Morning journal and courier., 1891-02-12
The Police Catch Them About u
 Consolidated Road dYards.
The Wagner Lecture Reaitals.


 act of Wagner's opera of "Die Meister- singer" In his previous lecture he had left the scene on the eve of St. Johns day, after the tumult in the street, which had prevented the elopement of Eva Pogner and Walther von Stolzing.
 In the third act, St. Johns day, the 21st of June, has dawned bright and sparkling; the musical anticipations have proved cor rect, and summer-ike and sweet is the melody which graces this feast. The scene is in Hans Sachs work-room, where he is seated by his table, totally absorbed in reading; the theme is thoughtful, as the music shows us by it's deep and meditative character. He does not hear David's foot steps, though the music brings the the ap bustling measure. He dreads his masters night; but Sachs is very kind and sends him away to dress for the feast, and re- sumes his only half medita- tions. The spirit muses and wonders: What is this fire in the breast by which men are led sometimes to inspired en- thusiasm, sometimes to madnesss GIL fusion! Illusion! everywhere illusion" he sings most beautifully. Now Walther ap- pears and is greeted by Sachs character istic "good will to men" motive. He is encouraged to sing of a wondrous dream he has had, and Sachs guides his poetic fervor to follow the rules of song, telling him to remember the melody and trust to the right time and place for the inspira- tion which will finish the song in ali it's perfection. Walther is almost hopeless, but departs to dress for the festival with | Sachs. Now Beckmesser comes in, lame and frightened by last nights beating, he sees the paper on which Wal ther's song is written, seizes it with hysterical delight, and determines to use it for himself. He cannot use the song he meant to present as his prize song, for it has become common property since his serenade of last night. When Sachs now l appears, Beckmesser, in 8 frenzy of rage, | jealousy and hope, accuses him of being also in secret suitor for Eva's hand, and shows the song for witness, thinking it is composed by Sachs himself. Sachs sees a l way for gaining his own end good -natur- edly, gives the song to Beckmesser, and even promises never to claim it's author ship! Beckmesser leaves him with the most overpowering demonstrations of gratitude and joy, and Sachs smiles as he thinks of the handling which Walther's beautiful song will receive from the mar minded town clerk. Now Eva comes in looking most lovely in her white festal dress; but her eyes are fearful, she has lost the hope of ever seeing Walther again, l and her heart is almost breaking, She complains of her new shoes, but also that Sachs does not know where it pinches As she stands with one foot on stool and Sachs at her feet trying on her shoe, Walther suddenly appears at the door Q loud cry, and they stand regard ing each other as in trance. In moment, Walther breaks forth into his song, now obviously love song, and completes it, triumphantly inspired by the ravishing sight of the woman he loves. 'Listen we'll" says Sachs, "for that is 8 smastersong' you hear!" It is now 8 per feet whole, and Lena and David are called in to be witnesses to the "baptism.' It was the custom for the "mastersingers" to Sachs calls this "The Glorious Morning Dreams True Story" with Eva and Sachs himself as Sponsors" These five persons now sing most beautiful quintette on the theme of the love song, the parts in close imitation and most wonderfully blended. This ends the first scene, and we next see a green meadow outside of the walls of Nurnberg, where the people of the town gather and wait for the ''mastersingers." Each craft and guild l-bakers, cobblers, tailors, etc.-is repre- sented by it's numbers carrying their ban ners and emblems and singing their pecu- liar and delightful little songs. Every one is in holiday dress and holiday humor, and when gaily decked barge comes up the river bearing the peasant girls from the neighboring town of Furth, the ap- prentices greet them hilariously and all join in a merry waltz to charm ing country dance music. But now the "mastersingers" appear heralded by their march and led by their banner with "King David with his harp and shield J There is almost an uproar when Hans Sachs appears, for he is we'll loved by all and to greet him a lovely choral ode is sung to words composed by the original Hans Sachs. Soon Beckmesser appears to sing for the prize. He is very nervous and when he begins the words that Sachs had written, they are SO garbled and changed by his total inability to understand their beauties, that he soon becomes the laugh ing stock of the crowd. In rage he rushes in front of the masters, filings that tho trash was written by their beloved Sachsl Sachs answers that the right owner of the song ought to be allow ed to sing them, and Walther steps for ward. In his mouth, they become in very truth the real prize-song, as attested by the clamorous echoes and applause by the crowd. The prize is given to him who has earned it, with the::advice by Sachs not in future to despise German art in it's true nobility, for that shall stand though the empire fall.
 On Monday next, MT. Damrosch will be- gin his recitals on Wagners ''Parsifal, , which is worthy of the best treatment of