Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 304, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 March 1927 — Page 6

PAGE 6

The Indianapolis Times ROY W. HOWARD, President. BOYD GURLEY, Editor. WM. A. MAYBORN, Bus. Mgr. \ Member of the Scrlpps-How.ird Newspaper Alliance • • • Client of the United Press and the NEA Service * * * Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Published (laily except Sunday by Indianapolis Times Publishing Cos., 214-220 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis * * Subscription Rates: Indianapolis—Ten Cents a Week. Elsewhere—Twelve Cents a Week • • • PHONE—MA in 3500.

No law shall be passed restraining the freeinterchange of thought and opinion, or restricting the right to speak, write or print freely, on any subject whatever.—Constitution of Indiana.

Streets and Politics Changing the occupant of the office of city engineer seems to be one of the perpetual pastimes of the city administration. Those who live by politics die by politics. In the present sudden shift, the explanation that the retiring engineer did not have the proper knowledge of city streets and conditions is hardly satisfactory. That leads back to the question of how it happened that a man without these qualifications could obtain the position in the first place and what political faction or factor was appeased when he was named. The explanation of the engineer who is so suddenly severed from his office has in it some food for thought and inquiry. He says that he is removed because of the interest of politicians who are in turn concerned in the sale of certain materials' for street repairs or construction. That sounds somewhat convincing, especially as the members of the board of public works, presumably the advisers of the mayor on all matters of street improvement, do not join in the mayor’s explanation of the change in office. If lack of experience is the sole and only cause of removal the members of this board 'who have worked closely with this engineer might be expected to be the first to discover the need of a change. Asa matter of fact, under the theory of the present form of government the mayor would be presumed to act only when his board of public works presented such a demand. The board, in theory, has the power and responsibility for such matters and the judgment of its members should be final. The people understand, of course, that political necessities sometimes force shifts. They understand that the present form of government is designed to make political consideration the most important consideration in every office. They understand that political government must play politics and that when the machine needs to satisfy or appease the powerful, official heads must be sacrificed. Some day, when the present city manager petitions are presented and the people get the chance, all this may be changed. Men will be named on merit and merit only. It will not require the indignation of material men to disclose any lack of experience. Men who serve will show their experience and records in advance. And when they have been named, their continuation in office will not depend upon obedience to political bosses or favors to those interested in selling things to the city. They will hold office as long as they serve the public and no longer. They will not find themselves destroyed for political purposes. A merit system of government, a business administration of affairs, the banishment of partisan politics look better with each demonstration of what it costs to placate politicians with public favors. John Bull and Uncle Sam in China As it stands the world’s one best bet against war is an Anglo-American understanding to use their stupendous power for peace. Without any formal agreement of alliance the 200,000,000 English speaking peoples scattered around the globe and occupying its most strategic positions, if they will throw their combined weight in the balance and on the right side, can do more to discourage war than any other single agency. But the reverse of this picture is equally true. An Anglo-American partnership to exploit the weaker or more backward peoples of the earth, or crush their efforts to improve their condition, would not only make war inevitable, but it would produce the bloodiest war ever seen. An Anglo-American line-up against China at this time would spell defeat for the nationalists for the time being, but tomorrow would witness a clash between the white and the yellow and brown races of Asia and North Africa before which the World War would seem tame indeed. China’s 400,000,000, India’s 200,000,000, Japan's 60,000,000, our own Philippines’ 15,000,000, along with all Islam and the rest of the yellow and brown world, would line up against us and at the end of a long and bloody struggle, or series of struggles, the white man’s doom would be sealed. If Britain’s statesmen lack the traditional, not to say uncanny, British ability to see a hundred years ahead; if they insist upon spoiling China's bid for equality among the nations of the world and barring tfe road to progress down which the Chinese people have s now set their feet, let her go it alone. If China means to Britain only a market for British goods, and if her 400,000,000 inhabitants are to Britain only so much cheap labor and producers of wealth for the British,- so much the worse for Britain. But we should not allow ourselves to be drawn in to help her make the situation permanent. We should make it plain that we should welcome joining hands with Britain to promote peace in the Far East as in other parts of the world. But let’s invite her to come in with us instead of us going in with her. * t A Better California ( l'ornia is sorry, but not yet ready to promise to lc„ii a better life. The sun-kissed State is willing to admit that it did get a bit excited about “reds” anti “I W. W.s” and did go it a little strong by putting people into jail for life because they happened to belong to a labor union. But that has been altered. More than half the “criminal syndicalism” offenders have been released from San Quentin, and it is many months since there have been any prosecutions of “dangerous agitators.” But the State Legislature is not willing to repeal the criminal syndicalism laws. The professional patriots won’t permit that. When the matter came up at Sacramento opposition was voiced by the American Legion, the Better America Federation, Attorney General U. S. Webb and the Ship Owners' Association. Repeal of the law was urged by David Starr Jordan, president emeritus of Leland Stanford University; Bishop Edward L. Parsons of the Episcopal church, ex-Congressman William Kent, Judge Jackson Ralston, former United States delegate to the

