The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 16, 1901, Page 18

1 THE SAN FRANCISCO LL, SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 1901. EY ABOUT FASHIONABLE PLACES Where Buds, Belles and Matrons WILL SPEND SUMMER MONTHS. BY SALLY SHARP. UMMER is here and we are off. We have got our dimitiés and our organdies, our shirt waists and our duck skirts, our stocks and all our golf togs, and we're off to stay until the leaves begin to turn. This is the first year, 1 believe, that no one of the many fashionable places has been declared the thing for those who have no country homes to hie themselves to. There is to be a general dividing up health as well as for recreation. Naturally those who have summer homes will entertain large house parties during the season. These parties are ar- ranged for weeks in advance, and I do not know of one country home that will have a spare guest chamber from Satur- day till Monday for weeks and weeks to come. Of course we are to consider it a pretty compliment if we are fortunate enough to be asked to the country homes, but we must swell up with pride if we are asked from Saturday till Monday, for that is considered a mark of real distinction. Mr. and Mrs. Flood are already &t their gorgeous home at Alma, just the other side of Los Gatos, in the Santa Cruz Mountains. At present Miss Jennie Flood is their guest. S B % Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Casey and Miss Kate May Dillon have abandoned all thought of their intended European tour. Business will detain Mr. Casey in the city, and hence the rearrangement of the summer plans. Instead of going to Earope Mr. and Mrs. Casey and Miss Dillon will go to San Rafael, where they will pass the summer months. Mrs. Casey is de- lighted that it is to be San Rafael instead of Eurcpe, and I am sure that others will share in Mrs. Casey's delight. Mrs. Casey and Miss Dillon are lavish enter- tainers, and I predict happy times over in San Rafael o Mr. and Mrs. Robert Oxnard and Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Winslow are spending the early part of the season at Napa Soda Springs. Later they will go to San Ra- fael and then to Monterey. The Wins- Jows have just got back from an Eastern visit. N Mr. and Mrs. Sidney M. Smith and the Misses Smith will spend the summer over at San Rafacl. The Smith girls go in for 2ll the joys of outdoor life San Rafael affords and always have a delightful sum- mer. > B Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Grant are occupy- ing their pretty place at Burlingame, where they expect to remain throughout the entire season. - = Miss Linda Cadwallader will join the younger set at Burlingame for the sum- mer months. Miss Linda is a great favor- ite 2nd there is always joy when she is around. Yol aa s Mr. and Mrs. Downey Harvey have chosen Del Monte for their summer va- cation. The Harveys will have with them their sweet young daughter, fresh from the Eastern school. At present Downey Harvey is the wonder and admiration of all his friends. He has dropped all his avoirdupois and is as lithe as a boy in is teems. The sylphlike figure is_most becoming to Harvey. I understand that massage, handball and other delights of the Olympic Club are accountable for it. Mr. and Mrs hearn Folger have taken 2 cottage at San Mateo for the summer. Mrs. Folger has some stunning creations in that wonderful trousseau she brought from Paris, and T know of no better place to show those airy, fluffy lace covered gowns than at the ifformal country gatherings. Mr. and Mre. W. B. Bourn are enjoying the summer at their magnificent place at Marysville. The Bourn place at Marys- ville is one to be proud of and one to en- joy, and the Pourns and their friends are enjoying it thoroughly. . . Mr. and Mrs E. W. Hopkins and the Misses Hopkins are at their Menlo Park place, where they will remain until late in the season. The Hopkins place is, out exception, the handsomest of all the country homes in California, and the hospitality disper here is most lavish Mr. and M Taylor will be the Gus guests of the Hopkinses during the great- er part of the summer. Mr. and Mrs. Will Taylor are at Burlin- game for the season. The Taylors took the Burlingame piace right after their marriage and so there are honeymoon as- sociations connected with the pretty place where they will spend the summer. Miss Eyre will spend the summer it Menlo