Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, November 26, 1876, Page 9

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THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY. NOVEMBER ' 26, 1876—SIXTEEN PAGES. % AMUSEMENTS. | \i'(l' he English Opera Troupe, : nd lts Success. — Programme for the Present ~ Week--Reply to “Mu- 2 sicus,” « Concert of the Apollo Club---Chi- cago College of Music. Tocal Miscellany—DNew Music-— - Operatic Notes Here and Elsewhere, Results of Bad Training in Amer- lican Stock Companies. Current Events at Haverly’s, the Adel- phi, and the Museum. Green-Room Notes Collected from Europe and America. HoVicker's War on New York Specu- | lators in Tickets. MUSIC. AT HOME. THE OPERA. & The English opera season was the featufe of ¢he musical world lsst week, and will continue 1o be the feature this week. The advantages of slternsie nights of opera have been clearly shown during the week. The audiences have been literally immense, and have more than tested the capacity of the theatre, even many 1adies baving been obliged to stand, and there is every prospect that the same success will run through the present week. The beneficial ef- fects of rost have also shown themselves in the troupe, which has come to each representation with a freshness and vigor it never could have had if it had sung every night. The perform- snees of the week have been “Faust,” * Star of the North,” “ Bohemian Girl,” and “AMar- tha," in which Miss Kellogg has appeared in four of herstrongest characters—J3farguerite, Cat- aring, Arling, and the Lady Henrietta. The four representations have been remarkably smooth, barmonious, and complete in their ensembie, sod the mansgement is to be credited with hav- ing mounted the operas and costumed its peo- plewitha degree of elegauce and even brill- iancy, especially in the “‘Star of the North,” very rarely seen here. With the general char- acter of the performances there is scarcely room for fault-finding. The leading artists are excel- lent; the chorus is fresh, true, prompt, and epirited; and the orchestra, under Mr. Behrens, has done excellent work. The representations have been noticed in detail during the week, so that we need not go over them again, with one exception. In our notice of the *Bohemian Girl," we said, yesterday morning: ** The prom- inent features of the represcutation, vocally considercd, were Miss Kellogg’s singing of the *Marble Halla? ballad, Mrs. Seguin’s sdmirable interpretation of the interpolated ballad * Bliss Forever Past,’ also by Balfe, Mr. Conly's ef- Tective and \‘erjy]pathclic delivery of the favorite *Heart Bowed Down,’ and the ‘unaccompanied quartette ‘From the Valleys,” all of which were encored.” In justice to Mr. Maas, whose admirable personation of Thaddeus wus welcomed With gemeral enthusiasm, we should also have included him in the encore busiuess, as he was the bero of wo encores— for toe baliad, “ Tuen You'll Remember Me,”” and also for * The Fair Land of Polana.” Six eneures in one opera from such an audience are sometuing for tue Kellogg troupe to boast of. If weremember rightiy, the {talian troupe in the same opera scarcely received a hand trom the first note to the last. And this brings us to the vexed question of Italian vs. Eng] P once more. A correspondent, “ Musicus,” has criticised an editorial expression ot opinion con- cerning the relative merits of the two, favoring the former. His criticism applies to details Tather than the general issue, and this we may state very briely. There are two classes of opera-zd@rs in this city, and everywhere elsc in ¢ country. One class, and the largest, pre- fors English opera because it Is a ballad opers, becase it can understand it and enjoy it. _The New York Home Journal hitsthe nail on the head whenitsays: “The truth BFD(‘AI'S to be, the editor belleves, that the public Las no longer auy particnlar use for Italian opera; and he srnpathizes with the public rather than with e managers. As an elegant amusement, Italian opera, which is another name for upera, has gone clean out of fashion, and nothing short of a superlatively attractive, and, there- fore, a superlatively ~ expensive prima don- b, can float even 2 single season of ‘it. And Jerome Hopkins, in a letter to the New York Sun, also telis @ home truth in toe Tollow- fog: “For fiteen years { have made a close study of the real, truthful musical susceptibil- ity of the rank and file of this public, the same classes as those who support the theatres, and I Bare come to the conclusion that good minstrel mucie (for the people) is better than bad or even operss or symphonies, and that a public ‘which is willing to support, the former will not Fflp{cn_ the latter.” e sccond class prefers the ltalian opera, which %ives them somcthing beyond the balled, namely, the aria, recitative ona grander scale, and concerted finales of zreat power and effect. Now it will not be contended, €von by “Musicus,” that the Itzlian troupes ¢an produce genuine Englishballad operas. With Tegird to the wants of the second class, we boldly affirm that the English troupes are Dow producing ltalian, French, and even Ger- man, operas better, far better, than the Italian troupes can; and the reason is that the people, it tney go 'to Italian opera at all, go to hear the soli of Patti or Nilsson, and care nothing for the rest of the work. The cost of the solist Is destructively expensive, if not ruinous, and DO mavager can organize an lian troupe that can produce anything like an en- semble. The prime consideration, therefore, is that the Erelish troupes can give better rep- Tesentations of opera of any school at a cheaper Price than the Italian troupes, and that is the whole question in a nutshell. In this connection Wegite placeto the following comment upon Musicus’ "communication, from an outside source: o Ty the Editor of The Tribune. ‘BICAGO, Nov. 23,—I notice in your issue of this Ioming & communication from ‘dne **Musicus,” which I'hould like to reply to by calling that gen- 5 : *Would a superior troupe pay eret” and I take the liberty of saying it most certainly wogld. 1t has been tried and found & Succees, in 2 building built expresely for that pur- Pote. Crosdy’s Opera-Tlouse, but it was the first 2nd only time in the history of Italian opera in this city. If the geptleman will confer with Manager 8¢, who was lessce of the Opera-Housc, he will learn that English opera has nesrly always paid, but Italian as a rule has never paid expenses, let lone the interest on the money invested; and why? Slinply becanse impresarios can engage artists to Eing in Englieh at much less cost than those who Tarble In the roft Italinn, ‘I'he gentleman expresees the opinion that to have good Italian opera we Dust haveagood homse. Does he forget that Chicago had ope of the finest Opera- Howscs in America, and, after the opening Performances (which, by the way, were the work O Nr. U. Il Crosby's epecial efforts). we never 13d 2 good Jtalian troupe here again? That in or- ger to make this **suitable house " pay, the man- gement bad to reeort to the ** Field of the Cloth of Gold,” **White Fawn, " and ** Forty Thieves, " ¥hen French and English opera were not billed? Those were the ouly operas which made Manager ess fecl pleasantly. Wasit sour grapes then, friend - Musicos, " or was it the cupidity of a few mucaroni-eating songsters who thonght America 3 nanza. and they hai but to open their mouths to catch the dollars? Happy Americans!