The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-01-24

man. Amt they speakin'?''
.Theaters now" said the Old Timer
''go to great expense to get up the most
artistic of drop curtains The Hollis
street Theater, Boston, has a curtain
in which the effects curiously blend
There is vivid French coloring for the
trees and subdued German tone fol
the river with the Rhine mists hanging
over it. The scene is the Connecticut
River In ST. Louis there is one whose
effect from a distance is so vivid that
young people seeing it for the first time
sit entranced with its beauty.
You have heard of the two little
boys who wept so over the chariot race
with the wild boy driving the stamp
ing horses right into the audience that
their mother had to take them out.
This works so wildly with children
that, at a child's matinee, the drop is
omitted and the act curtain substituted,
as it is simpler in effect.
I'm getting up a new drop curtain a
manager has a financial task before
him, for he must spend not less than
several thousand dollars. He must get
fire-proof curtain if he can, but an
artistic curtain he must have.
Saint-Saens, the composer, has left
Paris and gone to Barcelona, where he
will conduct the orchestra at the open
ing performance of Samson ct Dalila''
at the Grand Theater of the Liceo Then
he will go to the Canary Islands, where
l,aa CT fol inc h
needed rest On his return he will spend
a few weeks in Beziers, France, where,
in all probability, his new ballet, ia
votte,' will be produced by the dancers
from Barcelona, under his personal di-
rection.
Bernard Shaw, whose other name is
Irreverence, says that Irving as Rich
ard III. wooes Lady Anne "as if he
were a Hounsditch salesman cheating a
factory girl over a pair of second hand
stockings" This is certainly an illustra-
ton that illustrates, but perhaps there
is a little doubt whether it throws light
on Irving's acting or on Mr.. Shaws I'M
ending effort to live up to his Anything
to give pain
Madame Sarah Bernhard is busy
with her new role, "Lomgaccio." but,
Notwithstanding the excitement of prep
aration, she has time to remember her
sister artistes, and has forwarded from
Paris an exquisite basket of flowers to
Miss Ellen Terry, with a very charm
ing and graceful letter. Madame Bern
hardt is one of the few women of the
stage to whom jealousy is a stranger
There is one thing" said the heavy
man of the theatrical company, "thatll
have to be attended to-" What's
that?" asked the stage manager. You
remember the scene in which L pledge
the princess health in this crystal COB
let of foaming wine?" Yes" We'll,
you can do one of three things. You can
make that cold tea weaker, put some
sugar in it, or else get some man who
isn't in danger of making a wry face
to play the part"
Blind Tom, although otherwise an
idiot, had a most remarkable musical
memory and wonderful ability to re-
ed in his hearing. When repeating what
he had heard he initiated even the blum
ders and mistakes of the players, some
times in a most comical fashion. He
could play by ear, having no knowledge
OF the scientific side of music, over 400
different compositions.
Paganini, the Wizard of the Vio-
lin," accomplished feats with his in
strument such as have been equaled by
no other virtuoso. 1t is now believed
that many of the passages which he
rendered We're achieved by a different
tuning Of the instrument from that in
common use. He never allowed anyone
to hear him tune his violin, and would
never play in private for persons whom
he suspected Of trying to learn his pro-
fessfonal secrets.
List was the most wonderful pian-
list in musical history. He had prodig-
ious strength of arm and wrist which
enabled him to achieve astonishing re-
suits, but his delieacy of touch was
very remarkable When learning the
piano he was often known to practice
from fourteen to eighteen hours a day.
Beethoven could play, from memory
all the preludes and fugues contained
in Bach's 'WelI-Tempered Clavichord. -
There are forty-eight preludes and the
same number of fugues and as each is
in the most abstruse style of counter
point, the difficulty Of this performance
] will
1t Is claimed tht the oldest piece Gf
music in the world is The Blessing Of
the Priests" This song was sung in
the Temple Of Jerusalem, and even now
in synagogues Of Spain and Portugal ii
is frequently used. The manuscript
papyrus is kept in a small iron box.
Calve is said to have appeared as
absurdly frightened as schoolgirl
upon her appearance a few nights ago
at the Waldorf, New York, to sing a
French song. This coyness is very
puzzling. 1t is new role for the
charming prima donna-quite as new
in fact as to be turned into a mere bun
die OF Illustrations by that witty French
| lecturer on song, NJ. Lefevre.
Giordano, composer of Andrea Che
nier. was recently married to Sgnor-
Spatz, daughter of rich hotelkeeper Of
Milan. King Humbert sent him the or
der OF the Crown of Italy on the occa-
sion, ana Verdi presented the bride
with diamond mounted fan
Ole Bull, the celebrated violinist, was
such master of the instrument that
he could play melody Of considerable
compass on only one string.
Paderewski, 1t Is said, can play from