Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-06
MADAME CAMILLA URso.


 The present tour of this great artiste will be the first in the United States for six years. At that time Mime. Urso took charge of the advanced violin classes at the National Conservatory of America, which restricted her public appearances to New York and vicinity. In 1893, in consequence of an accident, she took years vacation, visiting Belgium and Germany. In Berlin she remained for several months and met frequently her celebrated colleague, Herr Joachim, who. becoming enamored of one of her famous bows made by the great Tourte for Bail lot, Mime. Urso presented him with 1t, receiving in return one from his own collection, of great value. At the end of the year Mme. Urso being thoroughly re- stored to health, undertook a concert tour around the world visiting Egypt, Aus tralia, New Zealand, South Africa and h. dia In South Africa she gave concerts in Capetown, the Orange Free State, Kimberly, and the diamond mining dis trict, arriving at Johannesburg, in the Transvaal, 1895. Here she gave fifteen concerts, the last one being a testimonial from the ladies, who presented her with purse of g.. 900, the entire receipts of this gratifying demonstration of respect and affection. From South Africa the tour was resumed, finally reaching New York in September, 1885, Mme Urso made her re-appearance at Carnegie Mu- sic Hall, New York, October 13. It was the occasion of a great demonstration rom the large audience who rose to the great artiste in their enthusiasm. Camil- la Urso proved again. that she is the first violinist in. America, and ranks with the greatest in the world
 Accompanying Mime. Urso are such celebrated artists as Miss Minnie Methot, prima donna soprano; Edwin H. Doug solo pianist
 or Miss Methot Lechode Paris says: Miss Minnie Methot sang like a real cantatrice. Miss Methot will be, cer- tainly, before long, a brilliant star upon the Paris operatic stage"
 The Cleveland Recorder says of MT. Douglass: He has the true romantic style, not effeminate. but real lyric pow er"
 Of MT. Wesley the Brooklyn Eagle says; The pianist of the evening was MT. George Wesley who rendered a. number of solos of which the Polonaise in E Of Liszts deserves special mention, 1t was rendered with a power and bril- liancy which gained for him spontane- ous applause. His Chopin numbers were played with great taste.''
 The Camilla Urso Grand Concert com pany comes to O'Brien's Monday night.
 PRIVATE SECRETARY.
 Manager Whelan announces as the attraction for next Monday night that famous comedy from the pen of William Gillettees"T Private Secretary" This play is too we'll known to enter into it's merits. That it is the funniest comedy ever written, goes almost without saying The Daily Citizen, of Jacksonville, Fla. in it's issue of Jan. 20 says:
 The Private Secretary has been be- fore the American theater-goers for good many years, but 1t is one of those good things of which the public never tires, and it seems to grow funnier and funnier each year. It's presentation at the Park opera house last evening drew large audience, and the laughter began with -the rise of the curtain and con tinued until 1t fell on the last act. .
 The play is uproariously funny throughout, and, it does not rely upon ''horse-play"i and vugarity to entertain the people. It is clean and wholesome, and is,full of lively situations that call for abundant applause, hearty laughter, and frequent encores. No one does more to this end than Harry Dull, as Rev. Spaulding, MT. Marshland's private sec retary. The character is one full of drollery, and the private secretary,s quaintness is the cause of frequent laugh ter. Edwin Travers, as Douglass Cater mole, a rich East Indian with trouble some liver, was also good, as was Frank Cotton, who took the latter part.
 The production was lively and inter- esting throughout, and when 1t was all over, all that could be said was "How funny."