The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-22
ART AND CHARITY.
PROFESSOR DAVIDSON BEFORE THE
GOETHE SOCIETY.
Crashing Thursday in Venice"--A High
ly Interesting Entertainment for the
Benefit of the Hahnemann Hospital
Performance of Verdi's "Otello."

mense number OF attractions in this past
Lenten season the attendance was smaller
than usual. No more interesting and in
structive talk, however, has been listened
TO recently than Mr.. Davidsons scholarly
analysis of Goethe's grand philosophic
poem. Every motive, every human pas
sion and endeavor characterized in this
master work was defined in the most enter
tainingly comprehensive manner. David
son is II Scoichman with an almost perfect
German pronunciation, though he handles
his RS in English in very much the
same style as do the recently arrived
Celtic immigrants Mr.. Thaddeus Wake
man, the vice-president OF the society, who
is himself a poet and an ardently enthusi-
astic admirer OF Goethe, followed in few
well chosen remarks, thanking Prof.
Davidson and urging him, for the benefit Of
the general public, to have his able lecture
put into print. The intelligent assemblage
manifested their acquiescence in this idea
by hearty expression oil their unanimous
approval.
"Fashing Thursday in Venice" was an
entertainment given for the benefit of the
Hahnemann hospital on Wednesday and
Thursday evenings last, at the Metropol-
itan. II was under the patronage OF a
great number OF the swell set and under
the particular direction of Mrs. Chauncy
Depew and Mrs. VIM. j. Swan. The par
quet was iloored over and the opera-house
was transformed into ballroom. sta
toned on either side Of the floor facing
the stage were two orchestras, half hidden
amid plants and foliage. Four or five
hundred young men and women OF the
best society took part in the performance,
which consisted more especially OF num-
Der OF different costume dances. The first
curtain rose on a pretty Italian interior
where tho four leaders, Blanca, Manuela,
Paolo and the Jester 90 through a minuct-
like pantomime incident TO unmasking.
II may be well to say that Flashing
Thursday was a holiday and general
merry making time in the olden days of
Venice, and each youth who participated,
were he plebian or patrician, found his
fair companion for the day by the draw
ing of lots. The frolicsome young pair
were in most cases attired in similar style,
and thus the picturesque effect was nearly
always sustained. There were. therefore,
100 or more handsome representatives in
the Swedish, Grccian, Indian, Hungarian
and other dancers The rise Of the second
curtain disclOscs a most dazzlingly
beautiful picture. Venice Is there in all
its realism. The PalaHo del Duci and the
Campanile from the background. At the
marble landing place gondolicrs are setting
down their joyous boat-loads, and in the
foreground is the vast group OF gayly
dressed jewellers. 4 quartet in one N The
boats sings q dclici0usly dreamy harca.
role after which the iesteg who acts as
maestro, leads grand serpcntine march
Of his numerous and light.hcarted follow.
ers. The frst character dance is that OF
Pienot ct Pierrotte. PicIrot's costume Is
Of white with the least suggestion of pink,
something like an ample Pajamas suit
with n high white clowns cap, while
PicrOttc in short skirts Of pale blue, wear
ing a large cooked hat Of the. Dircctoire
forms u pretty contrast OF color. As these
dainty iigups move gracefully about they
suggest some OF those incNpUssibly French
pictures OF Leloir or nclOrt so full OF ox-
quisiie taste is the blending Of the varied
tints. Hardly have the Picrrots and their
pretty partners vanished when the familiar
music OF the Swedish Wedding March is
comes gayly trcading n Joyous array OF
Swcdes. The men are sturdy looking fell
lows in their jackets and brcechcs, while
the maidens in dark blue skirts with gold
bands, white chcmiscttcs and pretty
hoadgoar are altogether captivating. As
they march along the lads are swinging
their swccihearis' hands, aud this gives to
the procession an indcscribable as.
ugN IL loot AL
Tine march changes into n sort Of polka,
never Naltzing The participants in this
dance must surely have been selected as
much on account OF their healthy appear.
Gnce ~ for their graceful movements. The
ROSY checks, the sparkling eye aud every
indication Of good humOr were visible in
the faces Of those SWcdcs Following them
came the Venetian Gondolicrs, the Hun.
garian Gypsies, the Grccian maidcns, and
at last the American Indian dance. A
party Of ladies' and gentlemen from Wash
ington. who had given this last year In
Baltimore, came here 10 show us what a
real Indian dance was. They succeeded
pretty well. judging from the genuine
heartinoss Of the applause evoked by their
shrill cries aud savage movements. The
4
though this Is hardly In accordance with
the reputation Of the Gladly Indians" The
war dance was very weird aud dismal,
but as Il was 80 very odd, II pleased the
audience immensely. A final march
brought the performance 10 n close, and
then for n couple OF hours there was a gen.
cral ball, where one had a bcwildcring
choice % girls 10 dance with from n hall
dozen or more strange countries.
~ Dclmonico's, Saturday evening. q
benefit was given for the new French Cath.
Ollie school IAN Old Master" n onc-acI
play by Henry Jones and Monsieur Chou
lrun, charming opofcita Of Oncnbach's
was given, besides two songs by Scnorita
san Carlos, who alfO sang beautifully q
Spanish ballad "a AN encore. In the am
aieur thoalricals Miss Rita Laurence
Mcssrs. Montant, Reynal, lamon,nguc and
Others took part. The occasion brought
together the very cram Of the French
colony here, and Melted handsome sun
for the new school.
Ncrli's latest. aud by many claimed, hli
greatest opera. "Otcllo," had its int per
iurrnnco In this country o. ihc Academy
on Monday night An event II such i'm
pofiuncc TO the musical world should hav,
been sufficient 90 pack the house 10 over
y flowing. but instead Of this Il was littl,
more Than half filed, the cause probably
being tho return TO thc cXorbitaut oil,
prica Il Italian opcra. live dollars io
nm orchotra stall Is more than people m,
willing 10 pay aud no result row aitc
q A Al. a.