Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], June 18, 1914, Page 6, Image 6

About Springfield weekly Republican. [volume] (Springfield, Mass.) 1851-1946

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6
BOSTON OPERA IN PARIS
MEISTERSINGER - ’ A SUCCESS
AUDIENCE SHOWED ENTHUSIASM
An Even More Excellent Performance
Taken as a Matter of Course at
Home. Says Boston Critic.
With the production of "Die Meister^
singer von Nurnberg ” on Wednesday,
May 27. the Boston opera company scored
the most emphatic success of its Paris
season up to that time. The performance
of "Tristan und Isolde" had been received
a bit coldly by part of the press and pub>-
lie, but there could have been no doubt in
the minds of the management as to the
feeling of the audience when principals
and conductor were called before the cur
tain many times after the second act of
"Meistersinger." It might be added that
if the audience had had its way the chorus
would have appeared as well.
“Die Meistersinger" was really a Bos
ton production, while for “Tristan" art
ists and principals were brought from
London. Critical opinion varied greatly
as to the vocal virtues of Mme Eva Van
der Osten. who sang Isolde. There were
those among her auditors who preferred
her interpretation to those of Mmes Frem
stad. Gadski. Nordica and Lehmann, with
whom they were familiar, and there were
others who found little to commend in
the newcomer. There were no half-meas
ures. either the soprano was liked tre
mendously or not at all. For the third
performance of “Tristan und Isolde” Mme
Matsenauer and Jacques L'rlus will be
heard in their respective roles for the
first time in Paris.
The premiere of "Die Meistersinger’
brought out not only one of the most en
thusiastic audiences of the season, but
also one of the most brilliant, and during
the entr’actes the foyers were thronged
with beautiful women gowned as one sees
them nowhere save in Paris. "If only a
Boston audience could be worked up to
such a pitch of enthusiasm." said a Bos
ton critic, who was present. "You gave
a much finer performance there," he con
tinued. "for. of course, one cannot expect
to obtain with six orchestra rehearsals
the results which Mr Caplet gained after
four times that number. And yet I re
member that at the Boston premiere the
audience accepted the performance in the
most matter-of-fact way. It is to be
hoped that some of the Bostonians at pres
ent in Paris, and who are attending your
performances, will carry home with them
some of the germs of enthusiasm, so that
next season we shall hear 'Bravo? min
gled with the applause."
Not only did one hear on every hand
that no such performance had ever been
heard in Paris hitherto, but there were
many familiar with presentations in Ber
lin. Munich. Dresden and even Baireuth.
who said that the Boston production ex
celled them all. “You have brought Bai
reuth to Paris.' said Louis Schneider, the
critic of Le Gaulois. “It is the finest
achievement to date." Isidor de Lara,
the composer and critic of the Gil Blas,
as he passed out. "If Mr Bussell's bril
liant combination had done nothing else,
this would have been sufficient to show
that the Bostonians have a veritable Bai
reuth in their midst." began A. Somerville
Story, the editor of the Daily Mail, who
reviewed the performance personally. “The
performance all round was a magnificent
one. and the Meistersinger' is an opera
requiring first of all remarkable qualities
in its principals."
The cast, which included Mme Wein
gartner as Eva. Mme Bender-Schaefer as
Magdalena. Johanns Sembach as Wal
ther. Paul Bender as Hans Sachs, and
Robert Leonhardt as Beckmesser, was
given hearty and genera] praise. Mme
Weingartner. now in much better voice
than during her recent appearance in Bos
ton, has seldom displayed such lovely
tones, and in the quintet her upper voice
had a volume rarely heard before. It
was a most auspicious debut in Paris for
the American soprano and her teacher.
Jean de Reszke. was one of the first to
congratulate her.
Felix Weingartner. who conducted,
found that he is an ever-welcome visitor
in Paris, for he was greeted with much
warmth each time he appeared, and just
ly so. for it was largely owing to the
masterly way in which he held his artists
together that such a success was achieved.
Mr Weingartner also has conducted the
performances of "Parsifal." the first of
which was given on M’ednesday. the 3d,
beginning at 5.30 in the afternoon, with
an interval for dinner after the first act.
The cast includes Marguerete Matzenauer
ae Kundry. Herr Sembach as Parsifal,
and Carel san Hulst. who has had a tri
umph m the same part in London. as
Amfortas. The famous boys' choir from
the American church of the Holy Trinity
will assist and the flower maidens will
include three American girls-Mvrna
bharlow and Elizabeth Reeside. already
known in Boston, and Cecil Cunningham,
a debutante next seasop.
The premiere of "Pagliacci" and “The
Secret of Suzanne" given as a double
bill on Saturday. May 23. was disappoint-
<} Ir Femtri-Fontana was indisposed,
ri^ie Martinelli, who was called hur
nedly from London, had not sung the part
since last season Miss Destinn was not
J” * B ,- s " hpD she the
k n - A” Ball ° iD MasXra”
and so the chief honors went to Signor
the To , ni °- the freshness of whose
voice has greatly surprised Parisians aft
er an absence of several seasons.
"The Secret of Suzanne” had a success
due more to the personal popularity of
Miss Teyte and Mr Marcoux, who sang
the roles. respe<wirely. of the Count and
re G 1 \ pl . eC * was a novelty
n.n P . s.?*' Jut tts stmplicity seemed to
pall a bit and its plot failed to interest
a people who are accustomed to cigaret
smoking among fashionable women Nev
ertheless. Miss Teyte was voted a most
k fißur, “ Suzanne, a^
o.uJl’k ?n r ber P^f^rtuence she re
ceived the following note from her former
maestro:—
My dear and charming Maggie Thark
,h . a ' ”h«re g h |veS
ri™ A J fl6 < 1 I ’ sr, ‘ bean! you and enjoved
your charming execution, the stvle that I
so long prophesied and that you guard the
thp,r «"■ B«?o my dea?
littla perfection. Continue to persevere with
out imitating anyone. The respect vou have
wu/iXy.' s alrea '”- ""'T'c -nd soon vou
will become phenomenal. Your devoted mas.
