' THE SUNDAY OREGOXIA PORTLAND, 3IAT 21, 1911.
PLAYER-FOLK ARE FLOCKING TO
EUROPE OR GRUMBLING ON RIALTO
Krw York Theatrical Season Is on Wn Eerlvala Art Now Vogue Henry W. Savage Is Taking
and "Ex cum Ms" to London Town.
Every-
J
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f - i-' r- " v W -r
i l . . ' ...iji'rJL3! . ;: - - - - ; -. .. .:
II . .III!
lit LLOYD F. LONTRGAX.
k ikw iork. vr :o spciL)
I w The tiiratrtral hiks Is comlnr
' to an nd vry rapidly and th
f!rt ml hot pc!l we have will be
the !enl for ttie ihul-dova of ful!y
V.ilf of the playhouses. la fact, the
members of movt cotnpanlrs are run
nine on a weeks notice basis, which
means that ths manager can cloqe
without the a;ual fortr.ijhfs irrace.
The town Is filling up with the actors
and Actresses who have been on the
road all season. The fortunate ones
are sToinff to Kurope. ererr steamer
outward-bound having- a stron; repre
sentation, while the unfortunate ones
are Joining the unhappy throngs along
the RlsJto-
One of the managers who sailed the
other day was Henry (V. Savag-e. II Is
o Inn abroad to look for novelties and
also to place two of his successes oa
the forelca stage. These plays are "Ex
cuse He" and "Everywoman." which
are still running to crowded houses
ia this city.
A few years ago an American man
4ec wouid never think of placing ,
sir y-rjr
-w - , --
cuse Me on in Ens land, the reason
being that the public there would fall
to grasp the decided American brand
of humor that marks this Interesting
farce. But the success of "Baby Mine.
which Is drawing- crowded bouses in
London, convinced Mr. Savage that the
English public have finally reached a
frame of mind where they can enjoy
a reall7 rood play, even If It is hu
morous. And "Excuse Me" and "Baby
Mine" are 'certainly two of the best
that have been given here in years.
RrvlvaU In Vogue.
For the wlndup of the local season,
managers seem disposed to either
stand by their old successes or else re
vive plays that have made good In the
past. This Is why Francis Wilson has
brought "The Bachelor's Baby back
and is doing- a rood business at the
Criterion.
Robert Mantell revived "Louis XT
at Daly's and kept his attentive audi
ence always absorbed. His perform
ance of the doddering, palsied monarch,
strong only in his power for eviL has
improved since he first revealed it to
New York audiences. It is a splendid
orbing-, consistent and rich. In eloquent
byplay and detail.
The pageantry of the performance
was adequate and the drama, in the
main, very well acted. Jt is pleasant
to note that Mr. Mantell has done well
In his Shakespearean revivals, for with
the exception of t-'othcrn and Marlowe.
lie is the only actor who has essayed
the Bard of Avon's works In New York
this year. Next season we are threat
ened with Mrs. Carter in "Hamlet," but
that is another story.
Charles Klein, author of the season's
most successful serious drama. The
Gamblers." has returned from a month's
trip to Europe. During his tour, Mr.
Klein devoted much time to the study
of relative conditions in the writing
and production of plays In Europe and
America. He visited many theaters
In Italy, Austria. Germany, -France and
London, and with the advanced know
ledge gained Is certain that in writing
his new play for production next Oc
tober by the Authors' Producing Com
pany, of which he is general stage di
rector, be. will surely succeed in sur
passing his previous efforts. Should
he do this, it will give him a record
of three consecutive tig royalty-earners
within a year, the others being
"Maggie Pepper" and "The Gamblers.'
John Cor Active.
By the way. John Cort. president of
the Authors' Producing Company, is ar
ranging routes for four companies that
1 season by that organisation. Every im-
! portant city in the United States and
Canada will see Charles Klein's gripping
plsy which ran through the entire sea
son at Maxlne Elliott's theater.
The energetic George W. Lederer, who
is now one of our most prosperous mag
nates, thanks to "Madame Sherry" and
a few other successes, will have a new
star on his staff next season, unless
present plans fall to go through. The
womsn in question Is Fay Templeton.
who after her marriage a few years ago.
"retired forever." But actresses differ
from prlxe fighters, they can "come
back." and very often, they do.
An active correspondence, covering
a period of several months, has been
in progress between the manager and
the star. Mr. Lederer has a play for
Miss Templeton. in which he reposes
Implicit faith, while the actress on her
nart has such confidence, in his judt.
ment and ability that she has declared
that the only condition upon which she
will return to the stage is that she
shall be under the personal direction of
Lederer.
Fay Templeton had one of the largest
theatrical followlngs of any woman on
the stsge in recent years, and if she
does return to the footlights, is certain
to receive a hearty welcome. And Led
erer bss demonstrated that he knows
what the public wants, in the very sea
son that the veteran Charles Frohman
proved himself the worst of judges.
The long and highly prosperous sea
son of Grace George in "Sauce for the
Goose" having come to an end. the
actress and her husband. William A.
Brady, are now resting at West Baden.