Park. o ibip Mr. and Mrs. P. Foorman and their mother are at San Mateo for the sum- mer. The Foormans are having a place built at S8an Mateo and are spending the Leadirg Fusincss ol 24 Post st., S Established Nearly 40 years Write for b0-page catalogue (free). WILLS COLLEGE AND SEMINARY, ONFERS DEGREES AND GRANTS DI- sic, art ; thirty-sixth year; fall term opens Aug. 1, 1901 Write for catalogue to MRS. C. T. MILLS, Pres, Mills College P. O, Cal MISS M. G. BARRETT’S SHORTHAND ACADEMY, 202 Montgomery st., San Francisco, Cal. Lessons personally or by mail. Acknowledged by official reporters, ‘‘best teachers, best system.” THE HITCHCOCK SCHOOL FOR YOUNG MEN AND BOYS, SAN RAFAEL, CAL. Christmas Term Begins August léth. REV. C. HITCHCOCK. Principal. CALIFORNIA BUSINESS COLLEGE. A THOROUGH SCHOOL. Progressive, _exceedingly thorough, finely equipped departments: pusitions for graduates. 305 Larkin st. 1 lustrated catalogue. R. L. DURHAM, President ST. MATTHEW'S MILITARY SCHOOL, SAN MATEO. CAL. The next term Will begin and il August 15, 1901 For ustrated circular address Rev. A. BREWER, B, and Head Master. of the resorts and we are also to make | a pretense of going to the country for our ; installed | e season at the hotel and watching their place go up. euiie’ s Mr. and Mrs. Louis Sloss, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Sloss and Mr. and Mrs. Lilienthal are at their respective places at San Ra- fael for the season. The three pretty places adjoin and it is a charming little | family arrangement that lets the families step from one lawn to the other. sie . g Miss Marie Wells has gone to the Yo- semite for the summer. This is Miss | Wells’ third trip to the valley. When one | takes into consideration the many oppor- tunities for horseback riding in the val- | ley, Miss Wells' preference for Yosemite is not hard to explain. 7 Mr. and Mrs. 8. G. Murphy, Miss Addie Murphy and Mrs. Genevieve Goad Martin have made up a congenial little party that will spend the summer abroad. This is Mrs. Martin's first European trip. but the Murphys have been across many times. oG Mrs. Boalt is at her place at Cloverdale for the summer. With her is her dear | granddaughter, pretty little Alice Tevis. . s e Mrs. Holt left on the first day of May for her summer outing. Up to the present | she has been at Blythedale, but expects koon to go to Los Gatos to remain for the balance of the season. RIS Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hobart are at their delightful ranch !n San Mateo, | where, with the exception of a possible trip to Del Monte, they will remain the | entire season. B BN Mr. and Mrs. Herry Crocker are settled at their Cloverdale ranch for the summer months. o Dr. and Mrs. Martin Regensburger have taken a place at San Mateo, where they will pass several months. oW Miss Florence Greenebaum will spend the summer months in London. Miss Greenebaum has been abroad since last September, and has visited all of the capitals of Europe. After her stay in London she will go to Hamburg for the season. She expects to return home early in the fall. 2 ils e Miss Alice Greenebaum will spend the summer at the Eastern watering places. R Miss Lizzie Feldman has gone to Eu- rope, where she will spend the summer in traveling and sightseeing. Mrs. Will Tevis, Miss Lena Blanding and Miss Florence Breckenridge will spend their summer abroad. In Paris they will be the guests of Mrs. Fred Sharon. b e Mrs. W. D. O'Kane has gone to ligh- {lands for the summer months. Mrs. O’Kane contemplates an Eastern visit early in the fall. e Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Hill will come here from Paris to spend the summer season. PR Mrs. Hattle Crocker Alexander will bring her family from New York to pass the summer at Del Monte. Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Scott are at their place at Burlingame, where they will pass the early summer months. Later they will go to Del Monte. s m Miss Mae Colburn and Miss Maud Mul- line have gone to Coronado for an ex- tended stay. o o = Miss Olive Holbrook is at Menlo Park for the summer. Miss Holbrook is pre- paring to receive her sister, Mrs. Sam Knight, who has been visiting abroad for some time. e Mr. and Mrs. Russell Wilson are at San Mateo, where they expect to pass the summer months. . . e Mr. and Mrs. Mountford Wilson will pess the summer season at San Mateo. