Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-23
/ >SoclETY, CLUB THEATRE /

cable that a famous society leader of that city wore rings on her toes, stirred society all up, but that alarm was nothing compared with to this latest fad. Many there are who do not wish to wear rings in their noses, and they will resist bitterly any attempt to force them to such a course.
 Mrs Gouraud will return to Larch- mont from London with her husband, her stepfather and her mother early in | June and it is feared she will bring with her the custom she has intro duced in London with such startling effect. Friends of hers in this city have already received photographs from Mrs Gouraud showing her in Egyptian costume, with costly ring of many precious stones hanging dain- tily from the side of her nose.
 :H:
 Harry Irving, well known among the profession, is brimful of experiences that cover long and varied career Ill the show business. He relates laugh able incident of several years ago while travelling with q small company out west One night at a performance g1v- en in the town hall in a small place in | U lOy manager, made an announcement be- tween the third and fourth acts con- corning the play that was to be given. on the following night. As he bowed and was disappearing behind the cur tain he heard a loud voice above the applause that had followed his speech. "One minute, Professorw exclaimed tall, raw boned countryman, advancing to the front of the hall. T would like to have your permission to make an announcement to the congregation, sir, If you don't mind" Turning to the gaping audience without waiting for the desired permission, he said: I"Friends and neighbors, Mrs $. E. Pel- ! ton of this village died very suddenly in Melville yistudy in the full hope of ] glorious redemption. The funeral will be held at the Methodist church to- morrow at ? o'clock all are invited to l attend Go ahead with the show" After the performance Irving, accost- 1 ing the countryman at the door of the l hall, said: "That was queer an nouncement for you to make between the acts of a play How did it hap pen?' sWell, you see it's this way" drawled the man. 'tI jes got the news of Sister Pelton's takin' off, an it's my duty as sexton of the church to notify folks. The hull town was here tonight an I thought that instid of notifyin' from house to house tomorrow mornin' l I'd dew tn ejob up quick so took this 1 opportunity. Hope 1t didn't interfere none."
 l Fl:
 Heinrich Conried is making good his promise that Americans shall have an I equal chance with foreigners in his grand opera plans for the Metropoli- tan. It is now announced that he has signed for one of his sopranos Selma Kronold, who, although of European extraction, has lived here long enough to be considered in the home class. This follows closely the engag agement l of Marcia Van Dresser, Lily Heiden- bach, Estelle Harris and Josephine Schaeffer, the four young American women who are to become members of the grand opera company after they have served short apprenticeship in MT Conried's school of opera.
 Miss Van Dresser is well known in light opera, having sung with the Bos- tonians and other organizations of similar standard. She left this kind of work for the dramatic stage last 4 the routine of comic opera. all the while keeping up her study of singing with the hope of furthering her higher ambitions. She was Otis Skinner's leading woman in Francesca da Rim l ini.'
 Miss Kronold, on the contrary, is experienced in grand opera. She was a member of the Castle Square Opera Company. at the American Theatre and of the Metropolitan English Grand Opera Company maintained by Henry ". Savage and Maurice Grau at the Metropolitan for one season.
 Tn fact. Miss Kronold has been in grand opera for fifteen years, and has a repertoire of sixty-seven German. French and Italian works Her debut was made in so difficult role as sieg- linde, in "Die Walkure.' She was the first to sing the roles of Santuzza, in "Cavalleria Rusticana,'' and Nedda. in T PaPlicacci." in America. She also . created the leading role in Spinelli's "A Basso Porto" at the American.