New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-28
LONDON NOTES
american Womcn Alpoqd-
Mss L ptOn' s Pictures.

were more music lovers than smart peo-
pie in the audience. and there was in
tense curiosity respecting music OF such
extraordinary completely as Or. Strauss
but the departures from conventional
opera were so numerous that there might
have been signs of bewilderment and
discomfort if the German singers and
Mr.. Beecham's band had not been sup
ported by the fine &C ting Of the two
Americans Miss Edyth Walker did not
lose both combs from her hair, as shs
had done in the final rehearsal. but she
threw herself into the part of E,lektra
with such irnpassioned fervor that every
body in the audience was thrilled with
the agic spirit of the music. Although
she was on the stage nearly two hours,
the resources Of her sympathetic soprano
voice were not exhausted. and she was
as weird and fascinating at the end as
she was at the beginning 10 was vivid
and moving impersonatiOn, which power
fully affected the. enthusiastic audience.
More attractive. because brighter and
more vivaclous. was the ChrysOthemis
of Miss Frances Rose This American
singer from Colorado mas become a great
favorite in Berlin. where she has ap-
peared in "SaIome" carmen and other
operas. ana enjoyed the friendship %
DIR. Strauss himself She has hand
some face and an impressive presence.
ard she acts as well as she sings. Hers
are the hghtett passa ges Of the gloomy
and oppressive tragedy, and she slides
through them as though she were fasci-
mated and wellnigh spenbound by the
music Both Americans have prOhted by
their German training. Each fOrgets
herself in her part. and there is a real
effect of inpersonation Of character.
The KIytemnesta was Frau Won Mil
denburg, and the Orestes Herr Weide-
mann. and each filed the part with Ger
man thoroughness and sang with artistic
in teIligence; but the most successful per-
formances of the evening were those Of
the two Americans. who reconciled the
audience 70 the lack of overture, 70 the
continuous per 'OfvuanCe for TWO hours
Wi hout break. 10 the use Of unfamiliar
instruments, and u all the vagaries and
mysteries of he score. Neither Is
ashamed of her merriam birthr;ght, for
experiences in teaching school and reck-
less enough 70 describe Mr.. Beechan1 "a
"a perfect dandy; and the other de-
cIares with elastic exaggeration that
there is not a singer of any reputation
in the world who is not dying TO appear
in "Elektra.
The connection between Golliwogs and
t. oh
vious but it is suggested fanc1fully by
the studio opened in Smith Square. be-
hind Westminster Abbey, by Miss Flor
ence Upton, the originator of the &C.
centric gnomes and fairy shapes which
were ultimately dressed as dolls II IS
not Jenny Wren's house. for the home
of that strange little creature. with elm
chin and crooked legs. who might easily
have been herself a GoIliwog, was torn
down years ago; but il is close by ar
the Joining of "a certain little street
and "a certain little blind square" and
in front of it is the hideous Queen Anne
church where ArchdeacOn Wilberforce
breaches. and that still answers the re-
uuirements of Dickens's description:
with four towers at the four corners.
generally resembling some petrihed
monster frightfu1 and gigantic, on It's
back with its legs in the air" 1t would be
as idle TO look within for Golliwoss In
black and white line or in water color as
for the bits of cardboard and wood, the
scraps of velvet and silk. and the scts-
sors and knives with which the eccentric
little dolls dressmaker used 10 ply her
nainter of many accomplishments and
talents and is practising her profession
with American energy in that quaint
corner of old Westminster
There has been a remarkably effective
exhibition of Miss Upton's work TINS
week in two reformed old houses around
the corner from her studio In an upper
room. there have been ten OF eleven por-
traits. the majority of them panels OF
moderate size, adapted for an ordinary
drawing room. The most brilliant one
is a portrait of Mrs. Lewis Hind. IN
pink changea BILE Silk-a charming COM
bination of a handsome face fun OF
character and refinement and an arts,
tic costume admirably suited 10 the SUD
ject. The brushwork has as much power
az delicaCy color and technique ara
excellent and there is a vivid denote
ment of interesting personality other
panels are portraits of Mrs WoodnaA
in a specially designed costume, and her
daughter in bright red A smaller one Is
a rapid sketch of Mr. Lewis Hind at MS
writing desk in his library. and IN sddi-
ton to larger panels with interesting
faces and tasteful costumes there Is
pleasing portrait of child.
In the lower room there Is series OF
interiors and landscapes which proVe
that Miss Uptons talents are not re-
stricted to poTtraiture. The most no
ticeable picture is The Yellow ROOM
an interior painted in Dutch viiase
and exhibited with honor in PARIS
There are two figures. an old woman al"
a child at table, and the room is almost
as fuIl of atmosphere and light as tne
brilliant interior in the Sailing collection
attributed To Peter de Ciooch and pain'eu
possibly by Jan Ncrmeer. of Delft. ms
yellow Door" is another work Wnic"
reveals well balanced composition anu
charm of color. and the landscapes arc
restful and beautiful. Miss Upton IS