The record-union., 1896-02-25


alphabet. AS child he played both
piano and violin. At IL he entered the
Conservatoire, under Cherubini, from
which he graduated as a Grand Prix
scholar. Lesueur used to refer TO him
fondly as his mote sensible" (his lead
ing note). Thomas was a last relic of
the old Roman reign of Ingres. whom
Gounod always remembered with an al
most filial affection.
Joseph Jefferson gave one of his
characteristic talks in New Orleans
on Washington's Birthday, at an en-
tertainment for the benefit of one of the
city hospitals MIR. Jefferson's coming
to live in New Orleans" says the
Times Democrat, ''is tribute of no
mean significance, both to the climate,
the people and the city. For the fore
most American comedian of the day,
the Nestor of the drama, the President
of the Players Club, a chum of Presi-
dents and Ministers, to select New Or
leans for his winter home, is an indica-
ton of the growing favor of New Or
leans as q winter resort and a residen-
tial city
John Higgins, who claims to be the
champion jumper of the world, has
gone into the vaudevilles, and made
his New York debut on February
9th at Keith's Union Square. Higgins
numbers among his feats that of jump
ing into a basket of eggs and out again
without breaking an egg. This accom-
plishlneut he varies by jumping on and
off mans face without injuring him.
Nettie De Coursey's press agent de-
nies the rumor that she has abandoned
her proposed starring tour. Incident
ally he takes occasion to remark that
she will head a company next season in
Dick Turpin, Jr.," burlesque oper-
eta.
A cake-walk, with 200 participating
couples, will be one of the features of
the Primrose-West jubilee in Madison
Square Garden, New York, March 9th.
The ninth annual gathering of cele-
brated banjo artists will be held in
Chickering Hall, New York, March 9Th.
Among the performers will be Reuben
Brooks, II. M. Denton, v. l.. Ossman, p.
c.. Shorts and A. A. Farland. There
will also be a ladies' mandolin orches-
ira and banjo orchestra of 100. Cecil
Bernard will also appear. Farland, it
will be remembered, played in Sacra-
mento about a year ago.
Mrs. Langtry's daughter attracts
much attention at the Niagara, Lon
don's new and fashionable skating rink,
where she is frequently seen. Her skill
on the ice is more than ordinary, and
her beauty rivals that possessed by her
mother in the days when the phrase
Jersey Lily was invented.
"The Scarlet Letter." the music by
Walter Damrosch and the text by
George Parsons Lathrop, was given for
the first time in entire operatic form
before a fashionable audience in the
Boston Theater February 10th. The
cast in part was: Hester Prynne,
Johanna Gadski; Arthur Dimmesdale,
Barron Berthald; Governor Bellinghams
Conrad Behrens; the Rev. John Wilson,
Gerhard Stehman; Roger Chillingworth,
Wilhelm Mertens. A full-dress re-
hersal had been given Sunday morning
at which there were present the leaders
in the musical, literary and society
circles of the city. The impression of
the critics at that time was less favor
under better conditions. The libretto
was highly acceptable and was plainly
above the ordinary opera text in merit
At the end of the first act Mr.. Dam
rosch was called to the platform, as was
Mr.. Lathrop, who occupied a stage box.
AT the end of the second act Mr.. Dam
rosch made a speech in which he ex-
pressed pleasure at being able to give
T of f01 fI1ea
in its home. He acknowledged his great
debt to the immortal Hawthorne He
declared that he believed that grand
opera could be given successfully in this
country with it's themes based upon
American happenings and handled by
Americans. At the end of the third act
Damrosch was presented with a loving
cup by the members of the company.
and the floral tributes given him were
too numerous to receive individual pre-
sentation.
Stuart Robson's new play, Mrs.
Pondeberrys Past" is success in New
York.
Frederick Warde, who is to appear
here soon, has a carload of new scenery
for his plays. Cannot he be induced to
OcjCIdnleHIO.
has not been given here in twenty years.
The Oracle Plaisted Company had
great success all through the Nevada
and mountain circuit and made money
in plenty.
Carrie Duke, the violin soloist with
Sousa's Band, is the daughter of Cen
eral Basil Duke, and is typical South
ern girl of great beauty and talent,
who was a favorite pupil of the great
Joachim Myrtle French, a soprano of
great merit, who will also appear with
the great band.
Some years prior to his death the late
Alexander Dumas placed on the finger
of Fanny Davenport a ring of blended
gold and silver. This ring the actress
considers her mascot, and under no
circumstances will she allow the gift
to leave her finger.
The Kansas City Journal is respon-
sible for the following:
Topeka was given her first view of
"Trilby" as drama last night, and the
verdict is so adverse that '"Trilby''
troupes had better steer clear of Kan
sas' Capital City. The play doesn't
end right to suit the Kansas idea To
receive anything like generous ap-
plause here, the hero must always
marry the heroine and raise a large
family of children
Then, again, the people are SO i'm
questionable. They take stage acting
in dead earnest. It is said that last
night, after Svengali died such a hor-
rihle death, one of the doctors of the