32
THE SUNDAY OBEGOKIAN, ,P0ETLA2O), JAOTABT 29, 1905.
BAR CRITIC FROM THEATERS
New York Managers Object to Criticisms by Metcalfe in Life.
N
EW YORK. Jan. 22. (Special
Correspondence.) In theatrical
circles the subject -which seems
to have agitated the minds of many
la the attitude taken by a large num
ter of the managers concerning: the
admission of James Metcalfe, dramatic
critic of Ufe, to their houses. The
latest statement is that, even after Mr.
Metcalfe had bought seats for his "wife
and himself, fee -was not permitted to
pass the gates. It seems almost un
necessary to say that the cause of this
Is the scurrilous sort of thing which
some people dignify by the name of
criticism, but -which, from first to last,
Is nothing but a series of epithets,
elurs and underhand. If not above
board, blows. But Mr. Metcalfe Is not
alone Iff this form of criticism. There
is too much of it going on all over
this country, not alone In dramatic
criticism, but more particularly In the
musical -world. Much of it is so se
vere and there arc so many conflicting
statements that any reasonable person
is lead to believe that ulterior mo
tives are behind the pens. Let us ad
mit that one of the motives and
without doubt the principal one Is
the fact that the critics have been at
their business too long. They are tired
out and, for the greater part, the emo
tions are completely dulled, something
of almost superhuman force being re
quired to move them, not alone to any
degree of enthusiasm, but even of en
durance. Understanding the full re
sponsibility of -what a critic owes his
readers is not -where the responsibil
ity of the critic ends. He owes some
thing to the art itself and some de
gree of encouragement to those -who
struggle along the rocky, uncertain
paths that lead to the higher alms, to
eay nothing of the highest.
To be great art a certain degree of
excellence must be reached and things
jnay fall a little below the standard
without deserving opprobriums and
maledictions of every kind. A straight
forward, honest criticism is harmful
to no one, no matter how severe- it
may be, but to treat people as though
they -were great human jokes, created
for Tiothing else except to furnish,
comicalities for dramatic or musical
columns is an outrage against that
power -which gives us Intelligence and
'life itself. Thus, not only Mr. Met
calfe should bo barred from the the
ater, if this Is liis method of procedure,
but every musical and draamtic critic
in the country -who has no sense of
obligation to his fellowman, should be
treated In tho same -way. It Is an out
rage against mankind that one man
may have the privilege of standing up
and calling all sorts of names, and
making all sorts of Insinuations in
public print, and that his victim should
have no form of redress -whatsoever.
Let it not be thought from the fore
going that -wo do not need critics and
criticisms; Indeed it were well fo.r the
country and era if wo had among us a
Thackeray. But there Is criticism and
criticism, and most of -what we get
is not worthy of the name.
If the musical excitement may be
said to settle upon one individual, that
person is D'Albort, who has not been
in this country for over 13 years. He
returns not showing much more age
than ho did. at that time, every year
having added to his laurels. D'Albert
is a man of strong individuality and
lays more stress upon his composi
tions than he docs upon his perform
ance. Many people regard him as the
greatest musician pianist since Rubin
stein. His greatest weakness, how
ever, lies In the make-up of his pro
grams; since he is all-enduring him
self, he never remembers that an audi
ence is not similarly constructed. For
Instance, a few seasons ago in Berlin
no gave a recital of five Beethoven
sonatas, which Is undoubtedly too
much for anyone's mental digestie
powers. In New Tork. or rather In
Brooklyn, D'Albert offers as opening
numbers two Beethoven sonatas, which
for him after all is very mild. His
first appearance occurs on Tuesday
night in a Joint concert with Ysaye.
For Ysayc's numbers D'Albert will con"
duct, and for D' Albert's numbers Ysaye
will conduct. After this D'Albert will
be heard with all the great orchestras
and In a number of recitals.
As was already stated in this col
umn, the score and parti of his opera.
"Tiefland, have been sent for. and it
is probable that a performance of bis
opera may be seen at tne Metropolitan.
but it would be hard to figure out how
this -could be arranged this Winter,
since the opera season will soon close
In New York and this groat organiza
tion will go on tour, opening in Bos
ton. March 6. The entire company will
visit the following cities: Pittsburg.
