The herald., 1894-11-25
ss|5l3ll|| III:

@N EIl-N
The reason that 80 many amateur per
formances prove artistic and financia
failures 10 very clear to a careful OBJ
server. There are generally detached
bits Of excellence in most OF such per
formances, but there is, at the same
time, so much that is weak. unintelligi.
BILE, or palpably beyond the capacity o.
the performers that the suffering public
has become Disguised, and rightfully 80
with the average entertainment sus-
tanned by amateur talent.
It is not that amateurs lack clever
ness. talent and artistic perception, but
that they lack the experience which
opera, drama and comedy require for
their successful portrayal; and when
they essay to do q thing that needs the
talent and art com bined, OF Patti, a
Clara Morris or Francis Wilson, they
naturally meet with defeat, and their
audiences suffer correspondingly in con-
sequence.
As in a professional performance, the
legitimate art OF the actor is given prom
inence. 80 in one to be presented by
amateurs the reverse should be the
rule and by the absence OF trying stu
atoms. Evolutionary fests, musical i'm.
possibilities and emotional hysteria.
and prominence given to the countless
accessories that do not demand his
trionic genius, in the way OF mechanical
stage effects, artistic groupings, original
result would obtain that would help the
participants to appear to good advantage
would make for the success of the en-
tertainment to those who have paid
their good money to see it.
An entertainment on this order ia in
preparation now in Los Angeles, to be
given early in January at place to be
decided upon later in aid of the home
less newsboys. 1t is a carefully selected
collection OF music, stage effects, bits OF
pathos and novelties for the pleasure of
the eye and ear, sll Of which are espe-
cially suitable for presentation by ANA
teur talent. These attractive features
have been skillfully incorporated into an
old and intensely interesting legend to
be entitled Home, Sweet Home. 1t
claims to be neither opera nor play, but
in fact musical festival in dramatic
pantomime setting, and will constantly
appeal to the artistic eye. the romantic
Imagination, the sense of humor. and all
pure sentiments OF the heart. There will
be three acts, q double chorus, one to
represent the lowly. humble life in col.
onial days. the other the aristocracy of
that time, smart with the regalia OF
satin. knee breeches and queues, pow
dered wigs and patches the stage set
tings, mechanical transformations and
illusions will approach the spectacular;
the dramatic feeling. although subdued.
will be strong; the humor. incidental
and not strained, and the music has all
been selected for its precise suitability
to the situation in which it is intro-
duced; there will be few solos; most OF
the numbers are duets, trios. and en-
semble music. There are hundred
people and troop of children in the
cast-all amateurs, and in consequence,
two things have been kept constantly in
view in the construction: The natural
limit of amatuer capability. and the
right of the public to be entertained
where it has hitherto been bored. The
departments in preparation are all in
capable hands. The list of patronessee
contains the names of some of the
prominent society as we'll as philan-
thropic people; and it is the aim of the
management to make of the two nights
production social, artistic and financial
success.
CLUB AT SANTA MONICA.
About 20 of the Santa Monica ladies
have formed whist club that is espe-
cially enjoyable in that it is partly lit
arary. The meetings are on Wednesday
of every week, but on alternate Wednes.
days the club meets in the evening. At
the afternoon meetings the members
either read short stories or recite the
substance OF something they have read
elsewhere, thus familiarizing themselves
with the literature OF the day. The
evening meetings are devoted to whist,
but there are nc gentlemen present and
all the meetings are held at the houses
of the members in turn. Last Wednes-
day afternoon the club met with Mrs.
Kennedy at her handsome residence on
Ocean avenue, and stories from Richard
Harding Davis last book, The Exiles,
were read. Next Wednesday evening
the meeting will be at the beautiful and
hospitable home of Mrs. John P. Jonee.
Among the clubs personnel are Mines.
John P. Jones. Robert Jones, William
Ryan, Kennedy, Winslow, A. L. Ban
croft. Hamilton, Roy Jones, Hickey and
Gorham, and Misses Bessie Gorham,
Jones, Corson. Henshaw and Dickson.
EBELL OF LOS ANGELES.
The third meeting OF the Ebell OF Los
Angeles took place Saturday morning at
the residence of Miss Parsons, 1926 |
South Olive street. There was large
number present and much interest has
been shown in the organization of the |
society. Mrs. Charles l.. Strong, the |
president, who has very gracious
presence, read an interesting paper on
the Organization OF Society, and Miss
Jennie Dennan read a paper on Ham.
burg and it's Public Buildings. Several |
sections have been formed. by different
members of the club, for the study of
different branches of culture. An Ital-
ian section, with Mrs. j. G. Merrill as
curator, will study the Italian language;
also the literature of the country.
Mrs. Q. B. Jones represents the tour.
list section, which includes for the win.
ter the study of Germany, beginning
with Hamburg and it's environs. Among
It's members are Mrs. Willard Stimson,
Mrs. Ed Silent, Mrs. Sumner Hunt,
Mrs. VIM. Holiday, Miss Ewing and
others.
A current event section, with Mrs.
Dean Mason for curator, will comprise