The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-09-13
Art, Music and the Drama.

singular specimen OF the idiosyncrasy of
the painter Alma Tadema is shown in Apple
toms Art Journal for September. 1t repre-
sents the painters two little girls in corner of
his studio, one reclining on cushion, the other
standing full 'front.' and both so treated as to
their hair and garb as to make an almost repul-
sve archastic picture, for they look, especially
the reclining child, as dull and inexpensive as
mummies, or the skeletons of Pompeii, whom
Tadema is go fond of resurrecting.
Four stanzas by Austin Dobson are going the
rounds under the title of The Child Musician,
which are based on the death of little Jamie
Speight in Boston a few years ago. But the
Englishman spoils the story in the telling.
Jamie never played for 'his lordshps levee,''
nor yet for "her ladyship's whim;" nor was it
violoncello he used. Jamie was violinist,
son of the first violin to variety troupe, and
never played in any higher sphere than that
Aud instead of saying. Make room for tired
little fellow, kind God" his last words were
"Oh God, make room for another little child in
heaven? There was no one watching in the
silent room" as Mr.. Dobson has it. His father
heard him, but did not rise, for Jamie was
wont to talk strangely; and so the weary baby
soul went out of the world without a word of
human sympathy.
George Fawcett Rowe has gone over to his
native England with his play of Brass and
himself in its principal part as Walton Stray,
and gets rewarded by being called IAN Ameri-
can actor" and his hero pronounced sap absurd
and tedious person." whose dull buffoonery
and pointless stories fairly wore out the pa
thence of the audience" ~
John Ruskin has found IN the Manfrni gal
lery in Rome an ''old master" which he thinks
will do for the nucleus of the Sheffield school of
art which he has established for the use of
workingmen there. SIT is Madonna by We
rocchio the master of Leonardo di Vinci, of
Lorenzo di Cred, and of Perugno and the
grandest metal workers of Italy. And it is
entirely pure and safe for US, but will need
carefulest securing of the tempera color on its
panel before it can be moved; it cannot, there
fore, reach Sheffield till the autumn" Also
MIR. Ruskin has written letter to Henry II.
Newman, an American artist in Florence, in
warm praise of a drawing of Santa Maria No
vella which he sent him. Il have moi" he
says, "for many and many day seen the sense
OF tenderness and depth of color so united, still
less so much fidelity and affection joined with
power of design which seems to me, though
latent, very great. To have made poetical
harmony of color out of an omnibus stand is an
achievement all the greater in reality because
not likely to have been attempted with all
ones strength
Dante Rossetti is now painting, says the
Academy, zone of the most beautiful and poeti-
cal pictures he has ever produced. 1t is called
Hero, and is suggested by the following passage
ia Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy: when
Leander was drowned the inhabitants of SestOs
consecrated Hero's lantern to Anteros; and he
that had good success in his love should light
the candle; but never any man was found to
light it, ,"
Helena Madjeska, "a Pole, suddenly shines
out as great theatrical light in San Francisco,
playing great roles, and in English, which lam
guage she is said to have learned in nine
months. A similar feat is also recorded of
JanauscheB, VINO is also Slav, though of the
Czech branch.
Mime. Marie Roze, the youog widow OF the
lamented Jules Perkins, has been .engaged by
Strakosch for the next season in this country,
according to London letter in thei music Trade
Review. If this be true. there is probably no
truth jim the story of PATHS coming lover, for