The Washington herald., 1907-11-03
BY r. 7. HIGII-CAMP-


Berne, Oct 27.-Switzerland is the bouo
Of two American music lovers whose af-
lection for their muse and the good work
they do in her service have caused them
TO be called philanthropists. One Of these
is Louis Lombard. whose home IS in
Lugano, and the other is AIr goppet.
who lives on the Lake Of Geneva. Mr..
Lombdrds castle. Chateau de Trevano.
rs within a few minutes travel Of the
Italian frontier, and Mr.. Coppet's within
n few minutes OF the French. so that
Switzerland seems 10 have them within
her borders. just by the skin Of her teeth,
50 to speak
Mr.. LOmbard's chateau has. besides a
most satisfactory entrance, with foun-
tain, marble pillars. Oriental rugs and
statues, a concert room for chamber
music and 4 theater that seats perhaps
200 guests. In this theater List used 10
play, and. years ago. when the chateau
was still the property Of the Russian
noble who had had it built, the first rep
resentation Of GOunods Faust was
given here. Mr.. Lombard has q full or
chestra. composed Of professors Of music
and members Of the Scala orchestra in
Milan, and every evening in the theater.
after dinner. the house guests. or. if there
are none Mr.. Lombard and his wife
alone have the pleasure of a wonderful
concert by these weu-trained musicians.
Mr.. Lombard directs them himself, and
this summer ne staged and directed his
own opera, "Erisin0la, The Dreams OF
a Life, to which premiere" 200 people
were invited from all over Europe. Think
ing Of the enormous expense he had been
under for special scenery and the artists
from London, Paris, and Milan, I asked
him when he was going TO give it again.
VIII Give Opera TO World.
Never" he declared. at least. never
here in the chateau I shall, Of course.
allow it 20 be played on other stages. but
this performance Is TO be only one OF its
kind-unique"
And truly it was a performance that
may be described as sui generis." The
artists We're in superb voice the music
was beautiful; the IbTettO, by the Young
poet. llHca, was interesting and -cOuchsd
ia exceedingly musical phrasing, and, Of
course, the audience was most fav0rably
disposed. / am sure you Will hear about
the opera in America later There were
two Americans IN the cast-Miss YvOnue
de Treviile, who sings in the Opera Com
iqUe in Paris. and Walter Wheatlcy. who
is engaged at The C0vent Garden Theater.
in London
Mr. Lombard makes il his business TO
hunt Up talent and then give It d fair
-.1l-
and gets up concerts for charity Mr.
Coppet doesn't 90 himself, but he sends
his quartet all over Switzerland al the
call OF various charitable organizations
in need Of funds. When the quartet is not
thus travelling. il is at his chateau in
Bgonchet. making music for him and his
guests, OF praCticing up for another char
liable concert II is called the FlonZaley
Quartet, and its music IS TO my mind, and
% the minds of many others, nothing
short OF heavenly. There are a first vio-
lin, a second, d bratsche, and a cello.
Their last concert here in Berne was ar
ranged 10y the writer, Nine Ealentin. for
the benefit Of the Eye, Ear and Throat
but was not advertised as "a
charity concert. for the quartet is getting
proud OF its reputation, and wishes %
draw the public By It's own fame and
not simply and solely for the sake Of the
good work Il played the Schubert Quar-
tet in A minor, op p tab, that allegro
a Souato for two violins, and
cello, by San Martini. and a big Beet
hoven quartet in + sharp. Op. 135. one OF
the most medern things I ever heard.
Bernhardt Gets New Role.
The concert was a great success in
every way, so Nine. Valentine said TO me
in great glee yesterday as We sat over
her open fire and drank our tea in the
early dusk.
''Well,' 1 said. and what Is the latest
news about yourself and your transla-
ionsT'
Ell bien," she answered. The very
attest is that Mrs Sarah Bernhardt has
accepted my translation of Die Raben-
that is being played all over
Germany just now. and she will pro-
luce IL in the spring.
This IS good news, indeed. and means
great deal for Nine Valentine al
hough her fame is already a settled
hing in all French-speaking countries.
Il is she who has the sole right % trans
ate Sudermann's works into French,
and ii was her version of Taps" that
vas played so successfully and so long
n Paris and the provinces last year. I
wonder who viii do Die Rabensteiner-
n into English, and who will be the
me 10 produce IT, 1t is a medieval play,
uli Of yigor and primeval passion.
'ApTopOs of America" she said,
have You heard Of Herr Y. who went 10
he L Congress in Boston, No2 He has
ust come back and is full of his adj
entures. Herr y is sixty years old, and
las spent forty years of his life in the
are of his health and his dignity He
laims that in America he was hustled
ctUally bustled At first he was lodged
n the sixteenth story of hotel, and in
he corridor outside his door was a
lacard which read. In case of fire, go
o room T. where the fire-escapes are
% you see Herr Y crawling down six
cen stories on a ladder? The next room
e got was only six stories high-nOtice
hat 'only-and there was a rope C6iled
10 in one corner with directions how 10
Se il I'm case OF FIRE Now Herr X is
10 sailor lad. to go hand-over-hand
own a rope. and he was very much ex-
rcised IN his mind. But, fortunately.
othing caught fire, so ne was not obliged
o try either the ladder or the rope.
ROOSeveIts knowledge Impresses.
The Congress was received on Long
sland by the President Extraordinary
IAN, the President. Herr Y was es-
ecially impressed 10y his knowledge Of
re-histOric fauna.
But how do YOU suppose he dined
hem? There had been a hole made in
he ground and white-hOt stones thrown
D. On these were placed crabs. lob
ters. and clans. and over all a layer Of
caweed. After a few hours. the repast
7as ready. and the guests were invited 10
aTtake. Herr X found it absolutely
rimeval-quite savage in fact; II was
o dier He did not expect 10 awake IN
is bed the next day, but in a band Of
ngels bright. But the worst was vet 10