} You have taught the foreign singing-birds that, thongh you theow money away when you are abroad, when you weat home you want ar least 99 cents for the dollar, &nd will cleave to home tslent, who S\'e 2 dollar-five on the money invested. Such is case all over the country—Boston, New York, Philadelphia. Max L or 2 1 me out jo my assertion that *‘It don’t pay." They have had biiter expericnce, and the **Xcademy™ in New York has scen many a evearing _manager Baltimore, and canboth bear K slam its box-ofice _door After a short seacon, vowing topive up the whole business, but after a short wait he makea another Tentare and meeta the same poor success, or rather Doenccess atall. Now turn to the managers of lish opera. Ask them how much they have Jost this season, or last season, and they smile on Toufor yourfolly to think they have fost atall, the other hand, they have made enug sums, snd Dave greater intentions for next season. Inever saw Nir. Hess but that he had an ide for next sex- #om on the brain, and he always bronght it out in time to meet the public. Now that i3 what Amer- jeans want,—¢*gomething new and good ™ in the production of their operas. It is mot thut they wish new operas. The old Ttalian ones are zood gnough, but they want them translated for the Englishstaze, No one claims that the English is softer or sweeter thun the Italian music,—an; Judge knows better; but we do wish to have it given Well, and if our home artists give it better “than foreign oncs, of course home talent wins, a8 it al- ways shonid. T am giad that the for- eisn sonz-birds begin to squesk at the preference of ~ American audiences. 1t hasbeen a crying shame that we have been im- posed on so bascly, getting one star, and all the other members of the company being simply rush-lights. The whole carecr of Italisn 0?(:!11 bas been much like the play of **Hamlet® withont the Ghost or Gravedinger,—a sort of ‘*dinner-without-dessert” business. 1 do ot wish to be to scvere upon our friend *‘Mnsicns, " but if he had had any connection with the opera or musical affairs in the last ten or fifteen years, he would never bave come before the pabilc In de- fense of one of the worst speculations that 8 man- ager ever knew—**Italian opera. ™ H. B.F. The reportory of the troupe for this week embraces _the following operas. On Monday cvening “Mignon,” with the following cast: Miss Kello"i . Julie Rosewaly +Mrx. Zelda Seanin --Mr. Joseph Mass .Mr. Henry Peakes r. C. H. Turyer - . M. A, Coyla On Wednesday evening “The Flying Dutch- man,” for the first time in this country in En- glish, cast as follows Aliss Kello; Mr. lln%xs . Carlton Mr. Conly H. Turner Nurs ..-luies ... Miss Lancaster On Friday evening ‘“Lucea,” for Miss Kel- logg’s benetit, with the following cast: Lucia . . «...Miss Kello; Edzardo. “Mr. Mres Ar. Carlton Mr.” Conly . THE APOLLO CLUB'S PIRST CONCERT. The'first concert of the.Apollo Club will take place Dec. 5, and the repetition Dec.7. The choral numbers will be as follows: ! W C:ll& Sea and Prosperous Voy- N ‘1‘!": A Rubinstein elia’ a Nig] 3 ‘IbSnrin;.' Son; 4. ynheer 5. '+Grent ia Jehovah 8. Serenad.... 7. **Storm and Blessing Associate members who have not secured their tickets of membership will do well to call at once on the Sceretary, 156 State, as there are over 100 applicants 10w waiting for any tickets which may not be claimed. TILE MUSICAL COLLEGE CONCERT. The Chicago Musical College gave the first of this season’s concerts a few evenings since at the First Methodist Church. The propramme, which consisted of five instrumental and five vocal numbers, was nicely arranged, and was, considering the difficulty and novelty of some of the pleces, a very ambitious one. The con- cert opencd with the Wagner Centennial March, i . Although it was very yed by the Misses Clara Waters and Ida it made_little effect upon the au- ice Lansden is a young singer She possesses” a beautiful of great promis mezzo-soprauo voice of very pleasing quality, She sung the difficult romanza from **Robert,’ ‘¢ oberto tu che adora,” with a fair understand- ing of the requirements of the muai% and yith much warmth of expression. Miss Clara Mur- dock, who is looked upon as onme of Mr. Ziegfeld’s most promising students, played the brilliant Chopin polonaise, opus 22, in very good and finished style. Mrs. C. A. Beccher “played the piano part of the Beethoven trio, op. 1, No. 3, Messrs. Eichheim and Buisseret playiug the ’cello and violin _re- spectively. 1t was, for an amateur, an excellent mterpretation of the_work,—speaking of the piano part. Messrs. Eichheim and Buisseret, although not pupils of the College, eachdescrve a word ot very favorable mertion for theirartis- tic work performed during the cvening. Mrs. Leonard Ames, Jr., who was one of Siznor_de Campi’s pupils in St. Louis, sang the very difli- cult Venzano waltz, and cxccuted the various runs, trills, and staceato passages with surpris- ing ease. i’rohnhly the pupil of the very great- est promise that the College has as yet iotro- duced is Miss Mary Wishard. During the short time that sbe has ‘studied at the College éhe has arquired a firm and true touch, and - brillisnt _technique, for which her teacher, Mr. Ziegfeld, deserves great credit. Her number was the difficult * Allegro de Con- cert,” onc of Chupin's greatcst inspirations. Although the attempt was a most ambitious one, sts Wishard played it with a orilliancy and certaiuty that was quite surprisiog, as well as with good phrasing and expression. Miss Lizzie Forseman snowed her voice, talents, and 00d musicisuship to most excellent advaniage, both in her solo, Mercadante’s ¢ Al, s'estinto,’” and in the * Martha’* duo with Miss Roemheld. Quite a novel feature of the concert was the in- troduction of & ladies’ chorus, consisting of some sixteen first and second sopranos, all fresh and pure voices displayinga good qualicy of tone. The choral nuinbers were a chorus_from Donizetti’s *‘Parisina,” in which Miss Emma Roembeld sung the cavatina. Miss Roem- held is another promising pupil of the College, one who will mazke her mark in the musical world. 8he has a finc mezzo- soprano voice, of good compass and penct. tive quality. She uscs it mostadmirably, show- ing good cultivation. The chorus, under the direction of Signor de Campi, was good and re- linble as soon as it got over its first stage-fright. The concert as 2 whole was a fine success, and cave one an cxcellent idea of the thorough schooling and tuition of the College. Mr. Ziegfeld may well {eel proud of his pupils. We understand that.at the grand coocert, which takes place at McCormick Hall fu January or February, some unusually tine vocal and instru- mental features will beintroduced, which will ninkc the otcasion an interesting and enjoya- ble one. FEW MUSIC. We have received from Messrs. Ditson & Co., Boston, through Lyon & Healy of this city, the following new music: *First Battalion March,” by R. C. Head; “Revival March,” by J. P. Sousa: “Elfwood March,” for four hands, by W.R.Johnston; * Verdicte Waltzes,” by Edouard Strauss; * Echocs of the Surf Waltz,” by L. C. Elson; “Brilliant Rosedale Concert ‘Waltz,” by John D. Jones; ‘ Chimney-Corner Reverfes and Wooashade Waltz,” by Sop. Win- ner; Morceau de Sulon, polka brilliante, by Saint Leon; ““Suverau Polka,” by A. Bergendahl; Dancing Feet Waltz,” by G. Lyle; J. P. Web- ster’s “Sweet By-and-by,” set for piano, by E. Mack; By-and-By mazurka and Polo galop, b; e Ciin: Heart and Aria mazufia, by 8 A. Ward; and *Albumblatt,” by Richard Wagner. With the cxception of the last num- ber, the Jist is thoroughly dry and unattractive. 1n vocal music, we have ** A Koot of Blue and Gray,” “She’s a Rosy, she's a Posy,”” and I'm seeling like a Big Bullfrog,” by T. B. Bishop; “Driiting Apart,” by Henry P. Keens; *The Woman who Stole my Heart, by J. C. Porter; “Te Deum? with solos for soprano and tenor, by G. J. Taltain; and three sacred quartettes, (% My Opening Eyes with Rapture Soc,” *There jsa Land of Pure Delight,” and *See from Zion's Sacred Mountain”) of a series arranged from melodies by Abt, Kuecken, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Wagner, and otbers. ~With the ex- ception of the guartettes, there is nothing in the list above mediocrity. - From tiie same firm, we have also received several additional numbers of Bugenc Thayer's excellent, album for organists, which include (with pedaling and registration) three udn:zmi5 op 36, by Volekmar; Choral variations in flat by Smart; variations on “God Save the King," by ¥isher; two canons with the Chorale, wDer licben Sounenlicht” by Haupt (No. 1 canon duples, No.2canon in the omvc),’ and Mr. Thayer’s E’\ri:*.tio,us on ‘“XNurewberg” and ¢ Sicilian Hymn.” e, C. A: Havens, the organist, and one of our home musicians, is fortunate in the matter of publishers and the publishers are fortunate in Eis music. Sixof his compositions bave re- cently made their appesrances 4 iymn, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul," and & canticle,** Bonum Est inE flat (G. D. Russell & Co.): guartette, Rock of Ages” (William A. Pond & Cu.); and three quartettes—The Lord is in His Holy Temple,” ¢ Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” W Tyisgionand Sanctus ” (Ditson & Co.). They are set 1or the organ, and saow genuine promise in composition upon the part of this modest and unpretending musician. s The Root & Suns Music Company hav:.’