Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-09-23

Koven's masterpiece, "Oh, Promise Me-"
as sung by that ever-to be remembered
contralto, Jessie Bartlett Davis.
Francis Wilson
Also an actor who might well be men,
toned is Francis Wilson, who played
here awhile back in Half a King" and
The Strollers," having in his cast such
popular actors and singers as Edwin
Foy (probably our once popular Eddie
Foy). He took the part of RAINIER, a
Jaler; Lulu Chaser as Pierette. Tire
Schappe's adopted daughter and Chris
tie Macdonald as Lucinde, daughter of
Duke Je la Roche-Trumean, were with
Wilson in Half a King" also In The
Ioreador" were Adele Richie, Maud
Raymond and Jennie Hawley.
Francis Wilson was even popular at
the White House, as the following item
taken from The Star of January 2, 1902.
will clearly indicate:
The President rounded out a yery
busy day by visiting the National The
alter last night to witness Francis Will
son in The Toreador.' 1t was strictly
family party, the President being &C.
commpanied by Mrs. Roosevelt and the
children"
OF course. Francis Wilson played
other pieces besides those mentioned,
but not at the National He may have
played "Ermine" there, as he surely
did on several occasions at other WASH
ington theaters. Jakobowski's opera
was Wilson's best production, and its
place will always hold y tender spot in
the affections Of theatergoers. Its
beautiful lullaby appeals to the ten
derness Of human affection. Do you
recall its words? To refresh your men,
ory here are just few lines:
Dear mother in dreams see her,
With loud face s,Oeet and calm,
And hear her uoice with loue re-
joice
When nesting in her arm,
! think ho1O she softly pressed me,
OF the tears in each glist'ning eye.
As her uatch she'd keep, when
rocked to sleep
Her child NTH this lullaby"
The Nelson Opera Company
Victor Herbert's The Fortune Teller"
as sung by the Alice Nielsen Opera Com
pany in 1889 and at other times, undoubt-
eddy will be recalled by hundreds and per-
haps even thousands. What a wonder
full array of talent the cast included.
Here are some of the talent: Alice
Nielsen herself, Richard Golden, Joseph
Herbert Frank Rushworth, Joseph Cav
thorn, Marguerite Sylvia, Jennie Haw-
ley, Billie Norton, Paul F. Nicholson,
jr.; May Boley, L. Devere, M. Devere,
j. T. Gray, Edward S. Metcalf, Louise
Hilliard, Annie Clay, Nellie Marsh,
Martha l.. Carrine, Eva Kelly, j. B. Hen
richs, William Brown and Eugene
Cowles as Sander, gypsy musician.
The bare association of Cowles' name
with this opera starts the running
OF the Gypsy Love Song" through ones
head. This piece and Gypsy Jan" were
especially written for that charming
basso, and the latter especially fitted
his voice well. 1t ended something like
this:
yet he stoore he ,uould creep to the
caDernS deep
To rob the Quarts OF their GOLD.
no, no!
For Jan aOas gypsy bold, az,
Jan 1Uas a gypsy bold"
Yes, and who will recall in their
younger days how they sometimes stood
for an hour or more on the front steps
leading to the gallery entrance of this
theater and almost breaking his neck
up those three or four flights of narrow
stairs to get front seat for Is cents
to see Frank Daniels in "The Idols
Eye" another one of Victor Herberts
many operas. ALT c. Wheelan as
Jammie Mcsnuffy, Scotch vagabond.
and Helen Redmond as Maraquita,
daughter of Don Pablo, were material
attractions in the opera, and rendered
much assistance locating and restoring
to its rghtful owner the idols eye.
But operas were not the only attrac-
ton billed at the National, for the
writer really saw John Mccullough
there three times in one week, in
"Othello," '"'Virginius" and 1.-The Gladi-
ator."
Viola Allen was then McCullough's
leading lady, and she was advertised
as being the youngest star on the stage.
She was the Desdemona to that great
tragedian's Othello. Though only a
lad, I can still family recall hearing
him say in that wonderful voice OF his
mo, Iapo.
I'll see before doubt; when I doubt,
PROVE;
And on the proof, there is no more
than this
A,ndy at once ,Dfth lope or jealousy"