The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 13, 1896, Page 8

8 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1896 BROWN'S TRIAL NEARLY ENDED, All the Evidence Is Now in Possession of the Council. WANT A VERDICT TO-DAY Charges of Intimidation Strongly Supported by New Wit- nesses. DR. BROWN AND A YOUNG GIRL. Incident of Long Ago Recalled by Her Vote Against the Pastor Recently. The case for and against Dr. Brown closed 1ast night. e of evidence of a substan- which could be brought nsed man has been listened - sifted by the repre ational rche ss they have heard the i offered by Dr. Brown, until now his ecclesiastical brethren are in a position to determine the truth or falsity of the tives of the ( W rescast the verdict, but g opinion that it will be e than un terial conduct. ch a verdict will be gov- ¢ by its wording. rnoon session of the council was confined almost entirely to the intro- duction of evidence relative to Dr. Brown's attitude toward Mrs. Davidson following the payment of $500 bush money. Deacons Hatch and Barnard were confi- dent that Dr. Brown had called on Mrs, Davidson between the 4th and 18th ‘of De- cember to speck at the Wednesday night ver meeting. Mrs.” Evans and Deacon confident that if . Davidson had taken part in the ex- s she had done so voluntarily. The evening session was devoted to hear- timony relating to the alleged The council will meet this morning at 0, and at 11 o’clock Pastor Brown is 10 expected to make his concluding argu- ment. S POINTED TESTIMONY. Deacon Hatch Swore That Dr. Brown Asked Mrs. « son to Pray. There was the usual crowd of curious church people in the dark. damp and t David- ding, ement of the church at the after- noon s n. Whiie waiting for the council to make its appearance the crowd read THE CaLn and chatted and iped. Then, as the hour of 2 drew near, they moved their cha r to the platform and prepared themselves for the enjoyment of the usual matinee as Sexton Pike lighted the gas and caused the cellar microbes to scurry to the dark corners of the room. A group of young women not far from the platform were giggling over the re- cital of one of Miss Hattie Cooper’s bon mots. The story, as told by the pretty girl to whom Miss Cooper narrated it, was to the ct that when she called upon Mrs. Gordon of the Christian Co-operative So- ciety for certain information respecting the church scandal Mrs. Gordon was at first inclined to wash her hands of the le matter. Finaliy she said, with a rity and solemnity aimost ludicrous, as she pointed to the portrait of a lady friend banging on the wall, “That girl’s mother sent her up here from Fresno for me to take charge of her. What if I let her go up to that there church to one of them prayer-meetings—where would she be no Dr. Hoyt opened the proceedings by an- nouncing that Mr. Bickford had. brought to the council the five-galion coal oil can and the vaiise in which he found the Over- man-Tunnell letters. Some of the letters were addressed to Mrs. Tunnell under the name of Fowler. This is a corroboration of the fact an- nounced in a recent dispatch to the effect that Mrs. Tunnell was in the Mexican town of Ensenada, in Lower California, under the name of Fowler. The first witness of the afternoon was Dr. Rae. He was asked as to the selection of the choir for the Smith revival meet- ings in January and February. He told about Mrs. Brown saying to him that if he asked Mrs. Stockton to come upon the platform Mrs. Brown and others would re- fuse to go there. Mrs. Brown gave no yeason for her request. She did not say that she aid not like Mrs. Stockton’s voice, and she did not object to any one else. It will be remembered that Mrs. Brown testified that she had objected to Dr. Rae’s selecting Mrs. Stockton as one of the cho- rus, because Mrs. Brown did not like Mrs. Etockton’s voice, and also that she (Mrs. Brown) had objected to the selection of others at the same time. The witness, Rae, was positive that Mrs. Brown did not object to any others. Dr. Brown took Dr. Rae by the hand as Le was leaving the platform and greeted him with, “God bless you, brother.”” Then Dr. Brown turned to some sympathizing women sitting behind him and remarked in a loud voice: *“That’s the kind of witnesses we put on.” Deacon Morse laid his hand on Dr. Brown’s shoulder and quieted him, and Attorney Nagle sighed resignedly. V. A. 8 cholson, attorney at law, told about the visit of Bickford to his office with a_proposition to sell the Overman- Tunneli letters to Dr. Brown or his coun- sel for §1000, and how he (Nicholson) in- dignantly spurned the proposition. Some dispute arose at this point as to whether Bickford’s partner was named Dowling or Darling, and the witness set- tled the matter by remarking that the ladies called him ‘‘Darling,” while the men called him “Dowling.” The moderator announced that it wasin evidence that Mrs.. Tunnell had handed Bicktord the valise containing