The San Francisco call., 1898-05-22

! in the drama these days in San
 Francisco you must become a mu-
 sic lover This doesn't sound very sensible but, like some otherthings
 not sensible, it's true. Tragady's nose is out of joint and Comedy's lips have taken a pitiful downward droop. They're both jealous of Melody, ana they have good reason to be.
 The programmes of five out or the eight places of amusement in town are fairly saturated with music. The best theater in town offers music as its sole attraction. The best entertain ment to be had, outside of this, is also music. Music at the Baldwin; music the star feature at the Orpheum; mu- sic at the Tivoli, of course; music at sherman & Clay's Hall, equally of course. And at the alifornia-though it's a long step from Franz kneisel to Dan Polk-there are still people in the world who contend that the banjo IS a musical instrument.
 Though this is a eliminating week in Melody's honor, it is not sudden triumph Much of the charm of Pillar Morins pantomime was due to the musical accompaniment. The Passion Play'' requires Mrs. Morrissey's strong. sympathetic soprano and the notes Of the organ to heighten its artistic eff feet. And one of the largest and most enthusiastic crowds of amusement seekers seen in San Francisco lately was gathered to testify musical fealty to Fritz Scheel last week.
 Ysaye, Gerardy, Lachaume, Remen- yt, Marine, the Kneisel quartet and Scheel-Melba too a short time since and the Henschels not so long ago are Musics knights. And Drama! Who is there to wear her colors in the amusement tournament? Where's the theatrical star to rival Ysaye? Whol break a lance with Gerardy? Name the actress at present in San Francisco with power to move the hearts of men as Remenyi could when he played as an artist, not as SenSduonaIlSt Imagine the delicate, artistic comedy that would bear the same relation in the dramatic world that the Kneisels do in the musical Imagine 1t; for if your imagination be powerful enough, that is about all there is for you in theatrica1s at present
 Time was when one couldn't hear good music in San Francisco. To-day there's more provision made for the entertainment of. the musical ear than for the artistic eye OF the intelligent mind. And yet the number of people who appreciate good music is limited compared with those who enjoy a fin ished dramatic performance. For the drama appeals to more in us than mu- sic It is more human, less ethereal: more intellectual, less emotional.
 Now it cannot truthfully be said Of the theatrical manager that the great aim and philosophy of his life is "the smallest happiness of the fewest num- ber." Of course, the difference in the expense of musical and dramatic i'm portations is a great factor in deter mining what we shall enjOy-or go hun gry. But a point not to be overlooked is that music has been steadily, ten derly nursed in San Francisco, till an educated taste has been evolved, upon which managers might rely. The elite of musical audiences has been coddled and petted and coaxed to be pleased while the corresponding dramatic audi ence has been ignored.
 The Carr-Beel concerts, the Sym phony concerts and others popularized good music to such a degree that the fashionable world could take notice of it. And after that the deluge-a small one. it is true-of dollars. But we're to have another season of symphony con- certs next year, and where is there corresponding hope in the dramatic heavens?
 To say that there's always room at the top Is no novelty, but an odd thing T that there is room only at the top. Never was the entertainment of the great middle class, Intellectually and artistically speaking, So bountifully provided for. Of course the theatrical manager who fails to consult the wishes of the majority may expect the fate that would meet any business man so impractical. But the merchant who offers for sale only the coarser fabrics goes to the other extreme neglects a source of income and limits his stand ing in the mercantile world
 Just as people have been found to make profitable the advent of good musical attractions. so will patronage for the better quality of dramatic en- tertainment be forthcoming If any theater in town be patient enough and Shrewd enough to make for itself a rep- utation to gently woo back to dramatic enjoyment the people who have desert ed the theaterS, because there was nothing to tempt them there, Ira agedv may yet lift up her head and Comedy smile again. Our isolated position makes theatrical re-enforcement from the East a precarious hope The stage should take lesson from Melody's sue cess, and patiently, perseveringly build up as she has done. This is bound to come. It's the one solution to the the atrfcal problem in San Francisco. and the demand will in time force a supply
 The presentation of "The Poster" to- morrow evening at the TivoIi is inc event of the day in theatrical aNfairs