™ J«a» i>a> Rxazxg.
“The Secret of Suzanne" is likely to
have two new interpreters in Boston next
season, for in addition to Miss Teyte,
Felice Lyne, who also
should find it suited to her talents.
Felix Weingartner and Frau Wein
gartner appeared in “Otello" last Monday
evening for the last time in the Boston
opera company's season at the Theatre
des Champs Elyaees. Rarely has the
lovely music of the fourth act been more
finely sung than by Frau Weingartner.
Henry Russell has announced that the
same cast, with Mr Ferrari-Fontana an
| Otello and Vanni Marcoux as lago, will
I open the Boston season on January 4.
—
BACH CHOIR OF BETHLEHEM, PA.
Singers From the Steel Works and
From Lehigh University Join in
Chornses.
The ninth Baeh stival has passed into
history, writes a Bethlehem (Pa.) corre
■ spondent of the .’hiladelphia Ledger. The
I last was the best of all. Directed by the
■ genius of the foremost Bach scholar in
; Amtrica (Dr Wolle). sustained by the tra
i ditional spirit of Moravian devotion that
i is seen in lonely' missions of Labrador as
I well as in a Pennsylvania organ loft or
। choir gallery, this sequence of true choral
I festivals could not fail to unite its legend
‘ broad and deep across the pages of musical
culture and idealism in this country.
The Mass in B minor—the mightiest ever
written—was given at the first festival of
March 27. 1900. and was performed for the
seventh time on Saturday. It was preced
ed on Friday by the motet. “Sing Ye to
the Lord." the instrumental Second Bran
denburg concerto, chorales, the "Magnifi
cat" and other numbers. The choir of 13
trombonists, that played chorales in the
belfry, is a feature not on any account to
be dissociated from these festivals. The
singers themselves numbered 191. The
choir was arranged with the 64 male
voices (13 first tenors. 13 second tenors,
19 first bassos. 19 second bassos) between
the divisions of sopranos and altos (44
sopranos. 35 second sopranos. 3? first altos,
26 second altos).
The membership of the choir is drawn
from all walks of life, under the common
fealty to the incomparable music of the
patriarch. Many of the singers come from
the Bethlehem steel works, and Charles
M. Schwab's strong personal interest is
manifest (as in the case of the band, for
which he has built a club-house) in his mem
bership in the executive committee and his
guarantee of half the deficit of the festivals.
Some of the choir are members of the uni
versity faculty, and the best singers of the
churches of the Bethlehems are proud and
glad to make sacrifices for all-the-year
round practicing. None can read the very
soul of this chorus who does not realize
that it exists for the pe sonal exploitation
of no one—and its leader, in the shadow
of Bach's effulgent name, is the most mod
est of men and the least anxious to ascribe
to himself the glory. Others do that for
him. Dr Welle himself says of the singers:
"We have them all ages, and we want
them all -ges. The young, inexperienced,
unreliable but fresh exible voice. The 'not
so young.' but routined, dependable voice,
indispensable even though it shows traces
of a tang. This delicious admixture it is
which gives to the singing of the choir the
buoyancy of youth with the repose of ma
turity. The singers are wonderful in their
exhibition of loyalty, patience, responsive
ness and endurance. Nothing is too difficult
for them. They respond to every demand."
Other Note and Comment.
One of the features of the annual
music festival given by the Litchfield
county choral union at Norfolk, Ct., was
that the program of the first concert on
the 2d was made up entirely of com
positions written by honorary members
of the union. Henry Hadley was there
to conduct the premiere of his new tone
poem. "Lucifer, which was inspired by
Vondel's poem of that name. Max
Bruch’s oratorio. “Arminius,” was given
by a chorus of 415 voices, an orchestra
of 70, and Sophie Braslau, contralto;
Paul Althouse, tenor, and Earl Cart
wright. baritone. At one of the follow
ing concerts Jean Sibelius's new “Ron
do of the Waves," was played under the
baton of the famous Finnish composer, be
sides which a new orchestral rhapsody
by the late Coleridge-Taylor had its initial
hearing.
Italo Montemezzi’s opera. "L'Amore
dei Tre Re." had its first performance in
England on May 27 at Covent Garden,
London. Louise Edvina was the Fiora,
Giulio Crimi, Avito, and Adamo Didur.
Archibaldo. The New York Herald
quotes the following comments of London
critics: Morning Post. "It represents a
development and advance in Italian op
era:” Daily Telegraph. "The audience
was greatly enthusiastic:” Daily News,
“It ought to appeal to the music loving
public generally."
Edmund Burke, the Irish baritone, is
now a member of the Beecham opera
company, which began its season at Dru
ry Lane. London, in May. Mr Burke is
to create the principal baritone part in
Josef Holbrooke’s new opera. "Dylan.”
the libretto of which is by Lord
Howard de Walden.
At the commencement exercises of Co
lumbia university on the 3d the degree of
doctor of music was conferred upon Wal
ter Johannes Damrosch. conductor of the
New Y'ork symphony society.
Frieda Hempel resumed her place in the
Berlin royal opera a fortnight ago, sing
ing in "La Boheme," and was received
with much cordiality after her long ab
sence in New York.
FAREWELL TO GENEE.
Flowers From Everywhere and Every,
one, and an Ecstatic Audience.
With yet her farewell to take of Man
chester and of Bristol, Mlle Adeline Ge
nee has danced adieu to London. Leaving
out of the question such happy inevitabil
ity as her reappearance in the cause of
charity, the beautiful Danish dancer has
made her final bow to us, says the Daily
Chronicle, and such a sadly drooping bow
it was, with the artist's tears mingling
with her smiles.
