Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-06-12

1.-THE Years at the Spring" and the
, two Faust numbers.
: Alternating with the vocalist upon
r the program appeared Miss Mary E.
Simpson in recitations. or as we are led
? to call them, readings. The name is
! not important as no manuscript comes
between the entertainer and the enter
tanned, no book intervenes to chill the
magnetic influence
Since Her Baby Days.
In her own home and at those of her
friends Miss Simpson has at any time
and many times since her baby days
shown her exceptional talent for this
sort of thing. so those who knew her
best were in no wise surprised at her
instantaneous success of Monday af-
ternoon. Last year when junior she
was awarded the Knights of Co
lumbus medal at the Villa on
her rendition of an original Japanese
sketch. The Portion of Valor.' Her
advance in the art of swaying an audi
ence has been commensurate with her
years, gradual and Enthusiastically nat
ural. but at the same time equally eX-
ceptional, for Miss Simpson is delight
full
| Her art is SO admirable because it is
! not apparent. With modest forgetful
/ ness of self which crowned her youth
! like benediction she swept the tense
emotions of her listeners like a skillful
artist awakening from the harp strings
melodies grave and gay, and harmonies
minor with sorrow which modulate to
| synchronies of love and the joy of life.
I Her art is such that it wins the tribute
of tear and laugh. both in the same
paragraph, equally spontaneous, suf-
fused with emotion.
Miss Simpsons most dramatic selec-
i ton was her first. her most impressive
the last. Her dialect Rotations were
admirable and in this line she will mel
low and improve with study The two
which aroused the greatest interest and
admiration were those written by her
self. In them her natural diScernment
OF literary values was apparent and
her sympathetic Interpretation natural
~ at its best.
The audience found The Bill from
the Milliner's" irresistibly funny. The
play of emotion upon the face of the
reader was droll enough. her piquancy
altogether charming and the dramatic
spirit of the whole selection the very
essence of high comedy.
This debutante in the field of The en-
tertainer has not yet taken her friends
into her confidence as to the sweep and
compass of her aspirations. 1t is not
known to what use she will put these
gifts which the gods have showered
upon her. Perhaps she does not know
herself. 1t is clear, however. that with
heritage of dramatic instinct, literary
gifts of excellent performance and
greater promise, a winsOme personality
and intellectual capacity for mental
growth. there is no limit to the name and
fame she may make for herself.
Generous Appreciation.
The audience was very generous OF
appreciation to both performers. each
being required to respond to- an en-
core, and the floral tributes were
many Indeed, both young Ia
dies garnered enough flowers tOl
turn the heads of a regiment of
more experienced popular favorites. |
Miss LarlIin graduated from the Villa
last year. and has since that time conf
tinued her musical studies under the
tutelage of the Sisters. Miss Simpson
graduates this week She has been
editor in chief of the Villa Shield, the |
school paper the past year, hav-
ing been assistant editor last
year She has also been lately |
honored by an election as class poet.
She has been under instruction in elo-
cution at the Villa. The Sisters GER
tainly have good reason to be proud
if such an emotion is allowed in their
self-effacing regimen-to be proud of
the two charming young ladies who
gave the recital yesterday afternoon.
Artistic Accompaniment.
The beauty of several of Miss Lar
kin's solos was greatly enhanced by the
obligatOs played upon the violin by /
Prof. Albert Petersen with his accus-
toned artistic finish, which he also lent
with fine effect to one of Miss Simp- |
sons readings. The Accomplishments |
of Miss Louise Gibbons were remarka-
bly, satisfactory. To no small degree
was she responsible for the success of
the vocal numbers. She caught in
stantIy the tempo and shading of the
singer and executed piano parts of tech |
nical difficulty.
The attendants at the recital have |
those who participated to thank for
many pleasant incidents not the least
pleasant the painting of a rosy future
for them and the prophecy of still !
greater things to come.
HARRY T. DOWNER.