Hague, and George W. Kirchway, former dean of Columbia University law school and once warden of Sing Sing prison in New York. The American Civil Liberties Union, which has organized a branch in California, backed the fight for the repeal of the obnoxious laws, and was roundly denounced for placing personal liberty above the claims of property. ' “Think for Yourself” You could easily get almost any one to indorse the proposition that people ought to “think for themselves.” But if the results of this could be foreseen, the indorsements might not come so readily. Not long ago the faculty of the University of Georgia expressed the wish that students could "think for themselves” more. A young undergraduate named Ben F. Cheek, editor of The Iconoclast, student paper, took the faculty members at their word. Asa result he is in rather hot water right now, with a faculty committee accusing him of printing matter “disrespectful and scurrilous, if not libelous.” Cheek’s paper, it seems, printed an article charging that athletes were brought to the university by alumni through scholarships and “S4O a month.” This article also opposed spending $200,000 for a football stadium when funds for instructional purposes were lacking. Another article took the faculty to task for “endangering free speech” by restriction of lecturers at the university. , This is veiy interesting. It is somewhat rare for undergraduates to stand up in meeting and talk back to the faculty. It is even rare for college students to criticise any athletic policy which results in winning teams. The University of Georgia stands high in athletic rankings; protests against “over emphasis” on football or other sports usually come from elderly alumni, not from the students themselves. All in all, Cheek’s articles apparently have started some talk. It’s strange; but what, in the name of heaven, can you expect when you urge people to think for themselves? Thinking is an activity rarely indulged in these days; unfortunately, this is even true of students at universities. Few people bother to think for themselves; that explains a great many of the less happy features of modern life in college and elsewhere. Once a man starts thinking for himself he begins to question many of the established customs and institutions and rules with which he is surrounded. That is inevitable, for the simple reason that so many of these things have no sound basis. It is true at universities, where football coaches are paid and honored more highly than professors; it is also true in the outside world. “Think for yourself”—oh, by all means. But, if you go around advocating that, don't be surprised if the people you are exhorting presently arrive at conclusions that disturb you. Killing the Goose The gentleman who killed the goose that laid the golden eggs has long been looked upon as one of mankind's most accomplished Idiots. I et it almost seems, now and then, as if some of our friends in France had taken him as their model. During the summer months hotel and restaurant keepers, shop owners and the like in Paris and the Riviera make millions of dollars from American tourists. The amount of money left in France each summer by visiting Americans is simply staggering; take it away and a very sizable slice of the French national income would be gone. Yet the French have been making no bones about tiie fact that it is the American dollar, rather than the American visitor, that they like. During the last few months, with tourist trade at an ebb, the French have been outspoken in their relief at the absence of Americans. Such Americans as do go to Paris find cool stares, or outright insults the order of the day. Sooner or later, unless the French acquire a few manners, this will, have its effect. The American tourist will discover what the discriminating traveler has long known—that there are many other Places in Europe just as charming and picturesque as Paris. He will begin to give the French capital the go-bye, and will hie himself instead to places like Munich, Vienna, Geneva, Naples and the Scandinavian countries, leaving his dollars in these places rather than in France. And the Frenchman will thereupon discover that he has killed the goose that laid the golden eggs. This is the sort of thing that is very apt -to happen in the near future unless French manners improve considerably. In many ways, we believe, it would be a rather wholesome thing, all around American tourists would discover that Europe has many charming cities aside from Paris; and the French would assimilate a much-needed lesson. Long skirts will return, says Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, but it will take thirty years to work the change. So Willie can look forward to having something he can hang on to by 1957. ... Men may don womanly apparel, she guesses. The only reason we want to live thirty years more is to see Dawes in a gingham apron. . . . Women probably will wear hats three feet wide made of spun glass, is another prediction. One thing about a glass hat, you probably will be able to see the person you’re talking to. . . . Women then possibly will be a bit more lightheaded than they are now. Would it be contempt of court to express the desire to behold William Howard Taft in a red kimono, with sandals? It isn’t contempt of court then it certainly is criminal libel. The ten chief causes of crime were named by a New York crime commission the other day. However, the commission overlooked the man who tells jou he takes a cold bath every morning. A financier has set aside a fund to combat sleeping sickness. Now if another rich man would just come along with an appropriation to find out why nobody sleeps any more. The new Pullman sleeping cars have “passenger bedrooms.” Is this a device whereby the Pullman company hopes to lower the cost of travel?

