Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-22

had considerable experience he offered him
the position. Of course he took 1t, although
his duties kept him largely separated from
his young wife. When Mr.. Craeger re-
signed it was intended to run along until
the end Of the season without filling his
place and next season to secure some eX-
rcrienced man. Young Hale was taken
back with the company to perform the
routine duties under Mr.. Perley's careful
direction. Perley had to go to Boston
when the company was at Providence, and
he decided to let Hale take the troupe on to
Connecticut himself. He accomplished this
successfully, and then Perley decided that
he would formally install him in the posi-
ton vacated by Mr.. Craeger, so that when
he comes here Monday he will be, in the
full sense, & business manager and will be
open to the congratulations of his friends.
Among the artists at the Grand Opera
House next week will be Miss Comma
Jewell of Boston, a prima donna soprano,
who will make her first appearance in
Washington. Miss Jewell has just gone
upon the vaudeville stage, her brief career
in comic opera having already been crown
ed with success quite remarkable for SO
young a woman.
Mr.. Fred Schaefer, the scenic artist of
| the Frawley Company, has developed
decided talent for water colors. He has q
portfolio of sketches that are gems, both
as to drawing and colOring, which the men,
bers of the company never tire of inspect
ing.
Frank Murray's fad is collecting blue
china. He had hunted for three years for
spoon holder to go with one blue set that
he had collected, and finally he found what
he wanted, out in Los Angeles, Cal. He
bought 1t quick, and now he is happy.
Last fall Miss Alice Nielsen shot out into
the theatrical heavens with the startling
Splendor of a comet, but. unlike the comets
OF astronomy, her luminosity does not APP
pear to be of an ephemeral sort and her
position seems destined to permanency.
Lake many of the successful people of the
stage. her early career was one of trial and
hardship, and her success was only attain
ed by earnest and continued effort.
She was born in Nashville, Tenn, but her
glrlhood was passed in Kansas City, where
she, with her sisters, contributed to the
support of their widowed mother Her
elder sister Mary, who was credited with
st. Patrick's Cathedral. One Sunday Mary,
on account of illness, was unable to sing,
and 1t seemed as though the small revenue
derived from her position was to be lost to
the family. Alice volunteered to take her
place, and, though little confidence was re-
posed in her, she appeared in the choir loft
and. for the first time in public, poured
forth the pure, sweet notes which have
since made her famous.
She was Immediately engaged q mem
Der OF ST Patricks choir, and held the po-
sition for two years, appearing occasional
ly at local concerts, and once essaying the
Torrance of ''Pinafore"
In 1892 she joined a concert company,
which was intended to tour Kansas and
Missouri 1t only got as far as St Joseph
where ii stranded in the first week of it's
career A local manager, however, had
heard Miss Nielsen sing, and he engaged
her to appear in a condensed version of
Penelope, in which she had a principal
role. The production was a success and
following Horace Greeley's advice. the lit
tie company went west. On reaching Den
Yer the youthful Nielsen Joined the more
pretentious Pike Opera Company, and her
first professional appearance. with a legit-
innate lyric organization, was in Oakland
Cal, as Yum Yum" in The Mikado" Her
talents We're so apparent that she was
snapped up by the TiVOli Theater, a San
Francisco playhouse, unique in its way and
devoted to the production of standard Eng
fish opera.
She sang the smaller parts at first, but
gradually rose until she became the leading
soprano. During her connection with the
TivoG she sang the principal soprano roles
in every English opera, and she has now a
repertoire of nearly one hundred operas.
While singing Lucia" at the Tivoi Mr.
Barnabee of the Bostonians, which organi-
cation was playing an engagement on the
Pacific coast. heard of her and went to see
her. The result was the offer of an engage
ment, which she accepted. Her first part
with the BOstonians was Anita" in THE
War Time Wedding Then she was given
the small part of ''AnnabeHe'' in Robin
ity that shortly afterward she was cast for
the Leading soprano role in the same opera,
that Of Maid Marian" 1t was not until
the next season, however, that she made
her great success. The BostOnians secured
from Victor Herbert and Harry B. Smith
their opera. The oerenade," and Miss Mel
sen was given the role of ''Yvonne."
Every one knows what the result was
The hit that she made was instantaneous
and conclusive, and when the opera made
its long run at the knickerbocker Theater
in New York city, She was the vocal sensa-
ton of the year in the metropolis. In
Washington also her delightful rendition OF
this part established her Immediately as
local favorite. The possibilities of her sue
cess as star were apparent, and Frank L.
Perey, who was at the same time the
manager of the BOstOnians, Immediately
put into execution the arrangement by
which she is at present appearing in the
title role Of THE Fortune Teller" in which
she was heard in Washington last Thanks
giving week, making a hit of such substan-
tial proportions that her return engage
ment next week in the same opera seemed
advisable. Next fall Mess Nielsen will
have new opera. which. rumor says, will
he called 'fThp SnpiOp irl