The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 2, 1902, Page 22

22 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1902. -— HOFMANN POSSESSES A MASTER'S TOUCH, AN AUGURY OF FAME. By Blanche Partington. —_— ITH the symphony concert on Friday afternoon and the two Hofmann recitals of Tuesday end Friday, the week has been rich in musical attractions. I t yet over the feeling of injury at miss half of the symphony con- If of the Friday recital, but atulating myself on having vorld symphony and the arcarolle” even so. Nat- Hofmann, pupil of Rubinstein, 1ld play Rubinstein well, but there was more in it than that. There was the x t has been missing from every- that he has done, in spite of velous polse and sincerity of all work, the note of tenderness, sym- poetry. He plays Rubinstein accent as it were, as one speaks ve tongue, with an emotional v and musical truth that stamp it ng born of the heart, not of the to me it is a portent of the Hof- that will be later, witen life's little and glories have wrung and owned him with their new knowledge. At 2 he has ‘still the heart of a child, with the brain of 2 man and the fingers of a giant, end what he will be when his is hard to say. Perhaps a second y, for in his glittering analytical he perhaps comes closer to him other player we have heard e has not yet the magical finish owsky’s technique, but it is ‘a v of technique that reminds of the master, with a touch of the Ro- 1 magnificence about it. He is as e and direct in method as Godow- unpretentious and modest, limpid clarity of tone and won- amic control further recall the After Rubinstein, perhaps n plays best Chopin and Liszt, he is eminently worth hearing in yihing he does, even in his Beethoven ving, which is his least attractive achlevement. He will be heard again, it is good to know, in response to & large request, in two recitals at the Metropoli- tan Temple next week, where the dis- tinguished young artist will doubtless be again welcomed by the large army of admirers he has acquired. . s RE It is probable that there will be some good violin playing when Jan van Ordt comes to town. Mr. van Ordt is with the Chicago symphony orchestra, that is to be heard here toward the end of the month. He was a long time 2 pupll of the great master, Ceasar Thomson, in Belgium, and before that graduated with TRAIN SIGNALS. Everybody traveling on a train repeat- edly hears the whistle of the engine blow, but the average person is unable to in- terpret the meaning. All railroads use the same code of signals. Here are a few which are the most generally used: long blast of the whistle given by the engineer means that the train is ap- ching a raflroad crossing and that near the track must beware. short blast of the whistle means danger ahead and put down brakes. Two long blasts is the signal by the en- to the trainmen to throw off s Two short blasts of the whistle are used by the engineer as answer to a sig- from the conductor. For {instance, conductor pulls the bell cord a short distance from a fiag station to notify the engineer to stop at the station. The en- gineer replies with two short blasts. Should there be no signal from the con- ductor, two short blasts mean “the train has parted.” Three long blasts also mes® that the train has parted. This signal is selfom given on passenger trains, but is fre- quently used on freight trains, Three short blasts when the train is not in motion indicate that the engineer is about to back up his train. Two long, followed by two short blasts, are given for approaching road crossings 2t a steep grade. A succession of short blasts is an alarm for persons or cattle to leave the track, and they elso call the attention of the trainmen to danger ahead. emotions catch up. with the rest of him | BELGIAN VIOLINIST WHO WILL APPEAR HERE WITH CHICAGO ORCHESTRA. | highest honors from The Hague Conserv- 1 atory—which coupts a little, too. He | seems to have made a very favorable im- | pression on his American audiences and | will be heard here in some excellent ex- | amples of violin literature, the Wieniaw- ski concerto (No. 2), the Beethoven con- certo and the Parsifal paraphrase by Wil- htlj. . . » It needs little more than to give the pro- grammes of Mme. Nordica's recitals in mention of the chief musical happenings | of the week. Nordica is well known here, and the brilllant intelligence, consum- | mate grasp and exquisite finish of her art | are & known quantity to the San Fran- cisco music lover. How much she was missed during the recent Grau grand | opera season will be remembered when | the performances of Reuss-Belce as Brunnhilde and Isolde are recalled, and it 1s good to see—though how it is to be | done effectively without