The San Francisco call., 1897-11-25
MISS IMOGENE Conner.

the fame of others, and for that reason is daily
importuned to look over the latest works OF
the various publishing houses. After the
Ball" received its first public hearing from
her lips, and its composer, Charles X. Harris,
was $75. 600 richer from the impetus she gave
to its popularity. 1t almost the first
thing ne had written. "a Pack OF Cards she
made favorite years ago, and she still u
cludes it IN her repertorv, because her pu bile
likes it 'TaAe Back Your Gold" "Those We'd
ding Bells Shall Not Ring Out" and many
others among the favorites Miss Conner
sings, and new song has just been finished
for her by NJ. F. Rosenfeld, who has called it
Till Judgment Day" and dedicated it u the
policemen of this country These songs are re-
served for the public. In private she sings
and plays high-class music. Miss Comer's
voice is a rich, vibrant contralto, with phe-
nomenal low notes.
The French critic, NJ. Francisque sarcey
(called "Unc.e speaking to the musicians of
the present day says in the Temps: You
have Tor long enough scored our backs under
the preteXt of WsgneFism with your schol-
as &c music. Wagner again There is always
in those OF his operas which l have heard
some parts which are SO beautiful, so moving,
SO powerful. that 1 forgive the rest, during
which 1 writhe with WEAKNESS. But the
music of the so-called Wagnerian school
would be terrible if one did not sleep through
good deal of it. Oh, how well | have slept
through the interminabte duets of the mas
ter! AT the opera Ernest Reyer occupies
fauteuil in front of mine and at first perform
ances he obigingly says to me: You can
sleep at your ease. l will pull your sleeve
when there mething you ought to listen
to-" Well, there are times when he let's me
sleep from one end of the evening to the
other I never sleep at the Lucia di Lam
mermoor' nor at the Barber OF Seville The
other day was at the Opera-ComlQue when
the Dame Blanche" was again put on. The
house was full. assure you l did not sleep
at all-no one slept, either in the orchestra or
in the boxes Thus it is with us. There are
lots OF people who like melody to have be-
ginning and end, but the musicians do not
Try to please us. They despise US Oh. it is
outrageousl Since they Will give us nothing
new which is 10 our taste we must go back to
the "Dame Blanche" 'The Barber OF Seville
and to Lucia
The Menestrel has the following Item:
ION cycism, here is one Of thy blessings!
mechanic of Ham bourg has just invented
combination of bicycle and music box which
he calls the troubadouI. The musical addition
takes up very little room and is placed in
front of the bicycle. 1t contains seven pieces
upon metallic plaques which can be changed
at will. The in ventor has already manu-
1acturSQ n StOCk Vi OOO pieCOsf "u1CA dppcdIs
sufficient for the present There is cy-
clometer under the guise CT metronome
which regulates the movement in which the
piece ought TO be played, but the cyclist can
not go beyond the velocity OF fifteen kilo-
meters an hour without in jurlng the mechan-
ism. This speed is certainly sufficient, even
for an allegro furioso. The police of Ham
bourg have already examined the musical
bicycle from the point OF view of any dangers
: ha
made no difficulties. The inventor now
dreams of constructing musical bicycles
which hall form an orchestra. Each wheel
will have box containing only the imita tion
of one instrument. When the society meets
to ride together their movements will be reg
IL lated by the cyclometer-me tronome 10 an
identical m a thematical speed which Will give
the idea of an orchestra. To produce q
symphony of Beethoven just by pedaling-
what dreaml Besides, II will make the dogs
howl the whole length OF the route, for dogs
love not music"
This nations immense musical collection is
soon to become accessible to the people for the
first time in its existence. Within the past
few weeks the whole collection, which has
been steadily growing for the past half
century, has been removed to the new library
OF Congress, where special depar tment will
be given up to 1t and it will before long be
made available to the public. Its burial in
the Capitol has been complete that there
was no possibility OF getting at any OF its con-
tents. The collection comprises 166, 900 sepa-
rate compositions, without counting bound
volumes OF music. Among the latter are
English madrlaals, Scotch, Irish and Welsh
ballads, foik songs of Scandinavia, Chinese
and Hlndoo music. The opening of this vast
collection OF music to the public will afford
musicians opportunities hitherto unknown.
During conversation little while ago
Nine Melba gave an interesting account OF
her first appearance in public: II was quite
young girl in Australia" she said, when,
Notwithstanding the persistent discourage
ment of my father, who was averse to
singers career for me, i engaged a hall and
sent round a notice TO all my friends that