At the close of her exquisite perform
ance in the ballet, “Robert Le Diable,”
came the flowers to her from everywhere
and everyone—from London friends and
strangers, from Danish visitors to our
city (many of whom were in tront), from
a httl" party of French galleryites. from
the Duke of Newcastle (who gave the
dancer away at her marriage with Frank
Isitti, from comrades, eminent and un
discovered. of the ballet, and from Os
wald .Stoll, whose tribute to her genius
took the form of a gigantic wreath of
golden laurels decorated with the Danish
colors. Again and again the great danc
er was called into this orgy of bloom to
prostrate herself in curtsies which in
themselves were marvelous achievements
of the grace of strength, and it was
some minutes before her admirers per
mitted the orchestra a hearing on behalf
of the next "turn's" introduction.
"This farewell to London audiences
has been, of course, a specially sad one
to me, for Ixnidon is my home proses-
Hs well as domestically." said
Mlle Geuee after her ordeal of worship
“Many million more steps must I have
danced in London than du any other city,
and I shall ever hold a most affectionate
remembrance of the stages upon which
I have performed them-the Empire
stage, which was my dancing ground for
10 happiest of happy years, and the Coli
seum stage, which 1 have now so regret
fully left-regretfully, but comforted by
the feeling that I have done the right
thing. In defense -if it needs defend
ing—of my retirement at 36. let rno re
peat the words I offered on the eve of
my farewell season at the Coliseum/ ‘lt
is so much better, when one is able, to
retire from the stage gracefully. It is
one of the earliest things we learu on the
stage; it should be one of our latest ac
complishments!' "
England has not so many great painter*
that a picture by Romney can he spared
if not quite among the great h<> is an
artist of great ..barm. If the suffragets
would confine their ax work to pictures
by modern academicians their ravages
could be more easily forgiven.
THE SPRINGFIELD WEEKLY REPUBLICAN: THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1914.
' ’’THE TEMPEST" AT SMITH
SENIOR CLASS DRAMATICS
- —
| Performance of HijKh Merit— kriel and
Caliban Come in for an Especial
Meed of Praise.
Hardly enough can be said in praise of
the extremely efficient presentation of "The
Tempest" by the senior class at Smith
college Thursday evening. Cast, scenery,
costumes and music were al! that conld be
desired. Of the characters those who dis
tinguished themselves the most were
Ariel, played by Louise Herriott Ball of
Chicago. 111., and Caliban, interpreted by
Dorothy Upjohn of Kalamazoo. Mich. Miss
Bal! was peculiarly adapted to her part on
account of her excellent soprano voice and
her natural grace of movement She
: moved about in her light green and white
filmy gow i with a swiftness and delicacy
exactly fitting a creature of the invisible
world. Miss Upjohn's part was perhaps
the most difficult in the entire play. Cali
ban. half beast, half man, could not help
but be repulsive. But to be repulsive and
disgusting to just the proper degree, and
at the same time to elicit feelings of pity
is no easy task. However. Miss Upjohn
was quite equal to the demand placed
upon her. Her purposely awkward manipu
lation of limbs to characterize animal-like
movements and her crude dance at the
conclusion of the drama were finely done.
As for the leading characters, Prospero,
Miranda and Ferdinand, they w ere execut
ed with an ease and a finish which could
come only from ability and hard work.
Elizabeth Nadjy Rost of Milwaukee,
Wis., made an excellent Prospero, firm, but
loving and forgiving. The kindly, under
standing smile which he wore while he
watched the love of Ferdinand and Miran
da grow dispelled all fears of his being
jealous of his only child or of any mali
cious intent on his part with regard to
Ferdinand. Ferdinand, the charming and
innocent prince, was played to perfection
by Elizabeth Short McMillan of New York
city. He. too, wore a smile—a smile of
the deepest joy—whenever he was in the
presence of the beautiful Miranda. It
was no wonder he fell in lov with Miran
da. a part taken by Elizabeth Bancroft
of Concord. N. H., for she was most ador
able in her deep orange, brocaded gown.
Pure and innocent, and as a consequence
candid and unembarrassed, she softened the
whole play,
Of the shipwrecked party, Agnes Rem
ington of Rochester did excellently as Gon
zalo, the loquacious yet estimable and
trustworthy counselor. The king. Alonzo,
was played by Rachel Hoge of Cleveland,
O. He was represented as a weak but
kindly disposed ruler with a boundless af
fection for his son. Ferdinand. Miss Hoge
was at her best in the last act. where the
king discovers Prospero, who reveals to
him his son. whom ho believed drowned,
playing at ehess with Miranda. One hated ;
from the first those twe traitorous com
panions of the king, namely. Antonio, |
who was Helen Keeler of Attleboro, and
Sebastian, played by Helen Worstell of
New York city. Their sneering remarks,
tilted noses and treacherous words made
them despicable, though therein lay the
art of the actors, since they succeeded so
well in conveying »the impression their
parts demanded.
Harriet Theo Prutsman of Danville,
111., and Marion Delamater Freeman of
Northampton as Trinculo and Stephano
respectively wore clever in their clownish
parts. Much laughter and applause burst
from the' audience when Trinculo lay
down under the same covering as Cali- i
ban and wriggled his legs in a most un
graceful fashion whenever Caliban
waved his. much to the bewilderment of
the drunken butler. Stephano. who be
lieved he saw an islander with four legs.
Miss Freeman as the eparse. bold, jolly
butler acquitted herself -admirably, par
ticularly in those parts where she was
forced to alternate quickly between seem
ing courage and actual cowardly fear.
Miss Prutsman was not only Trinculo
but she also composed much of the music
for the performance. Her overture, a
combination of themes, was particularly
pleasing, as well as her “Where the bee
sucks." sung by Ariel in the fifth act.
Other contributors to the music were
Sophie Pratt of Corning. N. Y.: Florence
Paltsito of New York, N. Y.; Eva Dent
son of Cleveland, O.; Dorothy Arren of
East Orange. N. J., and Edith Bennett
of Concord, N. H. Since much of the
music was written for voices, it might
have suffered had not the soloists been
gifted with much musical ability. As
has been said. Miss Ball was peculiarly
fitted for Ariel on account of her voice.
