Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-11


dence of Mrs. e. A. Cudahy. Mrs. Welpton,
Mr.. and Mrs. Calm and Mr. Ellis form a
strong combination. The audience gath
cred to hear these artists was appreclative
and responsive. Tuesday evening 1.-TWO
good concerts in one day. mind YOU'D
Leonora Jackson and Sybil Sammis held
forth at the Congregational church under
the direction of the Peoples institute
Aliss Jackson started out to be one Of
the truly great women violinists, rather
following In the footsteps of Maud Powell,
but like the racehorse who can trot a
half like whirlwind, she eased up and
came under the wire with the bunch-very
good. but not good enough Being i'll this
particular evening. had not the pleasure
of hearing Miss Jackson this appear
ance. From the critic who took my place
/ find / have much to learn. Understand
please, unknown one, that I am not un-
grateful, but l do desperately want to be
initiated into an appreciative knowledge
OF the higher or piccolo registers of the
VIOLIN" The phrase is worthy of Mark
Twain at his best, and has helped me
much on my plodding way. Grand mercil
-
Wednesday evening came the full fruit
age Of Robert Cuscaden's get together
bug" quoted from the conductors own
vocabulary and the result was such as to
warrant decided further encouragement
A singer asked me a few days ago: us
Mr.. Cuscaden great2"
I'm sure l don't know. He's had no
chance to prove himself. / could name
several men who never became famous In
Omaha. but who went away and under the
sunshine OF appreciation blossomed into
greatness. Nahan Frankie. for one"
No hftalr
qualities OF sucess?'
I'm tell you better in a year. when Omaha
men and women have gone down in their
pockets and supported his orchestra and
given him a chance TO express his per-
sonality"
The concert Wednesday night was ambi-
tious and surprisingly good. considering all
the difficulties with which Mr.. Cuscaden
and his men had to wrestle. 1t is much 10
be hoped that Mr.. Cuscaden's courage Is
OF the irrepressible order and that he will
keep on working from year TO year until
he fulhlls his ideal.
But, an, vision haunted leader. let not
the germ of diplomacy wreck you. OF
course. it's hard to decide whether you'll
let your piano soloist perform on a Stein
way or a Weber. II is also death to the
mood OF your listeners TO wobble until
both makes have to be used and Mr.. @.
playes a group on one piano. which is then
trunded OF TO make room for the onward
march Of the other. The problem might
have been solved by using the two stimuli
taneously-one for the left hand and one
for the right with the stool in the middle.
Great heavens! Awful thought! Which
stool would Mr.. Calm have sat on?-the
Steinway or the Weber, l passl Maybe
some OF you have read The Lady or the
Tiger" It's jolly little story when you
get to really thinking about It.
On Thursday night the distinguished
Irish scholar, DR.. Douglas Hyde lectured
at the Boyd After the opening speech by
Mr.. Smythe. Mr.. Thomas ]. Kelly sang
a group Of Irish songs with his usual de-
lightful art and intelligence. II Omaha peo-
pie live long enough they'll find out what
they are missing in not hearing Mr.. Kelly
oftenor. 1t Is true that he's hedged
round with few prickles, but they do not
make very bitter wounds
This column being indited on a Friday,
have not yet heard the faculty OF the Ne
braska Wesleyan University Conservatory