davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-04-08
'COLORADORIVER
COMMISSION WILL
MEETNEXT WEEK

PHOENIX, April Z pa meeting
Of the Colorado river commission will
be held next week, it was announced
today at which first discussions of
possible negotiations with California
and Nevada will be discussed Mem
Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-04-08

Prince Rumania
lies dangerously ILL., Queen Marie large
his accession while political
the turbulent and impeuous Carol the king
with girls hi
Evening star., 1927-10-23

Of Seville" You may recall that
Figaro visits the home of Bartolo to
shave him. The froth of beaten eggs
Is substituted for soap lather and ap-
piled to the actors face. In this in
stance the property man was in
structed to prepare the froth. He set
to work with a right good will, but
for some reason or other the froth
failed to materialize. Once again it
became necessary to race. against time,
and the director in his anxiety
hastened over to his property man to
observe his progress with the egg
beating.
81 don't seem to be able to beat up
a froth," complained the property
man.
"No wonder" exclaimed the di-
rector, you've left the yolk in them.
Didn't your mother ever teach you
to beat eggs?"
There was no time for further dis
cussion and call boy was dispatched
to buy a dozen eggs at the nearest
store. In his haste to return, the un-
fortunate fellow dropped the eggs and
was sent once again to procure an.
other dozen. This time he succeeded.
The eggs were whipped into a creamy
froth and another small tragedy of
the opera stage was frustrated.
Scores of such incidents happen
during an opera season. Fortunately
for both audience and players a friend.
ly curtain obscures the vision from
the front. The public, witnessing a
smooth, apparently effortless per-
formance. seldom realizes the con.
slant vigilance being exercised back
stage by the directors, for whom there
is no repose until the descent of the
last curtain.
Opera, like its sister. the speaking
stage, has its centuries-old supersti-
tons. "A final, perfect dress rehearsal
invariably presages a miserable OPEN
ing performance. On the other hand.
any experienced player will swear by
Evening star., 1927-10-23

laugh that way. Let me hear you all
laugh now. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha like that.
Now all together. Laughp'
This time there is roar of laughter.
That's r1ore like it," says Miss Dill
Ion; now let us take our positions
again and so over this number"
Signor Bimboni seats himself or
stands at the piano and strikes the
keys and 60 willing workers flock
down stage" and await the wave of
the conductors hand.
It seems scarcely possible that out
of all this disorder there ever will
emerge well designed operatic pres
entation.
Some things do "slip" occasionally,
however. Wherever the human ele.
nnent Is involved, there Is always the
hazard Of unexpected errors or acoi.
dents
The property man may heve for.
gotten some important object neces.
sary for use in certain scene, The
Electrician may have lapse of mem.
ory. Any one OF thousand contin-
gencies may arise to strike terror TO
the soul Of the director. Sometimes
he is prepared for them, sometimes
he Ii not.
Several years ago, s'Tosca" was pre-
.sented by the Washington National
Opera at the Auditorium. In one Of
Evening star., 1927-10-23
Anxiously Watches Details Until Final Curtain

the shadow Of Thespis that a loose
jointed, ragged dress rehearsal Is an
unerring precursor of a successful
first night.
Two years ago when "Pagliacci"
was presented here by the Washington
National Opera temperamental
donkey was engaged for an animal
part. During all the rehearsais the
long-eared beast behaved in a most
comely fashion, exhibiting an ami.
ability rather inconsistent with the
character of the species. At the final
dress rehearsal he was letter perfect
and obedient to every command Of the
stage director.
The more experienced members of
the cast expressed misgivings for the
success Of the public performance. If
traditions were sustained or ran true
to form, something was likely to hap
pen the night of the opening. The SUI
perstltiouS were not disappointed.
Luckily the audience was unable to
hear the commotion behind the cur
tain, but that fact did not serve to
assuage the poignant fear of those in
charge of the animal nor deter the
beast from resisting the herculean ef-
forts to push him onto the stage. He
simply refused to go on. The merry
and showed him from the rear. but
all orthodox methods of handling a
donkey proved Intellectual. To the best
or worst of his donkey temperament,
he was emulating certain unpopular
prima donnas. BY dint of physical
persuasion and superior forces. the
gentlemen Of the ensemble contrived
to maneuver him into a position on
the set to the relief of every one con-
cerned. And still there are those who
regard stage superstitions merely as
the curious vagaries of play-folks.
That splendid artist. Chaiiapin, has
been known to refuse even to speak to
any one on the day of a scheduled ap.
pearance. He indicates his desires by
gestures.
1t is said that the late Josef
Schwarz died a million Deaths be.
fore a public appearance. A high.ten-
sion artist, SchwarZ seemed to radiate
sparks just before the cue which was
to take him on. Once he had taken the
plunge, so to speak. his whole de-
meanor changed. None Of his auditors
would have suspected for an instant
Evening star., 1927-10-23
S