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Both U, S, and Mexico Should Appreciate Forgery Expose,

By M. E. Tracy Documents passing between the State Department and the American Embassy at Mexico City have been systematically filched, photographed and the photographed copies peddled to Calles. They included notes, letters and telegrams. • They also included some forgeries, as is usual in such cases. Any rat who steals and sells correspondence can be depended on to resort to forgery if the genuine article runs low or proves too uninteresting to bring a good price. Calles Showed Papers George Barr Baker is responsible for disclosing this ugly sidelight of a bad situation, and deserves the grateful appreciation of both countries. He stumbled on this piece of perfidy while on a visit to Mexico. It was during a conversation with President Calles in which Baker was emphasizing the good intentions of America that the former showed him the documents as proving the contrary. Give it Publicity Now that President Calles has seen the American correspondence, real as well as forged, why wouldn’t it be a good idea to let the American people have a look? What better course could the State Department take than to summarize the whole matter, pointing out what was authentic and what was not, and indicating just how and why Mexico had been roiled? Fruit of Secrecy But for all the secrecy, such a theft and forgery could hardly have taken place. Haven't we had enough of that stupid practice? What has our Government said to Mexico or to its representatives in Mexico that wouldn’t stand the light of day, and whose game we are playing that it should require so much covering up? On the other hand, doesn't this disclosure prove the risk of too much secrecy? An Oily Mess Our controversy with Mexico centers in oil. The new Mexican law requires that owners of oil rights surrender permanent title to the Government in exchange for fiftyyear leases or concessions. These leases or concessions can be renewed for another thirty years, providing oil is still available. It goes without saying that owners cannot get leases or concessions, until they have proved their title is good. Os the 466 companies involved, 444, controlling some 27,000,000 acres of land have complied with the law, while twenty-two, controlling 1,600,000 acres of land have refused to comply. Has the thought ever occurred to any one that title to this land, or part of it at least, might be doubtful and that these protesting oil companies might be trying to use tire American State Department to force Mexico to recognize their titles as sound? Good Joke? Bolshevism has been used as an argument against the Calles regime. It has been made plausible because the Calles regime has established diplomatic relations with Soviet Russia and exchanged ambassadors. The Soviet ambassador to Mexico is lime. Alexandra Kollontay, whom our State Department would not allow to travel across the United States for fear of what her personal contact with the people especially radicals, might lead to. Now Mine. Kollontay’s novel, “Red Love,” is to be published and offered for sale on our book stands. Shall we take this as a good joke on the State Department or an excuse for more censorship? 1 Women’s Books Women authors seem to have the edge on men when it comes to stirring up trouble. One of them. Mrs. Meidell. has just set Norway by the ears with a new cook book. The cook book offers menus by which it is claimed a housewife can provide good wholesome meals for a family of four for 100 kronen, or $23 n month. Tliis has raised all kinds of discussion, for what goes on in the kitchen has a distinct bearing on the cost of living, the wage scale and so on. Mrs. Meidell's conclusions have been challenged not only by wives who shudder at the thought of their budgets being reduced, but by labor leaders who are demanding a wage increase. She wda called to Oslo to make a demonstration and four doctors were appointed to see whether her meals were properly nutritive. Police reserves were required to hold the crowds back, while the doctors found her diet adequate. Will Mme. Koliontay's novel stir up as much excitement or be of as much use and consolation to hardpressed wives and husbands? OTHER THEATER OFFERINGS Other theaters today offer: "Aren’t We All?” at the Playhouse, a Little Theatre offering: “Orchids and Ermine” at the Circle: “The Fire Brigade” at the Apollo: ‘Slide, Kelly, Slide” at the Ohio; movies at the Tsis; new show at the” Uptown and burlesque at the Mutual. What abbreviation of Pennsylvania is authorized by the Postoffice? “Pa.”

