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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 5, 1904)
14 TIIE OMAHA DAILY DEE: SUNDAY, B. 1904. ABOUT PLAYS, PLAYERS AND PLAYHOUSES i and In fact the play throufhout ws ! cllent." Lut wrrk-s Mil at th Royd ttiatT fare xccllent rMne of lh vsrsatllltr and capabllltlea of the company now playing the for the aummer eeaaon. The four playa presented el nee th huoh opened have varied widely In their nature, each Calling for a different treatment In It pre sentation, and yet each ha been riven so well that It tnlKht deem that the company had been organised with a riew to th pr entatlnn of th one play only. The patron Me rflven this company ha been of th most encouraging aort, and th manage ment feels that I la effort are being ap preciated, and naturally Inclined t merit the good will of the people. ' tlscusslon of th national or endowed theater haa been resumed In . desultory ort of way, mostly on the pro aide. Thl 1a due mor than likely to th fact that thnee who might care to be heard In the negative do not at thl time esteem the matter of tiafflulent moment to give It rtoua consideration. Arguments In favor of the plan tak many forma, but have a single basis, that of the ever-present desire to experiment at the expense of others, Autho.s have plays they want produced, and actor have ambitions they would ltk to gratify, but neither haa th I mean or tne courage to risk the moans, and o they would Ilk th publlo to put up the necessary expenses for the produc tion of the play or the equipment of th actor. That la all. As a rut, these ar guments take the form of a plea for languishing art. We are told that modern methods are mercenary; that managers want the money, and that they will not take the chances of failure In ordir to Art a showing on the stage. Plaintively, Indignantly, caressingly. In tones that plad end In tones that threaten, the story Is recited and th picture of Art, dragged captive at the tall of a conquering Syndi cate's chariot, Is constantly before us while the advocate of the endowed the ater have the floor, t'p to the present, no one haa felt called upon to put any of his own money into th endowment needed, and nd genuine attention haa been paid to the proposition that th general movement has become sponsor for the stag by es tablishing a state theater. Th Be doe not abat Its loyalty t i a high stand -d for art, on the stags or elsewhere, nor ha It tired of it efforts to secure the best Interests of the general cause of art, but it ha very little sym pathy with th movement for an endowed theater, especially as It Is now presented. It yet remains to b proven that merit goes without recognition In th present day. It is a fact that managers are conservative almost to extreme, and are chary Indeed . as to new ventures, for or experience has taught them that th matter of under taking to cater to publlo taste Is ono of certain uncertainties, and that the fickle ness of th peopla I expensive to the on who falls under its ban. This naturally deters the investment of private mean In enterprises that remain to be proved. Tet these same managers annually spend thou sand of dollars, experimenting, trying to secure something that will attract th peo ple to their theaters. New play by the hundreds are looked over, many of them rehearsed, and not a - few . expensively mounted, only to prove failure in th nd. Why th publlo should be asked to assume the expense of such experiments does not appear very clearly at this dis tance from the center of agitation, which Is lust now In Mew Tork City. , th special sanction of th church, recited by female lip In female ears, while the author of Th rilgrlm' Progress' lan guished In a dungeon for the crime of pro claiming th gospel to the poor." Now, mind you, this refer to the theater under the restoration, and that Etherege and Wycherly wer dramatists who enjoyed the protection and basked In the smile of royalty and nobility. Their writings are still preserved to us, but ar kept under lock and key In private libraries and never displayed on th shelves In public collec tions, while one must be educated at least to caviare In order to read them. Sir Walter Bcott, in "Kentlworth," gives us a picture of two noble earls of the realm, contending before the. "groat Elisa" for favor, on upholding