Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-01

domestic duties of Marcelline in Beethov-
ems .Fidelio." This lively young person
was destined to play no inconsiderable part
in that opera season and the two succeed
ing ones. She was written about and talk
ed about as is the lot of few singers. AT
first Fraulein FRITZ Scheff did not like 1T.
She had aspirations to be Brunnhiide and
acclaim her joyous ''Hoyo, to yo, at
Wotan, her suffering father.
But the public wanted her as Media, as
Musette. as Papagena, and they made their
wishes very plain if anybody else was cast
for these or any of the other comedy roles
in the grand operas. FRITZ Scheff always
attracted her admirers and they thronged
to see the operas in which she had lively
parts. Then Charles B. Dillingham; saw the
possibilities of FRITZ Schem as a comic
opera star at the head of an organizat ton
all her own, and he convinced her that she
would make name in the field of lighter
and more popular musical endeavor that
would outshine her greatest success in
grand opera.
Miss Scheff is keenly appreciative of all
the attention and praise that has been
showered upon her in this her first year of
Starhood, and remarking upon 1t the other
day strayed too far into the vernaeular of
the day. She said: Everybody, he is so
horribly good to me!' No tribute of APP
probation has pleased her more than. the
''tusch' her orchestra awarded her on the
last night of her engagement in New York.
This graceful European custom is seldom
seen in this country. But the Scheff or
cneSIra IN new OK was composed almost
entirely of Germans. A the end of Miss
ScheffS waltz number in the last act on
this particular night every musician was
on his feet and royal fanfare rang out.
So sudden and unexpected was the incident,
the audience was startled for minute and
then when it realized that the musicians
were paying their homage to one they rec
ognized as a great artistic, and expressing
their affection, the applause and cheers
broke out FRITZ threw kisses to the or
chestra pit and the performance went on.
Herr John Lund, Mr.. Dillingham's mu-
steal director, is fond of all the little cere-
monies of the German music land. In every
city several extra musicians are engaged
to augment the regular Schem orchestra
Herr Lund rehearses them on the morning
of the opening night. Some time during
the rehearsal Miss Scheff always appears
on the stage. The minute she does, the di-
rector is on his feet, and stopping what
ever selection is being played, announces:
Gentlemen Miss Schen The musicians
stand and make their prettiest bow; FRITZ
responds with her sweetest smile and the
rehearsal goes on.
A COMEDIANS CAREER.-Louis Har-
rison. FRITZ Scheff's comedian, was born
forty-three years ago in Philadelphia and
received his theatrical education at the
Arch Street Theater from Mrs. John Drew.
AS boy he came in contact with Edwin
Booth, Lawrence Barrett, E. L. Daven-
port, Joseph jefferson, w. J. Florence, John
E. Owens and other noted actors. His first
engagement away from home was as sec
ond comedian with John McCullough's Cali
fornia Theater Company. Then he joined
E. E. Rice playing for several seasons in
burlesque with Willie Edouin. Henry E.
Dixey and w. A. Mestayer Leaving Rice
he produced at Hooley's Theater Chicago,
musical farce called Photos with his
sister Alice as principal woman. The play
IIa raln x-ad hot ,ft
two seasons at considerable pecuniary loss
Next he put on a farce written by himself
entitled Skipped by the Light of the
Moon" and made money. He later return
ell to E. E. Rices management, and be-
came the principal player in THE Pearl of
Pekin," which had a great vogue for sew
eral years. In THE Two Roses" he has one
o. the best parts of his career.