The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 17, 1904, Page 19

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 1904 19 wrong room when I reached Helen Russell’s the other day. able looking work bas- e with 2 neatly darned anging over the edge. There vn collar with a needle Half-finished bordering eather stitching and other ck about. And there before me who looked burlesque queens. * I asked, doubtfully. vocab- id 1t is with- Whiffen to look or an Jda Con- a but gra twere Helen A And ure M in a comfy, 2 pair of the do—or per- Miss Russell contra- 'd know, a4 I'm courage to t to his pa Geno and in Bologna achers there kind of person a. I murmu 1 was never afraid of anythin Miss Russell rippied sleepi ft voice, in its .Jdazy, unruffl s as soothing as Mrs. Winslow’s e added, “In fact, I don't ljan 2" I knew,” she smiled 1 was most fortunate to Busi. He was very ill even 24 only one other pupil— n's son, by the way. I was he died, six months 1 had the last lesson he Busi was a great man. many compesers, conductors, vou know he was head of the onservatory. Signor Busi en to Marches! >d her?” anted to go to some one else E had b 1 a few months with her the singer put in. “I went to study with Mme. Laborde, Calve's teacher, after Marchesi. She was very good. 1 had two years in Paris aito- gether. But I have learned much more from Alberti than from any of them,” she laughed. . “I should like to see this wonderful Alberti—" *You may—" *“He may come?" *“Do you think I would stay here Lac *h. T w without him?” nora. She got up then and went to the dressing table, picking up the portrait of a gentlemen who is perhaps more like Signor Azzali than Mayor Schmitz —but not much. This she proudly handed to me to admire. It was not difficult, and'I asked then: “barytone?” “Yes,” sal ty-five roles.” Does he sing Falsta?f?” with im- mediate visions of the next Tivoli grand opera season. “Mg. Alberti was one of the first Falsl.afls ih Milan,” his wife an- nounted. Did you sing in Italy also?" “Just in small roles,” she replied, then laughed; “but it was at La Scala.” “I thought it was very difficult for American giris to get a hearing there.” “Think of the chance I gave her,” Miss Russell said only, with nalve honesty: “I was studying with the di- rector and he gave me the opportunity said the Alberti sig- madame, “and sings six- to appear. “What was it in?" In only a few operas. One was 2 new work. Haven't you had a singer named Collamarini here?” = “Have we!” I sald, and proceeded to €xpatiate on the amount of Collama- rini we have had. . She ig ‘Fortunio,’ too, anquilly recalled. “A e mine and she was t beginning then.” ow*long ago was that?” Er—eight years ago,” stammered But she corrected her- “Perhaps a little longer, I breathed again. She to spoil. Collamarini’s voice?” small, but very sweet in qual- had studied only about six en.” i she look?” ver; very pretty,” s Ru: Miss rini is a great favorite here, > Tivoli for two seasons,” interested in the said then. “Just Yigna this year—" rr Conried’s new have the Metro- re.” Miss Russell tually went down at ight they came every ame for two seasons ars ago.” i u so, Helen,”, Mrs. Pickering won’t hear Caruso!” not to. Is he very sped their hands and volumes. Miss Russell is the greatest tenor of the bel canto. You should have Caruso was, of a La Tosca Scotti's a great 't be better. I'm going some day,” she nd then for all her softness there a little grip of the Russell lip that aps things. ou like the newer Italian op- ike them so well as the old t is, they don't give the singer u can act be " then it is wise best rite to sing?"” and Micaela da and Aida replied, and got f press extracts into doings of one Mme. ur name is not ‘Rus- she laughed Friedlander's Scalchi?” 