the plea of the keeper of the bear pita, who complains that the new theater under the direction of a man of th name of Shakespeare Is attracting publlo attention to th detriment of the bear pit, and that the noble and uplifting sport of bear-baiting languishes a a re sult Th earl, In pressing his suit, elo quently depicts the fin points of th com bat between th bear and th dogs, and dwells with gusto on the appeArance of the animals during the conflict, "covered with bloody slaver," and bewails the femininity of custom that is leading Englishmen to watch play actors on the stage rather thnn the noblo Strife between brutes. It Is cer tain that If Elisabeth patronised the theater she also was In soms wise responsible for the bear pit. Even Shakespeare Is not al ways spoken on the stage as he Is written, even In the modern book, and for the very obvious renson that public estimation of the proprieties has advanced, or, at least, Mars a In "The Many and many an actor feels called upon to thrill the publlo by a great pre sentation of a star role, but Is kept Id subjection by an Iconoclaatio manager, who resolutely refuses to give Genius Its opportunity. Naturally, this seems unfair, ment. At the present time, and for soma years past the greatest demand baa been for genius on the stage. The charge is made by the very advocates of the en dowed or national theater, that the prea- ettt day Is one In which men and women are foisted on the publlo without neces sary preparation for thstr flailing, and that stars are being made over night In order that the grasping managers may havs an opportunity to pile up more money. Bnmehow, there seems a dis crepancy here. With private capital so eager to back Genius, and Genius having so little difficulty to secure a hearing, th demand for an endows! theater or one supported out of the publlo coffers Is not Imperatively essential' to th uplifting of th stage. Thus th second plsnk of th platform appears weak when tested. 6snlus has never been denied a hearing In America. It often happena that one who considers himself a genius falls to secure recognition. In that event h ha th consciousness of havfhg enjoyed that Which th publlo Is denied, but usually the diagnosis Is wrong and- the genius is more th result of dlsordeied digestion, a mind that doesn't function accurately at all tlmea, or something of that sor, than of divine Inspiration. Genius of th tru type doesn't oar a rap whether It la discov ered or not: It goes ahead and attends to Its business, and It It la round out th pedestal on which It is placed Us high and ths halo that goes with ths pedestal Is brilliant! If it Isn't found u' It I th world that In nd not th genius. And it may well b questioned a to whether any good end would be served by devot ing any part of th publlo funds to a quest for genius. If It should be deemed wise to set aside a certain sum each year for th exploitation of histrionic talent, why shouldn't som other branches of life's activity recelv similar attention T Is Oenlu In Its other manifestations to b denied, whll Oenlu that has to do with ths stage Is pampered t Perish th thought. If w do start Into this foster Ing business, let's kick ths rover off right st ths start, and play th gam without ' limit and nobody barred. Another of th crlea often heard In this connection Is that the stage is deteriorat ing, and nerds tho support of an mexhnusti. ble fund to swing It back to solid mooring In tt high place. Thl condition haa been noted from time to time ever since th stag was recognised as a factor in social existence. In one of the latest Issue th Dramatic New complains that actors ar not given th recognition socially they one enjoyed, and that great people no longer seek the presence of the poet or player as they did In "the times of the great Elisa," ' This Is svcit so, but th law of tempus mutantur has operated lb other directions as well, and, generally viewed, on can hardly escape th cnndualoh that the change have been uniformly tor the bet ter. Whenever you feel an Irresistible Im pulse to hark back to "the good old days," the "golden days," Just go to your library and look up what some of the writer, con temporary and later, have to say of those times, and maybe you will conclude that th stage Isn't In such a bad way nowa days, after all. Mneauley write of publlo moral In