The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-01

to have been covered" by the papers
sporting editor during the absence of
it, music reviewer Mrs. WirSins lit
tie huniorcsuuc Is Of the same family
as that memorable bit Of fun except
that where the newspaper story WAS
farce. her fantasy TX purcst satire.
The book is dedicated to Walter
Damrosch. master of the art-form so
irrovcrcntly treated in these pages"
and the dedication supplies Il hint as
10 the character Of the parody. 1t Is
supposed TO be "a lecture recital de-
scrip;ivc of u hitherto unknown opera
- Richard Wagncr's. discovered in II
iatboN under Il bed, treating in lyric
drama form Of til. tragic story of
Blucbcard, The first few pages dis
close the wondrous fact that the man
usc'.pt was discovered by n house
maid. who noticed that Il halo hung
constantly over that portion of the bed
under which il lay hidden.
Then Mrs. WlEgiu proceeds to the
opera, which deals lin the most unique
and clmacteric manner with fcminism.
TRIAL marriage. higamy and polygamy;
the lihrctto and lcit-motive of which
have been studied with passion and
are now revealed with religious zeal"
She says that some critics still deny
the authenticity Of this work, "although
they conccdc that II is full of WaE-
ner's spirit ANA Influence, and may have
been produced by some ardent follow
er or pupil capable of hurting titanic
tonai eccentricit!cS against the uncom-
pretending eardrum of the dull and
ignorant herd. There are those too.
who think that some disciple Of Rich
tard ll.-Strauss. not Wagner-had IL
mana III the orchoStration simply be.
cause his 'Sinfonia Domcstica' occu-
pies itself with the same sweet his
tory Of the inelcnoolI which Is the ba-
SIS of the Elucbcard librctto. Strausss
- Il
tranquil lines. To lac sure. but IL is
only ihc history Of a single day Of mar
RED life and day arbitrarily chosen
10y the composer. Ut Is conceivable
that there may have been other days."
This master work enunciates the
~ faiima, Seventh Wife singing ac-
tressp Is determined 70 marry once
ht a.. any ny cost; and that Man Isymbolizcd
~ B!uehcard. baritonc) is determined
~ ne narri"s at all. IL marry us thor
"n .Gi,E and rs often as possible"
Inc Whole mock recital-lecture is
written in the same spirit, each sem
tcnce making sense, So to speak. with
~ Itself. but all together ccastitutille
= ne nii oi bnrlesqne,, Many OF the
motive, which arA actually set down in
m"Sical form. are antlyzeG with the
same apparent seriousness that marks
me feai lecturc-rccital. and the result
sHiily anlusc oboth those who under
s,ahd music m its highest form and
.uoSe VINO ncith"t care nor know any
thing about II.
For example. TIL "Blaubert Motif"
Whicn rs aunounccd carly in the sllit
~ deliberately interpreted and ali
sorts 81 inner meanings are read into
IL Ih"n. when III" Inner wicdrr
nclfathen MOTIF C'Always- About-to.
AtarrN-AEain Mot:ve"l is found to offer
q haunting resemblance" to the Blue
bca," mctNo--as matter Of fact it
is almost precisely like it-Airs Virgin
explains that this similarity is not due
To Il pnucitN of molodic ideas in War
h"f brain, Tor he could have evolved
dozen l.cit-Motivc for every meas
nFe' Fuf because Of 4 more exquisite
i ~ refined and subtle reason, which is
thai me wife Is often found to he
NOR, or less q reflection Of her nus
hand, especially in Germany. there
Tore = h"w aud original motive would
& nav" been cut of place"
~" even shows how a given phra Sc
would have been written. if the com
nosers meaning had been different
rom Whnt u was. saying profoundly
winch is Oh" single note, means much.
Il ~ ~ means anything" AS she saws.
II IN" story. as a whole is fairly muir
4 murous with morality, sending yoult.
4 men anu women To their homes i'm
| pressed with the risks and SHARES in,
| volycd in higamy and polygamy. ana
/ giving tG"u! an added sense of Tho G.
I curltS and gravity of the narriag. ITO
| when Sporinrly used.
Npi should her diaprammed surCos
| Si"h Tor inc arrangement OF orchestra
! Ton the presentation Of "Bmebcard'''
\ he overlooked iu seeking, 10 obtai., f,ll
/ enjoyment Of Mrs. Wigein's oyou,si, =
ann scintiilant foolcry
mo y" matter what Hebecca may saw.
"luebeard' is worthy OF her creator.