1 with Rosa and good Azu- ell defended. Vancouver, Seat- for eight months. north Quite a successful season.” I stopped to admire the flowers of the night before thit were spilling a sort of tired perfume into the room and adorning the washbowl, the table, the piano, the dressing table, everywhere. Then Miss Russell, recalled to Fischer's and her duty—that my painless inter- viewing had made her forget, said sk “Mr. Friedlander toid me to tell you about my family.” “Your family?” I said ders or Mayflower?" my pencil. Isn't it silly?” she laughed then and I could have forgiven her even to Wil- m the Conqueror. I, too, could, but alas, no one asks to interview me! “Good blood is better than none,” ¥ emnly. “Oh, T gee— getting out She nods a “Yes,” and then said: “It's Commodore Perry, and—I AM"* oud of it!" “Of course you are!" What's the re- lationship?” —I—don't even know, it's so dis- tant,” she said deliciously. “Then mamma’s family— “Ah, mamma has a family too?”’ “Were Knoxes, John Knox of Scot- land. And father’s cousin was maid <f honor to the Czarina at St. Peters- burg, Countess von Hesselburg.” “Is maid of honor—" “Was, was,” she giggled. “I don’t care a bit about these things, but fath- er’s very particular. He writes every now and then to remind me about them.” All this to assure the wily Mr. Fried- lander that Miss Russell, like a good girl, did as she was told, and papa that she has not forgotten. “But it cannot be that the noble de- scendant of the Knoxes darns stock- ings!” 1 sald then, nodding over at the neat row of them reposing on the trunk. . Both women laughe 5 5 i | | | | | | | | i | { | i | | | | | [ | I | 2 —e ¥ o | Helen Russell' Talks of Burlesque and Grand Opera, Her Son, Her Teacher Marchesi and Melba. . & : : 4 : Miss Russell cried: “Did you see vale of tears without any assistance half. This is erroneous. Moulan can entation aré of ir.terelt.. Mme. Blau- those?"” from the medical fraternity. “We had act for Mr. Savage If he wishes to do velt was studying in Rome in 1897, Mrs. Pickering, who is guide, philos- opher and friend, put it: “I'm afraid if Helen had to darn her own stock- ings she would be like the people the maid told about the other day.” “Tell her,” Miss Russell urged. Nothing loth, Mrs. Pickering said: “‘One’ morning Helen found a hole in her stocking and drew it hastily -to- gether—as we were without our bag- gage and just between trains. The maid asked her afterward: “Are you an actress, mem, or just a common lady?” Miss Russell wanted to know why she thought she might be an act- r “Because that's the way they do—mend ‘em just befbre putting 'em on,” sald the maid. “Vile libel,” I said. Then, looking over at the piano where Nevin's “Ro- sary” lay open, I asked, ing the ‘Rosary’?” ,'I am zoing to use it as an encore. 1 didn’t have -enough encores last nigh she answered simply. “I had to go on and on singing ‘Comin’ Thro’ the Rye.' A gentleman who heard me sing last night suggested it.”” Miss Russel breke off with another laugh and blush. “It was Mr. Corbett. Do you know him? I think he has some- thing to do with prizefights. There was a Mr. Gleason, too.” It was the artist’s turn, and with evi- dent scorn for my ignorance concern- ing Mr. Gleason and of Mr. Corbett, except as to the fact that he is “young,” he informed Miss Russell that she had met the very flower of the prizering. “You must write home and tell them,” Mrs. Pickering ‘cried.. Evidently the society is very much more exalted than even Commodore Perry's grand-some- thing is used to! “I should have Alberti out on the mext train if I did,” Miss Russell laughed, I had almost gone without introduc- tion to a very important person—Oliver Perry Alberti. He came up through the photographs. - Miss Russell showed me a number of very interesting ones, one of Marchesi and Melba, posed together in 1834; one of the clever looking old dame Mme. Laborde; ome of Signor Busi, several in fact. “This is the best of them all,” she sald at last, handing over a wide-eyed, beautiful child-face. Then I knew it was not for nothing that Miss Russell suggests the mother. “He's like you,” I seid. “How old?” “Four,” his mother said softly. 