the time of Charles II: "All th lighter kinds of literature were deeply tainted by th prevailing licentiousness. Poetry stooped to be th pahdur of very low desire.' Ridicule, Instead of putting guilt and error to th blush, turned her formidable shafts against Innoceftc and th truth. . . . Th ribaldry of Etherege and wycherly was, la th pieaenc and under 1 altered slnoe thosa days. What poet, what novelist, would today consent to subscribe himself with the humbleness that msrked the dedication of any of the plays of Shakespeare to his "noble"' patron? Read some of the ful some eulogiums Inscribed by other writers in acknowledging th crumb that fall to them from the nobleman's table, and think of a modern writer so demeaning himself for the sak of the paltry reward of a livelihood. If the art of letter has gained nothing elne by the change time ho wrought It ha gained a delightful in dejmlence, and la no longer subject to the humiliation that marked the calling in the day when noblemen patronised au thors, and the bumptious Ignoramus prided himself on keeping a man of literary parts In his train. Just to be In fashion. And with Independence of physical conditions has come the emancipation of the mind, and thought Is free. Poems seldom If ever flow to please a patron, and plays and novels are no longer written to exploit the doings of somo lor 1 or lady whose sole claim to literary preservation Is found In the faot that the vriter is Indebted to her for creature comforts. And the same free dom has come to the stage. A company of players Is no longer referred to as "the servants" of anybody: in fact, one some times thinks that the player Is Imbued with a notion diametrically opposite, and believes himself to be master. And It doesn't appear that th cause of literature or the drama haa suffered. A to genius or ability securing recogni tion, the annals of the stage furnish evi dence In plenty that th chance is open to all. One of the latest example is that given in the case of Maude Feally. Five rear ago she was a llttl girl In Denver, playing small parts In amateur perform ances and taking a course of Instruction at a local school of acting. During the week she ha concluded an arrangement by which she will appear as leading woman with Sir Henry Irving for th next three years. Instance of this kind can be mul tiplied many tlmea. A national theater Is no more needed In America than a na tional newspaper or a national barber shop, and an endowed theater would be about as dreary a place as an actor could get into, and would doubtless soon become the ante room to th dreariest tha morgue. Ooaslsi frs Staaelaa. aret Anrlln Is to star next sesson e Eternal Feminine.' i m Binriiiurt will continue In l ne Bonnie' Brier Bush" for at least anothe SMaon. Mrs. Minnie Tittle Brune has sailed for Australia, where she Is booked to play tor V.HI- If aha doenn t rio better than Sn did In America that veer will be a short one. John Drew Is to hsve snother Captain Marshall play next sesson. Having ten the performance In London, he Is now studying the niece for the purpose of cre ating the loading role. Bill Hittner looked at hla mil and at the local situation and came to the conclu sion that money In the pocket is better thun trying experiments, so Omaha will not have a second slock company tnis sea son. Mrs. ImIIa Carter closed ft Week's en gagement at Denver last night and leaves at once for Bait iake city. ne piayeu n lh (irnheiim In I)enver. The trio will In elude the roast, and the fair Leslie will not get back to New Tork until August 1. ra. Klrltalmm hn la 1llst finishing successful vear with a company In the anat n.-eltAa tn an Omaha friend that hex senann he will star In a new play, "A Modern Viking," In which he will have a Chauncey olt-ott role In Swedish dialect. Ho will be supported by a 16 bt. Bernara Hp wl 1J a monr other actors. Harry Houdlnl writes from London that Martin Rack has made a nulck. but tnor ough, trip through the European music halls and haa gotten a number of line con tracts with novelties for the vaudeville i,-o,ii in America next season. Houdlnl and Beck wilt come home on the same steamer, sailing soon from Liverpool. MUSIC AND MUSICIANS Cosntnar Bvents. Beginning with a matinee this afternoon slg performs noes will be given "by the Fer ris Stook company at the Boyd theater of "The Diamond Robbery," a melodrama with genuine sensations in It Mr. Sulli van will hav ths role of Walter Payne, Mr. Owen that of Jim Brandon and Miss Pavey will be Mary Brandon. Mr. Cald well ha a fine part In the character of Peter Grump, th queer lawyer. Others In th company ar well placed and the pleoe will be staffed, as all the productions of the Ferrle company . are, without regard to penae. On Thursday evening, for the sec ond half cf the week, the jolly comedy, "All the Comforts of Horns," will be put on. In this Mr. Caldwell will be Theodore Ben der, Miss Pavey, hla daughter, Evangeline Bender, and Mr, Owen will be Alfred Hast ings. Ths Krug theatsr will be open two nights and on matin thl week. Gllckman's Dramatic association of Chicago will pro duce three plays at ths Krug, Friday night, June 10, "Alexander" will be the bill; Bun day matinee, 'The Jewish Priest," and Sunday night "King Lear" will hold ths boards. This company Is composed entirely or Hebrews and ths play is given In Yid dish, which will be a novelty to the Eng lish speaking publlo and can bs understood by Germans. Not many weeks sine this company was at Washington hall and found that place too small at times to ac commodate th crowd. This fsct caused It to rent the Krug for a return date. In writing up Its former appearance her, on of th Omaha papers said, "Th seen of denunciation was remarkably well done, I have in time past referred In this column to the fact that the church Is do ing much for music in this community as In all communities. We often hear people rail at the church because of Its Imperfections, and because of Its weakness, but all fair-minded, sane and truthful church members will admit those weaknesses, fallings and mistakes at once. A clers-vman. In Omaha snld recently: "We clergymen admit to you the fact that the church Is not all that It might be, but we would also remind you, that In all of your secret societies, Masonic and others, you use the power of "selection." whereas, we open the door to all. There Is no "black ball" known In church membership. If there Is unworthy material In the church you wio are not unworthy should come In and help us who nro trying to do what Is right, Instead of ratling at u from the outside and pointing at a member here, and a member ther. tfnd saying things deroga tory " This was straightforward, manly, hones and truthful. Ard yet many musical people rather sneer at the church and consider It a very fair place for children and hysterical women and all that sort of thing. But suppose you Just stop and figure up what the church Is doing In support of the arts today. I can go Inside about a dosen of churches today In Omaha and And there the works of people skilled In art, here a fine piece of carving, there, a beautiful window, here, exquisite frontals. embroideries, etc., there, beautiful specimens of the bookbinder's art. and all of these repeated over and over again tn various hsres and theres. I can find organs valuing. In a low esti mate of the aggregate, say 150.000; quite an Investment you say, and rather an ap palling figure for a "low" estimate. But stop and consider these churches which I know have good organs. First Congrega tional. Trinity Cathedral, First Methodist, First Presbyterian, First Baptist (to be soon erected), St. Mary's Avenue Congregational, All Saints', St. Barnabas', St. Phllomene St. Matthias', St. John's, Swedish Lutheran, Swedish Methodist. Knox Presbyterian, Westminster Presbyterian, Unity and Kountso Memorial, whose old one will prob ably be replaced by one In the new build ing. Then look at the salary lists of the churches. I do not suppose that less than 110,000 a year Is paid by the churches of Omaha for music, and when I say that, I am speaking In the most conservative way, for personally. I believe that it Is very much more. But say It Is only that. Look at whst a boon th church Is to the art of music. Where I there any other organisa tion paying so much per annum to th direct support of the art? It is often said with a feeling of retrospective regret, "Ah, the church used to support the arts and foster them, but now, alas and alack!" And yet, you see, the church Is doing th same good work right along, but doing It now in a different way. Speaking of choirs and th new edict which ha gone forth to all good Catholics, anent