}ust tssued in handsome form “The Song Herald," by H. R. Palmer, containing a collection of music, mainly new and original, for smg-ugg; classes, choirs, and conventions—a fleld in whid! Mr. Palmer has been working with happy re- sults. LOCAL MISCELLANT. Tt will interest Chicago musical people of the olden time to know that Jules G.Lumbard is still flourishing in New York, and sang at Chickering Hall concert last week. The first of Mr. Licbling’s series of piano re- citals will take place at Reed’s Temple of Music on Friday afternoon, Dec. 8, upon which ocea- sion be will play Bach’s Fantasia and Fuguein G minor as arranged by Liszt; Weber’s Sonata op. ¥ | Tuesday, 89; Fleld's fourth nocturne; Leiss? Intermezz o 95 Kullak’s Scherzo, op. 135; Lisztis & Foan ollet and the twelfth Rhapsodie Hongroiso. and Chopin’s Concerto, op. 2L In the latter number, Mr. Ledochowsky will furnish the see. ond piano accompaniment. Of the series'of concerts to be given by Prof. Fuchs and pupils this winter, the first ooeurs ap Dec. 5, at Bauer's music store. The concerts are to be complimentary, so that all those interested in music can procure tickets on applying at J. Baver & Co.’s store, under the Palmer House, ? The ladies of the Woman's Christian Tem- perance Union will give a literary and muslcr:I entertainment at Ellis Avenue Masic Hall, on Monday evening, Nov. 27. The ptoznm;mc will comprise literary selections by Mrs. Tis- dale, songs by Mrs. William E. Foote, and in- strumental music by Prof. von Meyerhoff and one of his pupils. The Turner Jall programme for thi - noon includes Charles !I;S?ch’s Amnz;kls)i.nfrt:l:' KelaBela's Lustpicl overturc; D’ Auria's Recol- lections of Scotland;” Herfurth’s Opera Wreath ’n?‘ourrl; Strauss’ "icanuiccswnnz; Stizel- is? * Tear,” solo for trombone; Stasny’s Kut- ;v;l;gg‘}’;}k:; ntgualysl_c; Crgnr?di’gr Offenbachiana. i3 eingarten’s, ! ick Potnosr &nlop. , Through Thick The Apollo Club has taken new and elezant Tooms in the American Express Company’s bullding on Monroe street. They will be for- mally opened to-morrow evening, but will not be accessible to visitors until after the first con- cert. The rehearsals for this week are an- nounced as follows: Monday, full male chorus, 7:30 p. m. Tucsaay, first tenors, 7 p.. m.; sec- ond tenors, 8 p. m. Wednesday, ladies, 3 p. m.; first bass, 7 p. m.; second bass, p. m. Friday, full male chorus, 7:30 p. m. A concert will be given for the benefit of the Homcopathic Frec' Dispensary on Satur- day cvening, Dec. 2, the progremme for which is very attractive. Among those who will take part are the Misses Allport, Roberts, White, Sprague, Mrs, Barbour, Mrs. Watson, Mrs, Robert Clark, and Messrs. m Lewls, Henry Weyl, Elchhelm, George Young, und Emil Liebling. This list includes som¢ of our best professional and amateur talent, and a most enjoyable concert may be expected. The favorite Barnabee concert troupe will give aconcert at McCormick’s Hall on Tuesday evening, Nov. 28, The troupe 25 now organ- ized comprises Mrs. H. E. H. Carter, soprano; Miss Anna C. Holbrook, alto; Mr. 3. C. Collins, tenor; Mr. H. C. Barnabee, bass; Mr. Shuburk, cornetist; and Mr. Howard M. Dow, pianist and accompanist. As Mr. Barnabee i3 the bright particular star, we may intimate that he will sing Molloy’s * Polly,”” and Hatton’s * Mrs. ‘Watkins’ Party,” with the customary‘enumber of jolly encores. Engle, the severe critic of the New York Mu- sical L'rade Review, has heard Miss Kate Doug- fussing 1n New York and wiule ko euiplats catly condemns the methods of the school in which she is studying, speaks very warmly of her natural abilities. He says: “Miss Doug- Ias has been recommended to us personally, and we, therefore, know that she arrived here six months a2o in need of the first clements of tu- ition. Her volce in extent, in strength, in sympathetic timbre, is an uucommonly, not an extraordinary, but an unususlly fine one.’” ABROAD. USICAL NOTES. Wachtel will sing in Berlin in February and March. g M. Jaell is engaged for the Nilsson concerts in Holland. Rubinstein will give concerts this winter in Belgium, Hoiland, and Englaund. ‘Theodore Thomas was Iast week giving con- certs in Boston. He has engaged the Swedish Ladies’ Quartet. Wieniawski, who is now connccted with the Brussels Conservatory, will give concerts this month in the cities o Austria. Mme, Nilsson appearcd at the Grand Opera- House, ip Antwerp, on tho 4th inst., as Yar- gueritein M. Gounod's “ Faust.” Liszt is refusing all invitations fo playin public, and spends his time at Pesth, teaching the pupils at the Academy of Music. Mrs. Oates was severely dealt with by the Philadelphia critics last week, oue of whom sue- gested her retireinent to private life. There is awell-founded rumor afioat that Patti is going to be divorced from the Marquis g’c Caux. Itisto be done quietly and & I'amia- e It is worthy of note that the people who hissed Wagner’s music in Paris recently con- tinued to hiss when the obedient orcfi'mm layed the overturc to “ Der Freischutz.”” hey could not distinguish between Wagnerand Weber. Madlle. Schon, a Danish lady, made her debut recently at the Royal Copenhagen Theatre in the part of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's “T1 Flauto Magico.” The critics assert that the quulity, power, and extent of this young artiste’s voiee are such that she will probably soon obtain a European fame. The Neue Zeitschrift Fur Musik states that some French composers intend trying conclu- sions with Wagner on his own ground. ML Reyer is. engnzc(f upon & “ Sigurt,’” the subject of which 1s simifar to_the third part of the ¢ Ring of the Nibelungs,” and M. Joncieres is 8t work on & “ Tristan,” which is intended to surpass Wagner's ** Tristan and Isolde.” Mme. Essipoff has opened her New York season of concerts with high musical success, and it is evident that hete, as well as in Europe, she will be accorded rank with Rubiustein and Von Bulow, and_quite_above Krebs, Meblig, and others of special talent. Her virtuosity is little less than miraculous, and, like the two master-pianists above mentioned, she does not use notes, her memory being infallible in its accuracy. Her hand and wrist are a mechanical ‘marvel, and her touch beyond anythine in both delicacy and power. With these joining a mu- sical sensibility of extreme rarity and grace, she scems to lack nothing of what a great pianist should have. Mr. Carl Rosa has produced * Fidelio,” witih an English libretto, in Luondon. Mlle. Torrian is the Leonora, and Miss Julia Gaylord, a young New Yorker, by her performance of Warcellina, hich is said to be “simply perfect,” gains the following paragraph of praise in Mr. Ebenczer Prout’s criticism in the dcademy of the per- formance: Those who are acqnainted with this very clever soung lady’s style could have foretold that the Part Would euit her admirably; but even her warm- est admirers would have hardly expected that she would sing Becthoven's music g0 well. By her impersonation Miss Guylord has added another wreath tv her laurels. 