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Carolan will occupy their splendid place at Burlingame during the summer months. S P Mr. and Mrs. Willam Thomas go to Ross Valley for the summer season. PO Mrs. Lovell White will 'pass the sum- mer at “The Arches,” Mill Valley. P Mr. 2nd Mrs. A. B. C. Dohrman have joined the cottagers at Mill Valley for the summer. Y Mrs. J. H. Jewett will as usual spend the greater part of the summer months at her ranch at Sonoma. £ . Mr. and Mrs. Colin M. Boyd are at their pretty place, “Casa Boyd,” at San Lean- aro, and ecntertaining extensively. 5% T H Mr. and Mrs. Osgood Hooker have ar- ranged to pass the summer at the Ven- dome at San Jose. A Miss Elena Robinson will join the Jos- selyns and spend the summer in Europe. R Miss Gussie Ames is spending the sum- mer months at Highland Springs. S The Misses Alice and Ethyl Hager will go to Del Monte for the summer. wra Miss Jennie Blair and the Misses Hur- ley will g0 to Del Monte for the season. PR Mrs. Charles J. Bandman has gone to Highlana Springs, where she will remain throughcut the summer. | : S | Mr. and Mrs. Danforth and Miss Fanny | Danforth have gone Bast and will remain | away all summer. | | Will Convene in San Jose. The Pacific Coast Electric Transmission Ase ion will hold its fifth annual con- vention in the assembly room of the Hotel Vendome, San Jose, June 18 and 19. ' The officers of the association are as follows: Pril Andre Poniatowski, president; Dr. W. Van Norden, vice presmeg:E William Angus, treasurer; George P. Low, secretary: executive committee— Prince A. Poniatowski, E. J. de Sabia and P. Gilbert. —_————— Native Sons’ Minstrelsy. The Banner Club, composed exclusively of members of Precita Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West, will give a minstrel entertainment jn Native Sons’ Hall next Saturday night. The club will be assisted by the Columbia Minstrels. —_—— Cholce candies, Townsend's, Palace Hotel* —_———— Cal. glace fruit 50c per 1b at Townsend’s.* ———— Special information supplied daily to business houses and public men by the Press Clipping Bureau (Allen's), 510 Mont. gomery street. Telephone Main 1042, —_— e * The man who tries to live beyond his means usually winds up by havii Without his friends. ok “It Is Up to You.” We have made a very low round-trip rate to the Pan-American Expogition at Buffalo, and the comfortable Nickel-Plate trains, with Nickel-Plate dining cars serving American Club meals at 35c to $1 each, insure you a pleasant trip. Book free showing Pan-Ameri- can views. Buffalo hotel accommodations re- served. JAY W. ADAMS, P. C. P, A, 31 Crocker bullding, San Francisco, Cal | THE i | | i | | | | | | | FRANCISCO CALL Address Communications to W. S. LEAKE, Manager SAN JOHN D. SPRECKELS, Proprietor. BEECHER IN ENGLAND. Publication Office.. ..Market and Third, S. F. HE appeals made by Frederic Harrison and John Morley to the English public upon the subject of the Boer war remind one of the appearance of Henry Ward Beecher in Great Britain at the crisis of our civil war. Our seizure of the Confederate envoys Mason and Slidell, and taking them from an English ship on the high seas, came near undoing the Union cause by inducing English recognition of the Southern Confederacy. That step would have been followed by the Continental powers, and the prestige and position gained thereby would have won the cause of secession. Even Gladstone believed the Union cause to be hopeless and leaned the other way, and the British aristocracy, press and Parliament were against us. It was felt in Europe that division of the Union would destroy the Monroe doctrine and invite the Old World to resume her estate in the New. The designs upon Mexico had already ripened, and am- bition was whetting its sword for, the carving of the Western Hemisphere by the Eastern. Tt seemed necessary in England to bring over only one more class to recruit the cause of Confed- erate recognition. The laboring and artisan portion of the people were against slavery and there- fore for the North. But the blockade of the Southern sea ports, preventing the export of cotton, had disused the looms of Manchester and English labor had been reduced to famine rations. It was feared that these conditions would carry labor over to the South, and the seizure of Mason and Slidell was used as an appeal to their patriotism, for the British flag had been insulted. In this emergency