tne letters to keep for her, and that therefore Bick- ford could not have been guilty of bur- glary. The witness said he would not believe the testimony of any man who would do as Bickford had done. ? Deacon Theodore Hatch, a mild-man- erizzly little man with short beard an intellectual looking forehead, was tilled to the stand for the purpose of telling thout Mrs Davidson's presence at praver i and her participation therein. ked whether he remembered Mrs. Dav:dson to have led in prayer or to have y remarks by request of Dr, Brown, id that he did. It was in Decem- the middle of that month. Dr. Brown sai **We are always glad to hear ¥om our sister Davidson.” The witness’ memory was refreshed by the fact of her urrest, and then he remembered back at #hat time that Dr. Brown had asked Sister DBavidson to say something. The importance of this testimony lies in | DGE_ Jv NI(HO L SON \ » | DEAcon Mogse—. the fact that Dr. Brown paid Mrs. David- | son $500 in November, nearly a month before he called upon Mrs. D: son at the prayer meeting as Sister Davidson. < | The witness, on the cross-examination, | expressed himself as certain about the te and about the fact that Dr. Brown | vited her by name to pray or make some | remarks. As near as he could remember this happened on Wednesday, December | 18. He believed also that Mrs. Davidson | spoke and prayed at the meeting of De- cember 11. The witness was positive that | Dr. Brown called upon her by name, and | the cross-examination by Mr. Nagle failed | to shake him. Dr. Brown took up the witness where | Mr. Nagle had dropped him and asked: | “Are you aware that five persons have already testified before this council thatI | not only did not call upon Mrs. Davidson | but that there was a positive look of dis- gust on my face when she arose?’” The witness replied that he was not | present when that testimony was given. | Dr. Brown assured him that such was the fact, but Deacon Hatth persisted in his statement that he was confident that Dr. Brown called upon Mrs. Davidson to speak. Deacon Dewing came next, and testified that Mrs. Davidson took part in the prayer-meetings during the month of December at least once, but that he could not remember that Dr. Brown called upon her. o In reply to & question by Judge Advo- cate Woodhams, the witness replied that he did not know of Dr. Brown having re- ceived a call to an Eastern church in the latter part of November. Dr. Brown, with an air of alertness, arose to his feet and asked the judge advocate what was the purport of the question about the call to the Eastern church. Mr. Woodhams replied that he wanted to know why Mrs. Davidson knew that he had had a call to another church when the deacons of the chureh did not know it. Deacon Morse, Dr. Brown’s right-hand friend, took the witness-chair and told the counc:l that Dr. Brown had informed him | last November that he had the expectancy of a call to a church n Philadelphia and to another in_Brooklyn, N. Y. Dr. Brown had expressed himself in favor of accept- ing the call should it come. Dr. Brown explained to the council that Mrs. Davidson had only guessed about the call from certain remarks that had been dropped by him. Mrs. Evans, an elderly woman, testified that she was sitting in front of Mrs. Davidson on the night of Wednesday, December 18. and she remembered dis- tinctly that Dr. Brown neither asked Mrs. Davidson to pray, nor commended her after she had finished. It was this unusunal ssion on the part of Dr. Brownt attracted her attention to the fact that Mrs. Davidson had not been asked on that occasion. She added: “When my daughter read the news about Mrs. Davidson's arrest she said to me ‘That explains the reason why Dr. Brown had such a look of disgust on his face that night when Mrs. Davidson was speaking.’ '’ ] Deacon Barnard was recalled and swore that Dr. Brown called upon Mrs. David- son on the evenings of the 11th and 18th of December. On the last-named evening the subject of Mrs. Davidson’s remarks was ““Prophecy.’” ““Yon feel so sure, that the testimony of others to the contrary does not make you waver in your belief?"” asked Dr. Tenney. ““Yes, sir; I am positive that Dr. Brown called upon her by name. On the evening ot the 15th of December she read some- thing out of the Bible.”” ok ‘“‘Are you as positive that he called on her on the evening of the 11th as you are that he called on Ler on the 18th,” asked Mr. Nagle. *Yes, sir.” ‘‘Suppose it should turn out that she was not here on the 11th, but that she was at- tending a meeting somewhere else ?” “If she was not there,” replied Deacon Barnard, ‘I would be mistaken.” Judge Advocate Woodhams asked Dr. Brown as to the names of the witnesses who had testified that Mrs. Davidson was | absent on_the evening of the lith of e- | cember. Dr. Brown replied that he be- lieved that Miss Overman had so testified, whereupon the faces of a majority of the members of the council were