The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-25
You began splendidly last night

ne SACldlIneQ lnen, SIdnOlnR up 10
ii, shaking back his head and squar-
ing his broad shoulders: Honestly.
I'm proud to have made a hit at the
Tivoll. 1t counts. If you make a hit
there you can get anything in New
York, for example. And even in
London, Paris and Berlin they ask
What Of the Tivoli?' Then I'm
very glad to have appeared first in my
own town-my own town."
You were taught here, too, weren't
your"
Indeed was. I'm entirely Ameri-
can-taught," Mr.. Bogart subscribed
that is, with the exception of five or
six lessons had from William Shake
speare in London. Francis Stewart
taught me all know. 1 studied with
him both here and in New York.
You didn't like Shakespeare, evil
dently?"
Not much" the singer confessed
frankly. But everybody was talking
about him then-it was the fad-and
I thought I'd try him. He was quite
kind, told me I could go right ahead
then and make a success. But i'm
agine"
Mr.. Bogart's judgment Of Mr..
Shakespeare is evidently not OF the
most respectful.
so you don't pose as Shakespeare
pupil?" I asked.
Hardly; but"-he laughed-"I
could tell you amusing things of some
people that do. I asked Shakespeare
once about a local contralto here who
went to London and returned, adver-
Using herself as his pupil. Shake
speare said: Let me see'-tapping
his brow-let me see. Yes. I think
I did have some one of that name.
All, yes. She took one lesson. oh,
yes-and I think she owes me for
that"
He dilated then upon the defense
lessness of the teacher in such cases
and gossiped freely about his fellow
teachers here, for Andrew Bogart is
on the maestro list. He waxed en-
thusiastic. by the way, over one small
pupil of his, only Is years old, for
whom he prophesies a future with
big capital. "A high B that would
tear the roof off, is one of her assets,
and one is shortly to have the oppor-
tunity of hearing it.
Il wanted to ask I requested, "if
last night was your actual first appear
ance on the operate stage?"
Not quite" the singer replied. He
lounged over to the fireplace, the shelf
of which was decorated with photo
graphs, and took one down. L no
ticed the others as he did So
charming young women among them.
There were others. by the way,
caught in the fshnet that hung over
the lounge in the distant corner. And
talking of furniture. a Steinway baby
grand cozily Uttered with songs filled
a comfortable part
The photograph that Mr.. Bogart
handed me was of a plump and pleas
ing devil. himself as His Royal Nibs''
in Shaftcr Towards opera of the
name.
And this IVES the beginning?" I
queried
My first Appearance" ,Ir Bogart
bowed. But il Ues rot ny first
chance 20 appear. ae added Savage
wanted me. for King Doco
1 demurred: But Of ooursa vci did
not want TO do that kird Of hinge
He dissented: But. IF course. did.
LUZ A1AN DAdla4Fu pan w. Ailtt lil5 IL
Then followed a very interesting little
dissertation on manages and their
ways, founded on the singers expert
ences with Henry Savage.
4 made a great mistake with Saw
age" he recalled-though not at all
ruefully. Il had good luck in meeting
him-PII tell you a little afterward
about meeting Managers
1T may come in" I vouchsafed
Il met Mr.. Savage at Clifford Pages
studio-there's a great musician for
you" he interrupted himself to say and
repeated, Il call Page a really great
musician. He has done five operas-not
been heard of because the librettos were
poor. But he's landing now and that
will be one more for California! Any
way Savage was looking at one of the
operas at his studio and at Pages ad-
vice I just blew in down there ct was
a little different from waiting ones
turn with fifty or sixty others, as you
have to at Savage's office) But l sang
for him and he offered me right away
grand opera leads Funny part of it
was he thought 1 was a tenor 1t was
my own fault. I sang the 'Pagliacci'
prologue and ended up on a big b
fat"
And them"
Then I told him didn't want to go
into grand opera yet awhile" he went
on and looked up, youthfully modest,
TO say: "Of course 1 knew l wasn't
ready for grand opera and shant be for
years yet. However, it ended there for
a while. Then one day went to re-
mind him of myself. It's rather ter
rible, you know, that Office of his
sometimes maybe fifty waiting appli-
cants. But I sent in my card, saying
on it this is Andrew Brooke that you
heard sing at Clifford Pages studio'"
Andrew BROKER" Intercepted.
oh the singer blushed, Il took the
name Of Brooke when 1 went to New
York-thought if I failed none of you
here would be the wiser But Savage
sent for me Immediately and fired all
the rest-poor things. He asked me:
Can you pack up and leave New York
tonight? In two weeks want you to