Cincinnati. Chicago. Minneapolis, Oma
ha, Kansas City. Salt Lake City, San
Francisco, April 6 to 16; Los Anceles.
Dallas, Houston. New Orleans, Atlanta.
Birmingham and Nashville. In addi
tion to the regular repertoire Mr. Oon-
rcid will present "Parsifal."
Nor will this be the only large op
eratic organization on the road, since
both the Parsifal Company of Henry
"W. Savage and the English Grand Op
era Company are booked as far as San
Francisco, and. be it understood, that
their company is magnificent. Perhaps
this is a good place to state again that
when people are away from the musical
centers they get exaggerated Ideas of
what excellence means, and they e.x-
pect to be transported out of them
neles Into a realm of ecstasy, the real
ization of which would probably be Im
possible to achieve. These will bo th
people to find fault and to make light
of the companies which ar sent 4it
upon tho road, simply because I hey
have sat through the production with
out having their emotions wrought ud
to the pitch which they anticipated.
There aro very few artists in tho
world able to startle a person Into
Etrange sensation, but the people far
away do not know that. When they
read of great successes and grgat tri
umphs in the artistic world they be
lieve that the audiences are held en
thralled, and in this way they -fork
"themselves up to such a pitch that
there cannot be anything but disap
pointment, since imagination may reach
iiny height in fact, heights far bo
ond the possibility of realization. If
in one operatic performance there rye
a few thrilling moments, if on a sing
er's programme or on a pianist's recital
there are moments where the hearer
Is carried out of himself and into an
ecstatic state, ho must bo satisfied and
not expect to live in this state from tho
rise of the curtain to the fall, or from
the opening of the programme to the
c'ose.
The public amusements engross so
much time and space of those who write
to tho outer world of the manner In
which New York entertains Itself that
It is not often much time is spent upon
smaller forms of entertainment or.
rather, "more private methods. Xo one
has any idea of the enormous number
of clubs and charitable Institutions that
Kivo entertainments. Tho prices of
tickets under such conditions may ba
anything from 55 up to any amount
that people incline to pay. The week
just past offered a good many exxa
ples from which it will bo Interesting
to quote the authors matinee, given
for the benefit of the Mary Fisher
Home, at the "Waldorf-Astoria. Thla
home is for brainworkers, authors, art
ists, teachers and others in the various
professions, without regard to age, sex
or creed. That the programme was of
extreme Interest no one can doubt,
since the writers are of more than local
reDUtation. Andrew Carnegie, -who wag
asked to ba chairman of tb day4.d,
c lined the honor, sending $230 as a substi
tute. There were regrets also from
Kate Douglass "Wlggln and Edmund
Clarence Stedman. each enclosing $5
for the Home. The prologue In tho
form of a welcome to authors and Audi
ence was given by "Will Carletou. This
was followed by a poem by Margaret
E. Saiurster, which In turn was follow
ed by a sketch upon the Yorkshire lif
by the Rev. Robert Collyer. The
musical numbers which Interspersed
the programme were also original and
presented by the composers In soma
cases. Julian Pascal was the pianist.
Miss Edith Chapman sang two song
by Mrs. Albert Payson Terhune and
Miss Frieda Stender sang a song by
7Irs. Joseph F. Knapp. Henry George,
Jr.. read a sketch entitled 'The Man in
the Desert." Ella "Wheeler "Wilcox gav
a dramatic scene entitled "The Choos
ing of Esther," Maud Balllngton Boolh
gave a charming: littlo sketch "A
Heart Story," our own "Western Edward
Markham read his poem "Lincoln, the
Man of the People," Bronson Howard
gave a reading from his drama "Young
Mrs. Winthrop' Irving Bachcllcr was
heard In an original poem, Ernest
Thompson-Seton read an unpublished
story "Sidelight on the Pacing Mus
tang, and Marlon Harland gave tb
last number In the form of "A "Word
of Thanks." As stated heretofore, all
these works being original with those
who read or delivered them, the Inter
est wajt at a very high pitch.
Now, a word about the audience. It
need hardly be told that these audi
ences axe ultra-fashionable and ae
composed of those who support these
charitable organizations rather than -f
people who are attracted by the natur
of th entertainment, because they ar
seldom largely advertised and few people
outside of those intimately associated
with the workings of these affairs her
of them at all. One reason, however,
that so many of these entertainment
are held at the "Waldorf-Astoria is be
cause there are always a very lare
number of people in the house who ar
likely to drift Into the entertainment
that are given under that roof. I nav
often been told by those who mana
these affairs that they get enougn
transient people out of the "Waldorf.
