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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1925)
■a j\rt £)rama ]\Jusic Edited by Elinor Burtchaell — Clifford Zehrung — Emily Houston (The following weekly features are printed in the Emerald as indicated: Tuesday, Lemmy’s Ghost, Society; Wednesday, Art, Drama, Music; Thursday, Poetry; Friday, World of Sports; Saturday, Library Browsings, Contributions for any of these columns may be left in the Emerald Box at the circulation desk in the University Library, or at the Editor’s office.) About the exhibit of Childe Has sam’s and Joseph Pennell’s etch ings, water-colors and sketchings held at the art building last week, I may say I was both pleased and disappointed. My disappointment was due, no doubt, to my lack of information—I did not know the collection was one of “playtime sketches” and not of the best work of these two artists about whom I had heard so much. When I wan dered into the midst of Pennell’s water-colors, I expected to find a galaxy of color—and came away with the knowledge that Pennell did not strive for brilliance, but effect, and that he achieved what he strove foT. The effect of these slight semi impressionistic paintings is notice able, and proves in fact their main charm. Childe Hassam’s etchings were rather fascinating, too. He, like Pennell, made his drawings while /travelling through j Europe during his vacation. In these, we find two of his characteristic traits—the absolute naturalness of his human figures, and his excel lent portrayal of architecture. In the former, he sacrifices the supple qualities for the more human rigid ness that is so often seen in nudes. But he, too, like Pennell, gains the desired effect in the final ensemble. The crayon-sketches on jthe dark paper held my. attention the long est. Possibly because here I found the richness of color that was lack ing in the water-colors. All, I was told by Professor Sehroff, were hurried, not more than thirty minutes being spent on each sketch—and one could hardly expect an “Angelus” !or “Mona Pisa” in thirty minutes. It can be explained why both artists are at a disadvantage in be ing judged by this , exhibition!, Hassam, who is more famous for his water-colors, exhibits only etch ings, and Pennell, whose etchings are better liked than his water colors, exhibits the latter. * # # A bit of interesting information I heard about Joseph Pennell con cerned his tirade against bill boards and sign-boards in New York. He led an army of art en thusiasts against the advertisers who were prone to clutter up’ the city. I did not hear who won—the sign boards, I suppose. Both Pen nell and his wife contributed to Harper’s magazine. Mrs. Pennell writes—her articles being illus trated by her husband. Somewhere, a long while ago, I read a few lines that recur to my mind every now and then, when I see some of the vulgarities that pass as art. The lines read some thing like this: “There is more art—more beauty, in a battered copper kettle, hang ing by the side of an old stone fire place, or in the bare branches of a tree against a twilight winter sky than is ever credited to such ‘every day’ things.” For some unsolved reason the public all too often accepts the characterless atrocities found in the “best homes.” Such master pieces as the victory scene of three dead pheasants, tied bouquet-like and hanging with their toes ceil ingward, or the usual study of the too-perfoet, bugless fruit with the inevitable split peach or sliced watermelon (usual dining room scenes—both') create aj mingled feeling of wrath an<? pity in my breast for the misguided philistine who worships at a fals** shrine. NEW ART BOOK A new book on modern are by Sheldon Chencv has been ■placed on the reserve shelf of the library for those who are interested in the subject. It is cleverly writ ten, well illustrated and handles a new phase of the esoteric art which has had such a thoroughly criticized and stormy ten years of public appearance. Cheney ex plains this modernistic change as a classic extreme of the photo graphic realism of the 19th cen tury. So far as being able to understand it, he says it is all a matter of education (as anything is, of course). T shall save time by giving the exact words of the auth or: “Not to be able to appreciate the works of