overspread with a smile like unto that with which Bret Harte's heathen Chinee sat down to | chosen vessel of the Lord, 1 Woo the historic poker game. The Judge Advocate read from a morn- ing paper copies of letters written by Miss Overman to Mrs, Davidson, in which letters Miss Overman speaks most fer- vently of her friendship for Mrs. David- | son. She also refers to Dr. Brown and to religious matters. Inthe letter of February 20 Miss Over- man asked: “What do you mean by say- | ing that Mrs. Brown seemed differentat | prayer-meeting? Did you mean differ- | ent from herself usually or different from the doctor?” In the letter of March 17 she announced | that Mrs. Tunnell was then on the way to | visit her, and that she (Mattie) would en- | joy her visit very much. She also spoke of her belief that Dr. Brown was like a | It was full of | pious expressions, as were all the letters, and was signed **Yours, in Christ, Mattie.” In the succeeding letter Miss Overman erows facetious over the tilt between Dr. Brown and Dr. Herron and remarks “The future smacks of herring (Herron) not dried nor fried, but rather pickled for | use.”’ Among the letters was oneldated July 3, which Mr- Woodhams explained was one of the five which she had rewritten and changed. By request of Mr. Nagle, Mr. dhams read. the preceding letter— that of June 12, and the succeeding one—that of July 10, for the purpose of showing the lack of harmony between them and that of July 3. In the letter of July 3 Miss Overman an- nounces her intention of starting for San Francisco within eight days. She adds: “I am sure of a welcomeé from one at any rate, dear (yourself). If I am making a mistake 1 cannot suffer any more, but this seems the only way for an advantageous future and, perhaps, for a lesson to one whom we know.” 4 In the next letter, under date of July 10, the writer says that she could not start for San Francisco because she had not suc- ceeded in getting some money that she expected. n response to a question by the modera- tor, Mr. Woodhams explained that the letters had been given to him by the edi- tor of a morning newspaper. There being no furtber witnesses, the council adjourned until 7 . M. for private session. SEEE R d THREATS OF SCANDAL. Serious Charges Against Dr. Brown Investigated Last Night. Only the favored few—the elect—such as the defendant and witnesses on both sides, were admitted to the council chamber last night. It was a session from which the public were excluded,” but the newspaper reporters were -admitted upon their pledging themselves not to make public the names of certain witnesses who were expected to testify before the council. Half a loaf of dry bread being better. than no sandwich, the reporters took the pledge. Rev. Mr. Vrecland, with much fervor, opened the session with prayer, which was, in substance, as follows: We have praved day and night, and our hearts have gone out unto thee. Our thoughts have been busy in all this tortuous matter, and we pray again to-night for the light which Thou canst give, the light of truth and love and vindication’ and clearness, the light of pureness and of innocence which shall shine as from thy tace upon all those things. We pray jor clearnéss of thought, for ear- nestness of spirit, for strength and wisdom of mind. We pray that those interests which center here may be such, and their outcome such, that here shall be clearness, praise to thy Dame, gratitude of heart and new life for this church and its pastor. Dr. Brown responded ‘‘Amen!” with great unction, and the decks having thus been cleared for action the mod- erator announced that the council was ready to take up the chargegrefarred by a member of the church that Dr. Brown had attempted to intimidate a young woman member of the church to prevent her from voting or acting against him. The person preferring the charge named his own condition as to the terms upon which the witnesses would appear and testify, They were that no one should be present save the witnesses who were to be examined upon that matter, the council, one deacoh to represent the church and the newspaper reporters, who had pledged themselves as a condition precedent to their being permitted to remain that they would not publish the names of any of the witnesses. Deacon Morse requested that he be per- mitted to remain, but the young man pre- ferring the charges would ‘not consent, as | out and deprive Dr. Brown of the advice of | | days Vasconcellos remaining to represent the deacons. Deacon Morse made a touching plea, that 1is, it would, have been touching if 1t had touched | the right spot. He said: “The young lady who is to appear on this stand is as | dear to me as my own daughter. She is my righthand man, so to speak, in the Sunday-school, and God knows I don’t wish to intimidate” her by my presence, and rather than have any discussion about the matter I will retire.” Having thus metaphorically attired the