Astoria to pay the rent of any of tho
ballrooms. To ba perfectly honeu
there is no greater torture than to at
tend anything that is really good whn
It Is given at the "Waldorf-Astoria, be
cause the seating arrangements and the
acoustics of the lops, narrow hall of
the Astor gallery are bad. From per
sonal experience, the dining-room ts
very much more comfortable.
EMILIE FRANCES FATTER.
"WILLIE" COLLIER WAS IN TOWN
Funniest of Light Comedians Illuminates Portland's Winter Fog
Two Busy Days
We intend to make the two final days of
our Annual Clearance Sale memorable to
all judicious purchasers of Portland by
offering some exceptional opportunities for them to place in their homes the needed,
extra or odd pieces of furniture. Whatever you want you will surely find we have it.
Remember, but two days are left, and avail yourselves of this opportunity.
Full-size Iron Bed in a variety of colors;
strongly made, with malleable iron sock
ets, no danger of break- t w
ing; $4.00 value, for two J) 15
0
NE of tho very funniest men in. the
world Is trying to get people to take
him seriously. Not very seriously-
just enough so to call him "William" In
stead of "Willie."
He was in Portland last week with his
latest and best comedy, and when the peo
ple read the three sheets announcing that
"Charles Frohman presents "William
Collier," they said delightedly, "Good;
Willie Collier's In town."
For 15 years it has been so, and now
It's hard to be politely aquiesccnt and
talk about "William" Collier. I found it
hard when I met him again Thursday,
particularly as ..airs, (joiner insisted on
saying Willie until the dignified head of
the family good-naturedly reminded hor
that he was 37 and too old for the Willie
business.
"Of course one naturally likes people
who like him, and Portland Is one of my
favorite towns," said Mr. Collier to me
last Thursday night. "I've been coming
here a good many years, and 'way down
in my heart I've got a feeling for you
Oregonlans.
"Along about 1ES9 Charlie Reed and I
were starring together, and after play
ing Tacoma we took a boat for Portland,
where we were booked for a week. On
the way down I had a bad fall on the
deck and dislocated my kneecap. When
we got to Portland I was suffering con
siderably, but the doctor told me I could
play If I'd stay m my room during the
day and not move about.
"Some local people had arranged to give
us a crawfish feast up at Ross Island,
which was quite a resort fn those days.
Of course I couldn't go, and Reed took
a great deal of ploasuro guying me about
my disabled knee.
"He asked me what I was going to do
while they were all up at the island hav
ing a good time. I told him I was going
to sit in my room and write a play. . He
asked me if I was going to write It all
In one night. We were both joking about
it, bu when the party had gone and I
was sitting alone in my room at the
hotel, it occurred to me that I might do
something of the kind. I called a bell
boy, ordered some paper and started to
work. During the week which we spent
here I wrote two acts of 'Hoss and Hoss.
which Reed and I afterward, used until
his death. So you see I have good reason
to remember Portland, my lame knee and
'Hoss and Hoss.'
"Do you know there's one thing I con
gratulate myself on. I've never appeared
In French farce, and have never spoken
an unclean word on tho stage. That's a
part of my religion. If I can't entertain
people without presenting salacious plays,
I'll gp into reUrement and lay pave
ment." Wants io Be Taken Seriously.
Collier looked at me as If a little un
certain how to tell the secret of his be
ing but finally said: "I want to be taken
seriously. Now I'm not going to toll you
that I want to play Shakespeare, but I
want people to think of me as an actor of
standard comedy roles. I'm wild to play
"Bob Acres' In 'The Rivals. and expect to
do so one of these days."
Apropos of Shakespeare the following
Collier story is so good I must tell it
right here. Nat Goodwin attempted to
play "Merchant of Venice" In New York
a year or two ago. Opinions differ as to
Just how bad the great comedian was
as Shylock, but after the first perform
ance Collier and a number of other choice
spirits were in the Lambs' Club talking
it over when Goodwin came in. He was
bubbling over with elation at the realiza
tion of his ambition to play Shakespeare,
and the others present showered him with
compliments on his acting of Shylock.
