The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 21, 1906, Page 23

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 1906. - she quoted, ce note.” “I parts until caricatures of herself ng a part came out with leaving things moment. iration of the | d at the notion. 1 leave nothing | moment. Every | fon of the voice, | tace, I study out | I know exactly at all times.” suggested between om his lips as it | hink she | Se, as I t “Duse, Duse | GSlanche y (fiartul?’co i e | conditions in Warsaw; & picture seems a thing growing as it will before your eyes. But twice, three times, =, I have seen her in the sami same to the tinlest detail uplifted finger gave every s tin hasis to Take Shakespeare,” she began again. ““There is your blank verse to begin with. You have, primarily, to have the breath for that. If you do not calculate the sice it is gone when you most need it. ere is no such thing in great art as tion of the moment.” hen only to hear gain the theory, the theory of Mrs. Fiske, the theory of McKee Rankin, of all the thinking players, as to the diffi- ty that confronts the young student g to- . the impos of find- starring companies in which the budding actor plays one part for two or years were again condemned. Worse again, much, Modjeska commented, were creators of the roles or be criticized. There were even third companies! The whole tendency of | modern dramatic “art” in America is by way most effectually preventing the actor from thinking for himself. ““The actor will copy,” Modjeska put it; “a Hamlet, a Macbeth, inch by inch. An- other will copy him. Again, he is copied, |'and at the last thege is a Macbeth with neither the virtues of the first player nor the last. Nor do they think that the first Macbeth might have been wrong. “They have not the intelligence,’ mitted the Count. “Perhaps they have not been properly taught,” madame gently corrccted. The Count shrugged, laughed, recounted things of a recent Camille he had seen, with tricks gathered in from all Camille- dom. One actress used to look at her hands: “How changed I am!” Another at her mirror: “How changed I am!” This looked at both to be sure she s 1 Good measure! The perform- nce ended at 12:15—at least they had left at that time! “There is good teaching at the Paris Conservatolre,” madame “there the student may say to the mas- ter, ‘How shall I play this part? but the master says: ‘Nay, that is for you to de- cide. I'm curious to know your idea of how to play it’ In Europe generally, | where there is usually a very large com- pany at a theater, and where they play together for several years, the conditions are much more favorable for the stu- dent.”” Ané here we came to Poland, to War- saw, Modjeska’'s home. It was like a Chopin Polonaise, “Thaddeus (f War- saw,” and the direst, rarcst comic opera, this chapter. There wzs all the passion of the patriot in Modfeska's account of the unhappy -here was infinite sub- | advanced; | | | | | \ | the proper opportunities of study. The | three | c'l the ith the APlaycrs | ANunicEFolk - e MME. MODJESKA, THE FAMOUS ACTRESS. WHO HAS BEEN TO SAN FRAN- CISCO ON_A FAREWELL TOUR. DESPITE HER YEARS, SHE PLEASES WITH A FINE ART WHICH TIME HAS NOT DIMINISHED. L —_— fun in her account of the Warsaw dra- cen matic orship; there was the appre- ciaticn royal of the freedom, political and artistic, which she came to find in Amer- ica now twenty-nine years ago. * Charac- teristic, eminently, I should judge was this. 4 thought only cf being free to {act, to be myself, when we came,” the actress was saying. Sh2 laughed and added: *‘We brought not one bit ¢f pa- per—critique—with us to a strange coun- Certainly we should be in the asy- lum! She told me of the first “Hamlet” in Warsaw. Some one told the censor tha a king was murdered in the play. “A king killed, a king killed!” he shrieked, “stop the performance!"” ““Then,” Modjeska laughed; “‘some one told him that it was only a family mur- | der, not a political murder, and the play was allowed to go on!” They would not allow “Willilam Tell” except under another name, the Count contributed. There had been a ballet, “The Two Thieves,” given one night when the Em- peror of rmany and the Czar of Russia occupied @ box together. The audience took it up: ‘“Ha, ha! the Llwo thieves, very good!” they shouted. But the cen- sor was called in and they changed the title to ‘“Robert and Bertram.” ‘“Censors