rosecuting witness in bloomers, Deacon Morse, with a very dignified air, walked forthinto the outer darkness. Then the judge-advocate remarked that | the person_bringing the charges objected | to Lawyer Nagle remaining in the room. ! Mr. Nagle rose, blushing with surprise. | “If you are willing,”” he remarked, more in | sarcasm than in sorrow, “that I should go | his counsel in this inyestigation, I shall do | 0. I wish you had told me this three vs ago, and you could have run this thing yourself.” Mr. Nagle had his hat in his hand and was showing up a fine front as he almost stumbled over Valley Brown, who was sit- ting under the piano, with his feet occupy- ing the path leading to the door. Moderator McLean with a good-humored smile remarked: “In thatevent the council would have been happier.” “‘Perhaps they wouid,” retorted Mr. Nagle, detiantly, “and a good many more people would have been happier.” With this doxology Mr. Nagle melted away into the unknown, but he did not slam the door as Deacon Morse did. The episode seemed to have put Dr. Brown in good humor. He actually smiled as his attorney went, leaving nim that most helpless of beings in the eye of the law—an orphan ad- litem. The young woman who had the griev- ance against Dr. Brown was sworn, and read her statement from manuscript. Her story was to the effect that on Sunday afternoon, February 9, of this year, she arrived at the church shortly before the opening of her Sunday-school class. Dr. Brown asked her for a private conversa- tion, and called his wife to be a witness to it. Dr. Brown began by asking the young woman whether she remembered cominfi out of the big organ of the churc on a certain afternoon with the organ-repairer a year and a half before that time. The statement at this point went on to explain that on Saturday afternoon, eighteen months before, while Sexton Stévenson was in the church, and while she was waiting for the coming of several young ladies engaged in decorating ~ the church, she inspected the interior of the big organ with the organ repairer. While so engaged Dr. Brown came in, and she waved her hand at him between the pipes and asked him if he could see her. &'{e replied yes. She remained in the organ inspecting its various parts about fifteen minutes, and that was all that happened at that time. Returning to the conversation with Dr. and Mrs. Brown, the statement went on to say that Dr. Brown recalled this circum- stance to the witness and announced that he wasin hisstudy while she and the organ- repairer, a man of middle age and above reproach, were examining the organ. He, Dr. Brown heard them talking for five minutes, and that then there was silence for about ten minutes. He said: I have told nobody but Mrs. Brown. Now, if this thing should get into the newspapers it would ruin you.'”” He then went on to tell her that he had never been scen coming from any lodging-house with any woman, and that the witness nad no right to accuse him. The witness asked, in surprise, as to what way she had accused him, and he said that she had done so_by her action in voting against bim. Hesaid: “I shall not give '.Eiu to the press, but should it come out your character would never be clear.” She repeated this conversation to her mother and to several of her friends and jotted down on the same day her recollec- tion of it. A young gentleman friend of hers called upon the doctor foran explana- tion, but the doctor brushed him off with the remark that it was not any of the young man’s affair, On the Monday morning following she and her mother called upon the doctor at his residence for an explanation, and the doctor repeated his observations, and added that he did not even suspect that the young lady harbored a thought of wrong. When the mother of witness asked i [he had already consented to Deacon | Dr. Brownon that occasion what he had against her daughter, he replied by asking what she would have thought had she seen him and Miss Overman coming from the trapdoor of the organ, He then re- peated the organ incident. Dr. Brown added in that interview, referring to the witness, *'If she stabs me acain I shall not keep quiet any longer.” He insisted that her action would defeat his case in the courts. The witness asked in her statement why had not Dr. Brown brought the nratter up eighteen months before, and why he should have broached the matter just after she had voted against him ? B One of the members of the council an- nounced that the witness was his niece, and for that reason he would request that he be excused from voting or taking any other active part in the matter. His reauest was granted. In answer to questions by Dr. Tenney, the witness explained that she brought the charges because she wished to defend her good name. She had been urged to take this course by her family, and she desired to lay the affair before the council as a matter of duty. “Did I say to you, ‘I have you in my power?’ " asked Dr. Brown in the cross- examination. “Yes.” “You are very sure of that?”’ es, T am sure of it.” *Did I not say that I would like you to be as charitable in your judgment of my conduct as 1 have been toward you fora year and a half.” “You might have said somethin,g like that. I have that in my statement.” “Did I ask you for your vote?” “No, sir.” “How did 1 threaten you?" *“You said that you would give it to the newsyuyers if I stabbed you again.” “Did I not say,” resumed Dr. Brown, ** ‘if this matter sbould get into the newspapers would it not make a scandal?’ You said that,” replied the witness, “and you said that you would give 1t to the press.” ““Was not this what I said, ‘That even as innocent an act as vours if given to the newspapers would be liable to misinter- retation and scandal?” You admit that said that I had no suspicion of any wrongdoing in the organ?” *‘You said that you didn’t thmk there was any cause for suspicion, but you did not say that there was not,” replied the witness. ‘The mother of the young woman also presented a statement, under oath, cor- roborating her dnuiblar'u testimony as to the conversation had in Dr. Brown’s house. Dr. Brown asked the privilege of givin, his version of the case. In a matter-of- fact way he told of the organ episode and his later reason for requesting the young lady to withhold judgmentin hisown case, The pastor declared with much earnest- ness that he had not meant to threaten the accusing witness, but merely to remind her that she was under great obligation to him for witoholding from the public a pos- sible unpleasant event in her life. Dr. Brown acknowledged the unim- peachable character of ‘the younF lady, and failed to see why she should have seen proper to misinterpret his remark. The witness took occasion to refer to the affidavit of Mrs. Lena Blanchard. He said that no intimidation had been used in this case, but that she toldSher if she failed to sign what he had sworn to the revious evening he would consult the Ehiel of Police. Mrs. Blanchard then signed the document. ; At the conclusion of Dr. Brown’s state- ment Dr. Freeland moved that Attorney Nagle be not heard by the council again. E. C. Williams promptly seconded the motion, but before it could be placed be- fore the house Dr. Tenney made an amend- ment to the effect that” Mr. Nagle be re- quired to apologize. . This precipitated numerous motions, ending finally in Mr. Nagle’s being ex- cludeff from the deliberations of the coun- cil as Dr. Brown’s attorney, and, further, that the case of the prosecution and de- fense be declared closed. Dr. Brown was instructed to be present to-day at 11 o’clock, prepared to make his argument, after which the couneil will go into executive session. + The council adjourned to meet at 10:30 o'clock to-day. Joseph Leonard was arrested in New York the other day lor stealing a door- mat. He told the Judge that he took it because the word “Welcome” was on it. HOW VOICES ARE RUINED. Frau Mauterna Describes the Effects of Singing Music Drama. WAGNER WROTE “BEL CANTO.” The Prima Donna Says Too Many Giris Rush, Half Prepared, on the Stage. There are few women on the lyric stage to-day who have oftener stretched out the hand of good fellowship to struggling young artists than Frau Materna. She is always ready with a word of valuable ad- vice or whole-souled encouragement, when her professional work brings her in contact with young and talented singers, but woe betide the young person of slen- der talent and big ambition, who stumbles across Materna’s path, for she never flat- ters mediocrity. Materna was asked yesterday tosay a few words of wisdom about Wagnerian singing, and its effect on the voice, for who | is so qualified to speak on the subject as | the woman who created the roles of his | heroines for Wagner himself? ‘*‘Ach! that is the thing I love most to talk of,” said Materna in her genial frank way, for | 1 there is nothing haughty or commanding | in private life about this Brunhilde, though she positively over- powers one with her majesty on the stage. When you talk to Materna, though, you forget that she is a celebrity. If she had | spent her life in knitting stockings and | concocting stews, you could not feel more at home with her, or more assured that she is the sort of woman who would sym- pathize with you if you were in trouble. “I am so sorry that I speak not English better,” sald the prima donna apolofi,eu- cally. “German is the tongue I have always sung in, even when I was singing ‘Fidelio,” *Africanna’ and the other operas of the old repertory. *You ask, ‘Does singing Wagner music wear out the voice?” I must answer ‘no.’ Twenty-five years ago, when I began to sing the master’'s music, all the people said to me, ‘Oh! my dear Materna, in years you will have no voice; you will have screamed it all away.” Well, that is twenty-five years ::igo. and my voice is as | strong as ever and the high tones are | clearer. I was a mezzo-soprano when Wagner first began to teach me his roles. His music wants very high and very low notes. At first I would say, ‘Oh, no, not so high as that,” but he would say, ‘That must be sung, try,” and always I found he knew best. “There is one mistake that many peofile who try to sing Wagner’s music make. ‘They think it is%ond and strong, and that | so they must always practice at full voice. | That wears out their voices. I have always practiced mezzo voce, for, if you can sing a thing with the half voice, to yourself, you can always sing it with the full voice when you are before the public. “Much depends upon the conductor. A man who knows and understands Wagner subdues the orchestra so that the sound does not overwhelm the singer. How great poor Hermann Levy was for that. It was a joy to sing ‘Parsifal’ to his con- ducting.” i Materna was alluding regretfully to the great Wagnerian conductor who is report- ed lately to have become insane and who has been forced to retire from the conduc- torship of the Hof Theater of Munich. “But anyway, a singer who produces her voice properly can never force her tones,” continued Materna thoughtfully. “If she produces it so,” and the disciple of Wag- ner gave a deep guttural roar, ‘‘her voice must wear out very soon, for she is strain- ing the muscles of her throat: but if the | sound reverberates so,”” and this time Ma- | terna emitted a tone that rang forward on ‘racy in S8an Francisco. her palate, after which she added compla- cently, “that sort of production does not wear out the voice.” Wagner’s great motto, according to Ma- terna, was to make his artists sing as they spoke. ‘“No faces, no contortions, he abominated all. those unnatural things. Oh! it is terrible to see the way some singers twist their mouths out of shape, when they might sing as easily and natur- ally as they talk if they would only try. But I will tell you what is the first real es- sential for Wagner singing, and that is to have the bel canto before {ou begin to study the music dramas. All the time I see poor girls going on the stage with only three or four tones in their voices and they sing Elsa and Eva and Senta. Poor little things; they are almost children and they have not studied half enough. In two years their voices are gone, but it is not singing Wagner that has ruined them: oh, no, it is because they began to strain their voices in difficult parts before they had ac- uired enough school to know how to use them. It is terrible nowadays now many unprepared young ladies go on the stage.” rau Materna says that she attributes ber own success in the music dramas terrible | § wish to make to you the announcement as a matter of news that from now on the Democratic organ of this City will baci this movement, and I hope tha: in the future you will all look to the Examiner for_the legitimate news of what s going on in Democratic politics. 3 After a brief reference to the Fire De- partment and other branches of the muni- cipal government, he concluded by saying that the slogan of the party should be: “An honest government by honest offi- cials for all the people.”” L. M. Manzer was nominated vice-chair. man by Mr. Jacobs. His election was by acclamation. Jonn F. McGovern was elected secretary and [. Gutte treasurer without opposition. - M. Doyle of the Thirty-seventh District moved the appointment of a committee of nineteen on rules and by-laws, to report at the next meeting, and the motion was adopted. i The appcintment of a committee on grievances was the subject of a motion by Major Harney. The major wanted the committee to consist of one member from each Assembly district, to be appointed by the chair. B Mr. Fenton thought the districts should have the privilege of naming their mem- bers on the committee. An amendment providing a place for the chairman and secretary on the committee was accepted and the motion thusamended was put. L The ayes were obviously in the majority, but a call of the roll was demanded and resulted 247 for and 73 against. £ Clitus Barbour presented a resolution providing for the appointment of a com- mittee of fifteen to go befors the Demo- ic_State Central Committee next , clothed with authority to ex- press the sentiments of the committee as voicing the best interests and wishes of the Democratic majority of the City. Gavin McNab took the floor and deliv- ered a stirring address on Democracy in general and the local party in particu- taking Buckley as the target for his rering sarcasm and biting satire. He aid that the -blind boss’ and his follow- ing had all but ruined the Democracy of the State, but the moral element was too powerful and has prevailed. He traced the dissension in the party from the time of Pond’s nomination, showing the demoral- izing effect of the Buckley element. 