All of her songs. "Come untn these yel
low sands," "Full fathom five." "While
you here do snoring lie,” and “Where
the bee sucks" were exquisitely rendered
in an extremely skilful manner. She
was ably assisted by a chorus of nvmphs.
More rigorous thau these fairy songs yet
in their way captivating were the songs
sung, one by Stephano. “I shall no more
to sea,” and one by Caliban, "Drunken
ode to liberty." The three goddesses,
Grace Kramer of Cincinnati. 0.. Florence
Paltsito of New York city and Eleanor
Edson of Lynn, sang a trio in a very dig
nified and fitting manner to solemnize the
troth of Ferdinand and Miranda.
Dancing added much to the charm and
beauty of the play. All credit in this re
spect is due Miss Theresa Booth Maley of
the department of physical education. The
dance of the "shapes” in act 3 was very
weird and uncanny, danced as it was in
almost total darkness by figures shrouded
in long gray garments. These shapes rep
resented the fears and guilty consciences
of the shipwrecked royalty. In contrast
to this the dance of the nymphs and hus
bandmen was pretty and gay. The
nymphs wore bright green gowns, and
their partners working clothes of the Mid
dle Ages. Miss Dorothy Spencer of New
York city with her splendid committee of
workers, succeeded in arranging most de
lightful scenery. The play oi»ened upon a
darkened stage with the wind howling and
the thunder roaring. At length the storm
was subdued and light spread over a
rocky, precipitous stretch of shore before
Prospero’a cell. The audience applauded
as the curtain rose on act 3. There a
spot in the interior of the island was rep
resented. in the midst of a deep, deep
wood. Part of the scenery was actual
fir trees.
The play was an unusual one to be pre
sented, and therefore much credit is due
those seniors who worked so long and
faithfully to produce a performance fin
ished and artistic. It has never .been
given at the college before and is rarely
played by Shakespeare companies. Alfred
Young of New York city, who has so ably
trained the cast for senior dramatics in
years past, prepared the characters in a
more efficient way than ever this year.
Miss Clara Belle Williams deserves a
groat deal of praise for devoting hours of
her time to private as well as cast re
hearsals.
The cast minus the mob is as follows:—
Alonzo, king of Naples, Rachel Martha
Hoge of-Cleveland O.: Bebaslan, bis brother.
Helen Bklnner Worstell of New York. N, Y.;
Prospero, the right duke of Milan Elizabeth
Nadjy Rost of Milwaukee. Wl».; Antonio, bls
brother, the usurping duke of Milan. Helen
K-eler of Attleboro; Ferdinand, son ot the
king nt Naples. Elizabeth Short McMillan ot
New York city; Gonzalo, an honest counselor,
Agnes Remington of Rochester, N. Y.: Adrian
tlord), Ruth Hellekson of Indianapolis. Ind.;
Francisco (lord). Lillian Kannder* Clapp of
Lexington; Caliban, » savage and deformed
slave, Dorothy Upjohn nt Kalamazoo. Mich.;
1 cornlo. Harriet Theo Prutsman of Danville.
111.; Rtepbano. Marlon Delamater Freeman of
Northampton; master of a shin. Edith Con
stance Egbert of Altadena. Cal.; boatswain.
Ruth Tomlinson of Worcester: Miranda,
daughter to Prospero. Elisabeth Bancroft of
Concord, N. H.: Ariel, an olry spirit. Louise
Harriett Bull of Chicago. 111.; Irie. Grace
Kramer ot Cincinnati, 0.; Ceres, Eleanor
Frances Edson of Lynn: Juno. Florence Pal
trits of New York city
"THE MELTING POT."
Intereatlns Production by Young
Men's Chriatian Association College
Dramatic Club.
A largo and representative audience at
the Court Square theater Thursday night
witnessed the presentation by the Young
Men's Christian association college dramat
ic club, with the assistance of a number of
Springfield women amateurs, of Israel
Zangwiil's drama, "The Melting Pot." In
this drama David Quixano, a Jewish
musician, meets in New York and falls in
love with a young Russian woman, who
turns out to be the daughter of the Rus
sian official who had directed the slaugh
ter of David's relatives iu a pogrom at
Kishineff. Russian znd Jew finally over
come their mutual prejudice. Meanwhile,
David, emotional and a visionary, rhapso
dizes over the idea of America as the
land of fredom and opportunity, in which
all the races of the old world shall be
melted down to form a new race, whose
members shall be actuated by motives only
of love and brotherhood toward one an
other. While it is only fair to the per
formers to say that a great share of the
interest in Thursday night's performance
was due to the cast, it is to be hoped that
many will feel impelled to study the
drama itself and reflect upon its teach
ing. The cast was as follows :—
David Quixano. Thomas F. Willmore
Mendel Quixano Gilbert X Jerome
Daron Ravendal E J. Mazurkierwicz
Quince Davenport. Jr.... Frank G. Armitage
Herr Pappelmclster James A. Blythe
Vera Ravendal Mrs Thomas W. Hyde
Baroness Ravendal Mrs A. L. Appletou
Frau Qulxano Miss Carolyn Lloyd
Kathleen O'Reilly Miss Frances J. White
Irene Lawrence Pauline Carmichael
The Play and Its Problems.
This is not the occasion for attempting
to decide, though it is. perhaps, a good oc
casion for examining, the controversy in
regard to the merits of Mr Zangwiil's
drama and the soundness of the idea on
which the play is founded. Indeed, it may
be questioned whether this drama really
treats the "melting pot” idea at all. at
least in an ethnological sense. When the
play was performed by tbe Broadway
stock company in this city last June. The
Republican observed that the idea of the
play was not the idea expressed in the
title, hut "the idea of America, the land
of freedom, as opposed to the tyranny of
Europe." "In tlft end." The Republican
said, "it is prejudice that is conquered,
not racial elements that are fused." Dar
ing the renewed controversy over the
play, following its production in London
some months ago. the Nation, which was
one of Mr Zangwiil’s most earnest defend
ers, also ignored the. immigration question,
which is suggested by the title of the play,
and emphasized the play’s merit as a
panegyric on political freedom:—
“What quest of Holy Grail was ever
more devout than the pursuit of freedom
in which generations have crossed the At
lantic? There is no ending to that pil
grimage of boats, and the last emigrant
ship from Hamburg chases the same rain
bow as the English Mayflower. The
states open their doors to these children
of Israel, and the problem that begins
for them is not the conquest of the Philis
tines, but the struggle between the nation
alist idea that comes with them from
darkened ghettos and the new thought of
fusion and brotherhood with all the mil
lions of mankind who. with them, have
voyaged after freedom and fortune.”
