The morning times., 1897-03-10
THE MEMORIAL HALL FUND.
Admirable Rendition of the Opera
"PrisrfIia" for Its Benefit.

The Mary Washington Chapter OF the
Natioual Society OF Daughters of the Amer
lean Revolution VIII add quite a tidy sum
To the Memorial Hall fund OF their oreani-
Zation by the matincess yesterday and to-
day at the Columbia Theater.
A fair audience was present yesterday
afternoon in spite of the unfavora able
weather. 1t numbered many members of
the ID. A. r. and other patriotic societies
and many prominent society people. The
performance was under the patronage of
Mrs Hobart. wife Of the Vice President,
this being the first entertainment which
she has so honored; and Mrs. Adlai Steven
son, Mrs. John G. Carlisle, Mrs. U. s.
Grant, Mrs. Richard Olney, Mrs. Calvin
s. Brice, Mrs. John Sherman. Mrs. Dan.
Lamont, Mrs. Justice Brown, Mrs. Justice
Fuller, Mrs. Admiral Walker, Mrs, Sen
ator Mitchell, Mrs Senator Lindsay, Mrs.
Senator Gibson, Mrs. Senator Vest, Mrs.
Senator Davis, Mrs. Senator blanchard,
Mrs. Senator German, Mrs. Senator CAT
frey, Mrs. Senator Quay. Mrs. Westing-
house, Mrs. Logan, Mrs. Scranton, Mrs.
Gen. Miles, Mrs. Huff, Mrs. Prof. New
comb, Mrs. Virginia Miller, Mrs. Claud
NJ. Johnson, Mrs. Hearst, Mrs II eth. Mrs
Letter, Miss Harriett Lane Johnson, Mrs.
Boardman, Mrs. Charles b. Bailey and Mrs.
Ferdinand Horstman.
The opera given was '.P risclla," written
by Henry C, Coolidge, and composed by
Thomas w. Surette. 1t WAS a peculiarly
appropriate selection for the ladies of the
Daughters of the American Revolution, for
the locale personnel Of the piece disclose
those places and people dear to patriotic
students of national history. The subject
is treated in romantic vein, but ii Is
pleasantly relieved by spice Of comedy.
The opera was produced under the diIec-
ton OF C. L. Macomber, and the unity and
strength of both chorus and orchestra testi-
fled the efficiency of this gentleman Thee
dore Friebus managed the stage, and to
him is due the credit of Il smooth per
formance which moved with the clock like
regularity of n professional production out
on the road for weeks.
Nellie Wilson Sbir-Ciff was Priscilla.
Her name appeared in large type at the
head or the program, but the beautiful
prima donna made good her right to this
stellar privilege. She was picture in the
soft white and gray of the Puritan maiden,
and sang with her accustomed charm, per
haps more attractively than in concert,
for she enbeliished her singing with grace
fui and skillful action. Theodore Friehus
shared the honors with her as the martial
Miles Standsh With half an opportunity
Mr.. Frcbus always makes a hit, and the
opportunity and the hit are both his in
Priscilla" He has a good stage pres
ence, ease and command, and sings wei.
| Ellis l.. Howiand was brought to the city
to sing the tenor role, John Alden, and he
justified the ladies in this bit of eXtrava-
gancc to help make the opera a success.
w. II. Cunlcy made much fun out OF the
role OF the relic peddler. Hatehad Higgins:
Paul Evans made up realistically as
Squaato, an Indian, though he lit his pipe
with a match, which would have been
curiosity in the days Of the original Pris-
ella; Bernard a. Ryan played acceptably
| the part of Gov Bradford.
The ladies' iii the cast deserve especial
| praise Miss Grace Lewis was several times
| appauded for her excellent acting as the
| spinster. Resi- gnation. Barbara, Faith, and
| Prudence were made as attractive TO the
ascetic Puritan lads as they could possibly
| have been by Misses Edna Scott Smith
| Edna B. Doe. and Corinnc MacFarland.
| If there are any pretty girls in Wash
| ington that were not draughted into the
| chorus no one who looked up the thirty
| Puritan maids thought so. This carnival
| OF loyliness embraced Misses Esther Hes-
| kell, Suzanne Hosford, Edith 8 Hrney.
| Myra Carter, Elizabeth Hickey, Bessie
| Brown, Janet Stearnes, Elizabeth Winter,
| Elise Raymond Du Barry, Estelle Du Barry,
| Cora c. Milward. Francis Blackstone. Marie
| Young, Amy Kane, Louise Ball, Saidee l..
| Dingman, Alice Hill, Marie S. CaSsin, Con-
| ME Hill. Miss Williamson, Kate Roy, Ger
| trude Burgess, Cora Perkins, Annie May
! hew. Mary L. Smart, Marcia Mcclellan;
| MeSdames. Burgess, Stearnes, De Pew
The mems chorus comprised: Charles G.
| Mortimer, Avory Hughes, Samuel c. Jones,
| John +. NJ. Han. NJ H. Jones, Malcolm
| Springer, f. 5. Emmons. H. L. Chorlton,
| W L. Reed, F. H. Leatch, Frank Coffin.
| Charles j. Waters, William II. Waters,
| Joe E. Hurst. E. s. CLAWS, W. l.. Hurdle,
| jr, Fred L. Young, Elliott X. Pennebak ker,
| Fred. r. Roberts, Horatio Alger Rench,
| Perrie II. Maxwell, f NJ Ball, p. W.
Roberts, ir., and E. o. Loucks.
| Everyone connected with the perform
| ance did well, and the best possible ad-
| vertising for the ladies who are interested
| in having a large audience present at the
| Columbia at o'clock, is the excellence
| of the opera, which is on the lips OF all
| who saw it,
1.-The Colonial March, composed by Mr..
| f. L. Iredell anddedicated to the Daughters
| OF the American Revolution, was pla yed as
an entr acte piece. 1t is pretty COM
| position.