The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-21
PRINCE PU LUN HEARS
GERMAN PRIM4 DONNA
Member of Royal Chinese Family
Evinces No Surprise at Ameri-
can Entertainment.

A Chinese prince at a song recital by a
German prima donna in an American mid
Western city-this was the novelty which
Indianapolis had to offer last night The
very incongruity of the occasion lent al
Prince Pu Lun's experiences, during his
present tour in a land far away from his
fiowery kingdom, will prove more extraor-
binary to him than the affair of last even
ing at English's Opera House. In China
a woman performer in public amusement
place Is unheard of; the feminine roles in
the Chinese plays taken by men or
boys, and the theater-goerS Of the Celestial
empire would hold up their hands in horror
at the very thought of women giving a
performance on their own account. And so
last nights event, in which two women
Nine. Schumann-Heink and her pianist,
Miss Hartmann-aoted as the sole enter
tainers. must have impressed the royal lit
tie Monaghan as a most astonishing thing,
though one is bound to admit (and, secret
ly, somewhat to ones disappointment, that
never an expression or surprise was al
lowed 10 fit for even the flash Of a Sec
ond over the calm, serene features of mis-
Royal Highness.
The prince and his suite, accompanied by
the members of the executive committee
charge, arrived at Englishs Opera House
at about 10 o'clock. The first half of the
recital had just been concluded and a hum
of expectancy filled the theater as the semi
circles OF electric globes on the ceiling OF
the theater suddenly blazed forth brilliant
ly as If to herald the coming of the guests
OF honor. A moment or two later Prince
Pu Lun, attired in his handsome gown OF
blue and wearing his little black skull cap
stepped out Of a carriage that had just
arrived in Monument place, and surrounded
by his Chinese attendants and the Amer
lean hosts, made his way to the box on the
left side Of the theater that had been pre-
pared to receive him. He took seat in the
corner of the box close to the stage and
surveyed his surroundings, after bowling
in a digniied manner to the audience
which had burst forth in vociferous round
of applause. Mayor Hoffman, William
Fortune and Wong Kai Kah. the interpret
er, occupied seats in the same box with
him, and the other members of the party
took possession of the two boxes adjoin-
ing. In the three boxes on the opposite
side of the auditorium were Captain and
Mrs. English and their guests, Mrs. May
Wright Sewall and a party of beautifully
gowned young women, who carried i'm
mense floral bouquets. and Mr.. and Mrs
Ferdinand Mayer and their guests.
The royal boxes were handsomely dec
GRATED with the Chinese and American
flags and on the stage beside the prince
was an Oriental vase containing cherry
blossoms. The stage was tastefully ar
ranged, the setting being a woodland
scene with many ferns. palms and orange
trees TO enhance the beauty of the picture
The audience was interested in observing
the prince as Nine. Schumann-Heink came
forth from the wings TO begin the second
half of the programme. He gave his earn.
est attention to the singer, and at the con
clusion of her first number appauded gent
ly with his small, well-shaped hands, while
a smile, ever so slight. lowered about the
corners of his mouth. And as for the
prima donna, she gave one of those de.
licious German chuckles of hers, swept the
prince courtesy that was at once respect.
full and companona ble-and then went or
with her programme. A review of the re-
cital is given in another column of the
Journal.