Evening star., 1896-12-02

next week, 10 the result Of months Of OBJ
servation. study and thought by Mr.. DE
for recreation, and with no thought at
that time OF ever attempting to portray
the marvelously picturesque. unique ard
original scenes which he witnessed. The
the festivities at which he was enter. .ained
and the weeks which he passed as a guest
of one Of the most powerful Mandarins CT
the Chinese empire left. however. a last
ing Impression upon him which he has
now reduced to song and which Smith has
immortalized in verse and dialogue. The
spectacle Of Fan Tan, a poor coolie, sud
denly converted to the power and wealth
Of a Mandarin, without the intelligence to
realize the change that has come over him.
Is at once one Of the most pathetic and
humorous incidents Of the modern drama.
Torn away from one wife whom he loves.
he suddenly finds himself possessed of
twelve who do not attract him. while the
real Mandarin having deserted the twelve,
finds himself despised by the loved wife OF
the erring Fan Tan. Throughout the opera 1t
has been the especial study of the author
and composer to cling as closely pos
sible to truth. The music which Mr.. De
koveE has written Is essentially Chinese
in character, and Is rendered so in fact
by the introduction of a number Of Chi
nese instruments, which were imported for
that purpose. There has not in this coun-
try been produced an opera so superbly
costumed and so beautifully pictured as
this one. After having seen The Man
DARN" one can almost fancy that China
itself has been visited.
The Thursday Matinee.-The second of
the bargain day matinees IS announced for
tomorrow afternoon at the Columbia Thea
ter. The policy of reserving no seats on
these occasions and charging so cents for
admission to all parts of the house should
prove exceedingly popular. Marie Jansen
has always been a great favorite IN TINS
city, and in Mr.. Gunther's playa Florida
Enchantment," embraces the opportunity
offered and proves herself one of the most
artistic Comediennes now before the public
Down in Dixie.-The latest and most sue
cessful play Of the south Is appropriately
ramed Down in Dixie" which will come
to the Academy next week. 1t aims to be
stirring drama, a hearty comedy and an
accurate picture of southern life, all in one.
The elements of the piece are such as to
call for large spectacular treatment. The
scene painter has had exceptional oppor-
tunities in turning out Georgia mansion
and cotton field, Carolina homestead ard
its surroundings, cotton warehouse. with
a southern landscape around It, and a char
acteristic interior of a fine old southern
hCme. The machinist has had task of mag
nltude In constructing real, full-sized cot
ton compress, which is used in one ofthe sem
sational rescue scenes Of the play. The story
OF the drama concerns the love Of manly
young southerner for a brave and beautiful
Carolina girl. who is thought by her lovers
people to be socially beneath him. BY her
1ntrepldity and quick wit she saves the
life of her lover, reScueS another member
of the household from unique death ar
ranged by the villains Of the play, and in
unmasking these villains she prevents a
dire calamity from falling on the family,
winning the esteem and affection that has
been withheld from her. A number of
amusing darkeys figure in the presen alton.
among them being musical hand of
pickaninnies," genuine smportattons from
Down in Dixie"
Black PATHS Troubadours-Black Patti,
who Is recognized the world over as the
greatest singer Of her race, enjoys the
further distinction of being the stellar fea-
ture with "Black PATHS Troubadours,"
which is said to be the best company Lf its
kind ever organized and which will be the
attraction at the Grand Opera House next
week. There are fifty people in the com
pany. which includes at least score OF
speciality performers, VINO are leaders in
their respective lines. Notable among these
dancers; Billy Johnson, descriptive vocal
lst; Goggin and Davis, knock-about aero
bats; Kingsbury and Cousins Instrumental
lists; De Wolfe sisters, duetsts; Lyodd
Gibbs. the phenomenal tenor; c. W. Moore.
baritone, and Nine. Cravatt Simpson the
accomplished contralto. In addition to
THESE famous stars there is a large and
well-trained chorus Of thirty voices, and
stage scheme of the "Troubadours'' Is no
less interesting than the name and fame of
Its stars. 1t consists of happy medley of
comedy, burlesque. vaudeville and opera.
The operate Kaleidoscope. which occupies
the final half hour of the performances
serves to introduce BLACK Patti" and the
operate forces in the inspiring and me-
lodious strains of grand and comic opera.
arouses enthusiasm. The operate selec
tons are taken from Faust" Carmen"
"Rigoletto," LUCIA "Trovatore." DO
heman Girl" Grand Duchess" Mari
tana" and the Daughter Of the Regi-
ment."
formerly well known for his original Gre
alton of ''G,imesey. Me Boy in Hoyt's
Bunch Of Keys" and lattery a very
amusing acrobstic comedian, will be the
stellar attraction at the Bijou Family
Theater rext week. in his latest revised
version of Grimes Cellar Door, The
piece has been seen here before, and is re-
membered as one full of opportunities for
the agile and gymnastic Grimes, if ut
terly innocent of plot. 1t is said to have been
rearranged up to date. with all the latest
SONGS and specialties by Mr. Mackie, Miss
Louise Sanford and a supporting company
of clever people. Pieces on the order of
"A Boy Wanted" seem to be the winners
this season. and Mr.. Mackie might well
name his piece boy Found" for the char
acter Of CRIMES is omnipresent and al
ways amusing. There will be the usual
daily matir ees commencing on Monday
next.
The Russell Bros Comedians.-Manager
Herman will present for his attraction at
the Lyceum next week Russell Bros Come
dians. an organization under the direction
of Messrs. Weber and Fields, headed hy
Jennie Yeamans. who has been seen here
in many legitimate roles. Last season Miss
Yeamans shared the honors with Peter F.
Daily in The Night Clerk" Her entrance
into the vaudeville has been marked with
remarkable success, her act giving her
plenty Of scope for her versatility. Other
prominent names appearing on the pro-
gram are McAvoy and May, the comedy
duo: Drummond Staley and Belle Birbeck,
musical artists par excellence; Johnnie
Carroll, character singer and comedian:
Mauz and Mazzett, acrobatic tumblers;
Myer Cohen, the California baritone; the
Brothers Rossi, grotesque eccentr:ques. and
the always popular Russell Brothers, ap-
pearng in a new edition of the Irish
Servant Girls"
The Ice Palace.-Although there will very
probably be ice skating out Of doors before
many more days if the present cold snap
should keep up, there is no likelihood of a
natural rival to the rink drawing very
much away from its patronage There is
so much difference between skating in the
cold air, with no place at hand to get
warm and constant apprehension of air
holes and weak spots, and pursuing that en-
joyable sport under the immense roof of
Convention Hall, with it's warm reception
rooms and smooth firm, safe ice, that the