never have brains,” madame added. “Do they concern themselves wila other than pctical immorality?” I asked. “They did not allow plays like ‘Mrs. ‘Warren's rofession,, " the Count put it, “though, of course, there was no Ber- nard Shaw then.” “You have not played much in the Shaw sort of thing yourself?” I sug- gested. “I was the first Nora in the ‘Doll's House' in America,” madame told me. “That was long ago. The people did not like it then—the wife was never allowed to leave her husband then! Now—it is different. “Magda,” of course, I knew to be one of her favorite plays. ‘“Frou Frou”—but she most likes Shakespeare, It was in connection with this that both vorite with the actress. Then of the dis- tinguished folk that have come up in her own companies she chatted. “I have made more stars,” she said, and sighed, “and so many have gone. Barry- more, he is gone; Haworth—the best father in ‘Magda,” a very goocd Mac- beth”— “A fine Hamlet,” I ventured. “He is gone. Taber, ‘Bob’ Taber, is also gone.” Al The Count skillfully changed the tune with: “Otis Skinner was another of ma- dame's confreres, and Robert Manteil. Mary Shaw was another—immensely in- telligent woman—she was with us for five vears.” Georgie Barrymore, Modjeska said, still thinking of the past, had been one of her company, a particularly beloved member. How Lionel and Ethel Barry- more became her and her husband’s god- children she told quaintly. One day the children, out with their mother, walked off by themselves and got lost. It was in New York and Mrs. Barrymore was frantic. She went everywhere that she could think of, then in utter despair found herself on the steps of a church. Modjeska said: ‘‘She prayed, ‘O God, what shall I do? and there, just above her, she saw the children! And then she came to me next day. Bhe said, ‘T am going to have the children baptized at that church, will you be godmother?’ And 80 we have our dear godchildren!” One son, who may now be gray of beard, she laughingly told me she has— and “here I am playing my farewell en- gagement without a single gray-halr.” Charming throughout I found Modjeska, witty, keenly intelligent. most gracious, but, above all things, kind. I thought I knew why the Count, in a diseussion of whether brains or heart was most impor- tant to the actor, had said: ‘“Kindness is a woman’s finest accomplishment.” WEEK’S OFFERINGS | 1 < AT THE THEATERS Modjeska and the Count expressed the |+ An event of exceptional interest in the heartiest admiration for Margaret Ang- | play-going world will lin, whose Zira they have recently seen. Annie Russell is also a considerable fa- he Pine- g the armed with the red cheered by the flickeri ng corner that sends to sink within tion—as ysta | theme is er | A fine ess 1 mistake ssing him now, ang the development of ne will rank with his “Town Crie Hei o ably call this new thing, “The | - " or “The Chief at Prayer.” ' The sky—the deep, luminous blue that v rather than sees out om the | 3 tches of the deseri—is laid on | with effectually throbbing silence, and the Ilimitable space that stretches above the sandy wastes Opp s. Not 'so, how- ever, with the Navajo chief, who stands facing the east, in an attitude of prayer, erect, stolid and full of respectful dignity, Such is the Indian’s attitude of supplica- tion or of thanksgiving, knowing not the Christian mode of falling to the knees. And who of us shall say which, in the eyes of the Father, is the true way to pray? There is deep expression in this new canvas of Dixon's, although it is in but little more than the chrysalis stage. With good conscientious work upon it, there is every reason to believe that the canvas will add several notches to the growing fame of the young painter. « s s L. P. Latimer is one of the busiest fel- lows 1 know in the artistic colony, turn- ing out a little more work, perhaps, than is good for him, physically and artisti- cally. Constant work is apt to get the best of men in ruts. And when a painter finds himself in a rut—or his friends find him in one—it’s time for him to lay by his brushes, lock up his studio for a week or out into the meadows, or into the woods, or out by the sea. With this rejuvena- tion comes fresh inspiration, and you can bank upon it that work shows {t. The picture offered to-day is a sym- pathetic, sensitive, presentation of a bit of countryside, done soon after Mr. Latimer's return this