marla la Brava,” or “Dona Maria the Cour MARIA GUERRERO. of Spain's foremost poets and play- wrights of today, a stirring and power- ful poetical drama, based on Spanish history, which affords this other great Dona_Maria unusual opportunity for revealing her personality and acting in all their magnificence. “La Mu.lzxofldl." “The Ill Beloved,” or, as for sdme unaccountable reason it has been translated into English, “The Passion Flower,” by that leading playwright of our time, Jacinto Bena- vente, one of the few Spanish plays familiar to the American public, also was chosen. A crude, merciless tragedy, which played havoc with several simple rural lives, “La Mal- querida” has always been one of Benavente's outstanding successes. Another on the list was “Locura de Amor,” “Madness of Love,” by Tamayo y Baus, a Spanish playwright of a generation ago, who would likely be forgotten today were it not for this splendid drama, and Dona Maria’s marvelous rendition of the principal role, that of the unfortunate Queen Joan the Mad, mad for love of her king consort, the Austrian Archduke Phillip the Handsome, whose unfaith- fulness, followed by the most cold- blooded scheming to have her pro- her inherited throne, caused her tot- tering reason to rally and led her to assert her rights in a moment of theatrical effectiveness rarely equaled, while later on we see her mourning the man beloved to the last, notwith- standing all-his faults, with a love that has gone down in history as with- out parallel among royel loves. Dona Maria’s performance of this role can only be termed superb, more queenly than most queens, with her regal bear- ing and dignity, and her exquisitely chiseled features that are best de- scribed by the words Amado Nervo, the great Mexican poet, applied to her, “The profile of an olden queen on an olden medallion.” “Don_ Juan Tenorio” is the drama that added most to Zorrilla's fame. Frowned upon by the critics, regarded with amused tolerance by most theater-goers, “Don Juan” ever con- tinues to laugh his audacious way through, ‘‘conquering more men than ‘woms as a Cuban poet expressed it, and every 2d of November, All Souls’ day, “Don Juan Tenorio™ is the only play enacted in Spanish- speaking theaters. “La Condesa Maria,” ‘“Countess Mary,” is a new play by Juan Ignacio Luca-de Tena, which had its premiere | at Madri# thic past Winter, for which reason I can only re‘er to the opinions of critics who have judged it. and who &em unanimous in their praiss of this society drama. whose author is on entirely famillar ground. and who, it is said, has succeeded in making the title role cne of the most lovable char. acters on the stage—a role, one would imagine, to it Marquesa Maria to per- fection. The Alvarez Quintero brothers, Serafin and Joaquin. Andalusians b: birth and spirit. perhaps the best be loved of Spanish p! ights, a represented by their ‘“Cancionera. ongstress.’ The Quinteros have brought to the stage not the Meri- meean Andalusia, but the real one, dreamy and ardent, melancholy and gay by turns, of exquisite refinement in the upper classes, and with a broader but ever acute sense of hu- mor among the rest, always whimsi- cal and highly imaginative Their plays are of unfailing interest, whole- somely sentimental and refreshing. and while a more or less hidden drama lurks throughout some of them, they never reach the somber heights of tragedy, and a happy ending is very often achfeved. “Cancionera,” one of their newest plays, is tinged by a darker touch of drama than is usual in their productions. “E]l Caudal de los Hijos,” “The Wealth of the Offspring,” an exceed- ingly powerful drama, by Jose Lopez Pinillos, is remarkable in supplying father, mother and eldest son with very difficult and exacting roles, which means a resounding success for all three whenever it is enacted. It is the story of a self.sacrificing and devoted wife and mother, who pays by a life- time of abnegation for a moment's swerving from her duty; an upright and proud man, regarding the name of the family as the greatest wealth a father can leave his children, and which, therefore, is to be guarded and kept spotless at any price; and an im- petuous and passionate but most lov: @ble boy, whose murderous rage a learning of his wife's faithlessneas s such that his mother, to calm him, resorts, in despair, to telling him of the sin of her youth, braving his con- demnation, and succeeds in touching not only his heart, but that of his father, who fully forgives her at last, after 50 years of speaking to hesonly in the presence of others. Japan Likes Electricity. Japan ranks third In the Itsg of countries so far as the numbes of electric lights in use per 100 houss is concerned. TUnited States and Canada only exceeded Japan in this respect at the time of the last sur- vey. Japan now is electrifying some of her railroads, having electrified its street car system in the principal citles. Moved to Arctic. THE Eskimos were originally an in- land people, living on the shores of lakes or streams, and only gradually moved to the Arctic in recent times, the latest researches on thelr origin seem (o show,