'You are sing- “I suppose the loveliest and best boy that ever happened?” “Ask“Mrs. Pickering”—proudly. “You should tell Miss Partington that he is a Christian Science baby,” that lady suggested. “Ah?" I said. “What's the differ- ence? He looks all right.” His_mother then explained simply that Perry Alberti had arrived in this no physician.” “And does the baby show any excep- tional profundity or goodness?” I queried respectfully. ‘“We think him perfec said Mrs. Pickering. SRS A - FRESH BRIGHT PLAYS ARE ON THE LOCAL BILLS FOR NEW WEEK Witk Mrs. Langtry and her company in “Mrs. Deering's Divorce” ‘the Co- Tumbia has a very attractive bill fof the week. ® “A Chinese Honeymoon sical comedy order, follov i The Alcazar Theater has the noveity of the week, in the American comedy, “‘Mrs. Jack,” that will be given for the first time here to-morrow evening. [ G The Tivoli had its rea! opening this week, with its excellent production of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home." The opera is a\Stange and Ed- wards affair, military in character, pretty in story and attractive in music. R e “The Beauty Shop” at Fischer's adds another to the long list of successes the burlesque house has made. Like all the burlesques, it grows better with each performance and bids fair to rank with the brightest things that have been turned out at Fischer's. . s The California opens to-night with one of the best of modern melodramas, “The Fatal Wedding." of the mu- . . The Grand Opera-house will have for the week “A Night in June,” “a play for the people.” The engagement opegs with this afternoon’s matinee. SRS The' Cenfral's bill of the week is “The Bowery Girl.” e The new bill at the Orpheum will in- clude several headliners of vaudeville, including Howard Thurston, the won- derful juggler, who has kept the town guessing this week. / B There is a Chinese baby in the Chutes incubator and Deaves’ Merry Manfkins at thq theater. ——— WHAT THE ACTORS ARE DOING IN OFHER PARTS OF AMERICA Some of Frank Moulan's friends are rather industriously spreading the rumor that the injunction granted against him in the x;\dem‘m:.m' u; application of Henry W. Sav- .::- ,r‘:enh l:;J\ctor}tom pursuing his profession for the next year and a . The events leading so, but for no one else. Actors but seldom entertain one an- other, or at least accounts of their do- ing go are seldom seen. Mrs. Fiske's company whiled the tedium of ‘an in- terrupted journey the other day in an original yay.- While the train fn which they were going westward was side- tracked at Marlon, Ohio, owing to an accident ahead, the company improved the wait of four hours by improvising a holiday entertainment that éven had a Christmas tree and its accessories. Some of the men of the company ven- tured into pearby woods and secured a tree, and by_.the aid of the wemen this was erected and adorned in the center of their private car. Where all the nceessary things came from was a mystery, but the tree was bright with candles, while tinsel and other appro- propriate trimmings were found and utilized. Flashlight photographs were taken of the tree and the happy group that surrounded it, and later several members of the party entertained their comrades with vocal and instru- mental music, monologues and recita- tions. The event was as enjoyable as it was unique, and it excited unusual curiosity on the part of the trainmen and other passengers, who had “out- side seats,” =o to speak, and marveled at the cleverness that organized so un- expected an affair in a place and un- der circumstances so exceptionai o M % SAN FRANCISCO IS TO HEAR MADAME BLAUVELT SHORTLY Y me. Blauvelt, the American soprano who g to appear here next month, has had a remarkable career. She was dec- orated by Queen Victoria of England, Queen Margherita of Italy and the So- ciety of St. Cecilia of Rome, the oldest singing society in the world,' among othér notable happenings in her life. The latter medal is the most coveted honor that 2 musical artist can receive. With the exception of Mme. Blaiivelt, no woman in the world has received it. Even Patti failed to win it. The Spciety of the Royal Academy of St. Cecilia of Rome was founded in 1585. ~ That the degree of the order should be coveted and recognized as the high honor it was intended by its founders it was decided that the num- ber of decorations conferred by it should :::fl exceed fifty, of which twenty- should be given Italians and twenty-five to foreigners. In more than three centuries but eight persons bave received the mgdal, Mme. Blau- velt being the eighth and the first English-speaking person to receive