Yes —Its a Horse of a Different Color

Biggest Vote of Approval Given the Berkell Players at Start of Season

Charles Berkell today is well aware that he is one of the successful leaders in entertainment in this city. When the Berkell Players opened their fifth season Sunday night to

capacity, many were turned away, because of the lack of seats, and with last night capacity again, were many definite signs that this company has more friends than it ever has had in this city. Mr. Berkell as well as every member of ‘.he company realizes the merit of being able to draw absolute capacity houses. As Larry Sullivan said from the stage on the

Jean Oliver

opening: night when each member of the company was presented by Mr. Berkell, “A1 Jolson has nothing on us. We have capacity too.” And Mr. Berkell pointed to the fact that when he came to English's four years ago that only few people were present during the first four weeks. Miss Jean Oliver told the capacity house Sunday night that they were going to repeat "Lilac Time.” next, week, although they presented it here in the first weeks of their first season. "But nobody saw it,” Miss Oliver remarked from the stage. And so at the beginning of their fifth season of stock, this company meets with capacity approval at the opening performances. I feel sure that capacity, or almost capacity, will be the rule for the entire week and that is a marvelous accomplishment in the theater these days. There are many reasons for the success of the Berkell organization. The basic attribute seems to me to be that they are offering "human theater.” It seems to me that each individual member of the company has intimate contact with every one who goes to the Berkell offerings. As Milton Byron said from the stage, "Remember I am just Milt Byron to you any time you see me on the sti-eet.” It is this human and honest relation between player and public, management and the player, which has made this organization one of the wonders of theatrical history. And in a strictly critical sense, the Berkell Players have improved in more ways than one since they opened for the first time four years ago. Here are a few facts concerning the first performance of “If I Was Rich,” Sunday night by the Berkell Players the smoothest first night performance they have ever given; the best handling of lights; the best stage settings from an artistic standpoint that they have had and a more definite 'attempt at individual characterization. Asa play, “If I Was Rich” is far from a good play. But this vehicle gives at least a majority of the cast an opportunity for comedy as well as some drama. Milton Byrdn, J. F. Marlow, Larry Sullivan, Idabelle Arnold and Herbert Dobbins have the most to do. The playwright nearly forgot to bring the leading woman on in the first act. but he succeeded before it was too late. In other words, Miss Jean Oliver hasn't so much to do this week, but she will have her big opportunity in "Lilac Time.” Others in the cast are William V. Hull, Marjorie Stoltz, Tom Pawley (anew member and a promising one;) Bernice Marsolais, Mildred Hastings. Robert St. Clair, James Ryan and Edna Wallace. And so it is happy homecoming that the Berkell Players are having this week at English's. “If I Was Rich” is the offering for the week. VIOLINS THEY HAVE AND MUCH PERSONALITY The program at the Lyric this week includes the name of Kerr and Ensign, “The Non-Skid Kidders.” When I visited this playhouse yesterday afternoon to tell you about the bill, I knew nothing about this

■Walter D. Hickman -

team except that they were on the bill. But when I left the theater, it was this team that I was thinking most of. Isn’t it strange what personality can do upon the stage. Their method is really simple. A woman walks in upon the stage. Seats herself upon a bench. Then a man carrying about a half dozen violins enters. The second that this man begins to walk, you want to roar and before the act is over these two strange funmakers along in-

of JEFEL yDaih) Lenten Dtotion%> Prepared by Rev. Charles Kmerion Burton, D.D., for Commiukm on Evangelism of Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in Ain erics. Copyright ISTJ

