Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-14

Cohan with extraordinary unostentaton
made his farewell appearances some time
ago as dancer and musical composer.
without preliminary announcement He
still remains in the field as an author.
possibly as a stage manager And IT
must be admitted that it is Cohan's busy
brain and not his willing voice and agile
legs that made him successful against
heavy odds
1t is announced that Mr. Conan in
tends to take up farming.
The Department of Agriculture should
hasten to camp on his trail. Interest
ing discoveries are at hand. Bulletins
may be expected on The influence of a
barber-shop chord on setting hen"
How to can barnyard voices to be used
by little girls who give limitations OF
George Conan; THE art CT tanning
Jersey COW so that she will not kick at
being forcibly deprived of her original
material etc. etc.
The possibilities are unlimited. includ-
ing those of electric signs on the wood
shed TO make ii easier for his surround
ing friends To help themselves in case
of need.
The moving picture has doomed up with
sucf. Importance as TO verify predictions
that IT would constitute a formidable
rival TO tie regular dramatic attractions.
Films have invaded the houses once held
10 legitimate standards, and are patron
lied where deliberately staged offerings
designed to catch current fancy have
been neglected.
Bought and Paid For has the ring
of the drama OF the moral price tag in
its title 1t was not d novelty, and the
interest in dramas that shock the sensi
bilities with deliberate violence is not
strong in this particular community. The
prejudice threatens TO extend to any
drama of current theme. which would be
a pity. for now and then a good, rous-
ing melodrama with a consistent human
appeal, like Within the Law appears.
with the genuine thrill TO it.
The season has not presented a great
deal that was inspiring. AS the new
year approaches a brief retrospect re-
veals a remarkable array Of splendid OPP
portunities for turning over new leaves.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
CHINAS CARUSO.-Prince Lai Mon
Kim, the famous Chinese tenor, is re-
garded by his countrymen as the Caruso
of China.
The Chinese are. as rule. by no means
singers Some travellers have described
their vocal efforts as on par with back
fence caterwauling. There are few noted
singers among the 400,0Oo,oOo people in
the celestial kingdom-that is considered
from the western world standpoint.
Lai Mon, Kim is said to be one Of the
very few orientals who understands oc-
cidental music. He sings principally in
English, using program that ranges
from grand opera to popular ballads. He
has, however. translated several Of the
songs of the day into Chinese. the effect
being decidedly entertaining. Kim also
sings good bit of the native music OF
his country.
He was born in Canton, China, where
his father was an important factor among
the advocates of modern China" Kim
was sent to this country to be educated
for the diplomatic service, and, after I'm
ishing in the grammar and high schools.
was Tnatriculated at the University OF
Washington, where he graduated with
the highest honors
At college his voice commanded unusual
attention and il was only a short while
before he became principal tenor of the
glee club. which is one Of the best known
received offers to go upon the stage He
refused however. having his heart set
upon the career for which he was fitting
himself and the service he was to per-
form for his country, until political con-
dittons arose which not only embarrass-
I'd his parents. but made his presence IN
China decidedly inadvisable.
IDEAS ON POPULAR ETIQUETTE
William Collier has q few "don'ts" OF
ais own. Here are some Of them:
Don't come to the theater late. Re-
nsmber, the early bird catches the plot.
Don't think because you are sitting in
The gallery you are above suspicion.
Don't ignore the proper functions OF the
theater When baby cries. bring it along,
10 everybody can hear II.
Don't believe all you see on the stage
We sometimes look out front and don't
believe 1t.
Don't believe all you hear OF actors
We read the papers also.
Don't shudder at the villains cruelty
10 the heroine-she may be his mother.
When you buy theater tickets don't
ask, Can you see from there?" A ticket
seller is not an oculist.
Don't overlook the fact that the thea
Ter is yet to be built IN which all the
seats are on an aisle and only five rows
USES NO SCORE.-Leopoid Stokowski,
the talented conductor of the Philadel-
phia Orchestra, is the latest recruit to
The ranks of scoreless leaders. Mr..
Stokowski said recently in answer to a
query:
Il have always used a score until last
summer in London. where was con-
aucting the London Symphony Orches-
ira On that occasion my scores were
left in the taxicab, which took me from
my hotel to the Queens Hall. At the
ast moment when the loss was discov-
sred. / made a haSty mental review of
Brahms First symphony" which was
sn the program Realizing that / remem-
bered II perfectly. / decided to essay the
performance without a score. was not
half way through the first movement be-
lore / realized that / was conducting
With freedom 1 had never felt before.
Hnce than I have conducted fpom mem
bry and intend to continue doing SO.