1t is rather amusing to re- member that at the beginning of the present sca- ron, when Mr. Rosa's prospectus was issued, some of our musical critics spoke of this youny lady ina disparaging, not to kay, contemptuons, way, a8 one who was quite useless for any but very secondary parta, THE DRAMA. CHICAGO. THE USES OF A STOCE COMPANY. There is in the dramatic profession a precept, which time has elevated into a tradition, teach- ing that no permanent success can be obtained except by one who has undergone the training of astock company. The theory is perfectly ra~ tional. There is no difficulty in stating it clearly and subscribing to it. It is only when, in a particular instance, an attempt is made to put the theory into practice that the limitations of it become apparent. * Go intoa stock com- pany,” says Mr. Critic, ‘‘and learn your busi- ness.” The novice, stunned perhaps by the oracle, turns about in a fit of dizziness and inguires, **What company shall I join?" Then is seen the shallowness of human wis- dom. For the wise man knows not one com- pany in America in which a novice possessing a high order of talent—something akin to genius —can hope to obtain useful schooling. If the candidate have a talent for tragedy, snd for nothing else, the difficulty is increased. America contains no company devoted exclusively to the representation of trazedies,—none, in fact. which is not often called upon to play the trash of the French dramatists aua the_stolen non- sense of Bouicault and Daly. To train a tal- ented woman in such a school would be only to do her a lasting injury. In place of a natural ‘method, she would require an artificial style; her earnestuess of purpose would be turnedinto frivotity; her simplicity would be overlaid with vulgar ornament, and her pure power of expres- sigli:oum be reduced to a facile use of stage- tricl The barrenness of American stock companies and the erroneous methods employed by them have been well illustrated during the past week by two events. One of these was the debut of Miss Fannie Dlven%ort as Rosalind at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in N She is 3 woman ew York. | descended from an old theatrical family. She has been on the stage almost from infancy, and of late vears has been the leading-lady of one of the best stock companies in America. If training could ever supply the place of genius, she wonld long ago have been awarded a place 8s a successful impersonator of Shakspeare’s heroines. But she hag only dared of late to as- pire to this position. And what is the result? | [ She has failed. The best criti say lier Ro.alind is not et It that i New York hen her 12 Joreoyer, the; 5 due to her traiaing that Mr. Daiy's theatre is not a sehool for actresses who desire . to enter the highest walks of the drama, and that the modern society playsunfitthose who act in them to exhibit Iccllng of a genuine and healthy kind. Miss Davenport’s metliods have lost flexibility in proportion as they havetaken ona fine polish. There is a certain metallic resonance about evervthing she does which is an indica~ tion of the hollowness of her style. She s not now and probabiy never will be able torepresent in a satisfactory manner any of the noblest characters in tragedy or comedy. =~ Lady Teazle must bound her ambition. Another instance is afforded in the recent experienceof Miss Clax- ton, who has been spoiled in the same school, though by different teaching. Once a promising and pleasing actress, she has acquired, through 2 lucky success in “Phe Tyvo Orphans,” serlous mannerisms in style which she s now unable to get “rid of The injury inflicted on her by the long run of that plece is almost equal to hier ruin 50 far as the profes- sion is concerned. Those who saw her in Chi- cago in 1875, when she played Louise in “The Two Orphans,” and again last summer when she assumed the part of Constance ; Harewood, can realize how greatly she has deteriorated. Aund that the verdict bere was not partial or un- kind is shown by the fact that it was redeliver- ed by every paper in Boston last Tuesday morn- ing, after her first appearance therein ¢ Con- science.” The opiniou was not merely that the play was bad, but_that the acting was bad,— positively aud irredeemably bad. Miss Claxton ad always been a favorite in Boston before. The injury to her was caused not so much by the schoul,—for the Union Square Theatre is it many respects superior to Daly’s as a school,— but by thelong runof the play in which she Liad o promincnt part. The long run of a play may ruin a good actor, to say nothing of its cffcet on & promisiug novice. The defenders of the American stock compa- nies as training-schools for actors may throw New York overboard, and turn for examples to the provinces. Here, we admit, there is much countenauce found for the theury that sucvess outside of a stock company is impossible. Such a theatre as Mr. McCullough’s in San Francisco might teach the dullest how to appear respecta- ble on the stage. But for one possessed of a high order of talent even McCullough'’s theatre might not te adaoted. The current advertise- meuts of McCullough's Thestre show that there are no plays goiug on there now that would be likely to benelit a young woman of promise. The two last plnfls done there, it appears, were Frank Mayo's ““Duvy Crockett” aud Mr. Bonci- t:;mlb’s ;‘Slree's( of New York.” How could hese pieces assist one to play Lady Macbeth? Or, if Mr. McVicker's Theatre bo chosin g3 toe school, we shall find that it has been given over during the entire season thus far, with the ex- ception of one week, to trash of the worst de- scription. Neither of these *‘model ” theatres would engnge au actress to appear only when a play suited to her capacity should be on the boards. The whole company is required to fill every gap. Ifthe subject be viewed without prejudice, it will be found, we think, that the United States do not contain a theatre which is fitted to de- velop dramatic genius. Since the early days, when there was a legitimate drama regularly supported, the change has been great. Ahybri druma, halt French, half English, and wholly bad, has supplanted to s great’ extent that which was sound and healthy. Melodrama, of a kind which used to be tolerated only in the Bowery, has made its way into and occiipied the most 1ashionable theatres. The taste of the public demands now s great variety of plays, rather thon great excellence in any. ~ Actors in stoulicomllmuics must be prepared to be indiffer- ently good or bad in all kinds of acting, unless they niay be fortunately situated, us some are in New York, where they may attempt but a_cer- tain kind of plays, aod not abuve three or four of them in the year, The tradition in regard to the excellence of stock vompanies as traiping-schools bas arisen, no doubt Lrom the old days of the patent thea- tres in Englund, when two separate companies were maintained by each,—one for tragedy and oue for comedy; when long runs were unkaown ; when the adultery drama” did not exist; and when the strictest discipline was entorced by men who knew how to enforce it. This system is preserved in tho Theatre Fraucais to-day. Even in America, the stock companies are the best schools, as they are the only schools, for persuns of moderate abilitics who desire to enter the dramatic profession. They are not the best schools for one endowed with genius; and, if such a person should ap- pear, she should not be hampered with the rules swhich are preseribed for ordinary novices, nor measured by the small tape which tells the di- mensions of the average society, actress. She should be allowed to take a reghlar dreuit asa ‘*star,” and occupy it 13 long as she finds popu- Tar appreciation, without provoking the hostility of the press or the cut-and-dried advice suitable for ungifted am.teurs. Her training, under these circamstances, would be as labori- ous 15 need be.She would have the advantages of association with stock-actors, without acquir- ing the manncrisms of a particalar set. 