Topic for the Week “SPIRITUAL INTERCOURSE” Tuesday “We Should Pray with Others” SCRIPTURE: Read John 17. “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 18:19). "Confess therefore your sins one to another and pray one for another” (Jas. 5:16). See—Acts 1:4; 2:1-4, 46, 47; 4:31. MEDITATION: We cannot be Christian unless we are unselfish. Prayer quickens the feelings. We can love men better when we pray. When people really get together sympathetically, their hearts are warmed. When we thus became more sensitive to human souls we are naturally more sensitive to the divine spirit. The heart like the radio, may be tuned in on heart wave lengths. Let me yield myself to Lenten sympathy, and let me broaden that out into brotherhood, into right race relations, into international friendships. “My spirit cannot live on an island and be one with God’s Spirit for the Spirit of God is brotherhood, and brotherhood is the continent of souls.” HYMN: Dear Lord and Father of mankind, Forgive our feverish ways; Reclathe us in our rightful mind, In purer lives Thy service find. In deeper reverence, praise. tirop Thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress. And let ov. - ordered lives confess The beauty of Thy peace. Breathe through the hearts of our desire Thy coolness and Thy balm; Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire, O still small voice of calm. —John G. Whittier, 1872. PRAYER: Pray for—sympathy; mastery of the unexpected; officers of the law. Collect—Our Father in heaven, whose patience knows no bounds, we thank Thee for the oncoming of Thy kingdom in the world and for the means of grace in our lives. We bless Thee for the Son of Man; serving in Galilee, loving in Judea, triumphing in Gethsemane, atoning on Calvary, and rising from the grave. We rejoice in our redemption through Him and in the hope of immortality brought to light by Him. Yet in our weakness we have set our hearts on things on the earth. We have thought success better than righteousness and ease desirable above service. In Thy patience brood over our dull spirits till love awakens in us. We commit ourselves to the Son of Man in holy (living and loving service, for His name’s sake. Amen.

dividual lines have you in their power. They dish out their patter with that carefree way which gives one the impression that they are actually thinking up new material. These two do not guess their way to success. They know they have Individual material which is new and above all they know how to sell it. And the man can handle a violin for comedy purposes as well as melody. Here is another fine example of what personality may accomplish upon the stage. Was greatly interested in Hylan and* his birds. He has the best trained cockatoos I have ever seen on the stage. This man starts with his birds where all the others leave off. There are two revues on the bill this Week. One is “The Jester,” composed of little revue sketches of the wise type and individual dancing and singing numbers. One of the men gives an impression of A1 Joison which reminds me of everything but Jolsor. The other revue is Frederick V. Bowers and his “Deluxe Revue of 1927.” Bowers apparently thinks very well of himself, but just when I nearly got fed up with him he brings two young fellows on the stage to dance and sing. He then states that he is always willing to give new people a chance upon the stage. And when he does that, one can excuse him for giving tho impression that he is a celebrity. He encourages these boys untfi they become the hit of his act. The Drexler-Fox Trio introduces a violinist, a concertina player and a dancer. Harry Downing and Dan Downing nearly have a female impression act. These two men generally do just what you do not expect them to do. Their act is different. Ah San Joe and band have a Chinese offering which is different. The woman who does an acrobatic Oriental dance on the first number is a wonder. Act pleases. At the Lyric all week. STUDYING THE ARTISTRY OF MISS VENITA GOULD If artistry and genuine ability count for anything, then Miss Venita Gould is the headline personality upon any bill that has her services. It seems strange to me that Venita Gould is not as well known as Sophie Tucker, Rae Samuels, Eddie Leonard and others who hold headline positions when thez appear. Miss Gould is the one mimic I know who actually catches the true

voice of the artist she impersonates. I can close my eyes while she is impersonating Ted Lewis. “D o c” Rockwell, the Creole Fashion Plate, Lenore Ulric in Lulu Belle,” Miss Marian Harris and Rae Samuels, and I can see and hear the artist nearly in the flesTi. This is a marvelous accomplishment. Really wonderful. I have seen Miss Ulric in

Eddie Roes

New York in “Lulu Belle” and there is more than a resemblance between the “Lulu” of Miss Ulric and that of Miss Gould. Both are alike. This is startling, but it is true. Miss Gould is using full stage for her “Lulu Belle” And this may be as near as we will ever get to "Lulu Belle” in this city. Mies Gould is the outstanding personality at Keith's this week because of her very great ability. Ledovo. is a classical dancer who first gives you “Harlequinade” and closes her program with a dance of dramatic fire called "Mexician Impressions.” In the last dance she has the wonderful assistance of Mr. Varkas. These two make this dance one of wild beauty. Here is a dance of real beauty. Ledova has the aid of her Gypsy Quintette which is a real music-art organization. | "Blackface” Eddie Ross is here again with his banjo and his tale of

MARCH 29,1927

cJhtetion Jt>ri(k*e bt/JMilton L/ Distinguish Between Finesses Which Are Advisable and Not.