the scenes Tosca goes to the apart.
ments 'of Scarpia to plead for the life
Of her lover. She carries with her
knife with which to kill Scarpia This
particular night Edouard Albion
sought to locate the blade with which
the murder should be accomplished
The curtain was about to ascend and
thorough search back stage failed
to reveal even aspenknjfe. Frantically
Albion ordered the curtain held and
dashed through the stage door in
quest Of weapon. A colored matron
happened to be sitting at the window
OF her small home across the street
and Albion rushed toward her. begging
for a knife to end the life of Scarpia.
For moment the panic-stricken col.
ored lady sat frozen with fear at
sight of the agitated gentleman in
evening attire. who gesticulated wildly
and sputtered his demand for a knife.
Good Lordy" gasped the frightened
woman, and, slamming the window,
disappeared.
In the meantime the curtain was
being held and temperamental singers
were anxiously wondering what was
causing the seemingly interminable
stage wait. Outside the director was
almost beside himself as he sped to
corner store, where he explained his
mission to the startled proprietor, who
produced sharp-edged knife from his
living quarters in the rear. Racing
back to the stage, Mr.. Albion pressed
the knife into Tosca's hand and the
curtain rose. None of the audience
was aware, Of course, that anything
unusual had occurred. 1t may be
said, however, that Edouard Albion
lived a lifetime during the few mo-
ments he spent in the mad search for
so small, yet so important an object
as a knife.
\ \
A MOTHER rather amusing incident
q occurred when the Washington
National Opera produced 1.-THE Barber
Evening star., 1927-10-23
BY THORNTON FISHER.

U~ TAND UP--yes, you over
~ there! Are you tenor or
bass? Well, why don't you
~ get over where you belong
then? All those who We're
not in their proper places at O'Clock
sharp raise your hands. Aha--so
many! All Of you who were late
stand up! Why were you late, young
lady? What is your name? Talking
TO friends here, you say? That makes
no difference. And you over on the
left, why were you late?
Nov listen, every one OF you. ] am
not going to tolerate this sort of bust
ness. When l say rehearsals are to
begin at o'clock mean s o'clock
and not a fraction of a second after.
do you understand? / say, do you
understand? I'm tired Of this nom
sense. We are going to run this
insist upon discipline and you can
like It or not. All right. sit down"
A dozen Washington young people
of both sexes obeyed their maestros
voice. An army top-sergeant could
tatorial than Edouard Albion, gen.
eral factotum of the Washington Ma
tional Opera. The silence which fol-
lowed the "bawling-out" was so i'm
pressive that a falling feather might
have sounded like a 16-inch gun at
the Aberdeen proving grounds. Mr..
Albion gestured to Alberto Bimboni,
the musical conductor. and the ST.
gnor's dextrous digits began the first
chorus number of "Mignon."
An affable personality is Signor
Bimboni, indeed. A mite of a man
physically, resembling somewhat the
story-book pictures of Julius Caesar.
Temperamentally an artist, B.mboni
is patient, kindly and tactful. If one
of his charges sounds a "sour" note,
Bimboni does not shrek il distress,
tear up score sheet or attempt to
demolish the handiest objects about
him. Instead, he leaves the piano at
which he stands (seldom sits) and To-
Gates the instigator of the discord.
"Ah." says Signor Bimboni, sit does
not go ta-ta-ta-ta. 1t must go da-de-
Evening star., 1927-10-23