Not so Collier. He sat by and, to all in
tents, had never heard of Goodwin's ex-
WUllam Collier.
pcriment The latter was plainly anxious
to hear Collier's opinion, and finally said:
"You know I played Shylock tonight,
Willie?"
"Yes, I understand so." answered Col
lier without betraying the slightest In
terest. Goodwin was nonplussed, but persist
ent. "What did you think of It, Willie?"
Collier, still uninterested, replied: "It
was all right, I believe."
"You poor Imitation of an actor." came
back Goodwin, playfully, "you don't pre
sume to know anything about Shake
speare, do you?"
I certainly do," answered Collier "I
am going Into Shakespeare some day my
self. I'm going to play. Shylock. I'm sure
I can get as many laughs in the part as
you did."
Collier likes his present piece better
than anything he has ever had. and Is
going to take it to London in May. Froh-'
man and a number of London managers
feel sure "The Dictator" and Collier will
be understood by the British public. The
plan Is to open at the Duke of York's
Theater, and if things go well, to remain
abroad for a year or two.
Richard Harding Davis, who did "The
Dictator." is writing another Collier farce
to be called. "The War Correspondent."
The piece is still in the embryo and will
not be ready for a year or two at least.
Mr. Collier himself Is writing another
Neatly made Iron Bed, in full sizeor three
fourths, mounted with brass knobs,
fitted with heavy malleable
iron sockets: $5.00 value, r "4
for two days; O.UU
Pretty Iron Bed in blue, green, white or
m pink, full size or three fourths; mounted
with brass knobs, has extra heavy mallea
ble sockets, fitted with extension foot
rail, light and durable;
$b.50 value, for two Q5
$30.00
DOLLAR
$30.00
We will pay
for an old
Monarch
Malleable
Range
$30.00
DOLLARS
$30.00
GttOurFreeBookFirat
You can't afford to
buy a ranee until you
know aU about a
Monarch. Aslc us or
the book; STATE WHO
you intend to bay, and
we wil I send also a set
Dt Measurinz Spoons.
postpaid. A20SZ23
ZloXteoblelrm Range Co.
Beaver Ecm, Wisconsin.
1 Four-fifths of the work of 1
Pi-P) U fyV a range is the cooking done
f v l(r--r on top. Malleable tops are
Ul V y t not 50 1110 33 otiier kinds fl
iSllDflif llfn heat quicker, cook in
' gg- JJIjJ half the time, saving: half
mjs Alajlezblofrscjcs works ftKE
Used and arranged to suit every family need In city and country, hotels or public Institutions.
Call and see why they save fuel and repairs. They show it.
$30.00
DOLLARS
$30.00
We will pay
for an old
Monarch
Malleable
Range
$30.00
DOLLARS
$30.00
Couches, made as cut, in heavy ramie cover
ing, full size, good springs tir
and strongly built; $9.00 Nkfo K
value, for two days pJ J kJ
Yelour covered, full size, with heavy springs
and biscuit tufts; $12.00 value, for two
.days .$8.10
This cut illustrates' the patented duplex
grate on each and every Monarch Malleable
Hange. Makes it easy to control the fire,
besides being a wonder as a fuel-saver.
Many Rockers in the store will be discount
ed from 25 per cent to 50 per cent this
week.. We are showing an exceptional line
- of them. . Like cut, with spring uphol
stered seat in velour; .
$7.50 value, for two QQ
185-191
First Street
H. E EDWARDS
Bet. Yamhill
and Taylor
niece but says he hasn t named It as
yet, and declines to discuss its plot-
It was alter tne penormance Anursaay
nlcht that we were talking, and before I
realized it the town clock struck 12. The
Colliers are not given to turning night
into day. and I had three hours of work
ahead of me, so we slid down the tobog
gan slide which leads slant-wise from
the Marquam stage to Alder street and
said good-night. A. A. G.
Boys' Club a Success.
