The Washington times., 1894-06-10

| Of electric lights and clumsy caperings and
suggestive poses, has come to be about all
| that the gibbering gobemouches, who are the
| main body Of theater-Roers, are capable Of.
! The power Of approaching heroic moods and
emotions and Of comprehending the dignity
and force Of the portrayal Of high passions
has been weakened and almost lost BY long
disuse. An actor like N. Mounet-Sully ap-
pears before blind eyes and speaks to deaf
ears.
To those of US that had the good fortune to
sec and to appreciate II. Mounet-Sully's con-
summate art, and to follow him with symPa-
thetic admiration In those portrayais 80 fine
in nature, so penetrating In intelligence, 30
lofty In conception. and 80 clear and moving
in expression, those noble figures will not
cease to appear on the stage Of the tmagina-
ton He has given US an intellectual pleas
ure that does not depart with his departure.
He takes us away from tedious Merry Au-
drews and grinning iabbernowls. Tho dignity
and severe perfection Of Sophocles, the rude
nre OF Corn-ille, the romantic passion OF
Victor Hugo, the eternal enigma OF ''Hamlst,"
remove us from trivial balderdash to that
atmosphere Of poetry, OF romance, OF tragedy,
Of strenuous passion and action with which
NJ Mounet-Suily surrounds his various crea-
tions. 1 hope ne will come again some day
when most OF the present generation OF dra-
matte critics have gone TO the asylum, where
they belong, and o reaction has set In against
fdiocy.
A cold smile curled up the corners OF the
leading heavy's false moustache Alas II was
too too false. One side fell on In the midst OF
this most affecting scene. The leading lady
tainted in the soubret's arms
I quote the following paragraphs from the
Associated Press London dramatic letter for
to-day:
Nine. Melba has created furore at Covent
Garden in Faust" and Lucia di Lammer.
moor" The latter was revived specially for
Mme. Meiba-
ure. consisting Of series of eight prayers TO the
Madonna, for chorus aud orchestra, words by
Boiio: They will be presented at a full mass 70
be celebrated upon the occasion Of the festival
Of San Antonio at Padun next year.
Little Ruby" johnson, the baby dancer from
New England, has taken the salons of old
Englands royalty by storm. and Is the loading
attraction Of the small army Of tnfantile Won
ders al present before the British public. The
tiny American wonder has already had the
honor OF appearing ct Marlborough house be-
fore the Prince and Princess of Wales and their
family, and before tae Duke and Duchess OF
TecS and other members of the royal family, In
addition II del'shting crowds OF members Of the
aristocracy in the most distinguished style Of the
metropolis -
There has been q gIut of conc.-ts this season,
with the result that artists other thap .hose OF
the Patti, Paderewsk, and Joachim order stand
very little chance OF receiving more than casual
notice in the papers. The Infant Phenomenon"
has been very much 20 the fore recently and
recitals by performers under ten years OF age
ere Of almost daily occurrence. OF future &on--
certs, two OF the most interesting to be given
by Hayden conln and Arthur Somerviiie.
Arthur somervell- who is well known as q
composer OF graceful SONGS, will be assisted at
his concert by Miss Fanny Davis, Miss Margue-
rite hall. Leonard Berwick, and MIR. Shakes
peare. The manager Of the Independent The,
ater society announces play for next season
by edward Fordhan, the dramatic critic of the
Westminster Gazeits and other papers. The
play deals with the marital relations Of young
earl, and tlIe subject Is handled with some au-
d.ty in 4 realistic style The play may possibly
be little difficulty with the censor. but Mr.. Pi-
rsro has now opened the door so wide that "a
Consecrated Bargain" viii doubtless get through
The author is one OF the younger school Of crit
les and has reached an important position rap
idly
erpool, whose book on the great civil war, enri-
tied the American Union, excited immense dis
cusson. and resulted in his appointment with
the late Beresford Hope, es the English repro
sentative of the Confederate. James Spence
was likewise author of the celebrated IS" letters
TO the London Times. His son, after being called
TO the bar, took up dramatic criticism, while
waiting for briefs. He first represented society
at the theater. and then the Daily Grepic and
the Pail Mall Gazette. On the purchase Of the
last named paper by William Waldorf Astor.
NE. Spence followed the fortunes Of his old editor
of the Westminster Gazette. HIS wife has also
become journalist since her marriage, and her
WORK signed Binolcle sometimes appears In the
"Ske:ch" side by side with that Of her husband
Pseudonym ''Ionocien
On June q a matinee in aid Of the theatrical
chors:crs association Is to be given at the LYRIC
thsster which has been kindly let for the occa-
sion by Mr.. Horace sedger.
1 clip this lisle story from an exchange
whose name I have lost:
Sol Smith Russell claims to be Judge of tea
He recently illustrated his cultivated taste In
that particular in a very satisfactory way. A ,
fishing party was being made up and Mr Rus
Sell said he would SO IL Charley Brcekett would
QL So "a m n
particular brand that was supposed 70 be of
superior quality. The tea wasitaken, and when
the party arrived at the clubhouse Mr.. Russell
agreed 10 make the tea IL they would furnish
him the hot water at the table. Accordingly the
woman who keeps the clubhouse brought him
the tea and water at every III cal, and Mr.. Rus
sell drew the tea. II unanimously pro-
nounced excellent. and Mr.. Russell asserted he
never drank so delightful beverage. He
had drunk tea with the crowned heads OF
Europe and he knew when tea was tea All OF
which, Of course. was very satisfactory until
leaving the clubhouse it was proposed TO take
an inventory OF what supplies were left and
leave them for some future occupant of the club
house. II was discovered that the package Of
fine tea taken from Minneapolis had not been
opened, and that which had been used was some
old ssur that had been in the clubhouse since
last year
Washington, in proportion to population,
has graduated for the stage, as many people
as and city in the country. There is much
here to inspire culture in all the arts that are
beautiful. any if is not neglected. In music
and drama this city has sent forth men and
women who have shone with starry cffulgence.
Every season brings 20 notice some new
talents and some swee. fresh voice is heard
that makes you sure is destined to give N any
pleasure.
The musicale soires by Miss Wilson and
her pupils on Friday evening at Metzrott ball,
which attracted q notably fiattering audience,
introduced TO them new promises of distine-
tion which will be watched with interest by
new made friends.
What treasures of voices. for instance, have
Misses Nye. Thompson, and Pilisoury, who
sang Smart delicious trio, Now Amulet and
SPELL" Miss Louise Weeden, who sang
Bevignani's Hush Ny Little One has
soprano mellow to charm and marvelously
pure. Il lullaby voice, good TOR gold should
she ever care to use it that way. Sweet in
voice and graceful of presence was Miss Ella
Ray, with her two solos, ''In Sweet Septem-
| ber' and ''Sea Dreams" by Strelezki. No
number was more cleverly rendered nor more
heartily approved than Ardits '"'Le Saran
Rose" as sung bv Miss Wilson, with Miss
Bertha Lucaz' violin obligator. Using an ia-
strument OF unusually fine tone, Miss Lucas
played with sympathetic expression that much
enhanced the beauty of the song.
Miss Nye. whose future is regarded with
| great expectations by numerous admirers, de-
| lighted them by her artistically triumphant
| singing OF the "Grand Aria from "Der
Frieschutz." Her first notes expressed
| excellence in articulation, and ere the
| the song was completed you were surprised
that so sweet a soprano was possessed Of so
| great range and volume. It is the fault OF
| many young singers, even richly endowed by
nature, not to hold themselves so that the