It is fair to say that the play has been
mostly praised—apart from the praise it
has received from Mr Zangwiil's friends —
by those who have been attracted by this
central idea. Probably those who have
been most enthusiastic about the play
have not thought highly of its romantic
machinery, its exaggerations and its by
no means fetching Coptic relief. The most
telling of.the advergw-aritieisms of the play
was the one ivritfw by A. B. WaJkley,
dramatic critic of the London Times, in
November. 1909. after he had seen the
play performed in New York city. This
criticism evidently rankled in.the author’s
bosom, for, in the recently brought out
English edition of the play. Mr Zangwill
wrote a preface in which he made caus
tic allusions to Mr Walklev’s article. The
truth is, however, that Mr Walkley’s ob
servations about the play are better worth
reading than anything that has been writ
ten about it since, and no part of his ar
ticle is more enlightening than the passage
about the play's "one really valuable ele
ment.” which. Mr Walkley thought,
would naturally pass unnoticed while the
"optimistic idealism” and what he. with
unnecessary harshness, called -‘general hi
faintin’.” were so prominent in the mind
of the public.
This valuable element, Mr Walkley
wrote, was the play's "delicately sympa
thetic and quietly toned picture of old
fashioned orthodox Judaism, forlorn, but
faithful amid strange and hostile sur
roundings. the simple, solemn ritual of
the Sabbath, the pathetic clinging to what
to outsiders seem ‘lost causes and forgot
ten beliefs.’ to be seen in the aged Frau
Quixano and her son, Mendel. . . Well,
it seems to me not a good thing, but a
grievous pity, that these fine old produ
ucts of the ages, these richly-toned mas
terpieces of tradition, the authentic, ortho
dox Jews represented by the elder Quix
anos. should be cast into the melting uot
to come out —what? Americans, if you
will have it so. hut at any rate crude,
shiny. brand-new Americans. Here
is Mendel Quixano. the son of a learned
rabbi, wearing his shabby blaek frock coat
with something of oriental dignity, speak
ing with a solemn simplicity, that has in
it an echo of Isaiah. You cast Mendel
into the 'melting pof and out he comes
. hewing gum and drinking cocktails, hold
ing on by one hand to a subway strap
and reading one of,Mr Hearst's papers in
the other, saying: ‘lt's up to you,’ and
‘This is a cinch 1 ! Is the Jewish immi
grant in America, is anybody, to be con
gratulated upon such a transformation as
this?”
And, one is tempted to add: "What is
to be the effect upon American national
ism. the nationalism achieved by the
founders of the republic?” Plainly, the
processes of assimilation are to react
upon the absorbing elements, and not
stop with transforming the absorbed.
Many persons to-day—and not ail of them
are social radicals and rebels, rejoicing
to see standards fall—nssert that America
is no longer an Anglo-Saxon country.
What. then, is it? What is to be the tone
of its taste, its culture, its morality?
Those who hope to see “reason and the
will of God prevail” have, assuredly,
enough to think about. To sneak in terms
of arithmetic, Mr Zangwilf's play may
show us the greatest common divisor at
work. It is time that somebody was giving
heed to the least common multiple.
The Performance.
The large audience afforded a pleasant,
and. for these parts, not usual blend of
town and gown. Both parties were equally
tnthusiastic. Between act 2 and act 3 the
young men of the college sang their college
tongs, and these appeared to. give great
sleasure to the remainder of the audience.
The young men rose in their seats in the
orchestra, and sang under the direction of
a spirited leader, who stood before the drop
curtain. The women principals of the cast
received numerous gifts of flowers. The
boxes of the theater were gayly decorated
with school and college pennants.
The play is a difficult one for amateur
presentation, for the reason that certain
of the characters make specific demands of
temperament on their representatives.
There is often need of a definite emotional
tone in the voice and of an authenticity
of emotion in the player's entire bearing.
Still, in spite, of these difficulties, the col
lege dramatic club did wisely io choosing
a play that bears thinking about and that is
so closely related to American life to-day.
The young men of the college and their
vomtn collaborators gave a highly credit
able performance. There was unanimity
mid seriousness of purpose. and all the
movements of the individual members of
the cast were well studied and effectively
executed. Mr Willmore's interpretation of
David Quixano was painstaking and in
telligent. and his enunciation was clear
and melodious, if not altogether as full
of varied emotional color as the role de
manded
Mrs Hyde, a charming Vera, acted in
telligently and gracefully; if her radical
ism. of which she boasted, was not exactly
of a flaming pattern, this was all the
greater tribute to the sweet and normal
womanliness with which she invested the
part. Mrs Allen 1,. Appleton's impersona
tion of the Baroness Ravendal. technical
ly considered, was one of the best things
of the evening, and not without touches
of brilliance in its artistic lifelikeness.
One of the most individual and successful
performances of the evening was that of
Frank Guy Armitage as the "unemployed
millionaire." who showed a considerable
command of comedy.
Mr Blythe's Kappelmeister showed
somewhat more exaggeration, but was a
favorite with the audience. The Irish
maid of Miss Frances J. White was anoth
er performance that showed a high de
gree of facility and knowledge of effect.
Mr Jerome and Mr Mazuriewicz and Miss
Lloyd and Miss Carmichael contributed to’
the performance by their judicious adapta
tion of means to ends.
The performance was under the direc
tion of Miss White. The event proved an
enjoyable item in the program of com
mencement festivities.
