New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-26
OSCAR ON THE SABBATH
DEFENDS HIS CONCERTS.
Goes "Slumming" and Makes Plea
for the Yictoria's License.

The sacred concert covers a multitude OF acts.
according to no less IN authority than Oscar Ham
merstein The West Side impresario had stopped
counting his profits long enough 10 "gO summing
he calls hts Victoria visits TO testify at the
sumption OF the hearing 20 determine IL the shaw
Ing OF elephant y a topical song built around
10 keep the Victoria Theatre from losing its II
cense. Oscar got moro hands than any OF the
top liners at the Victoria ever did before he got
through revealing the mysteries not only Of the
ethics OF the Sunday concert. but also Of the en-
tertaining. diverting. instructive and moral acts
which conpose it.
Willie" Hammersten. his son and present lessee.
had the centre Of the stage when ex-Justice Law
renee started the hearing yesterday in his cham
bers, at No 1875 Broadway He said that he had
instructed the performers to be careful not 20
step the bounds prescribed by law. Then hesmade
way for his father.
Tho complaint against the theatre is based on the
performances Of November 2 and December 2 OF
last year, and Mr.. Hammerstein and his counsel,
Louis J. VOrhous. went tho bills Of those two
nights act by act. In the first act two performers
were alleged 10 have sung and danced clog Mr..
Hammersten. guided by counsel. admitted that he
knew clog dance when he Then he de-
fined It as follows:
THE dancer wooden shoes to which Mttls
cymbals are fastened. Generally he bIackens Up.
He gives exhibitions OF his skill as a dancer OF
rapidity using the whole OF the stage and making
evolutions from end 20 the other.
Like the unsought baby IN ''Masterman Ready"
which was excused because IL was so SMALL Mr..
Hammerstein pleaded for the next ast-a bicycle
actthat Il was so old Since the bicycle came
Not until late in the afternoon, however. was the
real hit made This was when Mr.. Hammersteil
was describing the act OF a troupe OF trained ele-
impresario of the elephants" he began only to be
Interrupted by the laughter. in which the Rev
Philip COOK, who IS pressing the case for the Fed
grafton OF Church Clubs, relaxed enough to join.
II didn't feaZe Oscar bit 1t the fmpreSarfO
l think" he went on impertUrbably, who brought
q pail Of what looked Ike water. and tied what
m eh p Z0F IN he Of ina OILS phan mt
the elephant might do what might be called shaw
ing. don't think that elephant liked 1t. for he
went away"
After the elephants. Caruso. A woman singer
described in verse the adventures OF the tenor in
Central Park. "Of course IL was not edifying."
said oscar depreCaungly. but / should not want
to call IL vulgar SIN. 1t was not what you might
1T has been testified that the woman had poor
voice.
THAT is perfectly correct" said the grand opera
manager without hesitation.
Il suppose you qualify expert remarked
the counsel for the churches.
Then Mr. HammerSten went to testify haN
the Eight Vassar Girls could not have danced as
they holding garlands in a May pole
walk" The strong man who over by
q automobile three times a day. Oscar
as strong jOists bore the entire weight of tbs
machine. Neither did he lift three bicy-
he programme OF the second performance was
then put into the case The words Grand Sacred
Concert NIL up a good part Of it, What I want
to know demanded cX-Judge Lawrence, not un-
reasonably, is why that is here / don't see any
thing sacred about this
Tho law" Mr. Hammerstein "explauationed''
since the law has been in existence think there
Is law. remember the title for twenty years.
always. yes"
There viii be more on Monday