an orchestra I | don’t know—“Brunnhilde’s Call” on the | singer's first programme. The recitals | are to be given in Metropolitan Hall on ,‘Lha evenings of Tuesday and Thursday, and on Saturday afternoon, and no lover of song or student of singing can afford to miss them. It is better than a dozen lessons to hear the work of an artist like Nordica, and her programmes offer examples of the best song literature of the day. Here they are, in order of date: TUESDAY NIGHT, FEBRUARY 4. ““The Robin Sing: MacDowell “Thy Beaming Ey o Polonaise (C sharp minor). Mr. Simmons. | (@) “Ich Liebe Djch” hn'' . Richard Strauss = Wagner THURSDAY NIGHT, FEBRUARY 6. . Boucher | (e) “K Von Flelitz | (2) Barcarolle -Rubinstein (b) Polish Dance Scharwenka Mr. Simmons. Schlesinger A. Beach (e) “Spring Song” Grand aria from Hungarian opera ““Laslos Erkel SATURDAY MATINEE, FEBRUARY 8. ““Eliland,” song cycle. ..Von Fielitz “Spinning Song”.... ‘Wagner-Liszt (a) “‘Obstinatior Romayne Simmons will accompany, also furnish some solos, as the pro- grammes testify. i L e e T o a2 e e 2 Y ) ONCE A CASHIER. It is not widely known, perhaps, that Mrs. McKinley was a working woman when the late President married her. As Ida Saxton she filled the position of cashier in her father's bank. Not that it was absolutely necessary for her to earn her living, but her father belleved in it. She was first, however, thorough education. Sran While she was a little rl she was under the instruction of he‘: mother at lml:ne,I Laée:! all;e wna sent to a finishing school, an rWar - ried sister for a tour mee::a;:th o gt Californians in Wi ‘WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.—The following Californians have arrived at the hotels: Ralelgh—James T. Boyd, W. A. Birsell, E. Chambers, Miss A. C. ssiter, Mrs. M. Bennett; Willard—Williath . Herrin, William Sproule, W. C. Martin, §. Bloo: Arlington—Miss R. Payne; National—J. Young; all of 8an Francisco. ———— Ex. strong hoarhound candy.Townsend’s.* Cal. Glace Fruit 50c per Ib at Townsend'’s.* —_———— Look out for 81 4th st., front of barber ana grocery; best eyeglasses, specs, 15c to 40c, * ———— Townsend's California glace fruits, 50c » BotR®:\hiCs rssent for Basinra Bicls: 5 Market st., Palace Hotel buliding 3" e —————— information supplied daily to business houses and public m the Press Clij Bureau (Allon's), B10 . gomery 8 Telephens Mata m:{‘ = 'THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL. JOHN D, SPRECKELS, Proprietor. SUNDAY . Address Communications to W. S. LEAKE, Manager ..++...FEBRUARY 2, 1902 ’ Publication Offics.............. L T < Market and Third, S. F. OUR OLIVER TWISTS. T will not be forgotten by our readers that The Call discussed our insular expansion pro- gramme, not in the way usual at its inception, which was rhapsodical and ecstatic to a de- gree, but in the light of long results. The revel of anticipation was amply voiced by others; we discussed the morning taste in the mouth of the country. The point that requires the retirement of sentiment and enthusiasm to the rear and the placing of statesmanship in the front has been reached. We gave warning in ample time that the interests of our tropical possessions would require a policy and system exactly antagonistic to our continental interests. It is impossible to administer a tropical country on the same civil, commercial and industrial system as a temperate zorte country. Our view is vindicated by the business Americans who have gone into the tropics. The American Merchants’ and Planters’ Club in Havana is storming Congress with resolutions demanding a marked change in our conti- nental policy in order to promote American interests in Cuba, and is threatening annexation if it doesn't wet what it asks for. Cuba and the American-Cubans are in the minority, but their attitude brings forcibly I)efpre our people that the situation is practically a demand for minority "legislation—an acute reversal of our continental policy. . The Call said long ago that production of a commercial surplus in ‘the tropics is possible only by the use of some form of servile labor. Tropical races are void of commercial ambition. They exert only so much energy as is required for self-support, and as the bounty of nature fur- nishes them food, requiring not much more exertion than picking and eating it, they pass life in serene repose. Enthusiasm and sentiment scoffed at this, and drew an illuminated horoscope for the hardy American who was to go under a vertical sun, clad in blue denim and unquench- able energy, to sow and reap and gather into barns, and propagate a great race, as hardy and in- dustrious as the New Englanders. Well, the hardy American has gone to the tropical paradises to find his