'The errors taught in one place might be removed in auother; and, as she might retain her own re; ertofy, a promising talent for tragedy would not be ruined by its erforced use in Jow comedy and “socicty " plays. NOTES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. Mrs. Cummings’ benefit will take place Thanksgiving night at Plymouth Church. The programme will consist of readings and music. Mr. and Mrs. Florence are announced to be- gin au engagement in “The Mighty Dollar? at McVicker’s Theatre a week from to-morrow. Stuart Robson had a weeksof miserable busi- ness at Haverly’s Theatre. It is evident that the carcer of the brilliant but unveracious Col. Starbottle is drawing to a close. “A Caose for Divorce” is still running at ‘Wood’s Muscuw. It is probably as meritorious in its way as “ The Great Divorce Case” at Mc- Vicker's, but the acting at the Museum is pain- {ully inadequate. Pat Rooney, supported by a number of variet; actors, begins an engagementat the New Chl cago Theaire to-morrow night. The company seoms to be made up in Imitation of the Tony Pastor combination. Emerson’s Minstrels will return to Hooley’s Theatre this weck, to_celebrate Thanksgiving. They will zive place Monday week to & pan- tomime company. Miss Neilson will soon ap- pear at s theatre. 5 “Around the World in Eignty Days” will continuc to be represented at tue Adelpli. The spectacle i inferior to that which was repre- sented here 2 year ago, but is still a2 vast im- provement upon the miserable makeshitts that :fie pgoxtflc of Chicago have lately been sccus- med to. ““The Great Divorce Case” will be played on the “off-nights” at McVicker's Theatre this week. The play has already been snlficlcntl& described in these columus s an amusing ane not_overdelicate farce. The acting by Mr. Thorne, Mr. Hotto, Mr. Rainford, Mrs. Stoneall, Miss Tracy, Mrs. Murdoch, and Miss Tanner is the best that has been scen at the theatre this scason. The talent of the company this year, as last, scems to licin the direction of light com- edy and farce. Mr. Thorne is, so far as heard {rom, the only member who does not cut, a bad figure in tragedy. THE OUTER WORLD. MR. COGHLAN'S NEW COMEDY. The event of the first week in November in London was the production at the Court Theatre of Mr. Charles Coghlan’s newest play, a comedy of modern English life called * Brothers.” The New York Post says of the play: Mr. Coghlan contributed tae play with which Mr. Harc opened this theatre for ihe firat time, about u year ngo, —a comedy called ** Lady Flora,” which was_spoken of 83 o gricefal and smusing piece. *‘Brothers ™ {s a simjlar composition to *‘Lady Flora." There are two brothers,—the elder one rich and o Baronet, the younger one poor, misunthropic, constitutionslly selilsh, and 8 portrait painter. The firat act occurs In the paint- er's studio, where he fe at work upon the portrait of an unknown young woman, whom he loves, of caurae, with all the possion that a penni- les¢ youns artist, upon the stage, generally has at his command. The discovery that hid sitter Is trifting with bim, his presentation of her portrait to a stoange elderly gentleman who comes to buy it (the lady's father), and a bachelor's suppet party, which he gives Uefore his depurture for *his elier Lrother's country house (the lust ecene being, it is said, a highly amueing one), Al out the first act, A« 2 matter of course, the orizgi~ nal of the portrait isbetrothed to the elder brother, and the events of the remaining acts can readily be imag:ned; exceptas to the denouement, far the lady weds the clder and not the younger saitor. Mr. Hare plays the Baronet, r. H. B. Conway the artist, and 3igs Ellen Terry the heroine, Aate Hungerford. > The piece was put on the stage superbly, and acted in a manner to evoke the warmest admira- tion of the critics,—a most unusual thing in London, where it is fashionable to say that the art of acting is dead. It seems more than likely that **Brothers” will have o long and prosperous run. 3r. Coghlan, the suthor, is now a member of Daly's company in New York. NEW YORK KOTES. Booth isto play Bertuccio in “ The Fool's Revenge ” at the Lyceum Theatre this week; this will be followed by * Richard IL.” Booth’s appearance at the Lyceum Theatre as’ Hamiet called forth a column of warm criticisms from the New York Zribune, another of studied dispararement from the New York Times, while the World oceupicd a middle position. “Sgrdangpalus” is to leave the boards of Booth's Tiieatre a week from to-morrow, when it will begin a run st the Boston Theatre. Lotta begius an engagement at the Park Theatre to-morrow night. This will be her first appearance in the metropolis in three years. The ¢ School for Scandal " was to be revived at the Fifth Avenue Theatre last ni| h? with Mr. Coghlan as Charles Surface nndg ‘annie Davenport as ly Teazle. Mr. Wallack announces that Boucicault’s en- gement In “* The Shaughraun is necessarily imited toa few weeks, and that, after his de- arture, * Forbidden it ” will be revived. Next comes the new drama, *“ All for Her.” The new play, “Miss Multon,” lately pro- duced at the Union Square Theatre, is spoken of as very sombre in its tone, but alive with dramatic purpose. The acting, from that of the title role (which is played Clara Morris) down to the smallest part L extravagantly praised. Mr. O'Neil comes in for his sharc of commendation. The story is that of an im- gmved **East Lynne,” only sadder, more heart- reaking, and more sinful than before. GENERAL AMERICAN NOTES. Joe Wheelock has been. playing Pierre Miche in New Orleans. Emerson’s Minstrels spent last week at coun- try towns between Chicago and St. Paul. Mrs. Pomeroy, who lately made a promising debut in New York, 1s to 2o on & starring tour. Adelaide Neilson will open in * Twelfth Night”’ at Cincinnati to-morrow night, and at St. Louis next week. Her third stopping-place will be Chicazo. Fechter was suddenly taken ill on the stage at Utica, N. Y., Friday week, while reciting the famous passage in which Claude describes his palace and grounds to Pauline. Sothern will be at New Orleans this week; the Julius Ceesar combination, with Davenport, Bar- rett, and Warde at Brooklyn; Anna Dickinson and Charlotte Thompson at Philadelphia. Edwin Boothis to have 85 per cent of the receipts at the Arch Street Theatre in -Phila- delphia, it is true, but he brings his own com- pflny‘,’sud sustans all the burdens of manage- men! Private letters” speak of Edwin Adams as playing in Australia, after recoveriog from a serious illness occusioned by being shipwrecked, ;u.\% the report of his death sentto the States is untrue. ‘The Philadelphia Presssuggests the pm}gecy of making Saturday night a * people’s™ mughty for the accommodation of sturs, who often have difficulty in making connections under present arrangements. The Chestnut-street Theatre in Philadelphia opcned on Monday night with **Money,” Mr. McKee Raukin personating Alfred Evelyn, and Miss Lillie Glover Clara Douglas. Miss May Davenport also made her first appearance us Georgiana. Lillian Conway was out of the cast. *“Money” will be succceded by “Tiwelfth Night” this weck. At the Walnut the new Evangeline Combination continued its engage- ment, and Mrs. Drew played Lady Teazle at her own theatre. The Kiraltys announce “ A Voy- age to the Earth» for production at their Al- bambra Palace this week; last week was do- votud to rehearsals. Rose Eytinge and the Florences were at St. Louis last week; Haverly’s Minstrels at Cincin- nati; Sothern at Louisville; Auna Dickinson and Join E. Owens at Pittsburg; Mrs, Chan- frau at Clevelund; Janauschek at Builulo; Augusta Dargon at Toledo aund elsewhere; Lotta in cities on thelive of the New York Central Railroad; Jane Coombs in “Pique,” with the Fitth Avenue Combination and Lucille Western at Indianapolis; Kate Claxton and Soldene at Boston; the dulius Cresar Combina- tion on the New England, circnit; Jobn T. Ra; mond at Brooklyn; Mrs. Qates at Baltimore; Louis James and Ellen Cummins in * Married in Haste ” at Washington. M’VICKER’S VICTORY. . HOW HE WORSTED THE TICKET SPECULATORS IN NEW YORK. Special Correspondence of The Tribune. NEW YORK, Nov. 22.