Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-12-05
tNDER-TONES.


all round when Sims Reeves, the great English
tenor, comes 10 this country next year. In the
hrst place, he is getting pretty old, and his
voice has been failing for some tims past. Then
he IS exceeding petusnt snd errstic, and is apt
10 cut up such antics before an audience as will
not be tolerated in this country, although they
are submitted to in England, on account of his
national reputation. In cODs6q OF t6ess
things, which viii disappOint and disgust the
public, he will in turn be disappointed and dis
gu tied with Lis reception on this side; - that,
while he may go home somewhat richer, It =
pretty certain tGat he will go home a wiser ana
a sGdder man. Audvery likoly, too, a n lid.I
man.
Without donbt ,'he French painters OF the pres
eHt dsy excel all others in the qualities Of ara -
Ing and color, particularly in tho specillties OF
genre pictures and figure pieces; but is that IA
sufficient reason why the trustees of that instr
luton should aid nothing or almost nothing
but examples y French art to the Ccrc1. an
Gallery? There are artists of other Countries
notably of Germany and England, to say no
thing Of Anerics, Spain aud Itsly,-whO de-
serve recognition az the hands o. such body.
and whose works would immensely increase the
attractions Of any collection, however large and
hne. Yet wha: do visitors see? Since the gal-
leTy has pissed into the bands o. the tru stee1
ard been open ID the public number of pic
lures have been ada I; but II is doubtful
whether among the new acquisitions more than
three or four works by a modern American ar
ust can be found, or more than one or two by
an Englishman. There ts absolutely nothing 70
show what Get many is doing at present: no.
thiIg from Spain, D5hing from Italy. France
a'Oue seems to he worthy the attent.On of the
uresent management, aud OF her school, s0me-
hing more than twenty spC cimeDs have been
bought Within the year. Some of these are
very beautn al, IL "a true; but others again sre
but iudin rent in subject aud treatment. AMI
sCTe ERE shOp-worn, and at fhe best rot fair ex-
aDple7 o. the wOsk mat can be done nov by
The artists whose names they beIr. Tbis IS
h9rdiy just TO the public. IL naturally eRpsc :,
aud bas a right to expect, in such gallery, 1t
only fsir repre- 5ent -t.0n OF modern \ TnericAu
art, but something that will al , show the pro
ereSs and develOpmeG. of Frt in other fore "a
countries be .ide France. Neither does the poI-
Cy which prevails seem TO be carr ying ont the
benehCent plan OK the founder the Institution,
which, ia the lanRur ;e OF bis bequest, j. IL be
FUSED solely for rue purpo-e OF encoaraE NJ
"AI0eric3n gepiUs, in the production ard pr
"eTyatiOn OF works pertaining u the Fine
"ATts,' Nc., &c. 1t is true that this purp JSe
may be ser red incidentally and 70 q certain et-
tenn 10y TIE purchase aud exhibition OF exam
pies or a single school or country: bat It cannot
be pretended thai it wOGid not be 2cco 'Dpl'shld
much more directly and thoroughly nv the e.
tabiishmeut or schCOl of design ard lrstruc-
ton. and 10y the jadIc,O1s and liberal pUrcnaae
SiEJ Of the works. ct American artists II *
doubtless too early to expect the urgauiz 4tion
OF school III connection with the gallery; but
there can certainly ne no good reason why the
range of choice in the election Of picture5 for
its waits shOuld be cOuhned lOr more than
year almost entirely 20 the product OF single
country, and that, tcO, q fOreis II one. lt we're
VT te Of time and space 10 enter into discus
sion here, or anywhere. for that matter, Is -
the relative merits OF the works Of arr produced
by dittreLt artists, schC Dis, or nations. Upin-
ions on this subject differ widely as the ran ge or
domain of ART itself: and as Art is cOsmOpOitaI
in spiFit and style and without geogrlDricI}
limitations in scope and achievement, 30 sHOlld
a gallery ike this include even In its early lth-
{ Dss something that will give to visitors an
intelligent idea Of the distinctive characteristics
Of at ieIet AL modem schools, irrespective OF in
diF'dr u PIE e-enCs or theory. Ulle-s its man
9Eer1ent Is imbu aud actdatei by a bf0ia
CstLoAc spnI Uiici keeps this erd constantly
In view, fully OF c. ha't O:t1s rserJlne-s Jul "a
STs$t o. -e 'ps .,ut OD Nil be lost.