energy ooze out quicker than did the valor of Bob Acres. The flies, fleas, ticks and chiggers-fill him full of holes. The giant ants bite him and eat up his house. Strange diseases gnaw at his liver and disorder his nerve centers. His energy evaporates like the dew of the morning, and there is not enough wreck of him left to pay salvage. : So, from far Manila comes the cry and prayer of Americans who desire to commercially exploit the islands. \ The American Chamber of Commerce, composed entirely of Americans, has met and unanimously petitioned Congress to open the islands to Chinese . coolie immigration. The Chinese coolie toils under all suns and in all zones. He is immatine to torrid and arctic diseases alike. He is temperate, hardy, servile. Therefore these American merchants say to Congress that “Chinamen if admitted would not enter into competition with local labor.” That is the truth, for there is no local labor. The petition continues: “The entry: of Chinese into the islands is im- peratively needed, as the tobacco, hemp and sugar lands of the archipelago are only partly culti- vated. Without Chinese the country cannot be properly developed. Building in Manila has been badly retarded on account of lack of Chinese labor, and immediate action by Congress is imperatively demanded.” Only the Chinese that were in the islands when we occupied them are there now. As their nidmber decreases, the hemp, sugar and tobacco lands go out of cultivation in proportion. It is the story of Jamaica and Hayti over again. The difficulties of the situation sre multiplied by the Filipino opposition to the Chinese. One grievance of the natives against Spain was the per- mission of Chinese immigration. . The Spanish merchants and planters held exactly the same posi- tion on this subject as do the members of the American Chamber of Commerce. They forced the Chinese coolies into the country against the will of the natives and built up the native grudge against Spanish rule. One of the elements in the placation of the ‘Filipinos is exclusion of “the Chinese. The only way to get our money back out of the islands is by admsission of the Chinese. We have the choice of peace without plenty, or. plenty without pea¢e. The two conditions are irreconcilable. We can go at odds with our continental policy, admit Chinese to the islands, establish special minority legislation, bring all the hemp, sugar and tobacco lands into cultivation, and maintain an army of 50,000 soldiers to guard the Chinese labor that produces a commercial sur- plus. Or we can exclude the Chinese and let the Filipinos enjoy" their tropical paradise in their simple Asiatic way, and the American Chamber of Commerce can disband, come home and ex- ploit its enterprise, in the wheat and corn pit, and speculation in “clear” and “short ribs.” * A WNEW REFORM MOVEMENT. ELIEVING doubtless that manners make the man, the officials of the Irdian Bureau have decided to undertake to reform the wards of the nation by compelling them to abandon a good many of their savage manners, including the manner in which they wear their hair and adorn their fices. Orders are said to have been issued to the In- dian agents directing them to see to it that the hair of the Indian is clipped. that they stop paint- ing their cheeks and dance no more the ghost dance. It appears the new regulations are to be enforced, if possible, by rosewater tactics, for the agents have been instructed to “use force only when necessary.” ‘While it is generally desirable that governmental orders be attended with a full measure of success, it is doubtful if the public will have any such desire in this case. A successful experiment in government is very apt to lead to an extension of the rule. Consequently should the Gov- ernment succeed in reforming red men by means of a barber-shop and anti-cosmetic treatment ac- companied by a suppression of dancing, there may come a time when reforming officials will feel inclined to try the same treatment upon white men. Then there will be trouble. Imagine a treatment of the kind tried upon the youth of the universities who waste their time and energies on football. How would governmental hair-cutting suir them? What man- ner of college yell would arise were the rule applied with the use of force when necessary? How would the law act upon the long-haired men who agitate for reform, or upon the short-haired women who assist them? Then there are the more serious questionings concerning the possibility of improving the ladies by setting Government agents to inspect their faces and remove any sug- gestions of paint. Finally, suppose the law set about fegulating golf clothes, and the kind of dances that are in vogue in festal scenes? The