GIGGLING IN TWO CAPITALS.
London Has a Counterpart of the
"Boston Titter.”
H. M. Walbrook of the Pall Mall Ga
zette, commenting a fortnight or so ago
on a revival of Galsworthy’s “Justice,”
made these observations: “The play is, of
course, well known to our readers, though
it did not seem so to an appreciable sec
tion of last night’s audience, who dis
tinguished themselves by receiving many
of the most poignant passages with audi
ble giggling. People who go to the theater
merely to giggle must gratify their longing
whatever be the nature of the play and
its rendering, and if there is not a low
comedian to giggle at, then they must get
the best entertainment they can out of
Milton Rosmer, even though he happen to
be impersonating one of the most haggard
characters on the contemporaneous stage.
The result was that, although these hanny
playgoers seemed to be spending a pleas
ant evening, they rendered the occasion
somewhat depressing for the remainder of
the audience. It is, therefore, to be hoped
for the sake of the comfort of audiences
during the remainder of the week that last
night’s gigglers will tell their like-minded
friends that the play is really not half so
funny as 'Charley’s Aunt.’ and that the
best thing they can do is stop away from
the Coronet theater so long as it remains
on the bill. Is it not an odd thing that
so many people in this city who presuma
bly live thoughtful lives seem to leave
their minds behind them when they go to
the play?”
Philip Hale adds in the Boston Herald:
"Old-fashioned playgoers in this city have
often been distressed of late years by the
silly giggling of many in the audience
whenever there were sentimental or tragic
lines and situations on the stage. There
were giglers at the performance of Synge's
impressive 'Riders to the Sea.’ at the per
formance of ‘Milestones,’ at that of ‘Nan,’
one might name- play after play where
there was this incongruous and discordant
snickering. What was it Hamlet, said of
Polonius as a playgoer? ‘He’s for a jig
or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps.’ The
charitable have made this explanation:
These disturbers giggle on account of
nervousness: they are duly moved, and in
order to relieve their minds, to let them
selves down, they laugh foolishly. Some
have thought the practice peculiar to this
city and described it as ‘the Boston tit
ter’.” Mr Hale concludes, in the light af
forded by Mr Walbrook’s comments, that
the titter is not peculiar to Boston.
“PASSING SHOW OF 1914.”
A Gorgeous, Glittering Array of Scen
ery and Girls, With Some Topical
Fun.
The New York Evening Post had this
to say of “The Passing Show of 1914”5
The recipe for that sort of thing is fairly
simple. Select all the most gorgeous and
glittering scenic effects achieved by all
the season's spectacles, add more glitter,
and still more glitter, until the eye of the
beholder is quite filled with it. Put all
the effects into a wheel, and set the wheel
whirling so that it is impossible to sepa
rate the impression of one from the im
pression of another. Play the same trick
with the musical effects, tumble in topsy
survy the heroes, heroines, soubrets,
dancers, stem fathers, villains, adven
turesses. low comedians of all the plays
that have lasted overnight. Add more
girls as long as there's an inch to spare,
retain Melville Ellis as costumer—and—
there you are.
None of the numerous persons on the
stage said anything memorably good,
even as lines in such shows go. No songs
were sung that either for words or mu
sic or laughter-compelling quality call for
special commendation. Naturally, the ef
fects included an oriental scene, tribute
to “Omar” and “A Thousand Years Ago”;
another reminiscent of Pavlowa’s visit
with her company; another teeming with
Scots lassies with knees, plaids and bon
nets for the sake of "Kitty Mac Kay.”
“The Queen of the Movies” and “The Girl
on the Film" furnished a composite scene
—and so on. There was also a eugenic
gymnasium scene—with more knees on
display—and the usual walking of the
gangplank across the orchestra by the
coryphees. The most hearty applause of
the evening went to a slender young wom
an called on the program Manlynn Miller,
who smiled engagjngly. danced with spirit
and agility, and did imitations only fairly.
Jose Collins sang a burlesque Shireen and
a great many other things. Ethel Amorita
Kelly furnished the figure part of a num
ber of daring and picturesque costume ef
f<TJs--Harry Fisher was his changeless
self. Bernard Granville. George W Mon
rotj w Frances Demarest,
an d Muriel Window each contributed
ONLY FOUR HOURS ON SATURDAY.
Federal Employe* Welcome President
Wilson's Order.
(From the Hartford Times.]
Official recognition of the period between
June Ip and September 15 as a proper
season m which to "run and plav” is given
by President Wilson through his signed
executive order directing that all federal
employes, wherever stationed, be required
ti work only four hours on Saturdavs
between the date* .mentioned. The army
of workers that will be cheered by this
ano perhaps fall down and call Mr Wil
son blessed. Is a large one and their
measure of increased happiness includes.
In many instances, wives, children and
ounorbmkie f AC °? r {!W U '" add Wooal
nt? Irin o. f J ,CU, ’F ! are put to good
use will they prove of real benefit.
Miss Dorothy Dickson of Chicago i, out
a tango record of 25 1
T a y ®> ,r ' mafl ’* Kv li New York
girl. she has tangoed, according to her
meter, almost. 1)000 miles since the hegin
uiug of this year.—lndianapolis Newt
TO SAVE AFRICAN BEASTS
CONGRESS HELD IN LONDON
Gambling on the Derby Has Become
More Widespread Than Ever
in England.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.
London. Eng., Thursday, June 4.
An "elephant and rhinoceros congress.”
in which delegates representing all of the
great powers directly interested in Africa
have participated, has finished a week's
sitting at the foreign office, and as a result
it is probable that effective action will be
taken to preserve these animals from ex
tinction in Africa. The conference met
at the suggestion of W. Woosnam. game
warden of British East Africa, who pointed
out that the elephant and rhinoceros were
in greater danger of extermination than any
other species of big game in Africa. Dele
gates came from Gefmany. Belgium. Spain,
France, Italy and Portugal, ail of which
countries have colonies in tlii African con
tinent.
