The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-24
IDEALS THEN AND NOW,

W some ltuleS anu SchGiSiucu WIN
were we'll known in Wichita ten years ago.
The Boston Herald says: "Mrs. Aiiine
Audrey, prima donna soprano of the
New York Ideal Concert company, sang
at Music Hall last evening selection
from Ernani. She posses an unusually
fine voice" There are still some old
timers in Wichita WHO will remember
Miss Audrey well when she first appeared
in this city in II Trovotore as Miss Esteiia
Ewing. The veteran dramatic reporter OF
the EAGLE being in a reE1ini scent mood
last night In his den in the sixth story OF
the EAGLE Office, told some interesting
stories OF that production of Ii Trcvotore
and those who took part in it. Judge
Huffman, the present district judge, was
then reporter on the EyGLE and TOOK
part in the piece. He has not sang much
of late though his voice is still
remarkably sweet, hut 10 those
days he took part in every
local opera. Soon after. he commenced
practicing law, got married aud became
too deeply engrossed in family aud polite
al affairs to sing much. George Ham
mann. president of the Wichita bank of
commerce Was then assistant business
manager of the EAGLE. but like Mr. HUT
man he also got married and Became 100
busy TO pay any attention TO singing
although it is said that he still retains his
excellent voice. Col. Mundevelio, the
present United States minister to the
Argentine Republic was also a Wichita
citizen in those days and took prominent
part in II Trovotore but lie soon afterward
moved to New York, entered politics and
is now too busy interested in International
affairs. it is said, to sing any. Fred Sweet
at present general superintendent of the
St. Louis. Wichita aud California Aerial
Navigation Company was ut that time
superintendent OF an old fogy system OF
rapid transit known as electric street
railways, which happily, passed out of use
five years ago. He too took part in Ii
Trovotore and was what was then termed
'ouJ of sight" He being still
single, aud as much OF
ladies man as ever sings occasionally
and causad social sensation in st. Louis
two years ago. by reviving and singing
sweelly an old song entitled After the
Ball Is Over" Mr.. Sweets first appear
ance on the Stage antsiates the rendition
OF II Trovotore d few months When he
appeared in the Pirates OF Penzauce, u
Very elaborate opera produced under the
management OF Sir Henry Mac Lachliu,
the present famous organist Of ST. Pauis
of London. Professor Mac Lachiin, us ne
was then called, was of humble means and
the opera being put on on a gorgeous scale
he became bankrupt but on the death of
an uncle IA few years after he succeeded 10
his extensive Scotch estates and is now
not only famous but wealthy.
ri Trovotore was put on at that time
by SigDor Barablua who is still a fine
singer and, 10y the Way. a member of the
New York IDEAL Concert Company. He
came 10 Wichita from Topeka which was
then the state capital, ana it is said that
he Is really the discoverer of the superior
ity of the fine climate of Wichita over
that OF Italy for the cultivation Of
the voice. Miss Josephine NcAU, the
famous contralto singer of the Ideals" AS
they were popularity called. also lived iu
Wichita in the early days. l. was about
ten or eleven years ago that she appeared
tn what WAS then called the Crawford
Grand, now the penny museum, IN the
Pirates of PenZance." She was then
Mrs. Lizzie Gibbons and the same old
veteran reporter said at that time she was
not only hehandsomest bat the most pleas
ing singer. At that time she also sang in
the choir of the old Cathedral when Right
| Reverend j. Henry Then, the present
bishop OF Concordia, WAS its pastor. The
Cleveland Journal OF recent date says:
AT the excellent concert given by the
New York Ideal Concert company las
evening, Miss Josephin Mccall, a rising
contralto sang My Noble Knight to the
delight of an immense audience"
Tie now gray haired and baid-headed
reporter, who delighted so much in the
feats OF the early singers, also remem bered
another member of the New York Ideal
Concert company. She Is Miss Lulu
Leaton. although he still calls her Lucy
Guthrie. forgetting, apparently, the custom
I OF stars having stage names. Ten years
| ago." he says. Miss Lca.on WAS pretty
young girl just budding into womauhood
with bewitching golden curls and Il bright,
intellectual face. Everybody predicted a
bright future for her aud although most
OF the people WHO were here then have
died or moved away, yet there are still
enough left to say Il told you So" Miss
Leaton first gained fame rs pianist, but
her sweetness of voice was soon afterwards
discovered by Professor Baribina. II is
said that she was one of that famous
group OF Kansas singers whose melody at
tracte0 the attention OF the entire world
aud charmed the Dohomian ear at the
/ Columbian exposition at Chicago on the
Of = Of Rr.tY ..ln
! the famous spanish nobleman. aud H.
fanta Eulalia, II noted Irish exile there.
In her more tender years Miss Leaton
was the favorite accompanies of Mrs.
( Malviua Walden. who IS now America
f, favorite singer aud was then the pride OF
! Wichita. BY the way. Mrs. Walden Is the
: wife of AR. y G. Walden, who is now
/ the able president of the international
/ congress of fire chiefs, in session al
/ London.
/ Another member of the company is
Mir. Rollins Maehluug, over whose
/ be autiful baritone voice the elite OF
| Cincinnati nearly went crazy "A short time
ago according to the Enquirer, loo pa.
per published there. Mr.. Mackluug lived
| tor many years in Wichita wien he was a
young man ana was very popular singer
| in the choir of the old Presbyterian church
| before it WAS torn down TO make room 70.
/ tie beautiful edifice that now extends
| from Lawrence avenue to First street He
WAS then popularity known as Harry Nc
| Chung. Tue present dramatic critic OF the
| EAGLE was ut Washington recently when
| the Ideal company was playing at the
gorgeous Edwin Booth theatre Ia
.. 600 people nightly. After the
performance was over he weat to thl
stage pariors. formerly known as dressing
I L |. L., -