theme is too harrowing to be pursued. The mere suggestion is bad enough. Let us hope the plan of improving the red man by a haircut will perish without necessitating the scalp- ing of the barber who tries it. A QUESTION OF RATES. ISPATCHES from Europe giving an account of the tariff controversy in Germany re- port Herr von Podbielski, Prussian Minister of Agriculture, as saying that one of the reasons why a high tariff on food stuffs is “a temporary necessity” is that it costs more to transport wheat from Hamburg to Berlin than from Chicago to Hamburg. In order to counterbalance the difference in freight rates the German farmer, according to the Minister, requires a high protective duty upon the produce of his American competitor. If the statement attributed to the Minister of Agriculture betrue it throws aflood of highly illuminating light upon the discussion concerning the comparative merits of governmental and of private ownership and control of railroads. In Germany the roads are owned by the state. In this country they are owned by corporations. It has been asserted with considerable force and much frequency that it would be advantageous to us to adopt the Getman system. In view of that assertion the announcement concerning the cost of transporting wheat from Chicago to Ham- burg and from Hamburg to Berlin is about as interesting to us as to the Germans., From Hamburg to Berlinis but a short distance when measured by American standards, It would be an argument against Government ownership and operation of railroads if it cost as much to haul wheat that distance as it does to haul wheat under private management of railways, from Chicago to New York. When, however, to the American railway haul there is added the cost of transportation across the ocean, and it is found that the two combined amount to less COMEDIAN LITTLE tired of ‘“‘Ameers,” “Princess Chics,” “Ole Olsons™ and white dramatics generally, I wandered up to the Washing- ton-street Theater in Chinatown last Wednesday night to see what the yellow half was doing in the theatrical line. I had heard that the ad- mission was by hatchet during the pres- ent furor over Ah Shong, the new Co- quelin-cum-Irving 'who made his first ap- pearance here last Sunday night, but found that the conventional 50 cents an- swered all requirements. The house was small in comparison with the attraction, but the excitement of last ‘Sunday night, when the management— Grau fashion—sold more tickets than there were seats in the house. and the seatless rebelled at being thrown down- stalrs for remonstrating, would perhaps account for the shortage. It is not easy;in these days of elaborate scenic illusion to get into the atmosphere of a Chinese play, where the mountings A CHINESE COQUELIN, IN AN ANCIENT PLAY. By Guisard ks il s ———————— FAMOUS CHINESE ACTOR WHO RECENTLY ARRIVED FROM NEW YORK AND WHO IS CREATING QUITE A FUROR BY HIS WORK AT THE WASHINGTON-STREET THEATER. p AH SHONG, + f— are more primitive than those of Bot- tom’s comedy in “A Midsummer Night's Dream”; where three chairs and a table represent a luxurious mansion, and the same three chairs and table—leisurely re- arranged by an American-garbed super in full view ‘of the audience—signify a courthouse. Nor does the distracting background of the orchestra that, out- ‘Wagnering Wagner, is placed behind the actors, help the illusion. Neither the wingless wings, in which, where there is no property stored, an ever-shifting audi- ence sits, making way occasionally for a boy with a trayful of tea on his head for the thirsty Thesplans behind the “scenes.” But when you get into the way of realizing that a man who has been killed is none the worse dead for getting up and walking off the stage; that an actor carrying a small rod adorned with a horsehaif switch is supposed to be on horseback; that a sign post with certain hieroglyphics painted on it rep- resents a gloomy forest; that a small seat with curtains before it signifies a bedroom scene to the Oriental comprehension, and kindred symbolism, you have gone far to grasp the conventions of the Chinese drama and are in a way to enjoy yourscif. You may not be so lucky as I was the other night in having Mr. Chan Cheuns, the “Mayor of Chinatown,” play the courteous host, but you will be at no loss for amusement even =0, if you happen to strike a comedy like “Wong Die Ye Gong Chong.” The comedy is a trifle of 300 years old, s all about a haughty young almond- eyed beauty who has made up her mind to marry only the smartest young man of the day. She refuses one after the other the handsome and wealthy suitors proposed by her persevering papa, and at last reaches the venerable age of 21 still unmarried. They make it hot