The San Francisco call., 1897-03-18

posed the music of the London work. and the
libretto is good-natured skit on Emperor
William. The librettists would, no doubt, be
willing to lay their hands on their hearts and
avow that they never i'll their lives had heard
of such person as the Kaiser Wilhelm IL, but
the untutored public recognizes his picture in
Ferdinand ". King of Vignolia. No sooner
had this young prince ascended the throne
and ordered the castle gates to be shut so that
no one was allowed to enter or leave, than he
made speech: 'Pm master, and I'm bound
to teach" He now a dabbler in the arts,
he draws Cartoons historic, with Q meaning
allegoric," he has written novel and an epic
poem. he commands by sea and land. He
has composed three-act opera and acted it
himself, and "It's woe to the wretch who
hints dissent when Ferdinand Rex is preach
Ing" He has also invented bullet-proof
umbrella, very difficult to open, and q new
pattern bicycle, which he cannot ride, but he
prides himself mainly upon his skill as a
painter. 1t is true that even his subjects will
not visit the royal exhibitions OF art, and that
declaration of war follows the ignominious
refusal by a neighboring monarch of the pres
ent of battle piece, which is the royal chef
d'eeuvre. King Ferdinand, however. comforts
himself with the refection: 81 can set host
in motion, send fleet across the ocean; I'm
lexicon of learning with ,omniscience i'm
bued."
The new Mayor of Marseilles is socialist
and on the ground of s'the greatest amount
of comfort for the greatest NUMBER" he has
been the means OF passing an ordinance to
suppress the theater hat Apropos Of this de-
cree Sarah Bernhardt has been expressing her
opinion of big hats at theaters and opera
houses. First of all they are hideous," said
Nine. Bernhardt '1cannot imagine how any
woman of taste can wear one. have tried to
suppress theater hats at the Renaissance, but
without success, for the women would not give
them up Hats annoy the spectators and make
the theater look ugly. Whenever go to Eng
land am charmed with the appearance of the
theater; all the women are bareheaded, with
flowers in their hair and the house looks like
a basket of flowers, beautiful garden par
terre. The women look pretty whether they
arc so or not Ali if our Parisiennes only
realized how much handsomer they would
look without hats they would never wear those
hideous constructions"
Chicago has supported the Metropolitan
Opera Troupe 50 little that it was believed
the season would be cut short TO prevent
further financial loss. Grau Indignantly de-
MED this report the other day and declared
that he would continue to the bitter end and to
silence the people who complained of the old
hackneyeq operas he has given "The Cid" and
pluiuiscS SlcgiEicu lOT lO-ulE0t.f LIE iOSu
lar season closes on Saturday, and the fnan-
cial loss will no doubt make heavy drain, on
the surplus made in New York.
According to the annual report of the Wag-
ner Society the number of members is gradu-
ally decreasing This does not mean at all
that the fame of the master is dying cut but
simply that the society has fulfilled its
mission, and there is no longer any need for
speaking in trumpet tongues concerning Wag-
ner. Donizstti. Rossini and Bellini are more
in need OF societies now to keep their operas
from being forgotten by the present genera-
tion.
1t is singular fact that Hebrew composers
seem to find as much inspiration for music IN
the New Testament as in the Old. Mem
deissohn's "St. Paul" is a case in point F. H.
Cowen has lately come to the front as the
composer OF sacred cantatas, and he too has
gone to the New Testament for themes Cow
ems latest work, "The Transit guration,''
which was recently performed for the first
time n Manchester, is spoken Of us pic
turesque and earnestly written work.
Colonel Henry Mapleson has settled down in
Paris for the time being where he has just
been elected president OF the International
Society OF Music. The society was only started
recently, but 1t has already established
agencies a. LonuOn, N1ennH, Berlin, Milan ana
New York.
Wagner opera is being given so persistently
In Italy that popular opposition to the music
OF the Beyreuth masters more advanced
works is beginning to subs ide somewhat
Tristan aud Isolde' has just been performed
at the Royal Theater Of Turin, and has proved
quite drawing attraction
LA Greve des Forg erons,"ia comic opera in
one act, by Max Joseph Beer, has just been
performed for the first time At Augsbourg and
has made quite furor. Max Joseph Beer is
Niennese and the libretto of his opera is
founded on poem by Francois Coppee.
Mime. Falcon, the once illustrious singer,
has died in Paris, aged SO years. She was a
dramatic soprano of such renown in her day