ber, has sung In every production of
the local opera since its organization
ten years ago.
No singer is accepted as q member
of the Washington National Opera
chorus without permission OF his or
her vocal teacher.
Intelligence is the first essential in
selecting the members of the chorus.
The ability to sing is secondary. In
the choosing of the women, pulchri-
tude is naturally considered, but is
not insisted upon. The men may he
bald, red-headed, gray-headed or
black-headed. so long as they can raise
their voices In song. Here, we might
the chronic bathroom singers.
The writer attended rehearsal of
the chorus few night ago and ar
rived in time to hear Director Albion
administer the ''bawling out" record.
ed. At the conclusion of the eve-
rling's work this statement was put to
Mr.. Albion: How come the rough
stuff? IL any one had talked to me
the way you spoke to the chorus
would have walked out on you.
You're bearr'
Edouard Albion smiled whimsically.
Discipline, my dear fellow, that is
ALL" said he. without it we could
accomplish nothing. Young America
is frightfully undisciplined. You can
see 1t everywhere. We are dealing
with art here. Results must be
achieved without regard to the cause.
mean by that. that we are erecting
a structure. 1t can only be builded
by the hardest sort of work. II
should permit these young men and
women to walk in and out as they
chose, the whole organization would
Immediately become demoralized and
we would have nothing but chaos.
] must be severe to accomplish an
end.
II could go to New York and in
"a hours assemble a professional
chorus. Most Of them would be for.
eigners. They understand discipline.
Evening star., 1927-10-23

should have the finest opera house in
the world. Certainly we have the
talent here. I am tremendously in
terested In all this. When I rebuke
these young people 1t is really not
Albion. l must do it If, as 1 have
said, we expect to accomplish results.
am not q bear then, am II"
Albion was right.
It is interesting to observe the cease
less work of the directors in charge
Of the Washington Chorus, especially
that of Miss Enrica Clay Dillon. Miss
Dillon was pupil of the distinguished
Motino, known as the father Of the
gesture" and has an easy familiarity
with 40 operas.
It is no simple task to direct 90
people of various moods and disposi-
tfons and infuse in them the esprit
de corps so essential to the compost
ton of the stage picture of which
they are to be part. To effect this
result the dramatic coach must stimu.
late the imagination of her ensemble
by word, gesture and description.
In this Miss Dillon succeeds admir-.
ably. She places a chair here and
10, it becomes bower of exotic beau
ty. She shoves table there and
Cleopatra's barge idles down a blue,
palm-fianked stream. Miss Dillon
tosses a rose and Carmen energies.
X y
DURING a recent rehearsal of Gar.
men" she asked the merry viii
layers" to laugh. The response was
few weak giggles. Stimulating mer-
riment when there Is nothing in partic-
ular to he merry about is just one of
the numerous functions of well reg.
ulated chorus. Miss Dillon steps be-
fore the ladies and gentlemen of the
ensemble and says: Comet Come!
That was no laugh. Ha-ha! You don't
Evening star., 1927-10-23

ly tried before the curtain rises upon
the well oiled dramatic machine. The
public must witness only the effect.
The cause must be concealed lest the
illusion be shattered.
This is especially true OF operatic
productions, in which neither princi.
pals nor supernumeraries may inn
provise in the event that something
goes wrong. Something must not go
wrong. Exits and entrances must be
timed to the split second. One princi.
pal, let US say, will require Ave
minutes to tell another principal why
he is going to kill him. The potential
victim then may take Ave minutes to
demonstrate and tell the other why he
should not be killed. A certain mum.
ber of notes takes a singer so many
steps up or down or cross stage. No
more. no less. His or her position is
established or defined so that perfect
synchronization results.
On the speaking stage, it Is not un-
usual for an actor to forget line.
Some one may give him his cue or he
may improviSe for the moment and
the audience is blissfully unconscious
that anything has occurred. This
never can happen in operatic produc.
tions,
Obviously every contingency must
be anticipated and averted. Princi.
pals. ballet and ensemble must be let
ter. note and gesture perfect when the
conductor raises his baton. The
merry villagers" whom the audience
hears and sees cavorting beyond the
footlights, spend innumerable hours
and days learning how villagers
should be merry on the stage. The
mere gesture of raising a f1agon to the
lips may require hours Of drilling and
training. Ergo, discipline. Without
it the entire structure would collapse.
Save for its principals, the Wash
Evening star., 1927-10-23
Electric Mail Carrier.
THERE is an interesting device (

