The herald., 1894-03-18

| He says that the hopeless decadence o.
the odd, and the old Japanese art oi
J equilibrium, which in a few years will
certainly become extinct, is q sad fact,
and one which is partly due since 1865
| to the fall Of feudalism, and also to the
natural tendency in Japan to initiate
| whatever is American, The time is
| past when the feudal daimyos we're lib
eral and eager patrons OF these perform
ers, who played the principal part oil
/ the feasts given to their soldiers after q
victorious battle. Thus whenever one
of these equilibTists could display the
same ability as one of the number OF the
Japanese troupe who will appear here
Monday evening at the Burbank, he
could count on the munifcent patronage
of his feudal lord; in fact, he was part
of his suite, and his future was hence
forth assured; he became q pensioner
of the daimyo, liesureiy practicing
while they were fighting, and Civ
ing full play to his genius,
certain that through the achievement
of his art he always should guarantee
himself against poverty. When feudal-
ism was abolished these halcyon days
disappeared. No more depending on
their lords for a livelihood, they were
compelled to roam from village to vil-
lage, exhibiting their skill in public
places. The public soon fell into the
economical notion that it was not worth
while to paw for the sake of witnessing
what during their lifetime they had seen
for nothing. Hence the art of equilib-
rum has been gradually disappearing,
and this is the cause that has compelled
him to travel four continuous months
through Japan, penetrating at the risk
of his life into unfrequented, wild parts
of the country, whore no European
has ever trod before, in order to gather
a thrilling amalgamation of oriental tai
ent equal in merit to the celebrities OF
past ages. Ii such is the case, we feel
confident that the engagement OF the
Charles Comelli's Japanese Novelty
troupe will be pronounced as the most
successful engagement of the season.
Dan Creelan will put on curtain raiser
entitled Senator McFee. supported by
the Cooper stock company. Miss Han
nah Rees, Los Angeles favorite, will
give vocal selections during the action
of the farce.
~*~
The lectures of Miss Jeanne Sorabje
of India next week, under the auspices
of the Unity club, ought to be exceed
ingly interesting. as she is a highly cul-
tured lady. 1t is to be presumed she
was educated in the Parsee faith, as was
her countrymsn (and kinsman p, Mr..
Eduljee Sorabje, who. with his family,
has been a resident of Los Angeles for
the last nine years, concerning whom
and whose religion very interesting
account is given in a sketch of the life
of Mr.. Sorsbje in the Illustrated History
of Los Angeles County (pages 629 and
630), published in 1889, in the public
! library.
The Psreees are a very interesting
| people with very interesting history.
| Their ancestors were driven out of Per-
sia by the Saracens over twelve centur-
/ les ago. They are an entirely distinct
race from the Hindus. Mr.. Sorabje is a
naturalized American citizen, is we'll ed
ucated, speaks FIVE languages, and is, he
| thinks, the only person OF the Parsee
faith and Persian origin who has become
an American citizen. His home is in
Eaet Los Angeles. He was born il
Bombay in 1852.
x##
The Georgia minstrels will be at the
urday. The Spokane Review says o.
the performance:
The Georgia minstrels, made up en-
tirely OF colored men, have for score O
years been popular and successful
though only departing from the style O
entertainment given by the old school il
eliminating the stupid knockabout
farces which were 80 great a bore.
4 Rilly X nraonHa fin if mr. khe
only funny colored comedian, was the
life OF the evening with his songs
dances and yawning abyss of a mouth
which first made the Georgia minstrelE
famous. The Crescent City quartette
Howard, Wooten, Watts and Walker
won several recalls, as did Gsuzs, who
is certainly clever in his female imper.
sonation. Tom Brown danced particu-
lsrly we'll. and Jas. White was nimble
with his feet. The entertainment is
! pleasing of it's kind, and entirely free
from coarseness.
4**
Easter Monday Mr.. Lawrence Hanley
and Miss Edith Lemmert will open q
three-nights' engagement at the Los
Angeles theater in productions Of
classic drama. Mr.. Hanley has re-
Gently returned from San Fran
cisco, where he has complet-
ed arrangements to assure q
fine production in all respects. Monday
night Hamlet will be given with Mr.
Hsnley IN the title role and Miss Lem
inert as Opheia. Tuesday and Wednes.
day evenings and Wednesday matinee
Shakespeare brightest comedy, The
Merchant OF Venice, will be presen ted
Mr.. Hanley will be Shylock, part he
has studied for many years, while Por-
tia will be taken by Miss Lemmert.