Evening star., 1897-02-15
AMUsEMENTS.

Tne BiOgrapne.-Tne Btographe opened
another week at Willard Hall this after
noon to q large audience. The Biographe
is becoming more and more popular every
day as the machine is better known. and
each exhibition adds to its reputation as
purveyor Of amusement, instruction and
enjoyment. As an invention, product Of
the true American ingenuity, it appeals to
/ the Wonder side Of the character of every
one who sees 1t. for it reproduces life and
motion SO accurately, even to the smallest
detail. that the proper sound accompany
ing the action is expected to be heard every
moment. The pictures which are shown
are artistic In every sense as well as in
teresting or amusing, as the case may be.
OF art that would create a sensation II re-
produced in oil, for they are exactly true
to nature. Particularly is this SO of the
view OF the Niagara rapids just above the
falls, and 1t can be said that this is prob
ably one of the finest marine pictures ever
presented to the public. Another scene
tnat Is full Of action is the Herald Square
picture, in which are shown the fire en-
gfnes, hose carts and trucks of the New
York city fire department in full swing, a
funeral cortege and the excited crowd in
close proximity to a fire. These are but
few instances Of the power Of the Bio
graphe to reproduce natural as well as
other scenes, but the whole program of
views Is made up Of just such pictures.
every one OF them interesting because of
the wonderful power Of the machine which
throws them upon the canvas, some anus
ing, some entertaining and some exciting
the greatest amount of wonder. In this
latter class may be mentioned the picture
OF the Empire State Express going at the
wh1rlwind speed of sixty miles an hour,
and reproduced in every detail The exhi-
bitions are given at 2:3O, 4:3O and s:15.
'"rhe Symphony Cantata."-On the 25th Of
June, 1910, the four hundredth anniversary
OF the invention of printing was celebrated
In ncst of the larger cities of Germany,
and In Leipsic, the center Of this industry,
the celebration attained its largest propor-
tions. Music formed an important part of
the festival and this portion of the work
was fntrusted to Mendelssohn who under
took the task with delight and produced
his famous 'Lobgcsang," Hymn of
Praise great symphony cantata intend
ed to portray the spirit of praise for so
great gift as printing. The main thought
of.the work appears in the very first move
ment. when after the Introduction has given
out the delightful opening movement, the
chorus begins with the words "All that
have life and breath sing to the Lord AS
necessary contrast to this there follows
1mmt dfately an allegro agitato passage,
which pictures the struggle for light in a
strain Of medieval romance, it were,
which reminds one inevitably of chivalry
and monastic life. The pain Of the soul
thus wrestling for existance Is immediate
ly stayed by an adagio religioso which
seems to indicate the yearning after Di-
vine help and the entrance of Divine light
into the world of earthly darkness. The
thrice repeated and soul-moving question,
"Watchman, will the night soon pass" is
one that no one can forget. 1t is answered
as with voice from heaven like that of
an angel: The night is departing and i'm
mediately the whole choir takes up "The
night Is departing, the day Is approach
ing closing with the pious prayer. There
fore, let us put of the works of darkness
and let us gird on the armor of light" The
work is difficult to sing. but imposing and
grand and represents Mendelssohns most
produce the Hymn of Praise at the Con-
gregational Church March 1 and 2, with
Camille Seygard and Mrs. Fl. c. Browning
OF this city sopranos. and H. Evan Will
liams the wonderful oratorio tenor, in the
solo parts. The work Is thoroughly
hearsed, and will be given with the artis-
tic finish which characterizes all of the
Choral societys concerts. The sale of seats
opens Monday, the 18th instant, at Sanders
& Staymans, 1927 F street.
Goodwin in The Rivals.-The National
Tteater was crowded last Saturday even
ing, the occasion being a performance of
''The Rivals" by Mr.. Nat. c. Goodwin. Tne
to the actor, whose popularity is certainly
not due to his performance Of this partic-
ular role, but whose general proficiency is
so great that the public becomes anxious
wins performance of the role is intelligent
but cautious rather than spontaneous. He
does not carve out an original interpreta-
tion of the character, and there hangs
about him the restraint nearly always per-
cept1ble when an actor becomes seized
with the ambition to wear some other
actors 'nantle." Miss Maxine Elliot was
charming as Lydia Languish," and there
was some excellent work done by the other
members Of the cast.
Mrs. Stetson's Lecture.-"Our Brains and
What Ails Them will be the topic discuss
ed by Charlotte Perkins Stetson tomorrow
night at O'Clock in the Church of Our
Father, corner 18th and L streets north
west. This woman Of Puritan ancestry
from away back" has inherited the steri-
ing characteristics of the stock from which
she sprung. having all the brain qualities
and oratorical ability of the Beecher fam
lily, OF which she is a member: and she has,
In addition, the genius of the poet and
improvisation, putting her strong and vigor-
Gus thought into verse on the spur of the
moment. Her lectures are among the most
Interesting now before the public and as
the one In this city is to be for the benefit
OF the local Woman's Suffrage Association
the church will undoubtedly be crowded