Kokoschka’s (one of the foremost exponents of modern art), just because they seem rough and un-photographic argues plain ig norance. Continued dislike of the art after all that has been written about it and all of the modernistic exhibitions in the last ten years indicates a case of plain bigotry— stubborn adherence to a set notion of what art is.” All of which has all the winning qualities of a man arguing in a foreign language. There are about one hundred and seventy-five illustrations of good examples of modern art in the book. They attracted my attention—not as you might suppose, though, I had disturbing thoughts of the cross-word puzzle craze being de throned by the modern art craze, which might be called something like, “Guess-What. ” One never can tell. DRAMA The announcement that Eugene is to have a short season of light and comic opera appears to have aroused much pleasant anticipation for those University students and faculty members who are particu larly interested in music, and dra ma. Campus conversation indi cates, however, that the interest is not confined to this group, only. The Brandon Opera company, which is to appear at the Heilig Thursday, Friday and Saturday, is a proved company. Its merit may be judged by the fact that after playing an entire week in Portland it was able later to return for an other week with even greater suc cess than attended it the first time. The repertoire for Eugene is well chosen. For the opening night the cast of more than 30 will present “The Bohemian Girl,” one of the outstanding successes. This will be followed by “The Spring Maid,” the fascinating vehicle in which the noted Mitzi made her great suc cess: “The Mikado,” Gilbert and [Sullivan’s opera gem; and “Robin Hood,” America’s best loved stage production. i To lovers of music the principals in the company need little intro duction. Theo Pennington, soprano, is said to possess one of the most beautiful voices in opera today. She is to be on the campus during her stay, and will sing at assembly. Others are Harry Pfiel, tenor; Carl Bundschu, baritone; and Imra Tice, soprano. “THE IDEAL HUSBAND” “The Ideal Husband,” like the greater part of Oscar Wilde’s work, is a more or less clever representa tion of an epoch or a condition in society—decadence. It is the de cadence of a people which has reached the height of its creative genius and has turned its gaze in ward to view with supercilious eye the machinations of its own exist ! enee. Hence, any production of “The Ideal Husband” should be judged on the extent to which it creates this atmosphere. The Guild hall offering of the comedy last week was not perfect.. The entire cast, with a few exceptions, was far too enthusiastically decadent. Gerda Brown, as Mrs. Chevely, is less marked by this defect than the others, chiefly because the char acter she portrays is not necessar ily decadent. Her work is master ful. Perhaps a trifle too master-: ful. Claire Gibson, taking the part of Lady Chiltern, showed an admir able restraint, and won sympathy to a difficult part. Darrell Lar sen should attempt perfection of carriage. His idiosyncrasies of pos j ture and walk are too noticeable, i He, in the part of Lord Goring, ! was a trifle too volatile to be con-[ vincing. Nevertheless, despite these j ; faults, Larsen’s inherent dramatic J sense gives a magnetism to his per i son which is felt whenever lie is on the stage. Florence Couch is not, probably could not be English. But whv^ ! should we ask her to be? She is ! too absolutely enticing as a pro duct of American freedom to spoil by lacing up in corsets and cus i toms. Three of the cast of “The Ideal j Husband” took it'upon themselves to burlesque their parts. Perhaps : Wilde intended the parts to be [ j burlesqued, |ierhaps the director j was working his audience for guf- t faws rather than polite titters. | Paul Krausse, as Lord Caversham, j i Jeanne Gay, as Mrs. Marchmont, j j and Margaret Booth, in the part of Lady Basildon create figures that are grotesque; Krausse is hu | morous. Beatrice Beebe, as the antiquated i Lady Markby, is English. She is | perhaps the most English of the I troupe. Delbert Faust, as the Vieomte de Nanjac, is perhaps the least English of the troupe, but, of course, he is excused on the grounds of his foreign ancestry. The textual emendations