Henry Ward Beecher appeared in England as the champion of the Union. His first speech was made in Liverpool to a passionate mob that at first threatened per- sonal violence, then listened and then cheered. That speech prevented recognition, and perhaps did as much to save the Union as was done at Vickshurg and Gettysburg. He warned Brit- ish labor that every man who helped chain the Southern slave was forging chains for all human labor and was establishing the doctrine on land and sea that capital had the right to own labor. He attacked the British press for its strictures upon the motive and morals of our civil war, im- peaching it of hypocrisy, for “in all the world, in the wilds of Africa, Indian jungles and the islands of the sea, the native heart stops beating at the sound of martial music, leading British soldiery to new conquests.” ) Rising to greater heights as the mob became an audience, he said: “Has love of country run so low in Great Britain that the rising of a nation to defend its territory, its government, its flag, is a theme for cold aversion in the pulpit and sneers in the pew? Is generosity so dead in England that she will not admire in her children the very qualities which have made them proud of their English ancestors?”” In his climax he declared that the spirit of Runnymede was not dead and that “‘the North will fight this war through at all hazards and at any cost. Anglo-Saxon Anier- ica, entangled in the meshes of slavery, will be free or perish.” When his appeal was finished” the cause of the Confederacy was a lost cause. Europe looked to English leadership, and Beecher proved that the real power of that empire.lies with the masses of the people, and that neither throne nor Parliament dare defy that power. Understanding this one comprehends the final cause of the Boer war and the persistncy in its prosecution. When out of crowds on the London strects rose the cry to Victoria, as she passed in state, “Ma’am. please give us a go at old Kruger,” it meant that war was already declared by this source of British strength, the masses of the people. British philosophers, students and thinkers were against it. But the politicians do not fear them. They looked beyond, to the masses, and shaped a policy to their wish; hence the war. Harrison and Morley may turn to Beecher’s remarkatle campaign in their country, for the Union, and learn from it that if they desire to change the policy which they denounce they must get the same people with them that Beecher carried over to his side. AN OVERLAND DOUBLE TRACK. - HEN George W. Cass made the old Chicago, Pittsburg and Fort Wayne Railway a part of the Pennsylvania system and it was double tracked, making a complete double track road from Atlantic tidewater to Lake Michigan, it was regarded as a stupen- dous enterprise and a marvelous advance in American railroading. The New York Central followed with a four track road to Lake Erie, and supplied Chauncey Depew with an &nd- less subject. for after-dipner brag about the enterprise of the Vanderbilts. Now it seems intended by the Union and Central Pacific lines to construct a double track from Omaha to San Francisco. Such a facility will be of immeasyrable advantage to the business of this coast, and as it will doubt- less be soon duplicated by the Santa Fe, it means a shorter time for freight and passengers. As other lines now have a passenger schedule of but little more than four days between San Fran- cisco and New York, that part of the traffic is not exactly suffering for more speed. But on a single track fast time for passenger trains is secured at the expense of freight, as freight trains have to lay out for passenger trains. The great benefit therefore will accrue to the freighting busi- ness. As our summer freight is largely fruit and perishable, a shorter schedule is worth millions to California. When through freight can go forward uninterrupted by the passenger traffic, freight time may closely approximate the present passenger time. In the interests of Cai‘fornia will it not be possible for the second track to be laid outside the snowsheds in the Sierra Nevadas? Such an arrangement would enable thé running of passen- ger trains, at least one way, in view of the mountain scenery which influences so many tourists in taking a trip to the coast. Itis true that such an exposed track might be thrown out of commis- sion for a time each