7 After the appointment of the followi commiitee of fifteen in pursuance of the resolution’the meeting adjourned: M. C. Hassett, J. D. Phelan, G. 1. Marye Jr., E. B. Pond, James Denman, Max Popper, L. | Gutte, Clitus Barbour, P. J. Harney, Jere- miah Lynch, Max Greenblatt, E. H. Thompeon, W. Butler. - ONDRICEK AND MATERNA. Scenes of Enthusiasm at Last Night's Auditorium Concert. Very unlike a placid, decorous S8an Fran- cisco audience was the hali-filled house that greeted Madame Materna and Franz Ondricek at the Auditorium last night. Perhaps the reason for the building not be- ing crowded was that this City has had a plethora of virtuosi lately, but it isalong time since the biggest house here has in- dulged in such frantic enthusiasm as was aroused by the two artists last night. It was Ondricek, the Bohemian violinist, who first set the enthusiasm goine. At the close of Ernst’s concerto Pathe- tico there was a frantic demand for an encore, to which Ondricek responded by laying Schumann’s *“Evening Song.” he succeeding numbers only confirmed the zood impression made by the artist. The vocalist of the concert was Materna, the like of whora has not been heard in this City for years. It is all very well to say that Materna has been sing- ing Wagner music for twenty-five years, and that before afmearing in music drama she sang the older operas, and as a very young girl she appeared in operetta. These facts only prove Amalia Materna to be the greater artist. The difficult “‘Liebestod” from *‘Tristan and Isolde” showed the wear and tear in Materna's voice more, but she rendered it with consummate art, and won so deter- mined an encore_that she finally hil to piead fatigue in dumb show to escape jing- ing again. Fickstone showed himself te be an ex- cellent accompanist, and his playing of Liszt's Sixth Rhapsodie was much ap- plauded. The next concert will be given to-morrow afternoon, and there will be a grand popular concert on Sunday evening. —_———— Manufacturers’ Annual Meeting. The Manufacturers’ and Producers’ Associa- tion has decided to hold its annual meeting March 25, or the last Wednesday of the month. At that meeting the directors for the following year will be elected. . Henry W. Sage, the benefactor, whose birthday Cornell recently celebrated, has given that university at different times sums ameunting to $1,155,000. As the Cornell Sun puts it, without Mr. Sage’s eift Cornell would not be a university at all, but merely a polytechnio institute. One of the most notable of his gifts is Sage Hall, for women. NEW TO-DAY. 6 Red Letter largely to the fact that she understood bel canto and could sing Mozart’s florid arias before she began to study Wagner's music. She scorns the idea that thers 1s no bel canto in Wagner, however, “Elizabeth's role, is that not all singing?” she asked. “And Elsa, and above all Isolde. When Tristan lies dead and Isolde sings her dying lament over him till her voice grows fainter and dies away, who can say that swan song is not bel canto?”’ ‘When the singer was asked for some personal reminiscences of the master whose music she had praised so much tears welled up in her kind eyes and she answered quickly: “No, I cannot talk of him. When I sing his music my whole heart goes out into it, out when I think that so good & man, so great a composer is dead, then—excuse me,” and Materna tried to smile away some big tears and hastily turned the conversation to her pleasure at being in the golden California sunshine. MEETING OF THE JUNTA, Buckley Scored by McNab and a Committee on War ! Appointed. ! Sam Rainey Lay Low and the Gen- eral Committee Was Har- monious. The ynterrified element of the Democ- racy, familiarly spoken of as the Junta, under the marshalship of Gavin McNab, assembled in general committee meeting in Pioneer Hall last night. The rollcall showed the presence of 370. W. P. Sullivan called the meeting to or- der and made a few pertinent remarks rel- ative to the future prospect of the Democ- Mr. Sullivan was elected permanent chairman of the committee without dis- senting voice, and he made a short speech lhl'; l:ccsptuncc of the honor conferred upon _ After referring to the trials and tribula- tions through which the ‘nrty passed dur- ing the last few years o Buckleyism, he said that the party could not expect fair treatment from the Republican press. “But,” he continued, ‘‘the Republi- can press does not control the political earth and the Democratic party of S8an Francisco bas an able and “V powerful organ back of it in tnis City. I Days.” We don’t reduce the price of this music cabinet just to sell it. We “have an ax to grind” during “Red Letter Days”— every one sold means a steady customer (future business) for 5. Couldn’t afford it if it didn’t. MUSIC-CABINET. In mahogany finish —dark and rich. A regular piano polish. Holds a good deal, but isn’t bulky—rather dainty. ‘We have only 7 of this pat- tern—$10. No more after they’re gone. Carpets . Rugs . Mattings: CALIFORNIA FURNITURE COMPANY (N. P. Cole & Co.) 117-123 Geary Street.