THERE is an interesting device for
the prompt delivery of letters TO
the tenants Of the upper floors in high
houses. On the ground floor is let.
ter box for each of the floors above.
When a letter is dropped into one of
these boxes 1t makes an electric con.
tact. which not only sets bell ring
ing on the floor for which the letter
is intended, but also opens the valve
of a water tank on that floor. by
means of which a cylinder. connected
with the letter box by cords and pull
lies. is filed with water. When full
the cylinder descends and pulls up the
letter box. The latter, on reaching ita
destination, automatically dumps Its
contents, while at the same instant
the cylinder discharges its water. The
box now outweighs the cylinder and
accordingly descends, lifting the latter
to it's original position.
Evening star., 1927-10-23

de-da-da. 1t goes up on the de-da-da,
not down. You make it go down.
Now we all try it over again. So."
Bimboni strides rapidly back to the
piano and counts, 'tOne-two three
four-five-six Harmony results.
Bimboni smiles with satisfaction and
the number is completed. In the
meantime Edouard Albion stands
with folded arms over in an obscure
corner, with his alert ears attuned for
errors or omissions. He has already
spoken his piece and makes no COM
ments.
1t is long. tedious and even heart.
breaking process, this task of weld
ing or weaving. IL you please, order
and beauty out of what appears to be
chaos. There is considerable strain
before the opening strains of the over
ture. Patience and temper are sore
Evening star., 1927-10-23


that the mooth-functioning singer
had but a few moments previously
suffered from an acute attack Of
nerves."
Four years ago, when Mr.. Schwarz
appeared in Washington, he arrived
at his dressing room to prepare for
the performance. AS usual. he was
stricken with nervousness. To compi-
cate affairs. he was unable to find the
coat of his costume. The conductor in
front had lifted his baton when he
was instructed to delay the overture
while a hasty search could be made
for the singers missing garment. One
can easily imagine the agony expert
enced by the temperamental star, who,
like a thoroughbred, was ''rarin' to
go'.
Fortunately. the coat was found and
Josef Schwarz appeared in one of the
finest performances of his career.
Evening star., 1927-10-23

ington National Opera is com.
posed of local talent. Washington
young men and women. practically all
Of them students of music, will sing
minor roles or appear in the chorus
of the operas to be presented this
Winter at Polls. Seventeen vocal
teachers are represented among the
mixed ensembls now rehearsing In the
auditorium OF the Thomson School at
Twelfth and L streets. In this group
Is an ex-Arny captain and a fruit
huckster. The latter Is an Italian
who is the father Of IL children.
Each morning he Is at the market at
4 o'clock for his supply and serves
his customers until in the evening.
At 7:S0 he tucks his opera score under
his arm and rehearses until IL. From
such musical stock did Caruso spring.
Edwin Forest Ludwig, another mem
Evening star., 1927-10-23

1t has been inculcated in them for
years, but we are striving here to de-
velop American singers, American
choruses and eventually American
operas This season we will present,
for example. such American artists
Evening star., 1927-10-23

as Mary Lewis, Jeanne Gordon, Mar
gerry Maxwell. Dorothy Speare. Paul
Althouse. John Charles Thomas,
Charles Trowbridge Tittman and Rol-
lin Pease.
Washington, as the capital city,
The Washington times., 1927-03-01
CHICAGO LIVESTOCK

Hogs Receipts, 10000: market,
10@15c higher. Top, 1885; bulk,
81 .40@11.65: medium weight, $l1.40
Oils; light weight. $11.50012.65,
light lights, $11.60012.55: packing
sows, $1o.25@10.75: pigs. $11.5O@
1918.
Cattle Receipts, 5000; market
strong. Calves receipts, $500: mar.
ket steady Beef steers: Good and
choice, $i0.50@1S.00; common and
medium, $7.50@10; yearlings. $50
1875. Butcher cattle: Heifers, $3.50
@10.76; cows, .$5@S; bulls. $500
IT'S; calves, $10.60014.60; feeder
steers. $6.50@9; stocker steers, $50
$50; stocker COWS and hsifers, SAC
$50.
sheep-R Receipts, 1900: market.
15@25c higher. Medium and choice
lambs, S14016.40: culls and com.
mon, $10,50@12; yearlinKs. $10.50@
10: common and choice ewes. $3.50
@9.25; feeder lambs, S13.50@14.60.
The Washington times., 1927-03-01
TIMELY TIPS
Furnished Apmtmsns