—Mr. McVicker's strug- gle with the ticket speculatorsis the liveliest theatrical thing in this city just now. Thus far he is the victor, having not only discomfited the enemy, but gained an amount and kind of advertising that could not have been bought with any expenditure of moncy. To understand the situation the fact must be borne *in mind that the Lyceum Theatre has long been what show-folks. call'an “ unlucky house.” Few en- tertoinments have ever been made profitable there, and for several years it has been at the command of whoever had an experiment to try. Wrestling matches have occupicd its stage, am- ateur aspirants for dramatic distinction have namerously failed on the same boards, and to its owners\it has been a bad investment finan- cially. Those familiar with the show business understand how damaging such treatment is to o theatre: Thus, although the Lyceum hasa fairly central location, and is one of the pret- tiest of New York’ssmaller theatres, it has been in disfavor with both managers and public. Consequently Mr. McVicker accepted a disad- vantage when-he leased the establisnment; but am told that the rental was fixed at a low price, with the privilege of a remewal of the lease. Of course he knew as well as anybody that he had an ob- stacle in the way to success which even Booth’s popularity here mizht not overcome. Booth nad played a_marvelously profitable engage- ment at the Fifth Avenue Theatre last yeur, et that did not preclude financial failure at the yeeum. ‘At the outset, the anxious manager was n}izpromflledby the speculators, who are a kind ot busiuess men unknown in most other citics. They do not take to this pursuit in the intervals of other employment, but devote themselves to it exclusively. “Some of them derive large in- comes from it, and are practically partners with the managers. At some of the largest theatres the best seats can not be bought at the box-office, no matter how early they are asked for, because they are, in accordance with a regu- lar’ bargain, placed in the bands of speculators, to be roturried at the latest moment if not sold at an advance. In cases of great crowds, asin the first weeks of “Sardanapalus” at Booth's, or mow at Wallack’s with “The Shanghraun,” double J)rim:s for seats are often” obtained, an the advance is supposed to be divided between the speculators and the managers. Daly, of the Fifth Avenue, once trfed a fight with the speculators, but it ended in 2 compromise. Well, they went to Mr. McVicker in the custom: ‘way to learn what concessions he was willing to make. The shrewd manager knew that the public hates the s{lxccu}ntors, and that the newspapers would in the main sustain him in a contest. Did he rea- son that such a struggle would so advertise the Lyceum as to more than counterbalance the drawback of its ill-favor? Any low he sur- prised the sgeculnmrs by telling” them that not ouly would ke concede nothing, but that they could not deal at all in his tickets. They defied him. He advertised his determination; also that the advance charged at the hotel ticket- oflices would be only 25 cents, instead of the usual 50. The newspapers did take up his cause, and it became a topic of gencral conver- sation. On the morning that the sale of tickets began for Booth’s opcning night, the speculat- ors’ money was refused at the hox-oflice when offered by themselves, a treasurer who kmew them by sizht being on duty: but, by putting fricnds and relatives in lin they sécured about 200 seats. On Monday, as am’ trustworthily informed. Mr. MeVicker sent for scveral of the leading speculators, and offered terms of peace. He had secured the ad- vertising, and was not averse to dealing with them. Perbaps he was frightened because most of the hotel men had refused to sell his tickets. The ticket-speculators, however, were in their turn aggvessive. They reminded him that they bad been able to get a supply of tick- ets, and declarcd their ability to sell them. The manager had got himsclf into s fight that he couldnot get out of. So he stiffencd his back- bone, and gained more free advertising hy peti- tioning the Common Council to pass an ordi- nance forbidding ticket sgt:r!ullflun. As well might the Aldermen probibit speculation in stocks, and of course nuthing will be done by taem. He also enlisted the Police Captuin of the precinet in which is the Lyceum, aud on Mon- day night a squad of oflicers were sent to the theatre with orders to allow mno tickets to be sold on the sidewalk. That Police Captain never allows law or decency to deter him in ing out hispart of the bargain. ‘The rain feil heavily, and that was auother guin for the manager.” The policemen drove the speculators oat from ander the awaing, and at a distance, in the rain, they could make uo sales. One of them hired a barber-shop close by and transacted his business there deflantly; but nearly all had their tickets left on their hands The interior of the theatre showed rows of empty chairs for which the manager had receiv- ed a dollar and a half apiece, and on which the speculators had lost corresponding sums. The victory was decisive. During the week thus far the speculators have kept away from the ];{‘lce- um. The manager has gained the approval of the public, and has nl-i:hfl afull attendance to fiooth supported by the worst company, a8 awhole, that was ever collected in a firstclass theatre in this city. * K.J.C NEW YORK GOSSIP. A Shocking Stateof Commercial Dishonesty Among the Wall-Street Gentry. The Ups and Downs of Life«s- Romance of a Minstrel Singer. How a Man Played Ghost, and Nar- rowly Escaped Being Shot Therefor. The Cremationists-—A Singular Freakof a Brooklyn Man--- Baron von Palm,,; Young New-York’s Mania for Cultivating the Aoquaintance of Actresses. Mother Fadet Redivivus---A Strange Story About an 0ld French- " woman, __ Special Corvespondence of The Tridune. NEw Yorg, Nov. 23.—Every day scems to Dring to the surface in this great city some aew revelation of the upsand downs of society, and Jjust now a certain set in Wall street arc enjoy- ing the apparent discomfiture of Tncle Danicl Drew, once a King among his peers. Mr. Drew is engaged in a lawsuit with one of his old asso- clates, S. V. White, of Brooklyn, well known in connection with the Beccher-Tilton trial. In the course of these proceedings Mr. White’s counsel has secn fit to attack Mr. Drew’s char acter for veracity, and it is no less astonishing- than painful thut eeveral witnesses who have had business transactions with the venerable stock- jobber have sworn most emphatically that his reputation was bad, and that they would not be- Heve bun upon’ oath in a matter wherein he is interested. Now, mark the other side. Judge Fithian, counsel for Mr. Drew, offers to prove that no man enzaged in buying and eelling stocks in Wall street bas any reputation; or, rather, that every man thus cneaged is, in the cpinion of hisassociates, dishonest and untruthfal. A man may go up town and renta pew in o fash- ionable church, und be respected anu hionored, but down town among his orother brokers be i re- garded as 8 roguc. Of course he was not allowed to prove angthing of the sort. and if he had been it would have been a difficult task, bat the incident shiows how rotten and currupt the morals of bus- iness men are estcemed by those who know how it is themselves. Yetit is unquestionabie that no set of men in this country are dealt with so scrictly **upon honor™ as the stock-brokers. If the tene !enlgm!nu of the people who hold such unfavor- able opinions of each otherars correctly stated, their business integrity is a farce and sham. A FONNY MIDNIGRT EXPERIENCE. A very laughable incident took place in the cxperience of a distinguished lawyer and ex-vity official a few nights ago; and, as be has enjoyed many hearty lnughs telling it, probably he will not object to seeing it iu print. He started one ‘morning last week for Philudelphia, informing his family that he might or might mot be back the same night, but cautioning them to leave the front door unbolted #0 he could enter with his night-key. During the day his wife's cousins, a young lady and her brother, came to the city and irere Invited to stay all nisht. After waiting for her liege lord until midnight the wife retired and took her lady cousin nto her own room, and the oung man was aesizned one of the spare roome. Fears that ner husband