Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-09
Interest Expressed in Tangible as Well as
Audible Form.
ENGAGEMENT AN ARTISTIC TRIUMPH
Audience that Packs Boyd's Theater
DemOnstrative but DignifOd.
MANIFESTATIONS OF DELIGHT ARE MANY
Kubelik Chats with visitors and YIN
Joys Reception Behind Scenes with
Unfeigned HeaPtiness--Ifis
Plans for To-day.

his graceful bow at Boyd's theater last
night and drew his magic bow across the
strings he played for an audience that
filled the house from the chairs usually
occupied by the orchestra to the remotest
seat in the lofty gallery-and even for few
others who were in their own home blocks
away with their ears at their telephones.
For his performance Kubelik's managers
received $1,000. but the admission total was
nearly $500 and the local committee OF
Bohemians have. above all expenses about
$500 as the nucleus Of a fund with which It
is proposed to educate two students at
Prague, where Kubelik studied.
kubelik is a Bohemian and IL was dis
tinctly Bohemian night. Everywhere were
seen buttons bearing the violinist's face
and always with the red and white OF his
native land entwined about 1t. There were
Bohemians in some OF the boxes, all over
the lower floor and up to the roof, many
OF them confessedly In a theater for the
first time in many. many years. But the
applauding did not devolye entirely upon
them. 1t came spontaneously and from
everywhere whenever Kubelik paused, and
II would not cease until he had appeared
again and again, and played at least one
encore. Society was there and was fred
with a new delight that made dainty hands
as active as the larger. rougher ones in
expressing the common joy. There was
dignity in all the demonstrations, however,
and the nearest approach to an impassioned
outburst was when a masculine voice far up
in the balcony sang out a lusty "Bravol"
Coming of the Crowd.
The first installment of the crowd came
to the theater at o'clock. but the doors
were not opened until a half hour later. AT
o'clock carriages deposited the smart
set and for the next twenty minutes the
lobby of the theater was filled with those
waiting to enter.
Kubelik himself was ready before the
crowd was. He came to the stage door
promptly at o'clock In company with the
members of hts party and his first words
we're Hello. old man, I'm glad to see yJu,'
addressed to a friend who was awaiting
him. minute later he stepped into his
dressing room. attended by his valet, bear
ing the invaluable violin and permitted the
removal OF his fur-lined overcoat and the
derby hat that had covered his long black
hair. His "primping' required less than
minute, and when he emerged his excellent
fitting black dress suit was noted to bear
not single ornament other than small
gold chain strung from one pocket of his
vest to the other. His CHEEKY smile was
constant and his cordiallty so general as
to incorporate even the colored guardian OF
the stage door,
Kubelik Before Going On.
His valet brought him his violin and bow
and the virtuoso took them as tenderly and
lovingly as a mother would her babe But
he did not sound a note until back in his
dressing room with the door shut. There
he drew the bow gently across the strings
han n
But the crowd was not, for the tardy ones
had not been taken to their seats and
Kubelik was forced to wait. He paced
rapidly back aud forth behind the scenery
and his fingers were ever on the strings,
twitching nervously. The smile faded from
his lips, a slight perspiration started and
when he spoke at all 1t was a hurried whiss
per and the words were Bohemian. THE
strain was telling and finally he walked
almost ran, to Julius Skrivan, the calm
old impressario who discovered him
three years ago when he was In his 18th
year and who has been with him con-
stantly ever since, both In Europe and
America. Skrfvan understood and grssped
the hand Git was the left) which the boy
extended to him and held IL firmly for some
minutes. rubbing the fingers just enough
to accelerate the circulation. Kubelik's lip
parted in a smile that forever refuted the
assertion that "he has never loved" and
he became calmer. Even the foot encased
in dainty slippers cut so low that above
the knotted ribbon was displayed several
inches Of his drop stitched hose. ceased to
pat the floor so nervously and he thrust
his instrument between his knees to adjust
q bridge that already seemed as correctly
righted as a bridge could ever be-
Stands Like = Soldier.
When all was still in the auditorium. Mr..
| GorlItz, managing the tour for Daniel
Frohman, beckoned Kubelik and the boy
| faced the stage like a soldier with head
erect and shoulders back. His fingers
twitched harder than ever and the smile
had again vanished. but he was calm and
when he stepped out into the glare Of the
lights It was with a Arm step that brought
sigh Of both pride aud relief from his
friends in the wings.
From that moment Kubelik was master,
not only OF himself. but OF all about him A
wave Of applause swept up to him in greet
| ing, another and even louder one followed
at his FIRST pause and when. twenty -nve
minutes after he went on. he came back
into the wings the auditors were sending
after him the roar OF such demonstration
as has not been heard In the theater in
years. And Kubelik was happy. His smile
was radiant and through the rest OF the
evening he laughed and joked with all
about him and the boyishness OF his nature
was uppermost.
Welcome from COuntrymsn.
| After his first number a foral Tyre. the
gift OF Bohemians Of Omaha. was placed
upon the stage and formally presented by
Miss Helen Paulik. After the third number
he was confronted on his way back into the
wings by Miss Annie Kotera and Miss Mary
Kucera. The former recited In Bohemian
a poem OF welcome written for the occasion
by Rev. ]. Vranek pastor Of the Bohemian
church OF Omaha The latter spoke briefly
for the Catholic societies Of Omaha and
gave a handsome boquet to Mr.. Freml. the
aecompanlst. Both the recipients bowed
their thanks. but ala not speak.
| Ths only other remarks OF the evening