Although the proceedings of the confer
ence will not he divulged until the dele
gates have reported to their home govern
ment for ratification of the proposals, it is
understood the most important item in the
plans of the meeting was the formation
and maintenance of absolute sanctuaries
for the elephant and rhinoceros in suitable
localities. The shooting of these animals
would then be permitted only on licenses,
the conditions of which would be made as
nearly identical as possible in the different
territories. Absolute protection for the
rhinoceros would be given for a number of
years and the standard weight for ivory
for export would be raised to 22 pounds.
The various laws in the different terri
tories have not only proved vexatious to
the hunter, but have given refuge to the
poacher and illicit ivory dealer. Every year
the need for adequate protection grows more
urgent. Both the elephant and rhinoceros
take long to attain maturity and. like the
American bison and elk. seem unable to pro
tect themselves from the modern hunter.
They breed slowly and the stock is becom
ing dangerously reduced^ Herds have been
wiped out because of their occasional raids
on plantations, a course which Selous, the
great game hunter, declares unnecessary,
for the killing of their leaders would ef
fectually frighten away the rest of the
herd. But the greatest destraction has
been due to ivory hunting in the case of
the elephant, and horns, hide and meat in
the case of the rhinoceros.
Gambling on the Derby—recently won
by an American horse—is believed to have
attracted more money this year than ever.
The first prize of the Calcutta sweepstake
lottery, which is the most popular method
of risking one's money, amounted this
year to about $300,000. Ten years ago
the investments in this lottery warranted
a prize of only SIOO,OOO. The prize as it
now stands is probably tbe largest offered
by any reliable form of lottery in exist
ence. The Calcutta turf club started this
lottery as a mere club affair many years
ago. but when the sale of tickets was
thrown open to all applicants the invest
ments rapidly grew until this yehr saw
them coming from all parts of Europe, all
the British colonies and the Orient. The
London stock exchange had a sweepstake
this year which offered n first prize of
$12,500. This also was originally a friend
ly affair among members, but it has be
come almost a public business. Members
subscribe for batches of tickets and sell
them to outsiders at a premium. At par
value of $5 thp tickets brought five-six
teenths premium this year. Nearly all
the London clubs have their Derby lot
teries. One pound ($5) is the favorite price
for a chance, but in some wealthy clubs
there are £5 tickets as well, while in the
less opulent club-houses chances may be
taken for sl. Many of the gamblers are
men who know nothing about racing, and
in some clubs practically every member
has a small investment. Even the king’s
name is put down at the clubs to which
he belongs.
The findings of the recent royal commis
sion on divorce, so far as both majority
and minority reports agreed, have been
incorporated in a bill introduced into Par
liament by Lord Gorell, former president,
of the divorce court. The most radical de
parture is a provision that the sexes shall
be on an equality before the divorce court.
Under the existing law. a wife must prove
both misconduct and cruelty on the part
of her husband, while a husband need
only to prove misconduct, in order to get
a divorce. The new clause provides that
any married person may dissolve marriage
upon proving that the other party thereto
has committed adultery. The bill also
provides that a judicial separation may
be granted on the ground of habitual
drunkenness, which includes intoxication
by drugs.
An anonymous jokesmith recently spent
several shillings to have his fling against
the militant suffragets by inserting the
following advertisement in the personal or
“agony” column of a morning newspaper:
"Scion of noble family has island for
sale.—-Wild scenery and precipitous cliffs:
single gun on adjacent mainland would
dominate only possible place of disem
barkation. Ideal for colonization by suf
fragets. Though advertiser is conserva
tive he would, gladly come to bargain
terms with present government or high
minded philanthropist with country's weal
at heart.”
Judges of the criminal courts who hare
been criticized for playing golf on Sun
days have found the excuse that noxious
odors and gases of the New Bailey, as
the court buildings are called, drive them
to get all the fresh air possible in the
time they have free from the courts. A
century ago the Old Bailey was notorious
for its odors. The New Bailey is little
improvement. The poor ventilation has
caused many a judge’s headache and un
doubtedly many prisoners have suffered
an extra heavy sentence because of ju
dicial irritation.
Boy conductors will be placed on some
of the municipal street cars as an experi
ment. Much opposition was expected
from the union to which the street car
men belong, but when it was explained
that the boys would only assist the re
gular conductors and that as far as pos
sible they would be selected from the
families of street car employes, no pro
tes# was raised. It is almost impossible
for the conductor of a double-deck street
car to collect fares and watch his stops
without neglecting one or the other and
the boy assistants will be expected to
relieve the regular conductor of part of
his duties. The hoys will be tried out on
the Tooley street line, which runs to
(Greenwich through one of the most tbick
iy populated districts of London.
The 100th anniversary of the organiza
tion of the Marylebone cricket club, the
supreme legislative body of the English
national game, is to be celebrated thia
month at Lord's, the club’s headquarters
in London. The club was founded by
Thomas Lord, a well-known cricketer of
those days, who acquired the grounds at
St. John's Wood, which now bears his
name. The first recorded match on the
grounds was held in June, 1814. and to
celebrate this a cricket festival will open
on June 22. The first match of the festi
val will be between the English cricket
eleven which visited South Africa and the
team representing the rest of England;
while the second match, which it is an-
ticipated will be attended by King George,
will be between the. army and navy.
MAY BE OSIRIS'S TOMB.
Prof Naville is Elated—lnivreatias
Excavation Work Described by
E«yptolo«lat.
Correspondence of the Associated Press
Pabis, .Trance, -hursday, June 4.
