Evening star., 1898-10-01


atist; "a Bit of Old Chelsea" although
originally produced In London, is from the
pen of Mrs. Oscar Beringer, a woman of
American birth; Little Italy" the dra-
produce this season, was written by Horace
B. Fry, New York litterateur, and
Becky Sharp" the play now developing
from Vanity Fair will be by Langdon
L. Mitchell, the young American novelist.
Unlike many artists, Cleraentine de We're
is virtually an American singer, although
she was born in Paris and has passed sew
eral years abroad; for since she came with
Campanini in 1882 this country has been
the scene of her musical activities and of
her most notable successes. Like Adelina
Patti, Ciementine de ere may be regarded
as rare example of lyric precocity, for her
operate training began when she was
scarcely ten years OF age, and her debut as
public singer took place in one of the
leading theaters OF Italy ere she was six
teen. Two years later, she was the prin-
cipal prima donna in the Grand Opera in
Paris.
in the great theaters of France, Italy, Mex
leo and Spain. Madame de We're came to
the United States. Wen Carnegie Hall
was dedicated Tschaikowsky conducted
one of his own works, and Madame de
We're was the prima donna of the occasion.
Last year Madame de We're was frequently
heard In the Metropolitan Opera House,
and was one Or tie prima donnas of the
Metropolitan Opera Company when that or
ganization made a long tour through the
country. Madame de We're is just now in
the prime of her artistic life, in the full
ness of her powers, and as brilliant
have been her achievements. 1t is safe to
predict that she will accomplish still great
er things.
Miss Blanche Paul is the proud possessor
of decoration from the New York fire
department that few women have ever been
honored with Last summer Miss PAUL.
spent her vacation at the cottage Of her sis
ter, Mrs Chester Rice. in Grant City, Stat
en- Island. On August II Mr. Rice was call
ed ed to Philadelphia on business. leaving
Mrs. Rice. her three-year-old daughter and
Miss Paul. alone in the house. About half
past eleven that night Miss PAUL., who
cupied a room on the second floor, was
awakened by the smell of smoke. She quick
ly opened the door of her room, leading
into the hail. and was met by a volume OF
smoke and saw flames shooting up the
stdircases at each end of the hall. Miss
Pauhs first thought was for Mrs. Rice and
her little daughter, who sleeping on
the floor above. Wrapping herself in a
blanket. she made her way through the
dense smoke that filled the hall and reach
ing Mrs. Rice's room, tried to awaken her,
but the door of the room mad been lett
open and the woman and child were both
overcome by the smoke. Although already
weak from the effects of the smoke, Miss
PAUL quickly knotted two sheets together
and, making a loop, fastened it under the
arms of the child. AS she reached the win
dow of the room car of the Staten Island
Trolley Company appeared in sight, and the
conductor, seeing the flames. stopped the
car and, with the motorman and .passen-
gers, ran to the house, but no ladder could
be found, and 1t was necessary TO lower the
child by the sheet.
The flames by this time were bursting
from the two lower stories and the heat
in the room was intense. Those outside
We're unable to give any assistance. and
Miss PAUL. was obliged to drag the in
sensible woman from the bed to the win
dow and lower her to the ground, as she
had the child. When Mrs. Rice was with
in few feet of the ground Miss Pauiis
strength gave out and she allowed the
sheet to slip. but willing hands saved the
lnsensibie woman from injury. By this
time tarpaulin had been secured from
the beach and was stretched to receive
Miss Paul. whose only chance for life was
to jump. AS she sprang the floor beneath
her gave away luckily she landed squareIy
on the tarpaulin and WAS not injured be-
yond a severe sprain of her side. For over
month Miss PAUL. was confined to her
bed by the terrific strain to which her
nerves had been subjected
The coolness and bravery displayed by the
young woman was the talk of Staten Isl
ard. and the New York papers all had glow
lrg accounts of her daring. Last week.
while in Harlem, Miss PAUL. received a
handsome gold badge, which was in
stribed, From the New York Fire Depart
ment to Miss Blanche Paul. on one side
and on the reverse, For heroism displayed
at Grant City, Staten Island. August H.
The Sunday Nigh. Music Club was enter
tanned by Mrs. Julius Ulke, 1904 S street
northwest the instrumental part of the pro
gram consisting of Haydn's Bear sym
Ihony and three Observation-Disclosures
Prometheus, Cherubinis Wasserlrager
Nicoiais Merry Wives of Windsor-all for
four hands piano and double quartet of
strings. Miss Juliette Valette of Baltimore
sang Fruhingsbiumen (Reinecke), with vio-
pc Val
with violin obligato; A Dream of Paradise
tGray) with violin and cello obiigato and
Schubert's Erl King, with four hands piano
ana double string quartet accompaniment.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.
At this theater next week Mr.. Charles
Frohman will present for the first time on
any stage his new Madison Square Theater
Comedy Company in a comedy in three acts
entitled "0n and Off, which will have its
first performance in America. "On and OFF,
is by Alexander Blsson, who wrote ',The
Masked Ball. and it has been running III
Paris for the past two hundred and fifty
nights, with every possibility of still great
er longevity. II is declared to be an ex-
tremely merry effort, with a reasonable and
well-sustained plot and every opportunity
for the individual and collective talent Of
the clever players to whom Mr.. Frohman
has assigned the telling of the story. The
following is the cast George Godfray Ed
ward Holland: Alfred Godfray, Fritz VII
liams; Brunaire, Samuel Reed; Dominique
de st. Pierre, Byron Douglas; Msrtel James
kearney; Randolphe. Reuben Fax: Made
leine Godfray, Amelia Bingham: Madame
Brumairc, Maggie Fisher; Madame Martel,
Anita Roth; Rosa Martel, Katherine Flor
ence; Ltsette, May Lambert; Julie May
Gallyer; Alice, Augusta Close.
NATIONAL THEATER.-Next Monday
evening, at the National Theater, will wit
ress the initial presentation in this city of
why Smith Left Hcme," the new farce
from the pen of George H. Broadhurst,
who came into prominence through the
great success of What Happened to
JONES' The names in the company show
very plainly to those acquainted with the
market value Of actors and actresses that
1t will be one Of the most expensive seen in
comedy in recent years. The roster in
cludes Maclyn Arhuckle, NJ. B. Snyder,
Fred. W. Peters, Frank L. Hatch, Maurice
Darcy, Harry Rose, Marion Groux, Mrs.
Annie Yeemans, Blanche Chapman, Sadie
Kirby, Rose Snyder, Dorothy Usner and
Jessie COnapt.
Broadhurst's determination to write
play was brought about in rather an un-
usual manner. While he was managing tn
Bush Street Theater in San Francisco,
Bronson Howard happened into the theater
and requested that the usual courtesies be
extended him. The conversation between
Broadhurst and Howard veered to E. II.