The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-29


Electa Page, niece of the late Sen
ator Leland Stanford. The young wo
man is to appear at Hoyt's Theater on
January IL. She is a pupil of Mrs. Ade-
line Stanhope- Wheatcraft. The latter
is now successful teacher here. She
has soft spot in her heart for San
francisco in memory of the days when
she was leading lady at the old Califor-
MIA Theater
Miss Anne Lawrence Gregory, a sis
ter or Miss Grace Gregory, is making
her way here as a painter. She is
talented girl, emil siastic and progress
i've. AT her studio recently she exhibit
ed several portraits. Among them was
one OF Mrs. Pennoyer of Oakland, eX-
cellent in its color and texture.
Loan exhibitions at the clubs are es-
tapHshed features of the art season.
AT the Union League and Lotos there
are monthly displays. Both clubs have
ADOPTED the plan of giving to these
SHOWS concrete interest of some one
kind or another-historical, RETROSPECT
tive, national, chronological, illustra-
tive OF school or period, etc These
exhibitions are always successful, as
they draw from both private collec-
tions and dealers stocks. The De-
cember displays have just been held.
Old masters graced the walls of the
Union League gallery. Among them
was Rembrandt's standard Bearer -
a picture which is famous among it's
Fellows. 1t cnce belonged to Sir Joshua
reynolds, and whenever catalogued is
designated as ''the Sir Joshua Rem
brandt" The single figure on the
canvas is that of an old soldier The
figure is solid and firmly constructed.
The face is rugged. the expression is
calm and determined. The griZzled
veteran has lost the dash of youth, but
a sleeping lion turks in his kindly eyes.
Inc canvas is owned by George Gould,
who is said to have paid $50, 900 for it.
1t is TO adorn his new Lakewood, n. J.,
residence, but in art circles it is whiS-
pered that eventually 1t will find its
way to the Metropolitan Museum of
Art.
At the Lotos people have been feast
ing their eyes with patriotic satisfac-
ton on collection of paintings by Am
erican figure painters. Talking of the
Lotos brings up Julian Rix, who has
not forgotten his old studio on the
corner of Montgomery and Jackson
streets. He has prOspered here and
MS art has grown. His landscapes,
bits Of brushed poetry; forests, brooks
and moors, sell well. He has not lost
his love for gray skies and dim lights,
and some Of the best things he paints
are in that line. Rix is active In the
social activity of the Lotos
Herman Brandt, the violinist, who
resided for so many years in Califor-
MIA, is back here and very busy AS he
is taIeg sed and experienced must
cian he is in demand for orchestral
work, and is to be seen among the
first violins at all the concerts which
Seidl conducts. At the last Philhar-
| monic he sat almost side by side with
Louis Schmidt, who is also a San
franciscan. This coincidence recalled
an amusing story to an old Califor-
MAN. 1t was at the Bohemian Club.
Preparations were being made for a
musical jinks. An orchestra was form
ed. There were four violinists in the
club, and of course there was profess
sional rivalry between them. But they
all agreed to play. A rehearsal was
! called. Henry Heyman appeared first
and took the concert meister's" chair.
Louis Schmidt Sr., father of the young
man mentioned, came in late, declaring
that in his case a rehearsal was I'M
necessary. Herman Brandt strolled in
with violin under one arm, a viola
under the other, and announcing that
he had a cello at home expressed his
Willingness to play on any old thing
that had strings. The fourth man, who
was Jacob Rosewald, did not show up,
but on the evening of the jinkS he
calmly took his place with the others
and 'Vamped" the programme. The
club member who had boosted of his
success in bringing the four men to-
gether never heard the last of this
story.
There were two novelties at the thea
tiers last week. The manner in which
they We're received by the critics was
decidedly curious. At Wallack's Thea
ter "A Ward of France" was presented.
1t is a tale of Louisiana at the time Of
its cession to the United States. 1t is
an old-fashioned melodrama, built and
developed on the plan of the romantic
plays fifty years ago. The authors are
Franklin Fyles, the dramatic critic of
the Sun, and Eugene Prebrey, prom
inent stage manager. These men, one
a censor, accustomed to sit in judg-
ment on the plays of the day; the other
an executive skilled in the mechanics
of the stage, both men of experience
in gauging the taste of the public, have
deliberately ignored the lessons they
have learned and helped to teach.
Hence a failure. The spirit of frater-
nifty which prevails in the guild of
critics alone saved the play from abso-
lutte condemnation.
The new comic opera Of Smith and
De Koven, ''The Highwayman," has
made a hit at the Broadway Theater.
1t has a pretty story, an atmosphere
| of romance, picturesque scenery and
an admirable Interpretation. Here
! again personal consideration affected
| the newspaper criticisms. In three
papers there was not word said about
| the music.
| May Buckley, the actress, is quite
| i'll. She has had a fatiguing autumn,
with extensive travelling, but she has
! had the extraordinary distinction of
! being applauded in San Francisco New
! York, London and again in New York,
all within the limits of a few weeks.
The legal fraternity of the Coast is
! being well advertised in the papers
anent the appointment Of Joseph Nc
Kenna to the Supreme Bench. The af-
! fair has become one of national in
|