Evening star., 1896-03-18
AMUsEMExTs.

konsky delivered the drst OF series OF
four lectures on Russia" yesterday after
noon in the cozy lecture hall Of the Wash
ington Club. ITO street northwest. Prince
Wolkonsky comes from distinguished and
wealthy family. his father being commits
sioner Of education at the court of the
czar, and the visit Of the prince to the
United States at this time is for the pur-
pose Of describing Russia in her true light.
His enunciation was clear and perfectly in
telligible. and the lecture demonstrated
complete and perfect understanding Of the
subject. The audience formed fair rep
resentation of Washington society," the ma
jority of the listeners being of the fair
sex. Included in the gathering were the
Russian minister, Mr.. de Kotzebue, and
his secretary. Mr.. Alexandra de Somow,
and also Mrs. and Miss Mertwago, wife
and daughter of Capt. Mertwago, naval
and military attache Of the Russian lega-
ton. Prince WolkOnsky was introduced by
Mr. Andrew D. White, and after express
ing his pleasure at the opportunity OF fac
ing the audience before him, began the
lecture by briefly describing Russia in a
geographical sense. He then took up the
historical significance of the reign of Peter
the Great, declaring that the ruler men,
toned broke down the wall which for CEN
turies separated Russia from the remain
der of Europe. Prince Wolkonsky spoke at
some length of the reigns Of Catherine.
the Empress Anna, the Duchess Anna
and Others as a succession of historical
events. The intellectual development OF
Russia during the reign of Peter was care
fully discussed, as were the advance of
Russian poetry, the foundation of Russian
science and of Russian tragedy, while lit
erature was not neglected. AT the second
lecture of the course, this afternoon, Prince
Russian poets. The remaining lectures are
announced to take place Saturday, March
Il, and Tuesday. March p.
"Gentlen.an Joe.''-The Rudolph Aronson
Company will come to the Lafayette Square
Opera House direct from an extended en-
gagement at the New York Bijou Thea
ter and begin a season Of one week next
Monday night. The comedy opera to be
produced is that of "Gentleman Joe, the
London Cabby." James T. Powers will en-
act the tile role, and Is said to have scored
a decided success in the part. Altogether
the company numbers fifty people, and sew
eral other well-known names are embraced
amorg the list Of principals. Among the
newcomers will be the celebrated English
comedienne, Clara Wielapd. Her imitat tons
of famous public performers have caused
much favorable comment, and her first ap-
pearance In Washington will be looked for
ward to with interest. The music of Gen
tieman joe is said to be very bright and
catchy and the lines ar Situa tions decided
ly amusing. Aronsons productions have al
ways been on an elaborate and costly scale,
and Gentleman joe has received the same
attention 10 detail as "Erminie'' and other
successful Aronson productions.
Sousas Band.-John Philip Sousa and the
peerless concert band of which he is the di-
rector will give a concert in this city on
Sunday night, March 22, at the Lafayette
greatest conductor of the greatest band in
existence, and the news of his coming
arouses enthusiasm among those who have
learned to look upon his band as the repre-
Sousa's magnetic marches as the national
marches of America. The title of the
March King" which has been bestowed
upon So"sa by the unanimous consent of
thousands of music lovers, is justly applied.
Manager Blakely announces the engage
ment of two gifted young artists as the So
losts Of Sousa's present tour. They are
Miss Myrta French. a colorature soprano OF
beautiful voice and superior method, and
Miss Currie Duke, the daughter of Gen.
Basil Duke, violin.st Of fine technical skill
and emotional power.
"1432."-Among the stellar attractions of
the present day none have acquired the
amount of favorable comment that has been
bestowed upon Edward E..Rices most ex-
travagant Of burlesques "1492,' which will
be seen h,Ie next week at the Grand Opera
House. In spite Of many new faces in the
Company this season, it is larger and
stronger than ever. The improved ''1492''
will be seen here in it's entirety, with its
splendid chorus. brilliant ballets and fasci-
mating scenic adornments, the specialties.
ballads, dances, etc, being up to date in
every respect. while the costuming and
scenic effects are most elaborate and pos
sess Incompatible merit The cast, headed
by Mr.. Mark Smith as Isabella, is unusually
strong. John keefe as King Ferdinand and
the hayseej also has n ade a most palpable
success in the characters he assumes. Miss
Ca 'rie Behr as Infanta Catalina and Flora
F'inlayson as Infanta Johanna are highly
commended for their excellent work. The
other principal roles are in the hands of
Raymond Stephens. Mamie Forbes, Marie
Ia
Aug. Sohke and Louis De Smith. Tom
Brown. the champion whistler, and Zelma
Rawlston, the American Vesta Tilley," are
among the new features
The City Sports. s.-Maaager Kernan's at
traction for next week will be Flynn and
Sheridan's City Sports big show, compris-
ing an excellent aggregation Of well-known
burlesque stars and high-class vaudeville
artists. The performance opens with a
charming burletta, which will serve to in
troduce the company. An exceptionally
good olio follows, IN which will appear the
four Nielsen sisters, female acrobats. An
other special feature of this portion of the
program will be the wild Moorish dancers,
who. after their Washington engagement
will return direct to Morocco Others in
the company are Phil and Crissie Sheridan,
comedy sketch artists; Smith and Cham
pion. the eccentric comedy duo; Wren and
DAILY, singers of popular parodies; Camp
bell and Beard, in new and up-to-da.e
musical act, and Lancaster and Collins.
81.
ciudes with a bright and original burlesque
introducing number of pretty girls, clever
comedians, lively songs and dances and
catchy music.
A Mastery Painting. - The picture of
Christ and the Two Disciples at Emmaus"
is now on exhibition at the residence of Mr.
j. A. Aspinwall, IL Dupont circle, the pro-
ceeds derived from the exhibition to be
used for the benefit of the building fund of
St. Thomas Church. The picture is an ex-
ceedingly beautiful creation, a masterpiece
of drawing. color and composition. 1t de-
picts Christ and the two disciples just as
the latters eyes were opened so that they
knew Him after having gone into the house
on their invitation. And their eyes were
opened and they knew Him. gives the in
depreciation Of the work. The fame of the
picture, coupled with the object for which
the exhibition is given, should induce all art
lovers in the city to see it.
The Stoddard Lectures.-The Stoddard
lectures of this year possess an interest and
variety not surpassed in any other season.
The charm of life in Italy is nowhere more
potent than in Naples and among it's beau
tiful surroundings. Constantinople has a
history that makes visit there peculiarly
novel, and anything that relates to the
Turk and his country is live news today.
The new lecture on Napoleon is from a
novel standpoint and has unique illustra-
tions. One could hardly desire more sug-
Cestiye or promising subjects for the last