The new boys club In the boys depart
ment of the Y. M. C. A. Is a success, as
is proven by the fact that 35 boys gath
ered Friday evening to transact a little
business, play a few games and take up
the flrst study of the Book of Mark. Next
Friday evening is ''refreshment night,
NEW GERMAN
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH
III I III' I III ' . ' .o-em . w.-;AtJi- -Hi
ie corner of Rodnev avenue and i
COMPLETED AT A COST OP 5000,
The handsome new edifice of the German Second Bantlst Church, on
.aioms Bixrci. Aioina, nas Decn completed ana stands entirely without debt- Although the membership is
small, yet -with the help of their friends In the city and members of the First German and- White Temple
they have completed a building costing Chappell P. Brown prepared the plans. Rev Frederick Bruer-
mann is the pastor.
and the boys are expected to turn out in
full force.
Their Sunday meetings are more largely
attended than their weekday meetings,
the average of attendance to date being
92. CM. Sharp will talk on Sunday,
January 29, illustrating his talk with
chemical experiments. Charles H. Hart
will sing, with guitar accompaniment. On
Sunday. February 5, Coulter's orchestra
will furnish the music. The boys depart
ment. In planning these Sunday afternoon
meetings, is endeavoring to furnish a
place where boys who are at the tempta
tion age may come and be safe on Sun
day afternoon.
H. W. Stone will speak before the T. C.
K. Club (older boys, 15 to IS) Sunday, Jan
uary 29, at 3:30 P. M In the boys' club-room.
NEBRASKA SOCIETY TO MEET
Will Close Charter and Expect Heavy
Enrollment.
The Nebraska Society of Oregon will
hold a mass meeting on Tuesday evening,
January 31, at Alisky hall, corner Third
and Morrison streets. The charter will
be closed at this meeting, and all resi
dents of Portland who formerly lived in
Nebraska should be present and enroll
their names. All former residents of
Nebraska who live in Oregon,, outside
of Portland, if not able to attend the
meeting, should send their names and ad
dress to the secretary, S. M. Venard,
room 323 Chamber of Commerce.
The purpose of this society, as previ
ously stated, is to maintain a social so
ciety In Portland for all former resi
dents of Nebraska who now live in Ore
gon, and as a special feature, to open
and maintain headquarters during the
Lewis and Clark Fair. There is a vast
amount of work to be done by the so
ciety in order to carry out the purposes
designed for this year, and no former
resident of Nebraska can afford not to
become Identified with the movement.
At the next meeting arrangements will
be made to furnish the people of Ne
braska, through the papers of the state
and the friends of the members, reliable
and exhaustive information concerning
this great country and the Lewis and
Clark Fair. The Fair will be one of tho,
very oest expositions . ever neid, and It
behooves the members of this society to
acquaint their friends with that fact. The
society wants the name and address of
ever former Nebraskan now living In
Oregon.
At the headquarters to be kept open
during the Lewis and Clark Fair, the
society expects to keep a directory of all
persons now living In Oregon who for
merly resided in Nebraska, and also of
all the visitors from Nebraska.
MAY OPPOSE BOND ISSUE.
.Albina Must Take Voice in New High
School Proposition.
It may be that m the coming election to
authorise the issuance of a $100,000 In
bonds with which to build a high school
on the Hawthorne schoolgrounds. the
proposition will encounter opposition from
the Albina people, who think tho building
should be built further north.
M. E. Thompson, president of the Cen
tral Albina Board of Trade, in speaking
of the proposed location, said:
T think if the high school Is built on
the Hawthorne school block another
building will have to be erected In North
Albina in the near future. I don't know
how the people here feel about It, but I
hardly think the place selected is the best.
It certainly ought to be further north.
The map of the city. I think, will show
that the Hawthorne block Is not central
as far as the East Side Is concerned. It
may be all right to put it there, but it
will necessitate the erection of another
high-school building somewhere In North
Albina, perhaps on KlUIngsworth avenue.
The Albina people will have to be reck
oned with in the bond election in some
way."
Thousands whom it has cured vouch for
the value of Hood's Sarsaparilla as & euro
for catarrh.
Selz Royal Blue Shoes
are money's-worth
Every time you buy a pair of Selz
Royal Blue shoes you get your money's
worth; they're better than they cost,
$3.50 and $4.
about Selz
is like the
The important thing
shoes is that the name
Sterling mark on silver, it always
means "good shoe," -
You may be sure of it; we are.
Get Selz Royal Blue $3.50 and $4.
SELZ SHOES ARE SOLD IN PORTLAND BY
THE LION STORE
Outfitters to Men and Boys.
166-188 THIRD STREET, Near Morrison