St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-12
IN ST. Paul SOCIETY.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
There has not been the usual num-
Der of social functions this week on
account of German opera and the prep
Rration for it. Society has gone in
body to listen to the Wagnerian opera,
and society, as usual, is wise. Teas
and receptions may be enjoyed any
day but German opera is not an ev-
ery-day occurrence in the West, and all
music-loving people, together with
others who fain would be and must
follow in the wake of fashion at what
ever cost, have enjoyed it while they
could The absence of dancing parties
is noticeable, and yet not to be Won
dered at. since it is the young ele-
ment who are wont to "trip the light
fantastic" With the close of the hol-
iday season, the college boy and girl
have returned to their work and their
elders content themselves with the
quieter afternoon teas, receptions and
card parties.
AS the Red Men, the Bostons, the
Lafayette Snow Shoe club, etc., in
long line with measured tread came
down the street the other night, [
heard some calculate, my, what fools
some people arer' Twas a very apt
remark, no doubt, but it is to be feared
that the speaker has missed the true
spirit of the carnival. His opinion,
however, has little weight in carnival
club circles, for the nightly parades
nj
one strolls along the street he will
run across these picturesque bands Of
Red Men, Indians, Black Men, Esqui-
mauX and what not marching UP and
down and arousing carnival enthu-
siasm. for, as the time when King
Carnival shall reign draws near, spirit
and enthusiasm do increase in spite
of all abusive remarks and the balmy
summer weather.
The seal of secrecy has been taken
off and it is now permitted the public
to know the names of the aspiring st.
Paul amateurs who have set for them
selves the task of mastering a Ger
man comedy of the higher class for a
public production under the most elab-
crate conditions. Before the holidays
1t was announced that a number of
people well known in society, and quite
as popular for their capacity to en-
terrain as for their social qualities,
had arranged for the production Of
play. Ben Johnson, the well-known ex-
professional, was said to be at the
head of the affair, and he gave it out
that when the production was given
it would be under the best possible
nothing amateurish about it. And
now that a number of the people who
are to take part consent to the pub
LEGATION Of their names, it becomes ev-
ident that the affair will be a notable
one, and really the best thing men
TONED for the season between this and
Lent. The play to be given is Days
adaptation from the German Of Schon-
than Bros "a Night Off" The date
of the production will be some Satur-
day evening in February.
In the cast besides Mr.. Johnson will
be Gen. c. S. Bunker, Harry Davis,
Miss Mary Sturgis, Miss Sophia Bor-
up, Miss Ada Hawkins and a number
of other people equally well known.
The book is now in the hands Of the
people who are to take part. 1t will
be remembered by ST. Paul theater-
goers readily enough, as it was pro-
duced here last winter by Days COM
pany and made an immense hit. In
selecting "A Night Off" Mr. johnson
chose a play that he thought particu-
larly adapted to the peculiar talents
of the people who were to be in the
cast, and it is said by those who have
heard some Of the parts read that the
play will be given with a strength that
will surprise even those of their friends
who know that the players are pos
sessed of much ability. OF Mr.. John
sons capacity to play perfectly the
part sustained by Henry Dixey at the
time of the first production of the play
here there can be no question. Gen.
Bunker is acknowledged to be one of
the best amateurs in the West, and
the gifts of some Of the ladies in COM
edy and straight dramatic work are
remarkable. In fact, when the entire
cast is announced society will have
its eyes opened to the fact that it has
been harboring talent that was I'M
dreamed of.
The production Of the play will be an
capability of the players; it will be
function, and the stage mounting will
be the finest ever given an amateur
production in the West. The order has
already been placed for the construc-
ton CT special scenery for some Of the
scenes, and some beautiful stage pict-
ures will be created. Mr. Days ideas
will be followed almost to the letter
except in the costuming, which will
be handsome and original, modistes
being already busy on some of those
designed for the ladies.
The book has been gone through in
several quiet sessions at homes on
the hill, but the next week the play
erS will go at the real work of re-
hearsing. The rehearsals will be I'M
der the direction of Mr. Johrscn. who
promises to be as proper a martinez
as ever stage manager was. 1t is con-
ceded that the only way to attain per-
lection on the stage is by attention to
details, and Mr.. Johnson will be
stickler for them. The stage of the
Grand will be used, and it is likely
that full-dreSS rehearsal will be given
about the first of the coming month.
Lesser social events have given place
during the week, to one which, in the
Twin Cities, marks the elimination
not only of the seasons festivities, but
of years of growth and deyelOpment