for her at home, and she flles for refuge to & “sis- ter house,” a sort of Chinese nunnery, swearing never to marry. But the ab- bess happens to have a handsome nephew, the District Attorney, with whom the disdainful maid falls desperately in love. @bl PERSONAL MENTION. R. H. Beaner, a politiclan of Woodland, is a guest at the Lick. C. C. Bracken, a prominent mining man of this State, is at the Grand. Dr. P. T. Turner of Stockton paid a fiying visit to this city yesterday. J. W. Spencer, & prominent business man of Chicago, is at the Palace. E. Hartkins, & cattle man of Elko, is among the recent arrivals at the Russ. J. M. McLurg, a real estate dealer of Fresno, registered at the Lick yesterday. J. F. Lawless, secretary of the Pacific Company, with headquarters at Seat- tle, is registered at the Palace. Charles E. Swezy, an attorney of Marysville, 1s among the arrivals at the Grand. Bank Commissioner A. W. Barrett is up from Los Angeles and is a guest at the California. Lieutenant Colonel Henry Minett of the United States steamship Concord is at the Occidental. Count and Countess Gulinetti of Italy than the rate from the one German city to the other, the claims of the advocates of Government ownership vanish into nothingness. Is there any American farmer who would like to see Ger- man freight rates applied in this country? Herr von Podbielski’s statement may not be a good argurfient for a tariff on food stuffs, but it is certainly an unanswerable ore in favor of the American ‘system of managing- railroads and regulating freight rates by competition, . -~ - 5 - are touring the coast for pleasure. They are at present at the Palace. Charles Errington, a fruit raiser of Vacaville, is down here on a short busi- ness trip. He Is at the Russ. L. Lazarus, a merchant of Winnemucca, | Nev., is here on a short business trip and has made his headquarters at the Russ. He reciprocates, then rides away, and the damsel is left lamenting. The too- fascinating youth then goes to court and becomes a political star, the Emperor even honoring him with the hand of his daughter. But the first girl’s father inter< feres here and has the young sprig hauled off to court, where the venerable Judge orders the recreant Lothario to marry the girl. As I left at this interesting Juncture I don't know how it comes out, but as the Emperor’s daughter had just made her appearance on the stage there was probably a hair-pulling scene a la Chinots in sight. Ah Shong takes the part of the District Attorney, and with his servant furnishes most of the comedy. He has a large sense of humor, a robust and natural method and a technique that not a few of his confreres on the white stage might envy. The servant is played by Ah Yom, g a clever actor who belongs to the Wash- 4 ington-street Stock Company, and who is supposed to be a sort of Oriental Handy Andy. There needs no interpreter in the scena between the two where the lawyer is at- tempting to teach Handy Andy the pro- prieties. Faithful but stupid Andy does his best. He cleans his shoes as advised— but with his sleeve; attends to his nose in the same glitteringly unconventional fashion, sneezes in his master's face, and the like broadly realistic farce. I have seen nothing funnier or cleverer in the way of faclal play than the hungry serv- I.nt':.zxvmllonuh.m-hllw and is a story of love and Intrigue. It |ger There is a somewhat similar incident in “The Mountebank,” where Fanfaronade is left out of the feast. But the China- man played it all round Mr. Warde's as- sistant in “The Mountebank™ last weei, keeping his white and yellow audience in & continual ripple throughout the whole scens. The haughty maid and her walt- ing girl were played with the usual as- tonishing lifelikeness by two boys, and altogether ‘“Wong Die Ye Gong Chong’ was & bargain at the price. Yowll find me there again the next time “Janice Meredith” comes to town. 4 ADVERTISEMENTS. (14 77 9 A GARGLE of salt and water strength- ens the throat, takes away the scrappy feeling at the beginning of a Cold—‘T7" does the rest, WOOLEN worn next the skin “keeps in” the heat; “T7" strengthens and re- vives low vitality and prevents Colds. DRY FEET are essentlal to good health. Keep the feet warm and dry, and “Tr" will keep you well. BATHE frequently; be sure to rub dry and get up the circulation after the bathg a dose of “7T" will assist nature. KEEP the mouth closed, breaths through the nose. If this is difficult, you have Catarrh and need “T7."” LET the beard grow if your throat Is sensitive, and take “77"—it cures hoarse- ness and restorés the voice. “SEVENTY-SEVEN" (“17"), Dr. Hum- § phreys’ Famous Specific, stops a Cold at the start and ‘“breaks up” Colds that hang on. At all Druggists’,