which Mr. Beddie has made in Wilde’s comedy are not altogether pleasing. They jar one. The introduction of modernism and modern terms is hardly legitimate. It is difficult to contemplate enjoying Shake speare with the impetuous Romeo whispering to his love, “Come, my pride and joy, we’ll grab a hack and ditch this burg!” LEON K. BYRNE. MUSIC “Music is a great universal lang uage, needing no translation. Tols toi writes a great tract, and it is sealed to all save those who know the particular language in which he writes. But Tschaikowsky writes a symphony, needing no translation to men of every tongue and type with its immortal mes sage of beauty. ” DR. WILLIAM P. MERRILL. ON THE CAMPUS To the lovers of music and the campus in general comes the wel come news that another assembly program is planned by members of Mu Phi Epsilon, music fraternity for women. It is to be Thursday. The program includes a violin quar tet of Maurer’s “Concerto;” a small orchestra number of Pinck’s “Pirouette,” “Divine Darilla,” a dainty melody written in 1750 by an unknown composer; “A Russian Snow Song,” and a solo by Theo Pennington of the Brandon Opera company. Miss Pennington has been in Portland with the opera company during the past few days and consented to appear on the Mu Phi Epsilon program. The tra ditional close of the program is the “Triangle Song,” by the entire group. An assembly program by Mu Phi Epsilon is given annually and is always anticipated with real inter est. Phi Mu Alpha, men’s music fraternity, gave an excellent pro gram at an assembly last term. A delightful musical program was given Sunday afternoon under the auspices of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Numbers included the new University string quartet, com posed of Rex Underwood, Alberta | Potter, Buford Roach, and Lora Teshner. Other numbers were vio lin and piano solos. A wealth of interesting musical concerts is planned for the future, beginning with the Mu Phi Epsilon program tomorrow. Albert Spauld ing, violinist, will appear Tuesday, February 24, and Florence Easton, soprano, will present a conceft March 10. The two artists are well known in musical circles. Their | coming will be a treat for the cam pus. The home concerts of the orches tra and glee clubs are to be de cidedly interesting with many new features. The two glee clubs ap pear together this year. Both the orchestra and glee club concerts are scheduled for next term. Perhaps the most interesting mu sical of this year will be held ht the formal opening of the new mu sic auditorium in March. At the time of the opening there will be a series of four concerts. The first night of the formal opening will be marked by an organ concert by John Stark Evans. On Sunday af ternoon the vesper choir will give a program and the two following evenings will be devoted to miscel laneous programs. The auditorium is finished, with the exception of the curtains which have been or dered from New York. Following the opening, other eon ! certs are scheduled in the auditor ium. A program of opera num bers is to be given by Mu Phi Ep silon in the series of musicals. It will be under the direction of Mad ame Rose McGrew. “Crimson Eyebrows,” a delight j ful Chinese opera, will be given under the direction of Anne Lands bury Beck. It is to be given in true Chinese style with no curtains and lighting effects for the changes. It is similar in some ways to the “Mikado,” given here pre viously, and promises to he even more pleasing. Sergei Rachmaninoff, the emi nent Russian composer and pianist, appears in concert in Portland to night. His program includes his own “Etude Tableau,” and “Pre lude.” • • • Os-ke-non-ton (Running Deer), of the Bear Clan of the Mohawk In dians is an excellent baritone. That Indian music may not die, he is presenting concerts of the music of various tribes. He appeared re cently in Town Hall, New York, in an Indian setting and sang in the Indian dialect, songs from tho Zumi, Blackfoot, Omaha, Dakota, Mohave-Apache, Tewa, and Nava jo tribes. His voice has been de scribed as excellent in quality and very resonant. He has an appeal ing personality combined with a dramatic instinct. In March he goes abroad to tour until Septem ber. He appeared last year in a successful concert in London. PRIZE OF EUROPEAN TRIP OFFERED AT PRINCETON Princeton.