Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-18

production of American opera. rendered
by strictly American singers. impre-
sario Andreas Dippel has let himself in
for a great deal of hard work The
applications come to him by the thou
sands from singers and would-be sing
ers from every section of the country.
Thousands of them" Mr.. Dippel re-
peated when speaking about 1t recent
~ WHY, there are hundreds of thou
sands. all waiting to be heard, OF
course. l shall hear them some day
otherwise | might just miss the chance
of lifetime. You never can tell from
what obscure and unexpected corner
the greatest prima donna the world
has ever known Will suddenly spring.
so I hear each one, counting them
off just as rapidly as l conveniently
can. Each one wants to sing her en-
tire repertoire, and thinks herself Ill
used when I decide in less than ten
minutes whether she can sing or not.
To judge the voices and possibilities of
some people for the operate stage it Is
not even necessary for them to open
their mouths. and to Judge most peo-
pie 1t is necessary that they open their
mouths only very little. For only a
tiny minority of people is 1t necessary
to give lengthy hearing"
Nevertheless Mr.. Dippers courteous
tendency has literally swamped him
with "birdlings' hoping to be chosen,
or at least encouraged.
Dramatic Incidental dramatic in
cdent was enacted at the Armory. De-
troIt n few evenings ago. when James
F J. Archibald was delivering his war
talk
While narrating the exciting moments
during the siege of verdun, cture
appeared upon the screen disclosing
the efficiency of the field telep one
Of 20 nj is
handsome young German looking
straight to the audience, while listen
ing to a telephone message from head
quarters. Hardly had the picture ap-
peared than there was faint cry
from woman in the audience.
Almost Immediately her husband.
oscar Klausner of 2s5 West Forest
avenue, Detroit, sought the acquaint-
ance of Mr.. Archibald's manager, ana
informed him that the soldier present
ed upon the screen was Herman stem
veg, his wife's brother. who had join
ed the German army, and that after
his draft to the front all further
knowledge of his Whereabouts were
lost, until his picture was revealed
upon the screen.
Mr.. Archibald was able to give the
number of the young mans corps,
copy of the p cture, which Mr.. Arch1-
bald had taken himself, and fnforma-
ton regarding the proper authorities
they should appeal to IN Qennltely TO-
eating the wanderer.
Once n Child Prodigy.-Joseph SAINT
ley, who appears as the star of "All
Over Town." was once a child prodigy
and like many others of his kind has
lived down the ancient axiom to the
effect that "A child prodigy rarely or
never develops into high-class per-
former.
While Mr. Santley. mho, though still
in the early twenties, has been star
in musical comedy during the past
three years, he was billed at six as the
Greatest Boy Actor of the World"
But MIR. Santley is not the only actor
who has been able to overcome his
past. The axiom doesn't always work
well. Almost every one of the great
actors and actresses of the past were
caught early" Joseph Jefferson was
carried on the stage as baby in arms
Salvini, Edwin Booth, E H. Sotherl
and many other great actors of the
past and present began their stag
careers at very early age.
The child prodigy who has become a
distinguished actress, has very varied
application. Ellen Terry, practically
walked from the nursery into the glare
of the footlights, and her very earlies,
efforts were marked with distinction
Miss Terry's biographer wrote: "She
was great in every line she ever spoke
on the stage"
Mrs Fiske began her career wher
nine years of age. Even as a child
Mrs. Fiske was referred to as being
a genius. Viola Allen began at four