The Portland daily press., 1884-01-23

Mrs. Emma Lowstadt Chadwick. 1t is exceed
ingly we'll done the atmosphere of the salt sea,
the boat and the baby being quite remarkable.
have dwelt especially upon the feminine
contributors, partly because they are as notice
able as any of the work on exhibition, and
partly to instance the rapid strides that women
artists have been making in this country for
the last five years. One is very apt to hear
from women that this or that picture has been
neglected because it was done by woman. |
believe that no class OF people are more gener-
GUS in their praise, or reader to acknowledge
real merit, than the painters are. They have
their prejudices and their ieslouses, like other
human beings, but fine piece of work, though
by an entirely unknown hand, is generally en-
Enthusiastically welcomed by them, whether that
work is dono by man or woman. Prstty good
proof OF this is given in the hanging Of womo-s's
pictures at the exhibitions. No artists are
mole valued in Boston by artists than Mrs.
Whitman, Mrs. Houston and Phebe jerks.
1t will be very interesting fact for those
engaged or interested in wood engraving to
know that Mr.. W. J. Linton, the famous wood
engraver, is busly at work in London over an
exhaustive history of wood engraving. He has
now in press there a manual Of wood engray-
ing-tne history will follow. Jackson's histo-
~, which has always been considered authori-
ty, Mr.. Linton pronounces to be worthless. He
is going through With everything that they
have OF wood engraving at the British Muse
um, which is of itself great piece Of work,
and shows Mr. Linton's design and purpose to
rn1a hat he
thoroughly trustworthy history.
In amusements the only star performances
are those BY John Mccullough at the Boston
theatre. He is great fsvorite with Boston
audiences and fills tho house every night.
There has been q report that the Boston Nd
scum audiences have fallen off greatly since
the unpleasantness and disagreement connect
cd with the management OF the Warren testi-
monial of last winter. There is no doubt that
there has been falling off, but don't believe
that disagree mont has had anything to do with
it. II was family matter, 50 to speak, be-
tween Warren and his friends on one side, and
the management on the other, matter which
three-qUarters of the theatre going people
didn't understand, if they knew anything about
it, and the other quarter didn't have any knowl-
edge of it at all. The falling off of the audi.
ences is very easily to be accounted for by the
fact that the other theatres have been Offering
all the star attractions. With Irving and Ter
~. and the two opera companies fer so long a
time, at such high prices, it was only to be ex-
pectsd that the Museum without old Warren,
who always drew, would show some empty
seats. Mr.. Warren has retired "for good"
His play days are over, to the regret of every
body.
The greatest sensation We have had here is
Senibrich. New York went mad over her,
bnt Boston went madden. The prophecy is
that she is to be second Patti. Missions clos
ing performance in Faust YVES notable in many
ways, and the applause was loud and pro-
longed; but it was not up to the last Sembrich
night, when the Harvard students jumped to
their feet and waved their pocket handker-
chiefs and cried bravo, and then "VoI Vol
Vol' as il che first of the syllable was too
much for their feelings TO wait for Nothing
in fact, lately has been up to tho Sembrich
night, and those who were happy enough to
have been of that enthusiastic audience are
looking forward to the approach Of spring,
when this charming singer comes back to US
for another triumph.
should not neglect to mention the child
prodigy, Miss Cheney. who has been giving
such extraordinary piano forte performances
here. In her short dress, with her long braid
ed hair, she is a pretty, innocent sight-a girl
such as one might meet any day on the Com
mon going to school. But she begins to play:
you shut your eyes for moment and listen to
the wonderful touch You look again. Yes,
it is child who is sitting there, but it is a
child OF genius, such as Liszt was and Mendels-
sohn. Study, practice, long industry may do
mnch, it has done much with this girl, but
without the supreme gift of genius it would
not have produced such results What Miss
Cheney will achieve as che grows older it is
idle to prophecy. but from this beginning there
should be a maturity of powers that would
place her among the great geniuses Of the
world. NORA PERRY.