~.
tits announced Hith something OF foari,h
that Olive Logan pvTpo7es retiring irom til
stage at an early day. In taking this step she
will bu. follow the example set by her autisuCes.
They have retired long ago.
E#=
Persons who wish to do good, by stealth or
otherwise, will have a favorable opportunity 70
crafty that lsudable desire on the occasion OF
the Bszar ior the benefit OF that excellent
charity TIE Chidren's Hospital, which is to be
held in Odd Fellows Hall, on the 10th, 1ItH
and 18th inst, day and evening. But for TIA,
matter, they need not wait until then. The
ladies er gaged in getting mp the entert iumsnt
are doing every Shlng uhsir power ID make il
&ttrsetye to the pub tic, well a. OF substantial
teDent 70 the Hospital, a5d will be not les
thank. al meantime tor any onrributioDs to
fbe tables Of the blZSr itself thau Tor re
pa o age of the public after - dooTs ere
OItn :. As ne HO5pitll in question ~ the
DIRE Ct meas of accomplishing much :. od ard
aiieyi9fiDg W st deal OF fsring End sluItheT
more sustsined en' rely by voluntary CONT .bu-
rois, lt would seem that any appeal IN its
behalf should meet With prom pit aud liberal
resi- opse rom anybody % fortunate as pot to
need ifs e. atui+rrs n nj ra'iOns.
-.
With LOtta at one thester sDd the ingards at
the other, the week just closing may be Sci
down es a light one, dramatically corsidered.
Light, that is, in the Character of RE ente-ssi,
ments offered rather than in the matter of atten-
dance. For, strange ss il may seem TO those
peIsOps who Pre- constantly clsmorjng Tor the
Legitimate drama ard who are generallyei -
appointed, il rot Otherwice engaged, when
they let it, a sood many people like that sort o.
thing. and would rather pay their mOpey for ii
than TO see any srount OF hlC" dieting aud
poison-swallowing tragedy. Next w-sk, bow
ever, the choice is TO be something wider.
MoRUs Hill stlll hold the boards At FOrds but
az the National Misc kslOg Is excellent English
opera company will appear. This combination
Will doubtless draw good houses in spite of hard
tires and the high price of seats. It must be
copfecsed, t0o, that the bright anticipatioDs OF
the pubic in regard TO th,s engagement were
cor siderably dash by the fact Taat the pre-,
gramme for the week fs made up wholly OF old
stagers, go to speak. Not but what ome Of the
operas announced are great favor ties, eud u
probably continue to be to the end OF (ine. Eut
they have been favorites almost rom the be sir-
ming OF time, as well and it is no dispa. agL.
Heut to old friends that q new one is occ9siou-
ally taken to ones heart. There is TO good
reason, for instance, why "Mi Mignon" should not
be given here, as it was by tue same company
IN bo'h Chicago and Cincinnati, spd with great
eclat. II Washington is not as big and noisy as
some OF the other cities OF the country, her
ope ra and thester goeIs are just as critical and
apprec'at.ve as can be found anywhere in the
Union, il not more SO; and az they generally
have TO pay little more for what they get than
residents OF other cities OF the same size, taey
have right to the newest and best things
going. Miss Kellogg has been 60 substantially
vel omed ct the capital heretofore that she:
ce4 'ainly, has no excuse fer not giving 1t the
pick OF her repertoire, and she would doubtless
3rsult her own interest &c well as the wishes
OF ne public by reconstructing and rejuyenat-
ing her programme beI0re the week is out.
Otherwise she mrst not complain il she has to
sing OCcaSiODRilv n slim