Prof Edward Naville, the Egyp
tologist, who has been directing 600
men and boys in excavations to
unearth the temple and tomb of
Osiris, has returned to his chair at the'
university of Geneva, elated with the be
lief that he has penetrated to the actual
funeral chamber of the ancient Egyp
tian king god. and that another winter's
work, which is already insured under
auspices of the Anglo-American-Egyptian
exploration company, will bring to light
important details bearing upon the history
of Osiris. The legend is that Osiris, a
wise and beneficent king, who reclaimed
the Egyptians from savagery, met a sud
den and premature death by the scheming
of his wicked brother, Seth, who. with
72 fellow-conspirators, invited Osiris to
a banquet and induced him to enter a cun
ningly-wrought coffin. They shut down
the lid and cast the chest and its body
into the Nile. Isis, faithful wife of the
beloved king, recovered the bodv. The
legend continues that Seth and his fellow
conspirators then cut the body into 14
pieces, and scattered the parts all over
Egypt—each piece being entombed by
worshipers or Osiris—which accounts
for the numerous tombs to him. The
faithful Isis, however, regathcred the
pieces and brought them back to the tem
ple of Abydos. This temple, where Prof
Naville has been conducting the excava
tions, is. he is Sure, the true burial place
of Osiris. The place is about equidis
tant between Cairo and Assuan, in the
desert about eight miles westward from
the Nile.
Prof Naville believes this temple is older
even than the Pyramids. Relating some
details of his work to the Associated Press
correspondent at Geneva, he said: "We
worked from December 24, 1913, to March
11. 1914, and during the 11 weeks we ex
perienced some anxiety and excitement.
At nine yards under the soil we found a
large building constructed of granite and
verv hard red sandstone. This edifice is
divided into three naves, which are sur
rounded by 16 large cells all identical in
size and shape. They have no inscriptions
on the walls whatever. This proves that
the building is very ancient, as the walls
of more modern edifices in Egypt are cov
ered with inscriptions. In front of the
cells is a stone platform, supported by 10
huge blocks of granite. Skirting this plat
form we came upon the reservoir—or well
of Osiris, which undoubtedly is that men
tioned by the Roman historian Strabo.
While the reservoir has not yet been ex
plored, it is probable that its waters had
been popular at one time for their supposed
curative virtues. On the opposite side of
the temple to that where we entered we
found the burial place of Osiris, as the
Book of the Dead and the inscription on
the walls of the funeral-chamber. 20 yards
by five, proved to us beyond all doubt.
You can imagine that we were greatly de
lighted at the discovery.
"We found also that in some remote
past Egyntian thieves had been at work
there. They had entered the funeral
chamber by piercing a hole in the wall,
but of course it will never be known what
the thieves carried away. Did they take
the sarcophagus of Osiris? All Egyptolo
gists in the course of their researches in
the ruins of Egypt have come across
traces of thieves who were considered to
be the cleverest in the then known world.
They formed themselves into associations
and gangs with the special object of rob
bing tombs, as it was the ancient custom
among Egyptians to bury valuables with
their dead. There was a supervision of
the tombs, but this the thieves seem to
have avoided easily, judging by their ex
ploits. The whole of the vast edifice we
discovered is in a bad state of ruin, bo- ?
cause it and its surroundings were used
as a quarry in the time of Ramoses 11. '
Prof Naville, who is an elderly man. in
sisted upon paying honor to his "brave
assistants.” Messrs Wainwright and Gib
son of London, and Thomas Wittemore
of Tufts college.
STATE NEEDS GAME WARDENS.
Announcement Made of Competitive
Examination to Be Held Jnly 1.
Those who would like to lie game war
dens should be interested in the announce
ment by the state civil-service commission
'that on July J a competitive examination
will be held for the position of deputy
fish and game commissioner. This job,
which is the same as game warden, com
mands a salary of from S6O to SIOO a
month. The poster announcing this exam
ination continues in part as follows; —
Men applying for the above should be
sound physically, be good marksmen both
with gun and revolver, have good eyesight,
bo able to distinguish the various colors, be
good walkers and runners, be fearless and
able to withstand fatigue and exposure.
They should be fairly familiar with game
birds and quadrupeds, fish and the various
song and insectivorous birds protected by
law in this state. They should know the
essential provisions of the fish and game
laws. Their experience, to be rated as val
uable. must Include gunning and fishing, or
constable and police experience, preferably
both. The examination will consist of a
sworn statement of training and experience,
handwriting, an accuracy test, report writ
Ing. arithmetic and practical questions on
the fish and game laws, on fresh and salt
water fish, oii game birds and quadrupeds,
and on other nnlmals protected by law. In
addition to the above, candidates will be
given a thorough test in identifying speci
mens of fish and specimen birds.
SAVING PRONG-HORNED ANTELOPE
Canadian Government Plan* Three
Urge Fenced Parle*.
The rescue and perpetuation of the rap
idly disappearing prong-horned antelope is
to be undertaken by the Canadian govern
ment. To this end it enlisted the services
of Ernest Thompson Seton, the naturalist,
and Maxwell Graham, chief of the zoologi
cal divison at Ottawa, who have outlined
a scheme which promises success. This
proposes the establishment of three fenced
parks for antelope in different parts of
their favorite range, on areas not desirable
for agriculture and in regions that still
contain wild antelope. The first step waß
to outline the ancient and present range of
the antelope, then to ascertain the probable
number at large. The combined evidence
of many game wardens and mounted police
shows that there are yet between 1000
and 1500 antelope still at large in the
Chnadian Northwest.
Prior to the hard winter of 1906 and
1907 there were at least 10 times as many;
but that, long, fierce spell of frost and deep
snow killed them off by thousands. In the
spring, when the starving remnants were
making their way north over the frozen
Saskatchewan, the rotten ice gave way,
according to one ranchman, and over 500
were engulfed on one occasion as he'
watched them from the bank.
Seton and Graham, acting for the Do
minion government, set out on the 9th of
May to select the lands needed. Three
parks have been secured, one in each of
the prairie provinces, Alberta, Saskatche
wan and Manitoba. On the two former
the, wild antelopes still range. All the
conditions, climatic, topographic and bo
tanic, havq been pronounced perfect. Each
park will be about 36 square miles in ex
tent. Fencing will begin this summer; it
will be horse-high, bull-strong and covote
proof. A competent warden will be in
charge and In residence in each. As goon
as the snow comes a careful drive will be
organized to stock the fenced range*.