By Milton C. Work / The pointer for today Is: ' Distinguish carefully between at J tempting finesses which are ad vis- | able and those which are not. Yesterday a h? nd was given to illustrate the play when Queen-* in Dummy faces Jack-x-x in Closed Hand. It follows: North S. 0-6-4-2 H. $-5-3 D. K-J-6-2 C. Q 8 West East S. K. 10 S. J-7-8-3 H. 10-6-4 11. K-9-7-2 D. Q-10-8 D. 9-5 C. A.-10-6-4-2 C. K-7-5 m South S. A-Q-8 H. A-Q-J D. A-7-4-8 1 C. J-9-3 } Against a No-Trump contract, West would lead the Four of Clubs, and the Eight (not the Queen) should be played from Dummy. If the Queen were played, the adversaries t would take the first five tricks by I running the Club suit. With the Blight played, Blast would play the King, win the trick and return the Seven on which tho Closed Hand would play the Nine. At this point ! West can mark the Jack in the j Closed Hand and the B’ive in East’s hand, and would then have the option of winning with the Ace and clearing the suit by leading the Ten or of losing this trick and establishing the suit at once. Should West win trick 2 and clear the suit, he would have to depend upon his King of Spades as an entry. It may be one, or it may not; if not, he will not make his two good Clubs. But if he duck trick 2, then it does not matter whether East or West obtain the lead; the game will be saved provided either gets in before the Declarer takes nine tricks. The only objection to the duck is the possibility that the Declarer may make a Small Slam; but with West's holding, that danger does not seem to threaten. Therefore West, on the second round of Clubs, should play the Deuce, allowing Dummy to win with the Queen. The Declarer now can see that if either of the adversaries win a trick before he has captured nine tricks, they will save the game because, in addition to the one Club trick they already have and the trick they would win, they would make three more Clubs. In three suits the Declarer has finesse, and naturally he should choose among them. In which sdit or suits do you think he should ffnesse? Answer tomorrow. Copyright John I’. Dlllo Cos. 4

woe about father, mother and hlsd* seventeen brothers and sisters. is the only minstrel blackface who has kept sacred and popular his individual work. Carl Schictl’s Royal Wonderettes turn out to be mighty interesting mechanical toys. Asa matinee treat only, Miss Ernestine Ewing, dance instructor of this city, is presenting her little tots, about twenty juvenile J dance pupils, in a dance offering. It I is a joy to see the little tots do their ’ stuff. They sure have no fear of an audience. They feel right at home. Wonderful what dance training can do for a child. "The Faker” is a clever satire upon marriage, showing how a man lands a man for a husband. It is wisely presented by James Diamond, Sybil Brennan and Davis Newell. Here is a winning offering. Oh, so well done. Dan Stanley and A1 Birnes present "Two Bright Lights From Broadway.” The St. Onge Trio opens in an athletic offering which is different. At Keith’s all week. FINE ACROBATIC ACT AT THE PALACE There are ways of being different, and still other ways, but Lloyd and Bryce at the Palace the first half have found a perfect way to make an excellent acrobatic offering funny. Ordinarily the artists who offer the intricate balancing and tumbling M tricks affect an air of extreme sol- * emnity. Lloyd and Bryce affect a reserved air, but it is done in a manner that puts just exactly the right finish on their comedv acrobatics. They do not say a very strange thing, but devote all their time to burlesque attempts at the things one sees in most every acrobatic act. They take an ordinary trick, and by their sense of comedy and real skill, transform it into a comedy offering that cannot help but make any one looking on enjoy thq humor of it. The Masters and Grayce company have a novel act with much to recommend it. They portray, as flashbacks of memory, the start and rise of a vaudeville team of a generation ago. There |jre five people in the act depicting the various characters. The old costumes and methods of the stage of thirty years ago are distinctly different when compared to the things one sees today. Also the two teams present in the act are entertainers of merit, considering' the things they do and forgetting the romantic action of the piece. The Lomas Company open with an act that carries more of a juvenile appeal than anything else. Features a parade of people on stilts dressed in odd costumes. Helen Staples offers a number of songs and is all right when singing a ballad that does not require a great range of voice. SJie is well liked in most of her numbers. Van and Bell close with the man featuring the throwing of many 1 different styles and shapes of boomer. * angs. They indulge in a littlo comedy at the close. i The feature photoplay offering the J first half is Leon Errol in“ Lunatic J at Large,” said to be one of best comedy pictures. . M At the Palace today and tomorrow! (By the Observer.) 9