The San Francisco call., 1906-04-17
MIGHT
NOT so BIG
A0EXPECTED
Smart Set in Boxes
GIUes EgeDIDg
Qualify.
WOMEN FAN
LIKE DEMONS
Fa1I to CombrebeDd
Great Moments
of Opera.
MEN ENJOY
THE BALLET
By Laura Bride Powers.

One hates to take things back-lest 1t be
an errant loan
But like the rest OF my adjective sis
ters. 1 prophesied a brilliant" worn
lusterless by kitchen usagel house for
the opening opera highland 1T really
didn't make good-which wasn't all my
fault, nor my sisters.
The dear public preferred to make to-
night the real opening night. and it's the
public that performs-nct the smart-set-
penny-a-Iner. who follows the drum
corps of society. as does the war eorre-
fault-nor hers-if the regiment doesn't
rise to expectations.
But analyticsily the body OF the house
was smart, notably the proscenium boxes
and part of the bath tubs in the or
chestra.
And, speaking of "bath tubs" none OF
the gowns IN them resemble in the least
bathing get-up-mOst of them were
anemic gowns-gotten up for thin women.
stretching tenderly up 70 the chin, and
revealing no family lamentations. what
ever they may be In the privacy Of the
boudoir
But incidentally. in the name of ador-
able esthetics, I would beg the enlistment
of good masseur before the end of the
season.
Particularly smart were the left hand
proscenium boxes. where the gowns were
of the tones Of the rainbow. And indeed
were they as simple in outline as the
beautiful blend and bend of the arch Of
the sky in a sun-shower.
And, what do you think? There. athwart
the gaping, gazing house was low, W
shaped bodice. even as that OF the dash
ing Mrs. Peter, and the wearer was none
other than Miss Helen de Young. who. It
may be mentioned In passing. wore II
with charming abandon. and with the
good excuse OF having fetching back
beneath IT.
Mrs Peter?
Why, she wasn't there.
To be sure she was missed. for last
year she made gay the ensemble OF the
boxes-it's in her TO enspirit things. even
dull box parties
But apropos to the Martin family. dear
Mrs. Eleanor-the idol OF the young and
of the army-was not box fixture. but
like the plebeians was wedged in the con-
glomerate mass os the multitude. away
back in the orchestra under the drapery
Of the dress circle.
And let 1t be recorded that she seemed
happy, in the face OF the fact that
mere social ''ringers-in'' were receiving
the homage OF the untutored part Of the
house-that part that has merely money,
but no coat OF arms. and therefore don't
count in the Greenway rodeos.
From the point OF human interest IN tho
goings-on upon the stage. It struck me-
rather forcibly that women as class
excepting. Of course. the units-do not get
the essence out OF the great passionats
scenes OF the play. or the opera.
During the tremendous climax In tho
garden-scene. where the Queen Of Sheba
lures Assad and ingulfs him IN the folds
OF her drapery-when they are lost IN
the sultry indulgence OF lips dissolved IN
the nectar OF love. and in the silence OF
the night, they drink deep Of its madden
ing quans-the women fused and famed.
and were not bayoneted by the intensity
Of the moment. as were the men. Cert
rude Atherton is right when she says
women as class have no adequate un-
derstanding OF the great passions that
sway the world.
In fact, the ent-mindedness OF feni-
nine tanning reminded me Of a great
German pianist-whose name is lost In
the upstairs Of my mental garret-who.
while playing brilliant concerto, sud-
denly stopped short. and. turning to a
woman near him. cried out. Madam. ir
you must fan yourself. please fan your
self in time"
My. But how that ballet did make the
men sit up and germinate waves Of men
tai sympathy Even stafd Judge Lawlor.
who sat near me listless listener until
those sinuous maidens in green and mus
tard yellow came gyrating and pirouet-