—To the Princeton stu dent writing the best essay on “Princeton’s greatest need,” will be given the opportunity to tour Europe free next summer. The tour is offered by the United States Lines Student Tours, and its value ' is $586. The route suggested in- j eludes Paris, Geneva, Rome, Flor-! ence, Venice, and London. The win- i ner of the competition may map out any tour he wishes however, provided it does not exceed $586. COLORADO STUDENTS WILL ROW ON $1,000,000 LAKE University of Colorado. — Colo- j rado University will soon enter into another branch of sports if present plans materialize. Construc tion of a $1,000,000 lake, four miles east of Boulder by the Public Serv-1 ice company of Boulder, is consid-' ered an ideal place for rowing, and ] if opponents can be obtained and the cost does not prohibit, this sport will become a reality in Colorado. The lake is two miles long and one mile wide. REPORTORIAL INSTINCT STRONG IN TEXAS YOUTH University of Texas.—Embryo reporters on The Daily Texan have the much needed reportorial in stinct, the Texan says. Every mem ber of the beginning class was sent to cover Governor Ferguson’s in auguration, and when tho doors of the capital were closed at 10:30 every member was inside and on the job. Some of them went in the windows when the crowd at the door made entrance seem hopeless. PENNSYLVANIA STADIUM TO HAVE 83,000 CAPACITY University of Pennsylvania.— Plans are being made to increase the size of the stadium to seat 83, 000 people. The present stadium with a seating capacity of/ 56,000, is far too small. MARCEL AND CURL 75c Gay Thompson 861 WILLAMETTE ST. Phone 10191-R Brandon Opera Co THE BE/T LIGHT OPERA ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA 3 DAYS— 4 PERFORMANCES next THUR.—FRI.—SAT. The world’s most popular light and comic operas Thur. Nite __ ,r Feb. i9th BOHEMIAN GIRL Most tuneful, colorful and romantic of all light operas Fri Nite Feb. 20th “SPRING MAID’* The smart, fascinating opera in which Mitzi scored her greatest success Sat. Mat. Feb. 21st THE MIKADO Gilbert & Sullivan’s gem of gems Sat. Nite _ _ „ _ _ t. Feb. 21st ROBIN HOOD America’s greatest and best loved opera “Flooding the Earth with the Music of Paradise’’ „ Superb company of 30 people PRICES INCLUDING TAX Nights—Floor $1.65; balcony, first 6 rows $1.10, last 7 rows 50c. Matinee—floor $1.10, balcony 50c. All seats reserved. SEAT SALE NOW Copyright 1924 Halt Schaffner & Marx Spring styles that will suit your taste—$35 to $60 You probably have some very definite ideas about the width of your trousers, the fullness of the cuffs and the drape of the coat. If so, you’ll enjoy coming here. You’ll find exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll also find all the new colors and fabrics along with some exceptional values. NEW ARRIVALS: SPRING STETSON HATS REGIMENTAL STRIPE TIES INTERWOVEN HOSE Wade Bros. Hart Schaffner & Marx Clothes THE LATEST COLLEGE FAVORITES ON BRUNSWICK RECORDS Here’s The Cotton Pickers r Again! Their first record in 6 months: that howling new success— “The Prince of Mils” Out at the Old Soldiers’ Home they throw away their crutches when the Cotton Pickers play. And you’ll forget how light (or heavy) she is on your feet when you dance to their snappy selections. This is the Cotton Pickers’ first new record in six months. They’ve been on a long tour. But you’ll enjoy the way they play “The Prince of Wails,” with “Jimtown Blues” on the reverse side. At 75c this record is a real “buy.” You ought to own this one. Here are a few other Brunswick records we’ll gladly play for you. Come ini any time. We get quite a kick out of playing them over ourselves! MY BEST GIRL—Guitar and Voice.. . DREAMER OF DREAMS—Guitar and Voice. Nick Lucas, The Crooning Troubadour HONOLOU—Fox Trot with Vocal Chorus by Paul Sylvano . SHANGHAI SHUFFLE—Shimmy Fox Trot. Gene Rodemich’s Orchestra I’LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS— Fox Trot with Vocal Chorus by Frank Bessinger. WHY COULDN’T IT BE POOR- LITTLE ME?—Fox Trot Isham Jones, Guest Conductor with Ray Miller’s Orchestra ROSE MARIE—Fox Trot from “Rose Marie”. A LITTLE BIT OF THIS—Fox Trot, introducing “My Road” from “Be Yourself”.Carl Fenton’s Orchestra 2768 75c 2760 75c 2788 75c 2759 75c Seth Laraway’s Music Store 968 Willamette Street