winter by snow, but as the heaviest freight business is done in the summer, such obstruction would not be serious. When useful improvements are under consideration this may well be studied. ARBITRATION FOR CHINA. NE of the few gratifying features of the diplomatic controversy over the indemnity de- manded of China by the powers is the periodical recurrence of the original sugge'stion of the United States that the matter be submitted for arbitration to the High Court of 5 Nations constituted by the famous Peace Conference at the Hague. All the great powers have appointed representatives to the court, and the tribunal is therefore ready for work. Under the circumstances to refuse to give it work will seem very much like self-stultification on the part of the nétions that constituted it. The position of Russia on the question is peculiar, and if her statesmen were at all sensi- tive to public opinion either at home or abroad they would be greatly embarrassed in their refusal to arbitrate. The Peace Conference was called by the Czar, for the express purpose of arranging just such international arbitration as is now proposed. The Ministers of the Czar are supposed nominally at least to carry out his will and to promote all his plans for the benefit of his people and the world. He has himself said that the establishment of a High Court of International Arbitra- tion is the subject nearest his heart; and it is consequently surprising to find his Ministers oppos- ing arbitration when offered under conditions so favorable as in this case. The issue is certainly one that should be fairly and honorably arbitrated. The allied powers entered China expressly for the purpose of substituting civilization for barbarism. It is admitted that they have just claims for indemnity against the Chinese Government.but it is also undeniable that China has counter claims that can with justice be made against the powers. Here then is a chance for the Czar to attain a true fame as a just sovereign and a peacemaker among nations. The High Court of Nations up to this time has been a nullity. It remains for the Czar to deter: mine whether it shall become a beneficent reality or an organized hypocrisy. : The Osage Indians are said to have leased 600,000 acres of their grazing lands at prices that will bring the tribe a revenue of $120,000 a year.. On that basis it will be seen that if Uncle Sam were as wise as the red men and leaséd.all the grazing lands of the national domain, the income would be sufficient to establish irrigation on an extensive scale and eventually redeem all the arid lands whose redemption is practicable. - ; Consul General Osborne at Apia reports receiving a large number of letters asking about alleged discoveries of gold in the Samoan Islands, and adds that there have never been found there any trace of gold, silver, nickel, zinc or tin; so it would seem that mining men might as well leave Samoa to the natives. S PR R RS A Washington hotel proprietor is quoted as authority for a story to the effect that the late Congressman Boutelle of Maine was in love with Mrs. Hazen and that his mental collapse was due to her marriage with Admiral Dewey. It is a belated romance, but it comes appropriate to the silly seasor. : AL B O 3 e RENAISSANCE IN GRAND OPERA With Brief Account of a Success, A FAILURE AND SOME PROMISES. BY BLANCHE HE initial year of the new century promises to be somewhat remark- able in musical annals for the un- wonted activity that has been and is being displayed in the production of grand opera. After a long slack sea- son in the industry, broken only by a few spasmodic efforts operaward by Mas- cagni, Puccini and Leoncavallo, a kind of operatic renaissance seems to have set in tn all the musical quarters of the globe. Italy, France, England, Germany and America are all under contribution to the revival of grand opera, and one work at least seems destined to survive—Pade- rewskl’s “Manru,” produced the cther day in Dresden, Germany. A cablegram from Otto Floersheim, the Berlin corre- spondent of the Musical Courler, is a very enthustastic comment concerning the new opera as follows: 3 DRESDEN, Germany, May 2).