The San Francisco call., 1908-08-10


4. ceremonies held in the vaults OF
the Paris opera house when the
voices of some of the worlds great
est songsters were buried, not to be
exhumed for 100 years. When the
present and another generation have
passed over the face of the earth
when only a memory handed down
from father to son and grandson is
left of the beauties of Caruso's tones
when Tetrazzinrs glorious coloratura
has ceased to be heard and is but
a tradition; when Tamagno's voice in
the great "OthelIo" aria has been si
lent for century then there will
be another ceremony in the vaults
| OF the Paris opera house. From her
metcally sealed cases of copper the
records, bearing the preserved voices
of the greatest of our singers, will
be placed in the machines now so
familiar to US all, and then will sound
forth again to men and women yet
unborn the voices of our great sing
ers.
And still some musicians say that
there is no virtue in canned music" "
charles Malherbe, who has charge
OF the archives at the Paris opera house,
describes, in the Music Trades, the ar
rangement of the records and the meth
od OF preserving them. as follows:
The disks are so disposed as not to
be In immediate contact with one an
other, the weight resulting from super
position would have the effect in time
OF marring the fine engraving and
thus compromising the future execu-
ton moreover, between these isolated
plates II was necessary to exclude the
air. Air is the friend of all that re-
spires, the enemy of all that is mani
mate. In order to shield the records
from IFS 6R1RfRTi0nG action
was made of copper, this metal being
less penetrable than others; a vacuum
was made in this box. which was then
sealed hermetically. 1t was then placed
IN second case. which was treated in
similar manner. care being taken not
to have the seal of the outer box oppo-
site to that of the inner, as further
precaut1on against the direct action OF
the air.
We must note. too, that the disks
are provided with resinous matter. as
extreme dryneSs could injure them
then we must consider the beneficial
effect prolonged sojourn in the vaults
OF the opera house should have upon
them; deprivation of light and air will
certainly contribute TO their preServa-
tion.
Between two pillars wall has been
constructed provided with metal COM
partments so arranged as to receive
the new cases of disks as the collection
is augmented.
A special parchment. carefully edited.
pieces contained in the cases and all
necessary instructions for manipulating
the machine and it's accessories. since.
In the course of so long a period OF
time many of the mechanical details
of today viii be materially altered
A new musical organization, the
San Francisco orchestral society, was
started last Friday evening at the
home of Charles H Dayton. at 1853
Scott street. An orchestra, consist
ing of advanced amateurs among the
country clubs of the state in turn, was
discussed. Mrs Theodore Pinther re-
ported at this meeting upon the large
silk banner she is making for the
campaign Mrs. Alice Parke brought
an encouraging report from the Santa
Clara valley. Mrs /. B. Tuohey read
an account from Glen Park. Mrs. Helen
Moores, Miss Selma Solomon. Miss
Maude Younger, Mrs. A. Y. Williams.
Mrs. Mary Speery and several others
also reported. Mrs. Dennison of Oak
land invited the members of the league
to attend the reception to be given in
Oakland on August 13 in honor of Mrs
A. Pease and Mrs. L. S. Churchill, two
visiting eastern women who are prOmi-
nent workers for equal suffrage
he OulQOOT art league OI LIE OdlA-
fornia club, with Mrs. Lowell White in
the chair. held the first regular meet
ing of the new term on Thursday, about
40 women enjoying the reunion. The
league, which is interested in the pres
ervation of Telegraph hill. the suppress
sion of unpleasant bill boards and the
general beautifying of the city, has de-
this term and will take steps at once to
preserve the old cemeteries of the city
as beauty spots and landmarks as they
are generally preserved in the large
eastern cities. The cemeteries lying
beyond Devisadero street and between
Sutter and Hayes were especially men
toned in this connection Mrs Lowell
White has asked the members to be
her guests on Thursday next in her
beautiful Mill Valley home, The
Arches where luncheon, driving and
a stroll under the redwOods will fill
the day.
On Thursday evening the California
club was again used. this time for a
reception given by the women's auxil-
iary of the British and American union.
for the president OF the organization,
Mrs. G.. Alexander Wright. The
British consul and his wife, Mr.. and
Mrs Walter Hearn. were guests at this
affair, as were several other promi-
nent members OF the English colony
here. The clubhouse had been exquis-
itely decorated with flags and gseens,
and several good musical and dramatic
numbers were given during the even
ing. Mrs. Wright. who has been abb
sent for six months in Europe. was
presented with some beautiful flowers.
and was warmly welcomed back. Dur
ing her absence Mrs. c.. C. Macdonald
has acted as chief executive. The reg
uIar club meetings will recommends
next month.
The first of five concerts for the
founding asylum will be given in the
Sequoia club rooms in Bush street on
Sunday next. and is in charge of Hum
phrey j. Stewart. No pains have been
spared to make these affairs success
full from both a social and financial
point OF view, and they promise to be
real innovation in the musical his
tory of the city.
The preliminary program for the i'm
mense convention of college alumnae
Impertinent @