this most signal recognition of great musical talent. - up to this pres- when a great musical event was an- nounced—the singing of the Verdi re- quiem under the direction of the Royal Academy jof St. Cecilia. In the quar- tet were Marconi the tenor, Nanetti the basso and Falchi the contralto. There was ditficulty in finding a soprano and Mme. Blauvelt volunteered to sing the role, and so remarkable was her per- formance that it was generally believed that Count San Martino, the president of the society, had arranged a surprise. Mme. Biauvelt was afterward sum- moned to the palace and presented to Queen Margherita, who decorated her with a medal. a e Two years ago, after the death of Verdi, the requiem was repeated, with Mme. Blauvelt again in the soprano part. All the other recitants were Ital- ians. Again distinguished honors fell to the American singer. Then it was that the academy honored her by con- ferring upon her the medal of the order, which carries with it the additional honer of having her name carved in a4 marble memorial slab on the wall of the Academy of St. Cectlia of Rome. Thus Italy extends to Mme. Blauvelt the greatest distinction ever conferred upon an American vocalist. The only other living person posssssing the medal of the Society of St. Cecilia is Paderewski. . . . The decoration is a medal of solid gold, oval shaped, 2% inches long by 1% inches wide. Ths face of the medal bears in bas relief the head and shoul- ders of the patron saint of music—st. Cecilia, the background of which is of sky blue enamel with green lily stalks rising from the bottom of the medal-. lion. Around the outer edge, in gold letters, on dark blue enameled back- ground, is the name of the society— “Regia Accademia di Santa Cecilia. Roma.” Directly under the figure of St. Cecllia is the coat-of-arms of the city of Rome. On the reverse side of the medal there is a raised crest of the academy—an organ, crown and the society motto, “Concordia-Discors.” Around the outer edge are the words, “Pro Musices, Art et Sciejta.” The medal is suspended by a gold link from a large rosette of blue and gold rib- bon, the official colers of the academy. Mr. Louis H. Baton will give his twenty-first free organ recital, assisted by Mr. P. J. Oksen, barytone, and Mr. William F. Zech, violinist, at Trinity Church to-morrow evening at 8 o’clock. The Zech quartet will give its first chamber concert at Century Club Hall, 1213 Sutter street, Wednesday evening, January 20, at 8:15. The programme includes the quartet in F major by Anton Rubinsteln, and Klugharlit's quintet, with Louis H. Eaton at the piano. F “Ghosts,” presented locally for the first time this week at the Columbia Theater, touched new nerves of pain in the play-going consclousness. Lacking any exceptional significance in its cast save Claus Bogel, whose O‘wald cut itself into the memory like ¥ ghastly cameo, this Ibsen drama proved itself among the most profoundly moving pictures of human {lis known to the stage. Some time ago Nance O'Neil gave us “The Lady Inger of Ostra It seemed then as though Ibsen had plumbed the deeps of maternal suffering. Yet it is a more intimate note of horror he has struck in “Ghosts.” “Lady Inger,” with its Maeterlinckian symbolisms, its antique heroles, is of the life apart. In “Ghosts” you might be staring into your neighbor’s flat. But Parson Man- ders? There are biue laws in Cincin- nati forbidding a man to his wife o' Sundays! For the rest the types are painfully possible. Mrs. Alving, widow of the Chamberlain Alving, is the good woman who, after one revolt, has “‘stayed by" her dissolute husband. She has borneShim a son. The lttle chap, beginning to ask questions, Is sent to boarding. school. His mother throughout his school days and art stu- dent days in Paris, weaves tender lies about the father for the son. Her final lle is the erection of an orphanage to the memory of Alving, now dead. For Oswald Alvings one may look on the books at Agnew’s, at Stockton. There are terribly many of them. In Paris the father’s sins have found out the son. “Worm-eaten from birth.” the physician tells him. He returns home to await his fate and, crying horribly for “the sun!" it