The Portland daily press., 1899-05-22
uos1 1893 ~ 1at eaoe1ta eAMalI co. elselssan

| the Orient when the Chinese forces re-
treated in disorder before the victorious
japanese that the military bands of tht
| com osers, inspired their soldiery by the
| stirring strains of Sousa's marches. They
ara played by all the famous bands of the
armies of England, France. Germany
and Russia. This is not fancy. 1t Is
fact.
AS for the'band, 1t is universally and
unhesitatinlgy admitted the finest in the
world today andlwithout rival that In
any manner approaches its magnificent
playing of military and concert music.
PORTLAND FESTIVAL CHORUS
CONCERT.
The success attained by the Portland
Festival chorus at their public rehesrsals
has encouraged them to give their first
public concert on Wednesday evening,
May gath, at Y. NJ. q. A, hall.
A most enjoyable programme has been
prepared and besides the chorus work,
there will be solos by Miss Hyde OF Bath
who stands we'll at the head in Maine
music circles, and our own favorite sing
er, Miss Rice.
The Mozart quartette, Messrs. Pierce,
Merrill, Barnard and Nickerson, will
render several selections which are sure
to ad materially to their already envi-
able reputation, as they are conceded to
lie the finest male quartette which Port
land b as had for many years.
THE GEM THEATRE.
The time is fast approaching when this
fav )rite place of amusement will open
its doors for the summer. Hundreds of
Portland people who have seldom been to
the theatre during the winter months will
welcome this announcement, for 1t means
the beginnineTof the'dramatic season in
the handsomest summer theatre in Amer
lea, and they know just what to expect
standard plays deliberately staged and
presented by a company whose ability is
far above the average.
Mr. James o. BarrOws, who has been
engaged by Mr.. Cooling to ba the new
manager, is no novice AS comedian
he stands at the head of the profession.
He was brought up under the eye of the
late william Warren of Boston Museum
fame and If his mantle has fallen upon
the shoulders of any one 1t is Mr.. Bar
rows. When Mr.. Eterle, the stage man
ager of the Gem last season, found his
health would not permit him to come this
year, he advised Mr. Cooling by all means
| if possible to secure Mr.. Barrows. "He
| was with me at the Baldwin theatre in
San Francisco" said Mr.. Eberle, land he
is my equal in staging play and has no
superior as an actor in his line in this ooun-
try" Mr.. Cooling has spared no expense
in securing MIR. Barrows. He also gave
him carte blanche to engage the best
company and plays that money could pro-
cure. Since Mr.. Barrows accepted the
position as manager OF the Gem, he has
declined two offers for the summer at Il
much higher salary, one for the leading
comedy at Denver and from MIR. Lift of
the "Ciub's Baby" Chicago. 'But, y
says MIR. Barrows, 81 have set my heart
on giving IA successful season ut Peaks
island and nothing shall tempt me from
doing it. ! have selected plays that will
| please the people of Portland because all
of them have been IA success the past sea-
son and the people ! have engaged know
how to play them. l am confident that
1 t 1ere will not be one or two individual
successes, but that the entire company
will become favorites.
! With such artists as Messrs. Barrows,
! Craig. Radcliffe and Winter, IL is safe to