—Premiere Paderewski's ““Manru" took place before illus- trious international audience with unprece- dented success, increasing in Intensity from act to act, culminating in over thirty curtain calls after close. Music replete with original lyric beauties; masterly worked up climaxes: char- acterlst:c gipsy colors; wonderful orchestra- tion, finely staged. Performance superd. ©. FLOERSHUIM. The book of the opera is by Alfred Nossig, of romantic and old-fashioned style, to which Paderewski has done am- ple justice In a musical setting that the critics have characterized as a mixture of the Italian lyrical and German dramatic. Tne opera has been three years in writ- ng. .« . On the same evening that “Manru” was produced another new opera was also given at Covent Garden Theater, London, Dr. Villiers Stanford’s “Much Ado About Mothing.” Dr. Stanford’s opera seems to have met with only indifferent success, notwithstanding the fact that it was pro- duced under the most favorable auspices. David Bispham appeared as Benedick, a part for which he is eminently well suited, and the rest of the cast was equally well chogen. The London Times has the fol- lowing comment upon the opera; Dr. Stanford’s opera was found to lack the gift of power and distinction required in a work given under such conditions.. That the composer Is a zcholarly and painstaking mu- siciun is indisputable. The fact that his work contains many merits which would have told better 1f it had been produced less ostenta- tously Is not to be denfed. It {s hampered by the libretto, which, like the curate's egg In, ihe legend, is only good in parts, and those parts are purely Shakespeare’s. The church scene in the third act, in which the text is closest to Shakespeare, Is decidedly the best part of the work. « .. The first frult of the operatic renais- sance was the Siegfrled Wagner opera, “Heizog Wildfang,” first produced at the Munich Court Theater in March of this year. Opinions of this second effort of Richard Wagrer's son seem much divided. By some critics stigmatized as a dismal failure and an effective damper to the hope of those who had prophesied the falling of the father's mantle upon the shoulders of the son; others again have claimed a mild success for “Herzog.” The libretto, which young Wagner also fur- nished in imitation of his famous sire, Is generally conceded to be hopeless and the plot of the opera perilously near a whole- sale plagiarism of “Der Meistersinger.” A recent performance of ‘“Herzog Wild- fang” in Hamburg in connection with a cycle of Wagnerian opera is said to have met with a considerable measure of ap- preciation. & aiie Alfred Bruneau's opera, “L'Ouragan.” came next, I think, in point of time. The famous critic of the Figaro has at last given his numerous enemies among the musicians their opportunity. M. 8run- eau has not written a book. but has reck- lessly furnished the writhing victims of his pen with that so much daintier morsel for the purposes of vengeance an opera. And. as if not content tec incur the conse- quences of only a personal unpopularity, M. Bruneau, in the person of his famous librettist, Emile Zola, has challenged a political enmity that in itself would seem almost sufficient to down any opera, of whatsoever merit, that might be written. “L'Ouragan,” therefore, naturally re- ceived a somewhat warm greeting on its first production in Paris a few weeks ago. Gustave Charpentier found the work of extraordinary merit and Gauthier-Villiers of the Echo de Paris says it is stupid and tiresome. Others, in the facile prophecy of the hour, say the opera is “‘epoch-mak- ing,” while the opposing faction deny any claim to musical value at all. Henry T. Finck, quoting from Wolf¥'s criticism in the Berliner Tageblatt, says that the opinion of the public on the occasion of the opera’s premiere was markedly more favorable than that of the audience at its first public rehearsal, when those person- ally antagonistic to composer and libret- tist were largely in evidence. The “yeas,’” however, had it, and at the close of the opera drowned out any dissentient voices. M. Wolff says in effect that there appears to be a quality of greatness in the work of both Bruneau and Zola, though he does not venture permanently to place the opera. . . And now as to two operas that are in the air: Boito's “Nero” and the Dam- rosch and Henderson “Cyrano de Ber- gerac.” The famous librettist of Milan, so inti- mately connected with the beloved Verat, is again coming to the fore. His “Mefisto- feles” will be given at the Tivoll during the coming grand opera season, by the way, and is being largely revived in operatic