fall from up- country. Quite unlike the Latimer redwoods —of which he has become interpreter and high priest—this bit of woodland is very cherming. . s ‘What's the matter with Thad Welch, the wizard of Marin sunlights and Marin uplands? He, too, seems bent upon turning out work hastily—several instances of which we have seen of late. However, in every one of these slap- dash canvases, there is, in spite of their careless methods, a most exquisite sun- light enwrapping the hills, gleaming through a veil of mist. A pity it is that he does not send two and get out among his fellows, ulqut something more worthy of his name idyilic | be the engage- ment of the English players at the Ma- jestic Theater, that begins to-morrow OF LOCAL ARTISTS AND STUDIOS —BY LAURA BRIDE POWERS and his capability. \ A picture at Schussler’s, now on ex- hibition, is not an expression of the best Welch can do—Welch, the wizard of Marin sunlights and Marin uplands. . Lillle V. O’'Ryan is hard at work these days in her Pine-atreet studio, nine o'clock finding her in her working togs. Her portrait of Mrs. Fernando t is progressing well, the artist having caught—and expressed—the subtlety and spirit of her sitter. The artist hopes to have the portrait finished during the month. 2 " Besides this portrait in oils Miss O’'Ryan is putting the finishing touches upon two exquisite baby p(:rtrll.!l uptm. ivory, Charles J. Dickman has completed the four big panels ordered for Frederick C. Greenwood's new h7me, and has shipped | them thither. y [ Only in their incipient stage had I the vilege of %fl—fld m of hunting scenes, <8 —but ‘vouchsafed evening with “Sweet Nell of Old Drury.” Heading the company {s Miss Nellie Stewart, whose fame has Jlong ago reached here. Twenty players come with the famous actress from her native Aus- tralia, and four come from England to join her, from the Shaftesbury Theater. We are to see things the word goes, not only in acting but in the way of produc- tions, in which the Australians belleve we have still things to learn. The company | brings all of its settings, and for “Sweet Nell of Old Drury” these are to be par- ticularly splendid. Miss Stewart is the only Sweet Nell besides Florence Roberts that we have had here, and is said to be exceptionally happy in the role. . s e The - long-heralded “Yankee Consul” comes to the Columbia Theater this week, beginning its engagement to-night. ‘“The Yankee Consul,” the work of Henry Blossom Jr, and Alfred C. Robyn, is sald to be a genuine comic opera, full of fun apd tuneful music. It ran for nine months in New York, and six months in Chicago, whigh is fairly good warrant, and the present company Is said to be! equal to the origiral company presenting ' the opera. The organization includes Miss Vera Michelena, a clever San Francisco girl, who comes as leading lady of the company. Miss Michelena was last seen here as a charming but immature Prin- cess Chic, In the opera of the name, She is now said to be one of the best comic opera singers of the day. Harry Short will assume the title role, and the sup- porting company of fifty includes Mae, Botti, Alice Hosmer, Josephy M. Rad-! clifie, L. R. Lefferson, James Templeton, | Wallace Jenkins, Harry Davies, George Shields, Bonnie Weldon, Olga Kalmeng, Margaret Flavin, Marguerite Holt, Claire Wade and Maude Beaumont. There is a large chorus, and the orchestra will be augmented for the occasion. $ e The Alcazar has wisely determined to keep on ‘““The Admirable Crichton,” which has made an unqua:ified hit this week. It is only one of many good things the Alcazar has lately given us—the delicious “Secret of Polichinelle,” for example, and only praise is due for the production. The play is delightful, the acting—in particu- lar that 'pf Charles Waldron, George Os- bourne and Miss Evelyn—most humorous- ly adequate, and the production, with its tropical island home scene, considerably handsomer than most of the things New York sends us. . . “Foxy Quiller’” to-morrow evening be- gins the third week of its successful run at the Tivoli, the opera, the singing, the acting, all being of highly satisfactory sort, . The Alhambra will have this week “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” with Herschel Mayall in the dual title role. . % » Beginning with this afternoon ‘“Yon Yonson” will open a week's engagement at the Grand Opera-house. {EN The Alcazar Beauties