The Portland daily press., 1900-10-03
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
JAMES j. JEFFRIES.

JAMES j. JEFEklES.
Numerous admirers will have an op-
portunity to see him in this-city in the
capacity Of an actor, for he is booked to
appear at the jefferson next Saturday
night in new American play entitled
"a Man From the West,'' written by
Clay NJ. Greene. The piece deals with
life in the far West and is said to be
most elaborate stage production. The
cast includes besides James j. Jeffries
several well known and talented actors.
FAUST.
From wherever Lewis Morrison s
"Faust7' has beengseen this season, unan-
imous praises about its gorgeousness
and splendor are heard. Beautiful be-
yond the power OF words, it is pro-
nounced. AS a matter of fact, it is now
more thoroughly embellished and hand
somely presented than during any of its
former seventeen seasons and those who
have witnessed it year after year, always
finding it surprising expectations, will
this season witness the grandsst and
most elaborate presentation it has ever
had. The scenery and all effects are en-
tirely nsw, the company has been especi-
ally selected anu is said to be better in
every respect than any other seen in con-
nection with the play and there is no
doubt that its coming presentation in
this city tonight Will long be remembered
as a notable event.
HOW LILLIAN BLAUVELT MADE
HER FIRST BIG SUCCESS.
Lillian BIauvelt, the American soprano,
who win appear at the music festival
this week, after year s absence from
this country, tells the story of an appear
ance at the beginning OF her career,
which had much to do with the making
OF her fortunes:
1t was to sing at a concert of the
Orpheus club of Philadelphia. The club
had engaged Mime. Nordica for this con-
cert, and at the last moment she was
taken i'll; by the time she had notified
Mr.. Wolfsohn, who had made the engage
ment for her, it was too Iats to get any
of the stars of the opera to take her place.
Mr.. Wolfsohn called on me at my home,
but I was enjoying myself at the opera
some enc of my family told him this He
rushed to the Metropolitan opera house,
found me seated near the stage, but how
he did it don t know. for the house was
packed. He called me into the lobby
and without giving me any information
had a coupe take us to the Pennsyl-
vania depot. There we were met by my
sister, who was carryin a large box.
When on the train he told me where
was to sing, but nothing else. There
was no time for a rehearsal when we
arrived, and imagine how 1 must have
looked for had dressed on the train,
which to me seemed 20 be going about
100 miles an hour in place of 35 or 40. At
any rate I sang at the concert, but did
not know whose place 1 had filled until
after 1 had finished my last number.
Had / known it before, 1t is doubtful II I
would have attempted such a thing, as
I, just out Of my teens, filling the place
of a woman whose artistic merit is the
talk of two continents. But you know,
that It's one OF the chances that you get
seldom in a lifetime. Fate placed it be-
fore me and 1 am thankful that ac-
copied it. Many such chances have 1
had since, both in this country and
abroad, but 1 met them with the same
determination as 1 did my first one, and
in many of them have had my best suo-
Cesses.