comes upon him. Nothing exceptional here. Parson Manders s less familiar. He is an extraordinary example of the bigot. of the conventionalist, of the degmatist. His remarks, by the way. upon the “advanced” literature in which Mrs. Alving indulges are com- ically like the comment of Ibsen's critics upon Ibsen. One suspects the dramatist here of plagiarizing Wag- ner in “Die Meistersinger.” Yet Par- son Manders, in his fatuous self-com- placeney, in his smug cowardice, in his ludicrous and appalling incapacity to deal with the problems that the Al- ving case presents, is perhaps the most pitiable figure of the peor five that play out the pitiable drama. The rest, at least, at some time have lived their own lives. Parson Manders has forever permitted his neighbor's yard- stick to be the measure of his ways. Then there is Regina, illegitimate daughter of Alving and one of the Alving servant maids, who shows the parental taint in a brutal selfishness and lively voluptuousness, and Eng- strand, her supposed father, a car- penter of the Uriah Heep build, who married Regina's mother for money. With these five commonplace people, a single set of scenery and for cos- tumes Parson Manders’ black coat and Oswald's gray one, Mrs. Alving's * plack gown and Regina’s blue one, the drama works itself out in its terrible simplicity. There is nothing fortuitous in the sit- uations save the burning of the Alving Orphanage on the eve of its dedica- tlon—a coincidence so like life as to seem incredible. There are no dropped letters, pardons arriving at the last moment, banks failing; neither, again, is there any “love interest,” curious local color, mor comic relief. Nor is there even literary charm. The inter- est is purely psychological, the striv- ings and counter strivings of five naked souls. And you make your own sermons. Ibsen does not even answer his own questions. He keeps to himself any se- cret of sympathy with his characters. And yet with every ordinary dramatic convention defled, with his brutally commenplace material, Ibsen has made a play that drives the blood from the heart and grips to its awful final word. One is grateful to Miss Alberta Gal- latin, who brought the play, for the opportunity to hear it. As Mrs. Al- ving she was not wholly a success, though curiously most successful in its more exacting moments. One recalls Mr. Bogel's Oswald most. gratefully. It is difficult to imagine the unfortu- nate youth more vividly conceived or acted. The make-up was marvelous. A perhaps necessary variety of shad- ing impelled Mr. Bogel to a display of energy not wholly compatible with Al- ving’s condition, but otherwise it was a startlingly convincing impersonation. Engstrand again was cleverly handled by John Ravold, and Rose Curry and Allen Davenport filled ift the cast with- out disaster. Come again, Miss Galla- tin. g, < — ORDER OF PENDO. Supreme Secretary Terry and Su- preme Counselor Schaertzer were pres- ent last week at the installation of the officers of Golden Gate Council of the Order of Pendo. Mrs. Mary C. Pro- bert was placed in the chair of coun- cilor and O. Monson in that of vice councilor. The other officers were con- tinued in office. It is expected that the new coun- cil in this city, to be known as “Home,” will be institutéd before the close of the current month. On the evening of January 21 the officers of Berkeley, Golden State and Alameda Councils of Alameda County. will be jointly installed by Supreme Councilor Tugwell in the hall of the first named council. During the last week Supreme Councilor Tugwell paid official visits to councils in Fresno, Bakersfleld, Hanford and Stockton. Py S GOLDEN EAGLES. The donation party by California Castle of the Knights of the Golden Eagles in Native Sons’ Hall last week was attended by almost the entire membership, !ady relatives and chil- dren. It was in the. nature of a party for the little ones particularly, and for the adults incidentally. There were 200 presents distributed to theose in the audience by George B. Peterson, acting for the castle. In addition there was a programme of entertain- ment under the supervision of a com- mittee of which Chasles H. Davis was the chairman. B