might rotarn sefore morn: ing. ehe locked her door and posted a piece of per under the second Ball ims *requestin K?m not to enter her room us she ha another ~ bedfellow. The lawyer retarned sbout 2. m., and quletly entered the house. He failed to see the notice, but, bya back entrance, got into his wifc's apartment and proceeded to dis- Fobe. Ere he had half finished the consin awoke, and, as the light was dim, she_suspected o burglar and scresmed. The wife woke, and 2 the hus- band, sceinga strange woman |n his own bed, re- tircd to the rear of the house, the suspicion of a burglar's presence was confirmed. She turned_on 2 burglar-alarm, and raised the window and_called for belp. The lawyer was half consumed with Inughter when the ludicrousness of the aituation flashed across his mind, and he eseayed to pour oil on the troubled waters. In tais he succeeded in- side the house, but outside there was confusion | worse confounded. Neighbors, policemen, dis- trict telegraph-messengers, and boys began to as- sembi$, and it took full ten minutes fo_restore eace. 1t cost him several dollars for drinks, and gfl bas laaghed immoderately ever since about 1t. A SILVER-VOICED MINSTREL. One of the most popular negro minstrel troupes in this city numbers among its members a silver-voiced tenor whose history is romantic enough for2 novel. Onlya few years ago be was a_partner in a flourishing mercantile house in a Western city. He had money, friends, rep- utation, and hope. His voite was in demand, and he frequently sustained leading parts in church concerts aud even in oratorics. Every- where he was populsr, andno oneof his years seemed to have finer prospects for the future. At the age of 23 he married an heiress, and his bappi- ness scemed complete. In an evil hour, however, he became addictud to drink, and then misfortunes came thick and fast. His wife died, his 0wn health was broken down, his business fell off, and step by step he was ruined, financially, socially, and physically. Hie wife's relations dia- owned him, and sl] deserted him save an only sis- ter. She clung to him with a true devotion, trying to xave him. Finally he descended to the lowest depths of drunkencess ond became s perfect fot. Still the sister held on. She would not give him up. With much difiiculty she ot him into an ine- briate asylum, and by tender nursing restored him to reason and sobriety. By this time all his own meand and his sister's had been exbausted, and they came hither in queat of cmployment. After vari- ous experiences he got a situation as a chorus sin er in an operatic troupe, and then attracted notice by his artistic sinzing, until at length he driftea into a minstrel troupe on a handsome ealary. He is entirely cured of drinking anda model of de- portment. His sister keeps house, and & more at- tentive brother does not live. TOW A GHOST CAME NEAR BEING SHOT. A Williamsburz man came near meeting his death recently owing to a strange freak of play- ing ghost for the frightening of his own chil- dren. He was an occupant of a floor in a first- class tenement house, sometimes called a Freoch flat, and one evening wrapped himself ina sheet and emerged suddenly from a room ad- joining that occupied as a sitting-room by his fam- jly. The children fled into the hallway, aud the man (whose name by the way is Matthews) in his white robe followed them. Just then the occa- pant of another floor happened to enter the build- ing and, hearing the noise, walked up stairs to as- certain the canse. As he did €0 the ghost-like form_appeared, wherenpon the latest comer, & voush, practical _sort of fellow, drew a pistol and fired. The ball grazed the head of the would be-gboat, and his habiliments dropped from him in an 1mstant, 8 he retreated to his own room. The assailant, gupposing tho retreating forn to be that of a thief, fired a sccand sbot, which fortanate- 1y missed him, and the whole house was spcedil; inan uproar. 'The police were summoned, an the parues all_taken to the station. As nobyy was hurt, the Police Captain released them witha reprimand, and_there is no danger that Matthews will ever agaia try to play the ghust. ONE OF STRAKOSCH'S SCUEMES MELTING AWAY. The papers have been filled with grandilo- quent stories of the schemes of Max Strakosch for building a magnificent opera-house in this city, to be free from the exactionsand restraints of the present Academy of Music. As only one Opera season in ten was ever knownto pay the les- sees in this city, the ides of another opera-house seerms upon its face eminently absurd; but Strakosch Dhas managed to convince a few editors and reporters that the feason why the eeasonsat the Academy have been such dismml foilures is that the best seats have been re- served for the stockholders, Considering that there are hundreds of equally desirable seats, and that the emptiness of these fatter forms the true cause of non-success, the allezed reason is some what attenuated. But it has lenked out that Strak- osch has been blinded with the hope that z certain ricn old bachelor, who was relwned about' s year 2go o the intended doour of a farve sum as an en- dowment fund for a musical college in Central Park, might be persuaded to alter Lis intention so astogivethe money to Strakosch for the new opera- honse scheme. ‘The hope is forever blasted by the discovery that the old man's intention was con- tingent upon his success in a lawsuit to recover the estate of an only brother, also a bachelor, who died several years ago. If he recovered the money he would endow a college, and if he did not. why he would not give it, etc., etc. The party referred to is Mr. Samuel A. Wood, who is suing for the property of his brother, now pos- Bessed by a nephev, to whom it was left under 8 will executed 3 few days before his death, under ijt j8 cloimed) an nnduc inuence, The survivor aad his brother had had an understanding for sears that, upon the deccaee of either, the other was to inherit his estate. The present 3ir. Wood has expended over $100,000 in fighting the willy ‘but the day when 3Max Strakouch will get snything from this eonrce is far, far distant. AN EFPECTIVE DRAMATIC ACTION. A reputation for positive opinfons is some- times dangerous. The stage-doorkeepes of ons , e —— of our city theatres found it so afew nights ag0, when he was the victim of 3 scene not down cn. thebills. Heisamanof strong political eenti- meats,which ke thrusts ioto anybody’s fave, and upon two oreasions since the last election he s been engaged in rough-and-tamble fghts in fartherance of his own political belief. Last Sat. urday evening he was attending door as usual wher & rap summoned him to open sesame. A3 soun ns be did eo amuflled etranger appeared and ex- claimed, ** Peter Conper isnat elected. yousoul.™ and struck the astonished doorke: kes foll in the facc before he could recover. Tie stranger fled precipitately, and the doorkeeper shonted for the police. As they were in front of tic house of course their presence was neither speedy nor effective. The victim of this assault is con- vinced nuUTe that political discussions are demoial- izing, and the lesson he has received has been fol- jowed by an admonition from the manager to cease walking politics to the attaches of Bas no further Intereet 1n electionn . e H¢ DISCIPLES OF CREMATION. Probably it will not be many months before 1 National Convention of Cremationists will be beld somewhere in this benizhted country. Why not! We hold conventions to promota every conceivable object which affects the living —why hot give the dead a chance? The late Baron Palm has created for greater scosation as a corpse than he ever did as a living being. and now his disciples and followersz, Col. Olcott and a few others, arcactnally inviting publicofliciuls here and eleewhere to witness the cre the Baron’s mortal remains in Washin U's., =ome time hence. True, the Baron has b dead eix months, and his corpse must be elichtly de- composed ere this, in spite of embaim The lizncous flnid and 'oily matter of tie corpie may not make 80 lively a combustion as ngood, ieaithy, fresh corpse would nnder similar circamstances, out a trifle of benzine mjected into the body misht snpply the dedeiency. Evidently the cremationista are in earnest, for here I3 another victim of it: Ung ax Henry Stein, a resident of South Sccond street, Brooklyn, E. D.. dicd the other day, and, after disposing of fome real estate ;n Omaha and Rrooklyn to bis relatives, he dirscted that, in cvent of any society cxisting for tnc burn- |ing of deud bodies, “hix own rewains be handed over to tne eaid society for cremation, but if no such opportunity was olered, he frotest- ed against the waste of moncy in an cxpensive.fu- neral, and_iimited the ex, of his own fanera] 10 the f:moble sum of 50, ‘Che will has hecn fled with the Srrozate, but Stein's body lics in the cold, coid ground. INTRODUCTIONS TO ACTRESSES. 