The Portland daily press., 1884-04-01
Boston. March 30


portunity to express itself last week. There
is one influence which Miss Cheney and her
success has had which has not been recorded,
and this is, the stimulation upon the young
girl-students who have been heretofore placidly
studying the piano under long suffering teach.
ers, and hammering out Tausig and Kullak
with an expressionless Indifference which has
driven the teacher to the verge of exaspera-
ton.
Now, good many of these placid creatures
have walked up, and fred by ambition, or a
sort of shame, in the face of this young per-
former, who has brought her talent to such
perfection by her splendid industry, they ara
bracing up to a good deal of honest work and
endurance, which there is no doubt will tell at
some time. The spur of emulation is a great
thing. 1t it has brought us out of a good deal
of mediocrity, and it will bring us out of a
good deal more. 1t is no longer considered
here rather looming down" for a young LADY
to turn her musical talents to professional use,
either on the stage or as teacher. The high
art OF it all is getting to be appreciated, to be
looked up to, and the teachers and other bro
fessionals are taking the rank they deserve.
above the drones.
Modjeska is now here, calling out the usual
war of criticism with her Rosalind and Imo-
gen, together with her new character in her
new play-Nalesda.
There are lot OF people who always 90 to
hear Modjesks, and hang upon her little gasp
ing emotional displays with a sincerity of
sympathy and admiration which is perfectly
incomprehensible to another class. These
admirers invariably back up their praises
of the actresses art by the oft-reiterated state
ment that ''she is such a lady," and has nothing
irregular or unconventional in her life These
facts are admirable facts, but 1 never could
see what they had to do with the actresses art,
A great actress is born, not made, though cul.
tivsted by experience and study. Perhaps it
may be unfortunate that it is SO, but Rachel
and Bernhardt seemed to have such genius as
was and is not affected by any extraneous cir.
cumstances of their private lives 1t would
/ no doubt be satisfaction to be able to say of
them what is constantly said of Modieska, but
it would not alter the real fact that their rep-
resentations are on the great heights above
and beyond those of this amiable and pains
taking actress whose domestic virtues are so
often quoted.
The new play written by Mr.. Barrymore is
highly sensational and full of horrors, but it ia
also full of points, and Madame Modjeska ap-
pears to better advantage in it than in any role
she has yet undertaken.
The war of words over Mr.. Bates's tsPagans',
has not yet ended. After sharp criticism
against, will appear warm note of approval
and admiration for this queer, much talked of,
epigrammatic, Frenohy little book.
Following one of these attacks comes per-
sonal note of approval in the Daily Advertiser
one morning, signed T. G. A. All Beacon
street and the Back Bay knew that these in
itials were those of Mr.. Thomas Appleton, who
used to be described as zone of the three wits
of Boston" Curiosity sprang up anew at this,
and the readers of "The Pagans'' increased
The days of real spring that we have had.
have brought vernal tinge upon the brown
surface of the Common and Public Garden.
and have also brought out the little white
board warnings which are 80 necessary but so
disagreeable: KEEP OFF THE GRAssl The
summer array OF showmen are also beginning
to appear, among them the man who weighs
you and measures you for Eve cents.
The approach of Easter has filed the shop
windows with Easter clothes and cards of the
most bewildering beauty Now I don't see
why some enterprising person shouldn't keep
this card business going, and get up April Fool
cards, May Day cards, and perhaps Fourth of
July cards. There are all sorts of Pilgrim
Fast Days too, which might be used to turn
penny and improve one's mind upon historical
points! By the time, however, that the May
Day cards were out with the arbutus blooms
upon them, the snow would be driving and the
east wind bowling in this dear deceitful eli
mate.
Everybody who can is making ready to at
tend the Wagner Festival under the Theodore
Thomas direction. You can get an admission
ticket for enc dollar. The rest of the prices
run thus, $3.50 for the two rows in the balcony,
$500 for three rows, $3.50 for three nearer
rows and orchestra chairs, and only So 90 for
box chairs. The Festival is to take place in
the Mechanics Hall. It has been remodelled,
and the managers promise that all seats are
now equally desirable" But the scale of
prices doesn't seem to carry out this promise
/, for one, should prefer to take my chance
with an admission ticket simply to anything
less than the front orchestra or the box chairs.
have had bitter experience of the hearing
and seeing disadvantages of that big barn OF a
place. The spring program is full one, what
with the grand italian opera concert tonight,
the Festival, and the Phillips Memorial Day.
NORA PERRY.