circles. ‘“Nero” has been prom- ised to the public by Boito for more than twenty years, says the Itallan correspond- ent of the Courier, and it now seems sure that the next carnival will see its pro- duction at La Scala, Milan. At a reading of the libretto of the opera, to which the editors, the Breves brothers of Milan, in- vited the litterateurs and musicians, the opinion was virtually unanimous that the dramatic situations and possibilities of “Nero” are magnificent. The ‘‘Concert-goer” is responsible for the following account of the American contribution to the operatic stage: “‘Cyrano de Bergerac,” our melancholic old friend, after having successfully engineered his mighty nose through the devious waye of drama, comic opera and ‘buclesque, will soon return to us to stalk his way across the boards in grand opera. Walter Damrosch, it is announced, is now completing the score of the opera, for which Wiillam J. Henderson, the critic, has ®ritten the book. Rumor says that this Wwill not only be the most ambitious thing that the young composer h: ver attempted, but that it will be the mdst notable achieve- ment of any American composer. Mr. Dam- rosch has been at work upon the opera for .over two years, and is mow at Delaware Water Gap putting the finishing touches upon it. Mr. Henderson has followed Rostand's play rather closely, the most important change be- ing the compression of the original last two acts into one for the opera. The title role will be given to the barytone, Christian to the tenor and Roxane to 2 colorature soprano. As yet no arrangements have been made for a performance. Bispham is sald to be anxious to sing the title role. e . ‘The Damrosch “Cyrano de Ber; # recalls a clever Californian to wh genius our first acquaintance with the lump-nosed French poet was made, Edwin Stevens, who appeared at the Tiv.. -+ the Tivoli on the nccasion referred to and Stevens' personation was a Wholly re- markable performance. His Marquis Imari in “The Geisha." at opposite poles of his art, was also a brilliant piece of characterization, and he is now to the fore with a short tragedy, which received instant and enthustastic recognition on its presentation at the Public Gambol of the Lamb's Club. Mr. Stevens is now with the Empire Stock Theater under the appreciative management of Charles Frohman. « ol & The following letter which I received in answer to Mrs. Alma Webster-Powell's plaint against eperatic conditions in Ger- many will be of interest: SAN FRANCISCO. Dear Madam: The article by Mrs. Alma Webster-Powell published in your column of last Sunday should certainly be of great value to voeal students of this country. ‘While read- ing it 1 asked, myself, ““What lesson will they learn from it? Will they soon begin to real- ize that it will be to their and their country's advantege to keep the ‘bank book' they have to have abroad in this country?” "Apropos of bamk book, why should musicians take excention to the necessity of money In building up thelr particular business? May not this prevailing idea of the ‘musician fur- nish a clue to the frequent imposition of the public In expecting professional musical ser- vices free of charge? I see that our Ebell So- ciety hes even as one of ita by-laws that “‘no talent contributing to their entertalnments shall be paid!* What business or profession does not need money In order to make morey? And in, reference to Mrs. Powell's condemna~ tion of Wagnerian music as a voice-destroyer. Mrs. Powell, whom I know personally, has & high colorature voice. She sings, for exam~ ple, the part of the Queen of the Night m the ““Magic Flute,”” in its original key, a feat sel- dom attempted by the ordinary high sopra- nos, an F above high C being demanded. Is it not quite natural that such an exceptionally high voice should not find its proper domain in the roles of Wagner's operas, which are all written for the dramatic and not the lyrio soprano? But had Mrs. Powell the necessary quality of voice for the master's music she would make an excellent Wagnerian singer, like, for in- stance, Lilli Lehmann, whom she herself ad- mires so much, though L. Lehmann has been a Wagnerian singer and before the pub- lic for more than a rter of a century. One must have the technique in order to sing roles like the Queen of the Night, while, un- fortunately, singers with no method can “‘scream’ a couple of years at Wagner. But because