The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-15
PROF. CLARKEs RECITAL.
He Was Received with Much Enthus-
iasm at the Bicycle Club.

Scranton has been favored this sea-
son in a type of entertainment which
has tended to the elevation of popular
taste more than perhaps has been re-
corded in the years of the past No
one of these occasions has been at
tended with more profit and pleasure
than last evening, when Professor >.
II. Clarke, of Chicago university, gave
a programme of extraordinary beauty
and interest before a fine audience in
the Bicycle club. Professor Clarke had
been secured through the efforts Of the
Young WOmen's Christian association,
under whose auspices the affair was
given.
Between the two parts Of the pro-
gramme Mrs. Joseph OBrien and Miss
| Katherine Timbcrman accompanied on
the piano by Miss Florence Richmond,
sang two exquisite solos. which We're
warmly applauded.
The speaker of the evening was
gracefully introduced by Rev. DR.. |.
| j. Lansing. Professor Clarke is a man
! of exceptionally distinguished personal
| appearance with leOnine head and a
| sensitive, mobile face. His voice is 60
| rich and melOdiouS that it is often
! reminder of Victor Herberts violin
| cello under his tender touch. His Splen-
! did elOcutiOnary ability and Versatil-
| ity of taste and Interpretation were a
! revelation. The programme was en-
! tirely outside the beaten track and was
! fascinatingly interesting from begin
! ming to close. The early portion was
| devoted to Kipling and contained
! poems alone, The Seven Seas furn-
| ishing the chief selections. He pre-
| faced his readings by a noble tribute
| to the central figure of the literary
| world at present. while Kipling is
! not so oVerlearned," he said. 80 over
| erudite or obscure, he needs a speaker
| He has to a supreme degree the lyrical
| spirit, singing out of his heart with
that heartful lightness and the rhythm
| which is true rhythm and not jigger
nor sing song"
Professor Clarke opened the pro-
gramme with the stirring Song of
England" and his round, beautiful
tones gave a thrill to the listeners as
in the intense refrain he repeated:
IF blood be the price of Admiralty,
Lord God we have bought it fair"'
In reading from the "Barrack Room
Ballads" he spoke of the sentiment
which seemed to be current with all
| soldiers the world over and quoted the
daring introduction:
when 'Omer smote is blOomin
Tyre" and following with the tribute
to Tommy Atkins, incidentally speak
ing of the rumor that they are now
trying to find a name to fit the Amer
lean soldier, but that Tommy Atkins
seems to be the only term that car
apply to the man who is i'm THE thin
red line of 'eroes."
The song of the Marines, Soldier
and Sailor Too" was given with thu
musical swing and enthusiasm that the
rollicking lines need, but the clma>
Of the poetic Interpretation was
reached in The Song of the Banjo.
The listeners wished the speaker woult
suddenly sing out the ringing enthus
iastiC strain for the deep mclodiou:
tones seemed to fit the tuneful theme
as far off cathedral chime suits tht
chants once sung by the monks of othe
ages.
The story Of the Junior Orderl!
Sergeant" who shut his eyes in tn,
sentry box an hadn't seen nothin
wrong" was selection whose humo
! appealed to the audience, as did tn
} ! pathoS in the tragic pictures o
= Cholera in Camp"
= The finale, as far as the Kipling pro
: gramme was concerned, was that las
I ! beautiful message in the Seven Seas.
The second part was varied, including
I a masterly rendition of the Forum
: scene from Julius Caesar" An orig
Y inal and unique conception Of the IA
y nous negro melody picture Of MAN
$ my's Liz Baby Boy" in this case tn
D boy being "Daddy's," and the fina
90 chapter Of Frank Stockton's "Rudde
l Grange" where Euphemia's deVotio
s to Pomona's baby drives her husban
c to the desperate resort of hiring anoth
e. cr baby from New Dublin, a Hibernia
child, whose advent causes many hum
oTOus situations.
Z aL.Lll