The record-union., 1898-06-05

Morton and Revelle, at the Orpheum.
and Mrs. Arthur Sidman in delightful
comedy sketch, entitled "A Bit of Real
Life" in which Mr. Sidman gives q
portrayal of an old country squire on
a visit to New York. Juno Salmo, the
Partisan equilibrist and contortionst; !;
Morton and Revelle, the eccentric COM
edy duo, in "Pickings from Puck''-Mr.
Morton is the originator of rag time
words; Polk and Rollins, premier ban
joists; Henry Kessler, descriptive
tenor; John and Louisa Till's marion
cites, and the kinematographe, with all
new views, including the United States
battleship Maine taken in Havana har-
Dor.
Beethoven is shown in the light of a
business man in ]. c. Hadden's new
book, entitled, George Thomson-the
Friend Of Burns" Thomson was a poor
clerk in Edinburgh, who spent forty
years of his life collecting Scotch ma
tional airs. Being unable to get them
worthily harmonized at home, he APP
piled to German composers, among 9TH
ers Beethoven, several letters by whom
are printed in the book. In one Of
these Beethoven says he wants one
more ducat. Mr. Haydn himself as
sureS me that he has received four due
ats for each air, notwithstanding that
he wrote for harpsichord and violin
alone, without either symphonies or a
part of the cello. AS to NJ. Kozeluch
who gives you a song with accompani-
ment for two ducatS, / offer my warm
congratulations to you and the English
and Scotch audiences when they hear
it.
The life of Schumann is to be writ
ten for the first time in detail. Until
the death recently of Nine. Schumann
it was impossible to publish many OF
the particulars connected with the CON-
poser's sad end; but these and other
fresh matter obtained from Nine. Schu-
mann will now be made public. Pro
fessor Niecks has already shown his
fitness for this work by an elaborate
life of Chopin, which is, however, ex-
tremely unreliable in It's critical por-
tions, owing to the difficulty the Teu-
tonic mind has in grasping the essence
of Slavic genius. In the Schumann bi-
ography Niecks will not be hampered
by this difficulty.
Turin is proud of its new organ, which
local papers claim to be the finest in
Italy. if not in the world. 1t is GER
tainly gigantic, taking up 13S square
meters, with front of nearly forty
yards There are 266 pipes and the
motive power is supplied by sixteen
bellows worked by gas. The organ was
built in Turin. and before being placed
in the Church of Santa Maria del Cuore
will be used at the Turin exposition fol-
a series of concerts by eminent organ
lists from various countries. who have
been invited to cooperate.
New York Post: 1t is amusing from
one point of view and sad from another
(as revealing the ignorance of the av-
erage critic) to notice the persistence
with which the notion is upheld that
Iisztism in music means merely tech
nioue Liszt was, indeed, the greatest
master Of technique that ever lived. but
he also was the greatest master OF
expression. His motto, in fact, was
that technical perfection is nothing
more than an artists damnable duty
but not a special merit"
Chicago Record: How strong a clutch
the navy has upon the American heart
now, Whatever opportunity is offered
for a favorable demonstration toward
the men of battle is taken advantage
of with alacrity. The theatrical people
found this out very early in the cam
paign. and took advantage of H. with
the result that all the soldier plays
which were procurable were put on
with such current trimmings as posi-
bility could suggest. The soldier piece
is given It's warm reception, but the
ovation is for the play about the sailor
man. Over at the Columbia there is
now In course of production a hgnt.
merry piece called THE French Maid,
which embraces in its cast OF characters
three or four men Of the ocean. When
one of these, be he ensign or marine.
is on the stage there is no room ior
consideration for any Of the others, al
though, In fact, the other characterize
tions are all far and away above the
average as studies. The moment the
young man In the blue uniform and
with the gold lace steps modestly be-
fore the audience he owns the house,
and holds 1t In the palm Of his hand