these proverbial “‘fools rush in,” and even though they be in the majority, should we therefore condemn work of the mas- ter? Are not his scores filled with annotations of plano passages? And does he not continu- ally warn by these annotations against that abominable shouting? Has he not laid the orchestra underzround, so that the human Voice should be carried as on waves of the musical sea, not that it should howl in com- petition with an orchestral storm? Anton Seidl is an article on ‘“Conducting’ says: Another thing: do not let your singers scream. This everlasting forcing of the voice seems to bave become almost the second nature of Ger- man singers. We scarcely ever hear on the stage nowadays, “‘Blick Ich umher in diesem edlen Kreise,” in a dreamy, restrained tone, or a poetically ethereal, ‘mein holder Abendstern!” or a whispered “Lass Ich's ver- lauten loes’ Ich dann = enden Haft (Wotan)?" or a playful nicht drauf? So sprich doch jetzt, hast mir's ja selbst {n den Kopf gesetzt!" murmured into the ear of Eva. All this is sung with full voice, as If the purpose were to sing everybody else to death. Listen to the representatives of Wo- tan if you would hear how they ignore Wag- ner's frequent injunction, “to be sung in an almost totally suppressed tome,”” or to the Walther von Stolzings, and hear them scream the wondrous passages in the prize song, “Dort unter einem Wunderbaum,” or “Dort unter elnem Lorbeerbaum,” which are marked “as if in complete ecstasy”” and _‘‘piano.”” Nor does it occur to them to retardthe tempo a triffe. Everything is sung as if it were made over one and the same last. Moreover, our Brun- hildes utilize the passage, “War es so schmaeh- Mch was Ich verbracht?’ for exhibtion pur= poses, as if to rebuke, as early as possible, Wagner's injuniction, “‘to be begun timidly."" The manner In which the scene of the Nornip 1s given, if at all, is simply laughable and scandalous. Similar offenses against Wagner might be adduced by the bookful. So far Anton Seidl, who certainly knew his Wagner and every musical and dramatic Intention of the master. Is it not about time that we should create our musical atmosphere? I am o tired of hearing the constant cry for “atmosphere.” While a former gemeration may have been perfectly en- titled to the classic grumble I deny any such right to the present age, vet the cry is kept up in complete forgetfuiness of the fact that com- ditions have since changed so tremendously that this echo is simply an absurdity, As a matter of education, after one has learned enough at home to De an apprectative traveler—and according to my experience that takes a goodly time—traveling may be of ex< cellent service, though T am of the opinion tha# its value is often overestimated. But, will you tell me, where abroad can you find an opera company of such magnitude and merit as the Grau combination? Therefore, let us all and everybody appreciats this glorious country, its great possibilities, its greater future. There is mo stopping-place im the musical universe, and after we shall have ceased to worship at the foreign shrine, thers ‘will come a new era in vocalism and music, and that era will have its birth in Amerifea. Wa may mot Hve to sée it, but we may at least hasten the time, instead of deterring it, and thus earn the thanks of our children for having been the courageous pioneers in the develop= ment of music in America for Amerieans. NA VON MEYERINCK. Grand Celebration at Los Gatos. The Bunker Hill Association of Sam Francisco will celebrate the anniversary of the famous battle at Bunker HIll Park, Los Gates, to-morrow. The California Pioneers and Sons of the American Revo- lution will unite with the Bunker Hill associations of San Francisco and Oak- land in the eelebration. A special traim ;v:!\ leave Third and Townsend streets a& :15 a. m. SPECIAL SALE IN GLOVES! Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 50c. LADIES’ CASTOR AND KID GAUNTLETS for bicycling, driv- (n“.gl and country wear. Regular value ninety cents. 50c. MISSES' KID GLOVES, Broken lines. Formerly sold at one dollar. 65c. LADIES’ TWO-CLASP WASH SUEDE AND CHAMOIS GLOVES, in white, buff, pearl, mode and gray. Exceptional value. 7Z4c. LADIES' TWO-CLASP REAL KID GLOVES, in black, white, red, mode, tan and brown. All sizes. Specially recommended for fit and durability. MOSS’ GLOVE STORE 1210 MARKET STREET, Between Taylor and Jones.