The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-07
By THE WAY.
BEING q Ramhl9T'S Observations on THINGS
in General
In Artists Kumor - Actors ard Singers
PATHS Tour = Spencer on Lying.
Natures Dsoeptions.
Written for The MORNING CALL.

A pen-and-ink artist who signs himself
"Cynicus" would cut a figure in the present
political campaign between Harrison and
Cleveland could he but drop his English
nationality and take up American ideas
with fervor. He combines two gifts or ac-
QUESTIONS essential for the popular draughts
man. He has humorous invention In the
manner Of Hood, quiZZicai and punning,
and requiring no long study to see the
point lie also draws with firm decided
hand, and does not trouble himself much
about shading, but leaves his thoughts to
be expressed by outline. Add to this
happy knack of selling character and abil-
ity in faithful, animated -portralture. In
recent number OF the Pail Mall Budget this
artist has group Of studies of a most cOmical
felicity. Salisbury Is represented with
woebegone face going to the cOuntry-thatis,
going to defeat At the elections, with hand
bag labeled Peers Hope" evidently good
advertisement for Pears Soap" Whether
The artist benefits by this jeu desprit it is
impossible 10 say. but be ought TO receive
some honOrarium. No better advertisement
could be invented at election time The
old saw, UNITED we stand, divided we
fall" is illustrated by three drunken
car0useTs holding on 10 one another IN reel
ing SWAY, aud by the collapse of the three
IN a limp pile when one Of the number has
\
illustrated by two men fighting for posses
sion Of a chair. Public opinion" that
variable weathercoCR, is symboZed by
Salisbury and Gladstone playing seesaw on
u plank over a barrel. and Of course Glad
stone is mp and smiling / Ike winner ia the
race Of life. Perhaps the most humorous
OF the series is one entitled "Close of the
pOlP'-a eat holding a dead parrot in its
mouth.
Henry Irving and Ellen Terry are COM
ing to America this year. and they begin
their tour in San Francisco, and proceed by
gradual stages through the West to New
York. where they Will wind up most sue
cessful season. The passion to behold these
iumnaries of the stage is not quite so IL
tense as II IS to hear Patti sing. but il is new
ertheleSs positive craze, and old theater-
eoerS. who think about honest work on the
stage and little about the hammery Of fine
dresses and the fascination Of sceue-mOunt-
ing, wonder why there should be such ex-
ceptOnal alteration bestowed upon these
celebrities. Irving has elevated the stage
IN England by the care and the taste Of his
performances Far more than Charles
hean, or any predecessor, he has made the
accessories OF acting fine art 10 be studied
and respected, ana he has gained over to the
ordinary theat-r the patronage of the upper
ten thousand, who formerly only considered
opeTa worthy of attention. This absurd
distinction between drama aud opera has
never existed IN America, and 1t is not
likely now TO arise While il did exist in
England 1t was one OF the manifestations of
snObblSLneSs. The rich and influential OF 4
country that gave birth 10 Shakespeare ae-
tUally taboOed the public representation OF
the baTd'S plays Success is success, a very
nGennaOle quality. Irving has captiYated
The world Of piay-gOers and is now an hon
cred man II society, and. II some extent, in
the intellectual world. He has plOdded
along on the stage Of his art with triumph
ant results, and at least as much may be
said Of The gifted Ellen Terry who, like
the poets, was born, lot made, Tor her pro-
1esSIOu.
The divine Adelina, as some people pro-
1anely describe her, Is once more To make a
farewell tour. and has even gone the length
Of signing treaty by which when her per-
f0rmances are over she condemns herself
TO Punishment from the operate stage.
Such treaties, however, run counter to pub
lie policy, and are Of course hostile 10 pri-
vate Interest anG Nine. Patti would not
; surprise anybody by taking another round
or two OF the world up to the moment her
voice cracks and Is worth no more than a
split violin. For 10 concerts the prima
donna, who is no longer young and no
longer In her prime as singer, Is to receive
5000 per nlght or 100000 for the whole
series. And she viii pocket every dollar
Dut down IN the contract whether the i'm
UTeSario who engages her services has a
dime lett or not = lady on the stage has
ever understood better the prfnclDIeS If
business or has stuck harder 10 bargain
Nine. PatiGs manager may well look for
ward with anxiety TO his contract, but ap-
paTeDtly he has confidence in the Ameri-
can pubic that they viii pay any price to
listen 10 the singing Of any one who is called
great. Numbers Of other singers would
charm the masses just as we'll If they had
tie ear OF appreciation. but it is enough for
them that Nine. Patti can command 5000
for nights warbling.
The Emperor William Of Germany is TO
be pitied. He tried TO win the cup of the
Royal Yacht squadron at Cowes and has
failed and the joke Of il is that by some
snobbish inclination everybody wanted him
To win. His Majesty some time ago bought
tie Thistle. a Scotch yacht Of fast sailing
qualities, which came to this country for
victory and was defeated by the Volunteer
1he name was changed to the Meteor. The
Emperor was on board the Meteor during
Tue race ana sadly must he have been dis
appointed when he found that a rank ont
slider, under time allowance, had carried off
the cup. The whole race seems to have
been farce to please the Emperor. The
Iverna, which has on other occasions
Ueaten the Meteor did not start in order 10
EtfS tHr GhttCDE Chance. IeTDdUS the
Prince OF Wales had hand in his arrange
ment in order TO humor his cousin. Another
yacht nearly as fast went ashore convent
emily IN soft place and gave the Meteor
another chance. In actual sailing the Me-
teor led and was far ahead of her rivals
but there IS such thing as time allowance
I'D yacht races, and when time was reckOned
up, tie Emperor's yacht was only second
and the dearly priced cup was in the hands
OF another. For the moment the winner is
perhaps unpopular. She has carried off
trophy which conspiracy Of gentlemen
designed Tor the German monarch. But
what pleasure the Kaiser could have in a
trophy actually Intended to be handed over
to him before the race began is not an easy
matter Tor true sailors to understand. At
the banquet of the club the Emperor no
doubt expressed his feelings on the subject
IKE a man. lie may submit to his defeat
with good grace and he may easily get an
other yacht to do better next time.
Herbert Spencer has been turning the
full powers Of his profound mind upon one
branch OF ethics-veracity. Robert Inger-
soil. IL one of bis lectures. gloats over the
ability TO tell lie, because 1t enables a boy
who IS oppressed by parents or master to
shield himself from torture or violence the
inference being that the lad would not lie
we're he fairly treated. Some such con-
ciuslon appears to he reached by Herbert
Spencer, because he shows that oppressed
peoples are prone TO mendaeity. lie paints
70 the Russians as the greatest liars in
Europe, and then he dragS in the Hindoos
and Egyptians as conspicuous EXAMPLES
Both these races have long been oppressed.
Among numbers Of tribes lying Is a virtue