church music, I have clipped the fol lowing from an exchange: "The recent rendition of the Abbe Perosl's new oratorio, 'The Last Judgment,' which was listened to by Pope Pius, the cardinals, the papal court and other church dlgnl- I tarles, was the first occasion In four cen turies that female voices have been heard In muslo Inside the Vatican. The choir Was personally directed by the composer." Som weka ago a few of us wer talk ing about th various age of musicians, and th remark wss mad thst most of ths greater musicians died at an early eg, and that old ag was unusual imonj those whose names had become famous. This gav rise to more or less of an ar gument, and the following articl which appeared In ths London Referee, and which I havs found reprinted In the Choir Jour nal of Boston, Is very timely. I tak th liberty of reproducing It her, a It may be of Interest to those who own scrap books and like to collect such data. The article Is 'headed "Longevity of Mu- siclsns," and part of It Is as below: "Slgnof Manuel Garcla's recent celebra tion of his Nth birthday sets on think ing on th longevity of muilclsns. It Is tru that Mosart left us at th age of S5, Mendelssohn at 36, Schubert at 11, Chopin at 3J, and Schumann at 46; but against these hurried traveller through thl life stand Bach, who stayed tt years; Handel, 74; Haydn, 77; Beethoven, S7; Ber llos, H; Wsgner. 70; Llsst, T: Brahms, M; and Verdi, M, The war all srlou work ers, who lived In th emotion of thIr art and dived deeply Into the subtleties of th comedy and tragedy of life. Com posers who have aft -ctsd the humorous seem slso to b equally long lived; for Auber registered ft year, Offenbach 61, and Sir Arthur Sullivan 63, if w may place him In this category. That lyric artists rosy be comfortably accepted by life Insursnce companies I also plain, and with regard to vocalists the rule would appear to b that the better they sing th longer they live, In support of which may be Instanced the late 81m Reeves and ths very-much-alive Mme. Tattl and Mr. Stan ley. A physical reason for th longevity of vocalist is doubtless not only the con stant exercise and full inflation of the whole of the lungs, but the habit of deep breathing acquired In training for their art." AMVUKJir.XTS. AMI SHMBTS. AMI.F.MKXT9. The following list of music which has been given during the Isst month at on Omaha church Is Indicative of the fact that church music hereabouts does not lose In comparison with that of other places very much larger than Omaha. The music hereafter specified was all given In the month of May. Just past, and will. I think, bear evidence to the work of the choir of that church, (St. Mary's Avenue Congregational). The music critic of The Bee, Inasmuch as he had something to do with the programs himself, did not write up each one as It was given, for ths reason that It was thought advisable to wait until they were all over, and then present a printed resume or the entire set and let that speak for itself. Th other papers Ignored the month's music, but not for the same reason. It is to be presumed that being "made In Omaha" they were "not all right." However, here they are, good, bad or Indifferent as you may wish to style them: Anthems ;;8weet la Thy Mercy. Lord" Barnhy "Abide with Me" Barnhy "Crosslnar the Bar" nnnv,. "It Is High Time to Awake" !lJornbv u. isste and Sen" Sullivan I Will Sing of Thy Power" Sullivan T,url.T,h,5 Fac.' from Mv Bins".. Sullivan Hark! What Means Those Holy Voices 7" ." Sullivan Send Out rh t.lh." A. 2 Selections from "Onllla" !!!oouood I nfold Te Portals" ammivt Grieve Not the Holy Spirit" Stalner "Ard All the People Saw the Thunder ing and Lightnings," Stalner. Selections from ths "Daughter of Jalrus." inrludlna- scenes for the women's choir, men's choir and full choir; Stalner. And Mendelssohn's ' celebrated Motet with solo, "Hea.