Company will be responsible for the current entertainment at the California. . . The Orpheum bill of the week promises a considerable novelty in Les Brunins, “Billiardistes Modernes,” who come from London, via Australia, where they have been creating much comment. The Eight Allisons, famous acrobats, are also starred, and have been imported special- 1y for Orpheum-goers. Seville Mandeville does tragedy. Fred Lennox continues In “‘On His Uppers,” and the clever Herbert dogs are to be seen. S A strong man and woman, Emil Wah- lund and Mile. Tekla, will be the chief attractiops at the Chutes this week. Mlle. Tekla’balances a trifie of 1500 pounds and Wahlund challenges the world to dupli- cate his feats of strength. CALVE WILL SING HERE THIS WEEK Here in full is the programme for the first of the Calve concerts, that will take place next Thursday evening at the Al- hambra: Flute and piano, sonata (Handel), Mons. Fleury and Mons. Decreus; aria, “O Mio Plccolo Tavalo” (Zaza) (Leon- cavallo), Mr. von Norden; violin solo, ‘“Zigeunerweisen’ (Sarasate), Mlle. Jeanette Vemorel; stances, ‘Sapho” (Gounod), Madame Emma Calve; ‘La Jolie Fille de Perth” (Bizet), Mons. Bouxman: ‘‘Since My Love” (old English), “Ich Rief im Wald” (Bohm), Mr. von Norden; aria, “Perle du Bresil,” with flute obligato (David), Madame Emma Calve; violin solo, ‘‘Romanze” (D'Ambrosia), Mile. Vemorel; aria, “Le Cor” (Flegier), Mons. ~ Bouxman; Habanera = from “Carmen” (Bizet), Madame Emma Calve. Of it, there seems to be a larger curiosity to hear Calve in concert than almost any of the other big singers. Very good word comes of the supporting company, and there is every indication of immense houses at both the Thursday and Sat- urday concerts. . To certain correspondents. “The Mob Leader.” Thing again, friend. Meanwhile thanks for the interesting letter. No, it was not even a “back-hand- ed compliment” that I intended. You, as a mob leader in a production of “Vir- gintus,” pitched throughout in a certain key, the key classical-artificlal-heroical, as Polonius might have put it, were no more justified in playing your “bit” in another key than you would have been in playing it in overalls. ‘Mobs have al- ‘ways been the same,” granted—OFF the stage. A Roman mob, behaving exactly as the instanced mobs at Grant avenue and Market street, is concelvably artistio, in a production say by Mr. Sothern and Miss Marlowe, who have “realized” even “The Taming of the Shrew.” But in a production of “Virginius” by Mr. Louis James, whose virtues are,of quite another order, neither the modernity nor the nat- them have much to say of their charm and worth. During their growth there couldn't have been much revelry in the Dickman studio, since the four panels, each twenty-four feet long by six wide, occupled the great- ‘er part of it—which may explain his unseemly haste in hurrying them off. Mr. Dickman is now engaged upon a portrait g_t Mayo.r l!:)u t:( glkhnd. Ada Romer Shawhan is making some- | thing of a sensation with her heads done in red chalk. Rt | One recently completed is exquisite— half saint, half grisette—a coquettish smile upon the lips, and a naughty, half morous gleam in the half-closed This is one of the prettiest t.ings that has grown of late in the Rookery. The Rookery? ] The coziest studio in town, perched upon the top of a commercial roof, at the cor- ner of Sixth and Market—997—where you'd less a gem of a Parisian studio, with a a view of | roof-garden beyond it4 doorstep. | ! I uralism of the mob leader were In keep- ing.. The anachronism'was a double one, one both of period and atmosphere. “How to give the measure and beauty of the classics to such lines as<‘Down with him." " Nay, friend, that's your business, not mine. DR H. A: R—Programmes to be in time for the Sunday page must reach me not later than Thursday at noon. P 5 WITH THE PLAYS AND THE ACTORS “The Lion and the Mouse,’, that some have hailed as the great American play, at the close of its New York run will be seen in this city. > . George Ade salls next week for Egypt. where he is to interview the Sphinx con- cerning his next comedy. . e e General Lew Wallace’s “Prince of India™ j has been dramatized and will be produced next month at the Colonial Theater in Chicago. The press agent sends out ac- count of a handsome cast, the catalogue of the eleven splendid scenes, the names of the designers, sceme painters, the length