Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-15

the roads in the direction of their humble
homes, he could not escape hearing a
round dozen tenor voices that many a
primo tenOre drawing princely salary
from New York and London managers
would give his immortal soul to possess
And who, with music and song and art
in mind, would dream of turning on this
side of the water for inspiration, say to
Pittsburg? Yet that is what Sgnor de
Novellis did, and he discovered Lulu
CHASER.
Seven years ago Francis Wilson was ap-
preached by De Novellis, who was then his
musical director. and was asked to admit
young lady 'of excellent promise into
his company.
Engage her." was Wilson's laconic re-
ply.
between 1.-The powers Lulu CHASER was
substituted for Wilson's then prima donna,
Marie Jansen who was taken suddenly Ill.
1t is not stated whether the young artist
promptly tainted" on being informed that
such signal promotion was to be hers, but
certain it is. despite her ambition, she
could not resist the temptation to protest:
Really, this is. so sudden Her success
was instantaneous and the following year
she made her bow to the public with all
the eclat surrounding real prima donna.
For four years Miss Chaser shared the
stage with Francis Wilson, and then be-
came an independent star.
VAUDEVILLE MYSTERIES. - Polite
vaudeville from time to time experiences
change of public taste even as the legiti-
mate drama during a decade runs the gam
ut of dramatic fashions-now demand for
romance next for musical comedy, then for
narrowing meIodrama, again for the prob
lem play, and on ad fnf1nitum. The
change of taste brings many strange things
about and Just now the spin of the top has
brought mysterious or enigmatic attrac-
RI he s1tala aS Epi GIN relic a
Chase's next week. AS long ago four or
five years, the Girl With the Auburn Hair
was sprung upon the unsuspecting public.
and this mystery developed singer, whose
identity of name, family and face could
never be learned, affected the public as
much the chamber which Bluebeard
locked against his latest bride, Fatima.
The Girl became the sensation of the
hour, and many stories could be told of the
numerous efforts to penetrate the darkness
craftily gathered by the manager around
his attraction. 1t was several seasons be-
fore even the stage hands were enabled to
catch gijmpses of the girl, as she came into
the theaters heavily yelled, just as she did
in public and at hotels, and during the
progress of the act perfect barrier of
scenery kept the curious from viewing the
performance from the back of the stage.
"Phroso" was always brought into the the
alter in trunk. and the first season of this
remarkable act the stage hands We're as
much taken In as the public, as they were
firmly convinced, from never having seen
the actor play The part, that ''Phroso'' was
really mechanical figure. In the case of
'Moto-GirT' there was less mystery and
the public was drawn in thrOngs to her
performances by the supremacy novel and
artistic imitation confessedly given by the
talented little actress. Annie Abbott 1.-THE
human magnet" imposed a duty upon the
public that the public has never discharged
as not two persons who saw Miss Abbott
will agree as to the character and source
Of the power she undoubtedly eXerted-
against the combined strength of the men
called In to assist In her act. Now comes
Enigmarelle, and again the waters are
clouded as they were in the case of the
Girl With the Auburn Hair" and the pub
lie is confronted by an opportunity for hard
guesswprk. The manager of Enigmarelle
offers an explanation. but SO far the public
has fought shy of 1t and fnclfnes to the be-
lief that this strange creation is something
different from what the managers candid
statement describes II. Not far In the flu
ture other mysteries will have their day at
Chase's. the more conspicuous now being
European creations of extraordinary char
acter. 1t is the nature of the human to at
tempt to solve puzzles. and the alert crea-
tors Of things vaudeville have taken adj
vantage of this trait to devise mysterious
attractions that draw the public in I'M
wonted numbers to the theater to guess
and guess again.
VIOLA ALLEN TABOOS SPEECHES.
Viola Allen tabooss the curtain speech Not
that Miss Allen has never responded to
an insistent demand for a speech; but
these occasions have been few and far be-
tween. and greatly against her liking Dur
ing her several visits to Washington she