The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-08

wife, wherein he is sensible; he doesn't approve of her guests, but he permits her and them to make a gambling shop of his house and to incur big debts over big stakes.
 There comes Sir Ralph Newel, Lady Carnforth's cousin, home from the Ar genuine He introduces the beautiful Mrs Engaine and her stepdaughter. He has met them on the North Atlantic voyage. Lady Carnforths brother, MT. Fulks Bissett, bounder with ont q shred of decency, determines to mar " the girl for her fortunes sake. Incidentally he steals her mothers pearl necklace. lie is hard up An elderly male gossip named Topharn Bargeny recognizes in the lovely rich widow a Nora Shard, who a decade ago ran away with Harold FurnfVal an unhappi1y married man, eminent in po- litieal and social life. Furnival, day or two after the elopement, was killed in an accident. Miss Shard, after a burst of publicity, coroner's inquest, illustrated papers and so on. disap- peared. There is no mistake; Mrs. En- gaine is Nora Shard In America she became nurse. A millionaire patient married her and died. Now then, de- clares that blossom of the aristocracy, Lady Carnforth, now then, Mrs. En- gaine. permit my brother. Fulks Bissett. to marry. your stepdaughter or I will expose you as the Nora Shard who ruined Harold Furnival. Mrs. Engaine declines the bargain. Sir Ralph Newell proposes to her. She tells him who she is. Sir Ralph was Furnivals dearest friend. Mrs. Engaine's revelation be- wilders him. He must have time to think. How can she love him, having loved Furnival as she did?
 You don't understand" she moans. .yI think every woman has two hearts to give--a girls and e wonan's-I gave him my. girls heart But I. have womans heart to give you. I'm not the girl who loved Harold Furnfval.' Oii, the woman's love is the best. Won't you take it?'
 He leaves her. but returns next day. He has heard the cries of the gossips Their siclSening cackle drives him to her, to protect her. He sees her as she is. in truth very nob.e woman, the one white soul among this tainted crew. And so their story has a happy end- ing.
 The piece is well acted. Katherine Kaelred plays the part of Mrs. Engaine with much variety and charm and Is well supported by MT. Nye Chart, who makes an admirable lover. Other mem bers of the cast who deserve mention are Charlotte Granville. Mrs. Sam Soth- ern and Miss Alice ..ilson.
 "KOeBigskinder"
 It is considered a great and unusual town to have an opera by a foreign composer produced for the first time on this side of the water. New York has had two this season, with a prospect of a third, when Pietro Mascagni arrives from Italy with his most recent work, "Ysobel"
 The first premier of this kind was Puccinfs Girl of the Golden West" the second, which occurred last week, was Humperdnck' fairy opera, "Koen- igskinder," meaning in English "Kind- ly Children"
 The new work is a. beautiful one and Is destined to became extremely popu- lar. Humperdinck has treated his sub Ject dramatically, the Wagnerian style, that is. he has invented themes or phrases meant to suggest ideas and characters. Many of these themes or phrases are wonderfully eloquent and filled with rich harmony.
 It has been well received by the critics (more favorably from musical standpoint that '"rhe Girl of the Golden West') and ono goes 50 far as to saS that it is the most beautiful opera that has come out of Germany since Wagner's day"
 The libretto is simple and charming. It tells of a kings son, who wearies of his royal life and goes roaming.
 In the high hills above the town of Hella brunn he meets a goose girl. She lives in an enchanted wood, with an old witch, known to her as her grand mother. She is not Gas some contend) princess bewitched. If she were-the story would lose much of it's signif- icance. But she is worthy to be wooed by real king. And. though her father was murderer and her mother was hangman's child, by nature and, inher- itance she is akin to kings.
 The young folk meet and kiss, with