of the baggage cars It will take to hold them—everything but the name of the playwright. . s . “Little Johnny Jones,” the clever musi- cal piece by George M. Cohan, will be an early attraction at the Columbia Theater. The plece holds the record of all musical works offered during the past year In New York. Erow @ The reception accorded Henry W. Sav- age's English grand opera company last week in New Orleans seems to have been very gratifying. The organization dupl- cated its success of last season and the reception was made distinctive in many ways, including an invitation from M. Charley, directeur of the French Opera- house, for a combination performance of “The Vglkyrie.” The artists of both companieS paid visits to their respective temples of Thespis and gifts and greet- | ings were exchanged. Mr. Savage has been in receipt of numerous requests from not only American residents In Cuba and Mexico but from natives of Havana and Mexico to bring the organi- zation there next season. In fact. nego- tions are already pending regarding the advent of this organization for a tour of the principal Mexican cities. —_———— BYRON’S GRANDSON MAKES ATTACK ON POET'S MEMORY Earl of Lovelace, to Vindicate Name of Writer's Wife, Publishes Revelations. LONDON, Jan. 20.—One of the great- est literary sensations of recent years is likely to follow the revelation of the contents of a book written for private circulation by the Earl of Lovelace about his grandfather, Lord Byron. Lovelace’s mother was Ada, Byron's only legitimate child, and the object of the Earl is to vindicate his grand- mother, the poet's wife, concerning whom the opinion has become stereo- typed owing to the general trend of Byronic literature, that she caused By- ron’s exile and wrecked his career by her harsh, unsympathetic attitude. Lord Lovelace's reply is the astound- ing disclosure that the allegation, made originally in 1870 by Harriet Beecher Stowe, of Byron's relations with his half-sister, Augusta, whom he only met when both were grown up and she was married, rested not on suspicion or ma- licious gossip, but upon a confession made to Lady Byron by Augusta her- self, and that Lady Byron thereupon justifiably refused ever to see her hus- band- again, but out of consideration for Augusta, to whom she ever after- ward remained a devoted friend, she preserved inviolate their dreadful se- cret, bearing in heroic silence ecriti- cisms and misrepresentations which a word from her could instantly have dis- pelled. The Earl of Lovelace is now 66 years old, a man of rather morose and eccen- tric disposition, and evidently con- sumed by virulent animosity toward Lord Byron’s memory. Apart from the appalling charge, which he solemnly makes on what he claims to be irre- futable evidence, he bitterly assails }Byron's character generally, asserting that, as known through Byronic litera- ture, it is purely fictitious, a creation made to suit booksellers’ requirements. Byronic authorities are profoundly agitated by Lovelace’'s revelations and refuse to accept them without fullest inquiry, but it has always been recog- nized, not only from the theme of “Man- | fred” and other writings of the poet, | and, most of all, because of John Mur- ray's destruction of Byron's diary, an act that Augusta strongly approved if not solicited, that the mystery sur- rounding this painful episode In the poet’s life has never satisfactorily been dissipated. —_———— NEW YORK MAN FIGURES IN AN ENGLISH SCANDAL ‘Will Appear As a Witness in Sensa- tional Diverce Suit Im London. LONDON, Jan. 20.—Charles Livings- ton Hyde of New York is to appear as an important witness in a sensational suit which s coming on for trial here early this term. I S. Burroughes, head of the firm of Burroughes & Watts, long established as the leading billiard-table makers in England, married as his sec- ond wife a woman who had been nurse to his first wife during a long illness This woman, twenty-five years younger than her husband, came of well-to-da parents. After a time Mrs. travagance produced she moved in a set that spent money freely. Burroughes remonstrated with his wife, and the breach became wider. He advertised in the London papers that he would not be responsible for his wife's debts, they separated, and early this year he inftiated a proceeds ing for diverce, naming Hyde as co= respondent. The evidence supporting the accusation must e