- My rrayer, in which Is Incorporated the fa vorite "O, for the Wings of a Dove," also the chorus, "He, Watching Over Israel," from the "Elijah." This was the choral work done. In addi tion to numerou hymns, all bearlna- on each particular, program, and many of them previously unknown In anything Ilk a general way; also chants, responses, etc. in soios sung during the month were; "The Soft Southern Breese," Barnhy- "Ood Shall Wipe Away All Tears" and "My Son, Attnd to My Words: Trust In th Lord," Sullivan; "The Sand of Ttm Sinking" and "O, Divine Redeemer" Gounod: "O, Rest In the Lord," "Then Shall th Righteous Shin" and "But th Lord I Mindful of His Own." Mendeia. sohn, together with the duets "Love Di vine." Stslner; "Father I Have bh.a, My Son Is Tet Alive." from Sullivan's 'Prodigal Bon," and th trio. "Lift Thin Eyes," Mendelssohn, and th many and various solos Incidental to the selections from works and the anthem quoted above. Th organ work presented by Miss Mauds Mueller and th other Instrumental assist ance of Miss Swanaon, harpist, and Mrs. Charles Hagenow, violinist, lent added In terest to the occasions. , These programs do not Include the morning programs of the church. The vesper services at St. Mary's have been discontinued for the season. Th month of May wss given to the study and presentation of the works of five repre sentative composers Of the last century. THOMAS J. KELLY. Auditorium Festival June Dedication 7 to 25, 1904 1 ' ' A i Jr.- ua in HMUUIri, U -aT . 'V':7t"- I I ml It I SS III I 1 ' . L s ' 'I. I .. .. .. fc- r . v -v : mum ai -si J l-J n n r Ur?--1 steM mV Ml MM 1 H: ' s.a&UMsJML: ,, ..ssssMNTJ Table De Hole Dinner SUNDAY Combination Supper Card at the CALUMET. INNES Grand Dedication Ball June 7 MUSIC BY INNE AND HIS BAND The Musical Festival will begin ?iext day after the dallt June 8th, and continue three weeks. AND HIS BAND will be assisted by vo calists of national refu tation and a grand chorus of 500 voices also a school children's chorus of 4,000 voices 0i Jtme 9 a Grand Military Spectacle 1 will be presented in which the Omaha Guards and Thurston Rifles will take a prominent part. Ilnlf Fare Kates on all Railroad for the Opening Day, June 7. Book Tickets 20 tickets in a book, transferable and good for anj concert of the season also tickets for the Grand Ball now on sale at many places in Omaha. The Book Tickets 20 Tickets In a Book $5. The Ball Tickets are $5 Per Couple. 3rd Big Wiek BOYD'S Woodward ft Burjess, Atfrs. Th Ferris Stock Co.. This afternoon The Banker s Daughter Tonight until Wednesday The Diamond Robbery Thumdsy Ba'.. wee't ALL THE COMPORTS OF HOIE. rtc SX, lie. JSc Msb, sir tsit HV Mr. Kelly's Vocal Studio WILL BE CLOSED . WEDNESDAYS FROM NOW ON. 1802 Farnam St. Fourth Season Third Week Omaha's Polite Resort tXRUG Q PARK The Original Oberammagvm Passion Play MUSTER'S CONCERT BAND BALLOON ASCENSION AND PARACHUTE DROP Bee Want Ads Produce Results Cn n 1 fW i n rui ui Omaha's Favorite Outing Resort in every way bigger and better than ever before. ALL KINDS OF AMUSEMENT FEATURES. mimm CSfiATSrifS AMUSEMENTS. AMUSEMENT!. Omaha's Fashionable Summer Resort BIGGEST ANO BEST FREE HIGH CLASS ATTRACTIONS Today Today BECKERS' LADIES' ORCHESTRA THE BALLOON GOES UP EVERY EVENING. It Only Costs a 5 Cent Faro from Omaha and South Omaha. NORDIN'S i P. M -f:l P. M. (Irentest hf Alt Sensations, MADAME LIUENS, r0 P. M FREE 7:80 P. M. CONCERT BAND, An organization recognised In national COVALT'S musical circles. FREE 6:43 P. M. amnion only lady fir diver. rREKt:rt P. M. Theatre Casino EDWARD VINTON, the popular Illustra. ted imllad Blng-er, and entirely new motion vlsws. FREE-Admlsolonto Park-FREE. BOATING BATHING FISHINC Balloon Ascensions By the Famous Aeronaut, PHOF. ANDREWS. FAMILY PICNIC A! KWINaa. CHILDREN' S PWINGH. CHILDREN !) PLAY OROtJNDS, m.t'.tt. CHAIRR. UOHTB. RTC ANIMAL AND HIRD BXHIU1TIQN8- u"'T!J.ir.!v.',uuiiu MS.RKI-UO-ROLND AND OTHER VAIUKD AMttHbMttNTd. BASE BALL TODAY JOE SMITH VS. P. ARMOURS. THE DICGEST PROGRAM OF FREE $HOWS EVER OFFERED HERE LILLE. SANGREE, The Female Sanfos fiu rrient of the Balloon World. Refreshments. will i I I i in ni H ii i i- .M .ill , . im j , t I' . I i- 1.1,1 I I I III it-.jr.' iftvO,' .;. ' I'-t-t': -r...?;-'K.-:. -.V ft- "v&'fxVfv tiiS.tiit'Ztit. h!WTi- 'W;y,i j ji5vk.-ir-i ,'"'-? ii k u HW:-V;'if-i .VV :'-!:,-. ij-.-t.V-; .... ' ; i Ir r'-;v. :l:yV i wv-, ; CELEBRATED BAND 22 PIECES. THE WASHINGTON STAR QUARTETTE Switchback Railway, Carousel and ofhor lilo devices IOO FEET IN THE AIR HARRY" RUSSELLf The ne-Legged Cyclist- Iq the Terrifying, Death-Defying Act THE HIGH BICYCLE DlVI, into a tank containing THREE FEET Of WATER I Afternoon and evening. The most sensational and the bljheat priced act on earth. A CAR LEAVES OMAHA EVERY FIVE MINUTES. SOMETHING DOIilQ EVEflY MIHUTE V
