The Portland daily press., 1875-08-13
Art. Music and the Drsma.

Art, Music and the Drama.
Arthur Sullivan has written an English
opera entitled ''Robert Macaire," which Carl
Rosa win probably produce this fall.
Signor OpertPs new fantasia for military
bands. jerome Park races has made quite
hit at Gilmore's Concert Garden.
Rare art treasures are described 10 the Graph
10 by Susan E. Dickinson, the celebrated
Anna's younger sister. One comprises three
volmes of life-sized paintings Of the humming
birds of North and South America, executed
By young man In his hours of leisure from
the counting-room. EVERY attitude of fight
rest is reproduced. The contrasting hues of
the delicate plumage are as wildly brilliant
or as softly toned aud shaded as in life. The
gold color especially, whenever used, has been
preserved undimmed, by some process of his
own, the secret of winch unfortunately died
with him. 1t had been communicated only to
the friend, an enthusiastic naturalist, who pro-
cured and sent to him his South American spec
linens, and who followed him soon after into
the new existence. Ou the page facing each
specimen is a finely executed pen-and-ink de-
scription of the bird itself, its haunts and
its ways" The other treasure is one of Whit
tiers Love ballads illustrated 10 emblematic
floral tracery, which, Miss Dickenson asserts,
surpasses anything shown at the water color
exhibition in New York last winter. . It took
six months OF work by num- Ja-t
The new French prima donna, Mile Chapuy,
coLtinues to attract at Her Majesty's opera,
in London. Her method is said to be defective
in comparison with singers of pure italian
school of vocalzation, but she possesses q rare
vocal fiexibility and high compass, and the
Atheneum says that "as in sTraviata' she
proved herself tragedian of the first class in
the lyric drama, so In the tBarbiere' she has
shown her capabilities as COMEDIAN" acting
''with remarkable intelligence" and showing
herself thoroughly well-trained artist
Mr.. Dion Boucicault has felt called upon to
write letter to the Alta-Caiifornia In reply to
some comments made by that paper upon the
originality Of his plays. He admits that he
takes what is good, wherever be finds II, and
elaborates and utilizes it. In concluding his
reply he says: "Another reproach preferred is
that have deserted the field of legitimate COM
edy to which I contributed such works as
"London Assurance" and "Old Heads and
Young Hearts," to cultivate lower kind of
drama, as the colleen Bawn" and "Arrah-na-
Pogue;' that owed it to my fame to maintain
the standard of my reputation. The taste of
the age has altered since these comedies were
produced, and write to the taste of the times.
The truth is, I don't care button for posterity
write to amuse unborn generations -Posterity
is bad audience. That reminds me of what
an old Californian replied when o life issuance
company was first introduced into San Francis
co aud he was asked to support it. "Well,'
said he, 'Tve opinion of SPECIFICATION
whar man has got to die to realize" So 1t is
with poets who write for posterity. love to
give pleasure to those anongst whom live, to
feed their minds with innocent wholesome
thoughts, good of digestion, that leave medta-
tions clear, that no mind need be ashamed to
entertain or express That is my vocation and
the limit of my ambition"
| Mile Aimee is engaged for the Paris Varieties
next season, and will make her rentree as Flor
ellie in lies Brigands."
"Turenne," historical and military drama
in twelve grand tableaux, will be the event at
the Chatelet, Paris, next season. It was writ
ten by Marc Fournier and julie Lermina
Speaking of the provident habits of singers
and actors, Madame Parepa Rosa is said to
have died worth some $25O,000. She was o
very thrifty woman. Madame Nilsson Rou.
zeaud has certainly not squandered her means,
and is reported to have 100000 invested in
stocks and real estate. She also is careful
with her money or rather mean, If all that
her managers say about her be trne. Miss
Kellogg is worth probably 500, 900, well in
vested, and would be worth more If she were
not SO generous. She, or her mother, who acts
| for her, is close at bargain but liberal with
| the money after she once gets it. Adelina
Patti 10 extravagsnt and avaricious too. She
makes great deal of money, and spends q
| great deal as well, but she has saved fortune.
Mile. Albani is just beginning to make money.
| so she has not saved any so far. Mr.. Gye,
however, will see that she does not lose any
thing. Wachtel, Santley. Sims Reeves, Faure,
| and Niemann are we'll of. Jefferson, Barney
| Williams, Florence, Boucicault Wallack
| Owens, Chanfrau, are rich. Charlotte Cush-
| man and Ristori have each fortune. Colonel
Sellars (Raymond) is saving man, as are
| John Gilbert, Charles Fisher, Rignold, James
Lewis. and Thorne.
The Indianapolis Journal deems it singn.
lar fact that few Americans know the words
of our national songs. 1t particularizss thus:
cit is safe to say that score of parties In
this vicinity tried yesterday (the 5th) to sing
The Star-Spangled Banner and failed be-
cause no one knew the words. All knew the
| tune, but nobody the text. They could talk
about it, give the key, start it, and keep il up
| for a line or two, but nobody knew the words
or could lead off in the beautiful and patriotic
| song. 1t is peculiar to the American people,
and not specially creditable. Every French
man can sing the Marseillaise. Every Ger
man knows his national song, and 50 of other
people. Only the Americans are deficient in
this respect, who. of all others, ought to be
posted. 1t ought to be made regular duty
in every common school Of the land to men,
orize and sing The Star-Spangled Banner.
1t is good poetry, good music, and good
politics. 1t cannot be learned too soon nor
repeated too often. The words are simple.
the melody beautiful, and the history easily
| explained. 1t Is the most characteristic of
our national songs, and everybody ought to
have it at bis tongues end"
/ How AN AMERICAN WIDOW HAD QUEEN
FOR HER GUEsr.-Our fashionable readers
will remember the beautiful Mrs. Hicks,
whose wealth and attractions caused so much
gossip at the national capital one winter She
was the widow OF gentleman who did two
things through which to remember him: he
accumulated an immense fortune and then he
died. There were some rather captious people
in Washington who regarded the lovely widow
with coolness as one who carried matters with
too much of coup. Well, this lady is, to-day,
distinguished feature In the fashionable
world of London, and is followed, fisttered,
| sought and sued in way to startle one, for it
is seldom an American lady, however accom-
| It happened in this way: Mrs. Hicks arrived
in London few days in advance of the queen
of the Netherlands. She took for herself all
the best rooms, did Mrs. Hicks, OF the Clar-
ringe hotel the aristocratic resort OF this great
social center. Shortly after, the governments
notified the landlord that these same apart
ments had been selected for the queen. The
landlord informed Mrs Hicks that he must