Furnished ApaStMsnf
III ST. N. W.--Second floor,
large bedroom, dining room and
kltchenette: h..w. H. porch; $50,
See Classification 90.
BusineSs Property f0p Sale
New Stores, with or without
apartments shove; located IN one
Of the fastest growing Northeast
sections; on car line, corner ospe-
ciaIly adapted for drug store.
No competition nearby. See Olas.
siflcatlOn so.
Ford cOnps--lS26
Ford Coupe, 1925 model. This
car IL equipped with rajah head
and other extras, balloon tires:
8 real bargain at $500. Terms %
suit. See Classification 1S5,
Female Help WGntea
Woman (white), middle sged.
10 clerk IN store. See CIasaiflca.
ton IS.
esS
PoekStbook Lose
PocIEetbook lost, tan heather,
Georgia Ave-, between Eaeraeuk
and Hamilton Stsa containing
money; reward 10 finder. See
Classification 8.
The abees Dants end offess
nro only Z fer of. che Gsany
intsrsstine propositfono zoe vih
find edOertised II todEys elas-
sifisd adooriising sssliOA.
The Washington times., 1927-03-01
STOCKS ACTIVE
IN ADVANCES

NEW YORK. March 1.--After a
strong and firm opening. IN which
numerous active Industrial and rail.
road stocks advanced / to 3 points,
the market encountered q heavy
outburst Of selling IN early trading
today and prices were DETECTED
sharply downward.
The $40 100000 gain In broken
loans. As reported by the Federal
reserve board after the close Of
Mondays market, was an evidence
OF q broadening public participation
In the stock market. and the pro.
fessionals who have been working
for lower prices make q vigorous
effort to engineer another shake
out" In the high-prlced industrials
and rails which have been IN the
forefront OF the advance.
The Washington times., 1927-03-01
TREASURY STATEMENT

The daily statement Of the United
States Treasury shows:
Income to date this year. ss $751;.
sol ,e17.74.
Income to date last year. $685.
52,7e1.24.
Increase, $Ss ,4As 1850.
Income over outgo this year, $751;
195, 847.S9.
Income over outgo last year,
S105, $50 ,05S.96.
Balance general fund today, STA.
III, 1851.
Increase, $1,275, 1894.
OF the $4,000 communes in France
only about 10000 are supplied with
electricity.
The Washington times., 1927-03-01
LATEST NEWS AND QUOTATIONS OF THE FINANCIAL MARKE
CHICAGO LIVESTOCK

CHICAGO. aMrch LA light sup.
ply Of hogs enabled sellers To boost
prices 10 10 .Isc today. Most az
the early trading was between ship.
pers and yard spectators. Top
was made at sl2.2g for light hogs
with the best heavy quoted 81
311.7S.
Cattle sold steady to strong. Cows
and heifers sold actively and bulls
were steady.
Larnbs met Vith > good demand
and were listed is to 2Sc higher.
The Washington times., 1927-03-01
Oh SHOCKS

sEuEnlsAaa y v. 2. Alpeg = co.l
The Washington times., 1927-03-01
LIBERTY BONDS

Furnished by W. p. Hibbs q Cor
Liberty second ans due 1884,. $1,000
Liberty third 4Ms due 1saB.... 10l.ii
Liberty fourth Ans due 1885,. I0S.1B
u. 8. Treasury ctf due 1sba.... ill.i4
The Washington times., 1927-03-01


| BID Ask.
s8s1:. s ssss::s e. e. Go .:" s s,S
I3:::;':: i: s:
Eureka Pipe Line ......... 40 Gs&
ss sI:Rs. sIss. 81 81 s g = com a.v
Illinois Pipe Line Co. ~. 1877 1888
Indiana Pipe Line Co.s..,. 66ht 81
National Transit Co...ssSss 14A IAN
N TRANSPORTATION Cosss. 3S 81
Northern Pipe Line Co.ss.i 70 80
Ohio Oil Co.. e0Nt 81
Pr1Ifie OIL & Gas CT. ...., b2%1 SSK
Prairie Pipe Line Co. I148 e l14T 4
Solar Refining Co.-.r.ss.t..ligO 1875
Southern Pipe Line Co.sss.I ~ 1874
south Pam OIL Co. .l...I So 50 s
W Penn Pine Line Co III a. IS
standard OFT Co tInd) .s.,,l 70ekl 70M
standard OIL CO Kan)...t.i TIKI ieK
Standard on Co (Ky1 ,.,liiSHiiiSx
Standard OIL Co (Nebrl a7E1 (sK
standard OIL Co fOhio) 1872 * tsss x
stand oil Ohio pfd ,tli1 eilieK
Swan q Finch Co.......1 10 II :
Vacuum OIL Co. ............l 100 q l10l q
e esRins I'll Fuel III ia =
Humble OIL -. -. sssssssl 67Mi 57%
Humble OIL ex-div. .s...s... S7A clSTMc
1naspssds 81 p.t....: ....:. III s"