been worth= less, for on being sifted by Burroughes® iawyers they declared it to be too slen~ der to proceed upon, and the suit was withdrawn. Now, Mrs. Burroughes, who had ens tered a plea denying misconduct withy Hyde, is proceeding with a counter suit for a judiclal separation on the ground of cruelty and desertion, and claiming alimony. Burroughes, thoush he has withdrawn his suit, reserves the right to cross-examine his wife with respect to her alleged relations with Hyde, while Hyde himself had been subpenaed to give evidence in her behalf. It s’ evident the suit will be bitterly fought out on both sides, as the chief counsel at the English bar has been re- tained by the respective parties—Rufus Isaaecs, K. C., leads for the Sir Edward Clarke, K. C., former So- licitor General and acknowledged lead- er of the common law bar, is retained for Burrolighes. Mrs. Burroughes will call eighteen witnesses. She is a tall blonde and attractive looking woman about thirty-five. P Sy SO S ISADORA DUNCAN'S PUPILS SHOCK BERLIN AUDIENCES | Burroughes' ex~ disagreements; Dance With Short Skirts and Bare Legs to Which the Authori- ties Object. BERLIN, Jan. 20.—Miss Isadora Dune can has falien upon troubled times, for the police authorities of Berlin and | Charlottenburg have decided to put difficulties in the way of the great dress reformer. Miss Duncan has established a school at Grunewald, near Berlin, ‘where she teaches, among « rs, about a score of girls between 5 and 14 years the art of dancing, and when they are sufficiently advanced she puts them through their paces before large au= diences. They are dressed in supposed- with bare feet and legs, bare shoulde and arms. Their exhihitions are very amusing, and Isa~ dora nets big sums from the entertain- ments. ly Greek costume Now the police come iIn and say: “Fraulein Duncan, these exhibitions overstep the bounds of propriety; peo=- ple think them immoral, and think they are calculated to inju e chil- dren morally by blunting their s propriety. Besides, the law carnot ale low you to exploit them to your owm advantage.” Isadora Duncan is indignant. She laughs at the charge of she scoffs at the people w . 8’ appeal superior authori scantiness in the little She appealed, but the great skirts. was throgm out by the ties, and she must bend her proud back to the inevitable, and either close her school or clothe her pupils in garments that will “not shock the prudisi Ber= liners, —_—————————— WAR AMONG ACTRESSES OF COMEDIE FRANCAISE Mile. Dudlay After Twenty Years of Service Refuses to Leave the Th PARIS, Jan. sand franes for reciting i n the 14th of J an in~ cries Mile. Du of the Com= edie Francaise, who for two years con= secutively has pocketed for flve min- utes’ appearance what looks to be the handsomest fee ever paid an actress. Her grief is that the Comedie has been preparing the way for her superannue ation on the ground of artistic dilapi~ dation after twenty years’ service. “They began by confining me to grandmotherly parts,’ she says, “though there are in Paris seweral ac- tresses as much as twenty years older appearing as ingenues, and Sarah still plays vestal virgins. Then they gave me no parts: now they mean to put me \out.” But the tragedienne refuses to go and makes the press ring with her pro- tests against the jealousies of women in the Comedie, and also against the exclusion of women from the commit- tee. Men, she hints, are twisted round the fingers of designing minxes schem= ing for admission or for better parts, The fact is the whole Comedie Fran- caise is in the throes of a periodical battle royal. Segond-Weber threatens resignation unless she obtains augmen- tation, and M. Truffier, on a personal | grievance, calls for the blood of Cla~ retie, who, while the hardened come- dians rage, merely shrugs his shoule ders. Marseil- ay —_——— Mrs. Mackay Makes Count Study. PARIS, Jan. 20.—It is said that Comte Jules de Bonvouloir, husband of Bianca Colonna, has taken on his honeymoon an instructor in Spanish and intends, under Mrs. Mackay's inspiration, to qualify for a diplomatic appointment, for which he Is all the more qualified socially, since his wife has an extraor- dinary gift of tongues and already speaks four or five fluenthy. i EW TANV. ONE OF LOR'“O P. LATIMER'S N ASES_ SHOWING A DELICA’ AND SYMPATHETIC TREATMENT OF A BIT OF SIDE. R ugomnil LATEST WORK SHOWS SOME DEP. FROM FORMER