The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-06
AN OLD Timer.
Levy Played With Godfrey's Band in
London 40 Years Ago.
Now Teaches In the Conservatory at EIkhart
ata Big Annual Salary.


vate life OF stage people who are well
known TO us professionally.
wonder how many outside of inner
musical circles are aware that Jules
Levy, the great cornet virtuoso, was
formerly a member of Dan Godfreys
famous Grenadler Guards band i'm Lon
don.
Yes, j can remember away back in
1858" said he to me today. when l was
playing with Godfrey. whose band is
soon coming here for a concert tour.
was frail looking young lad: and i
remember when, after our custom, we
followed one after another To the grave,
they would all point TO me and say
He'll be the next one / did not count
for much, and was rather looked down
upon. ] guess. Well, I've been blowing
on this instrument for Al years. I've
counted more than thirty of them who
have gone over the river: and today /
am stronger and in better health than
ever, and--pardon me il L say tim
playing better at Keith's this week
than ever before i'm my life. Did you
hear that top E-0at in that cadenza2l
Well, you never heard that before, did
you?
OF course. I said hadn't. ] don't sup-
pose i had; but II might have been the
bottom Q-sharp for all / knew.
Levy looks more "chunked" off than
on the stage, but he has that same inn
pressive manner and that same mag
netism, which play no little part in the
impression he makes on his audiences.
He is most interesting talker full of
"reminiscences and entertaining stories
and as jolly as one can well imagine.
with none of the Im-the -that-ever
happened air that some less great art
lists assume. He told me of his beauti-
ful home out in Elkhart, Ind. where he
teaches in the conservatory at "A big
annual salary. with an occasional re-
spite during which he fills vaudeville or
concert engagements and | was great
ly interested by his references To his
boy of 10. who, without having taken
lesson, he says plays the cornet better
than any pupil he now has, and to his
girl. who. likewise untaught, already
astonislres all who hear her with her
remarkable tone and execution on the
violin.
Then a shadow passed over his face.
and he said But my little baby girl
over there at the Narragansett hotel,
All, but Inere is an idol that is wor-
shipped" and his rotund form plainly
shook while he removed his spectacles
and wiped the tears from his eyes. "Ah.
to the theatre to hear us play or see us
act little know what is behind the
scenes. You are pleased with our ef-
forts, you applaud us generously, you
see us smile and appear as happy as
yourselves; and yet you little know of
the heartache that we sometimes are
carrying at that very moment Here
am playing at the theatre while my
wife is watching over our little one at
the hotel, dangerously i'll with pneumo-
mia; and when / am through and we-
turn. IL will not be long before my wife
must come over here to the theatre to
sing her songs. All it's hard enough
for a father; but what must it be for
the poor mother to sing those songs, TO
smile and try to appear at her best,
fearful lest at any moment a telephone
call summon .-er TO her little angels
bedside! All. you people sometimes
envy us; but you don't know IL all. You
can indulge your feelings; but il would
not do FOR us by the least sign 10 be-
tray what is i'm our hearts. We must
smile and, i'm the case of an actor, must
even try TO be funny. no matter how
heavy the burder of grief or sorrow
that oppresses u.s.
And ten minutes later that same Levy
stepped out on the stage and played as
thought / had never heard him play
before. smiled graciousy as the theatre
rang with enthusiastic plaudits: and
then. with the applause still ringing
in his ears. he rushes back to the little
one, whose picture in medallion pin
on the left lapel of the great artists
street coat he told me he valued far
more than all the costly and beautiful
medals that adorn his stage swallow
tail"
In company with MILLIONS who have
entranced by his sweet tones
"a n . ~ a Fn1 1ftfG fftttn
long admired the artist and | now am
devoutly thankful for this opportunity
to learn and even more 10 admire the
man. He told me that he plays from
the heart; and | have had sufficient
glimpse into IL to understand as never
before the wonderful depth Of express
sion i'm his playing that touches the
harmonic of sympathy in our own
hearts.
Did you ever stop 10 think how much
depends upon good judgment i'm dress
ing an act" on the stage? Take Forbes
and Quinn at keith's. 1t doesn't seem
possible for them To appear at home in
dress suits; and their awkwardness i'm
them actually detracts from their act
itself. which contains much that is
Put them i'm the garb Of
street urchlns. or even i'm flashy Bow
cry suits and presto. change! You have
an act that will make twice the hit
1t now does.
And. speaking Of dressing. did you
ever see an acrobatic act more taste
fully dressed than that of the Magin-
leys? In the very tint and style of their |
there is an atmosphere of re-
fnement and artistic quality that un-
add materially to the pleas
ure with which one looks upon them
their wonderfully clever |
act. Mrs. Mag .nley is pre-eminent |
among those women who can dress as !
one must for such an act and yet sug- |
gest absolutely nothing but the lady of |
true refinement.
I was thoroughly charmed by Flor l
ance Moore's singing. quite the equal OF |
anything we have had here i'm concert: /
but really IL she would dress i'm shades /
IF pink. with tight fitting waist adorn- |
"a with fluffy effect. charming as she !
now lis, she would appear TO even bet
ter advantage, and. at any rate. | |
would discard the blue waist with the |
yellow skirt, for the effect OF the con-
Irast excellent for some. Is not suited /
10 her complexion and slight figure. She /