1t was [reely charged by the seceding members of the Lotos"Club who formed the ¢ Arcadian that its privileges had been abused by letting in §0 many members, merely to get an entree to the society of leading actors and actresses who were guestsat the Lotos rooms. There was consideruble trathin the charge. All over this city there is o cluss of people, mostly young men, who are sntions st all times to get ncqueinted with actresees, and probably hundreds of men conld be found who would willingly nay 325 to $100 for personal in- truduction to such ‘actresses as Adélaide Nellson, Clara Morris, Fanny Davenport. and others. In- stances have been known where younz men hava waited a half hour after Saturday matinee - per- formances at our popular theatres to get a sight of the faces (off the stage) of prominent actresses as they bave left the premites to 2o 1o their homes. Some rich anecdotes of the udventures of actre-ses with ardent admirers, such as holdinz the:r carriage doors, chaniing plices with the coachmen, carrying notes into their presence. and waiting upon them in the capacity of inquirers after the whereabouts of people in the profession. have been told. Of all the woft admirers of popular actresses the most guehing and enthusiastic are those young striplings just ont of collefif. who zre allowed to write skefches for the weekly papers and print the names of their journals upon their cards. Ask Funny Davenport liow iany so-called Jjournalists she has on her list of personal caliers. A MODEL CASE OF INTRODUCTION. The admirers of stage women are sometimes badly sold, and the following Is related asa case in point. At one of our city theatres not long ago two well-dressed young fops were seated in. orchestra chairs, and amused themselves dis- cussing the private character of one of the act- resses then upon the staze. After the recital of a scandaloas story concerning her, one of the fops remaried, ** By Jove, I would give 320 for an an introyuction to her.”' A quiet, elderly party, who eat just in front, coolly turned zround and asked the speaker if he was really in varnest. The latter nmswered that he was, and woald give it willingly. The clderly party responded that he accepted the aifer. and would carry it out t onco. Bidding the young fellows follow him, he zained access o the ‘stage-door, and, sendinz his card to the actress in question, she roon arrived. Pre- viously he received the 320, and when the woman came nto thelr presence the elderly person began 23 follows: -*Gentlemen, allow me to in- troduce to you 3Mrs. —,'my wife.” Tho fellows were satistied and rashed from ber presence as if stricken mad. They thought they were unknown, but it turns out the hushand koew them all the time, and deemed it a proper way to rebuke their insolence. AN ARAB GOING INTO BUSINESS. A FPhiladelphian tells a story of a discharged Turk from one of the Oriental booths on the Centennial grounds, who remarked thut *Py dam, I vill have to go pack into de cheap cloth- ing business.” There are doubtless a number of these ex-Turks who have resumed their former avocation in cigar-stands and elsewhere. However, a genuire Arab entered the Mayor's office in this city a few days ago, and, through an Inter- preter, asked for a license to sell zoods In this city direct from the Holy Land. He produced certifi- cates from the priests of St. Catherine's Church in Dethlehem that his articles are gennine pro- ductions of Palestine. and soliciting ~ fa- vors to him to promote their rale in this city. This man sabsequentiy transferred a bank- account from Pkiladelphia to New York, and ad- mitted that he had ma:e over $10,000 profit upon 0ods_sold at the Centennial. Hia name is Salah llcatin, ana be is bright specimen of an Oriental trader. PERSECUTED FOR BEING A WITCH. I it were not for the ignorance manifested in other respects, it would seem strange that any considerable number of people living in this city at this period should harbor a suspicion that there are such creatures as witches around. Yet it seems that a poor old Frenchwoman has been per- secuted from house to house for over a year, just ‘becanse it was suspected that she had the power to cause death by cursmg. She lived in a earret ina tenement house on Pitt strect, on the east side, and while there provoked the ire of some Bohemian boys by acclentally pouring some soap- suds (needed donbtlesa) upon them. ‘Tney Inid in wait for her and threw stones at her until’ she was actually afraid to venture ont. One day they wera unusually spiteful, and she vented herapleen apon them in good French. They did not understana this, but one of them suggested that she was curs- inghim. Shortly after, the boy was taken sfck and ied, and the story of the alieged ‘curse™ and the boy's death were told as if connected. The father met the woman and gave her sucha look that she turned away from him in fear. This, man died wome weeks Ilater, and his_{friends were .50 convinced that the woman's look of fear meantanother curse that they drove the woman oat of the honse. The story fol- lowed her, and when ehe was newly located another of the gang of boys who had first assauited her died., Then there was no peace for the old woman, und she thus moved around three times, The street boys call her a witch, and a green grocer (literally) declined to seli hergoode. A policemau who in- Vestigated the matter found several hundred people who firmiy believe the poor Frenchwoman Is a ver- itable witch or sorceress. THE POOL-MONEY QUESTION is still exciting the minds of thousands. Thers is sald to be an old law confiscating the stakes of all gambling bets to the benefit of the State charities, and the lawyers are now hanting up precedents for seizing the funds. As the story goes, some of the Charity Commissioners are per- sonally intercsted in the pools, and if 20 it is not expected their confiscatory operations will be very vigorons. Bravzr. "“LET BE! Ah, yes; we tell the good and evil trees By fruits; but how tell these t 'ho does not know That good and ill Are done in secret still, And that which shows 18 verily but show ! How high of heartis one, nndone how sweet of mood: guc not ail fiela‘hlhlml‘:scn, Nor every sweetnesa good; And grag will mmexi‘mu Itk where who conld guess ! Tneeritic. of his kind, Dealing to_each his sbare, With eas; bmmfilhfd ‘alb:.lh initiied, May not Impossibly have In him Aeins bosmmer slobe or thickly-padded pod, Some small seed dear to God. Haply yon wretch, =o famoua for his falln, Got them beneath the Devil-defended wails Of some high Virtue he had vow'd to wing And that which yn'? aod I Call nis besetting sin To bat the fume of his pecutiar fire Of inmost contrary desire, And means wild willingness for her to die, Dash'd with despondence of her Iangh 50 sweet; He flercer fighting, in his worat defeat, Than I or yor, That only courteons greet ‘Where he docs hotly woo, Did ever fizht, in ous best victory. ‘Another Is mistook. Thro' his deceit!ul likeness to his look. Let be. letbe. ¥y should I clear myself, why answer thou for 0 me? That shaft of slander shot _\[X!!'t!l only the right blot. ;;en the n“m:& ey cannot s ‘Tl.a{ery just they blame The Lh‘lfi that's not. —London Spectator. R .~

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