Ind. Next week they will sail for Eu
rope, partly for a vacation and partly
to look after Mr. Brady's Important in
terests there. They will be accom
nanled bv James ShiDman, who is to
work with Mr. Brady upon the manu
script of a new play for next season.
, Jnry Plan to Be Tried.
Liebler Co., which firm will furnish
the attractions at the New Theater next
season, and besides have a long list or
other companies, do not fear censors.
In fsct they will welcome them. Lieb
lers now have a plan which they think
is certain to prevent criticism. They
volunteer to submit all plays they pro
duce to a Jury of 12 competent judges
to be selected by leading educational
associations of New York City.
This Jury will be suited to attend the
dress rehearsals of ail Llebler & Com
pany's attractions, and no play will be
sent out without their Indorsement. The
managers declare, and apparently .with
reason, that a Jury of this kind is bet
ter qualified to pass upon the char
acter of p'.ays than is one of municipal
appointment.
The Winter Garden to one of the big
attractions that Is sure to run all Sum
mer, and is certain to attract the at
tention of out-of-town vlaltors. The
svstem by which novelties are added to
the performance every week has proven
a big success, as it prevents me enier
tslnment from growing old to the regu
lar natrons, who have formed the habit
of visiting the playhouse at least once
week. Foremost among the hundreds
of players at this gigantio amusement
palace are Kitty Gordon, Bteus ftiaynew.
Mile. Dasie, Dorothy Jardon. Harry
Fischer, Arthur Cunningham. Al. Jol
son Tempest and Sunshine, and many
others.
Richard Harding Davis, who came to
town especially to see the revival of his
nlav. "The Dictator,'. In which, -William
Collier Is appearing with great success
at the Comedy Theater, tells an . in
teresting story about his first great suc
cess. "Soldiers of Fortune."
Mr. Davis has often been asked if
Clay," the hero, was drawn from life.
but always refused to say who the man
was, because the character was still liv
ing. Now be admits tnat uaptain
George B. Boynton was nis inspiration.
"Boynton was pretty well known
Awful Drop in Prices
If you are going to furnish
a rooming-house, apart
ment-house, flat
Our stock of Furniture,
Carpets, Rugs and other
household necessities
s the largest; most
varied and best
selected on the
II a i "V
private residence, . 1
a cottage , Wfi '
or a man- umWmS
Axminster Rugs 9x12 Only $16.00
our buyer was recently -visiting the East, owing to a depressed condition of the market, a
proposition was made to him that if he would take 2000 Axminster Bugs, all of the same size, 9x12, ha
would secure a tremendous discount. The cat in price was so tempting that he cast discretion to tha
winds and closed the deal.- Now these rugs have arrived and must be sold and we have slashed the
price so that they are within the reach of every purse. These rugs are the only two Standard makes;
namely Smith and Khorasan and retf.il regularly at $27.50. This sale on'y $16.00.
Our advanced Fall patterns in. all grades of Carpets have arrived, our buyer being in the field dur
ing the opening sales for Fall goods not only succeeded in securing inside prices, but had the pick of
all the newest patterns which we are selling at a lower price than at any other time in the history of
the firm. The house is bulging with bargains equally as attractive as our great Axminster Eug Special.
DON'T OVEELOOK OUE WINDOW DISPLAYS. ,
Henry Jenning&Sons
One Year Ahead of Competitors. Cor SeCOIld 311(1 MorrisOIl The Home of Good Fnrnitnre.
everywhere in his day," says Mr. Davis,
I always called him 'Colonel Boynton,
. title he earned fighting in South Am
erica. But it was the career of
Boynton, rather than the man himself.
that fired my imagination. Boynton was
a true soldier of fortune who scorned
to whine that he was an American citi
zen, or appeal to Washington when he
found himself in trouble."
Sicca pt sublimated snslodrama, J- 1 mill be sent out la "The. Gamblers" aaxtJLttle artistic details I the. Xlrat reaan-
WAGNER'S GREAT PLAY "PARSIFAL
WILL DRAW THOUSANDS TO BEYREUTH
Widow of Famons Composer Asks Opera-Honses of World to Leave Production of Opera to Place Sacred to Her
Husband Story of Long Attempt to Give It to World.
N
BT EMILIB FRANCES BAUER.
EW YORK. May 20. (Special.)
There will be a great pilgrimage
to Europe this season, not only on
account of the coronation festivities,
but this is also the year of the Bey
reuth festival, and in Rome the great
exposition will attract from all coun
tries. A cable from Germany announces
that Frau Cosima Wagner and her son,
Siegfried, are making a plea to the
opera-houses of the world not to avail
themselves of the liberation of "Parsi
fal." but to leave that to Beyrouth. It
is not likely that many of the opera
houses will agree to this as. for many
years, they have been waiting anxious
ly for this work. It may be interesting
to learn nagner's own attitude to this
opera snd how it came to remain the
exclusive property or Beyreutn '"ntu
Conrad produced It In America. Wag
ner, in his letters to his manager.
Angelo Neumann, expressed himself at
different times concerning this and
other details of his life and work.
From Beyreuth, October 16, 1S81. he
wrote :
I devoted 20 years of my life to
founding Beyreuth because I had
great and far-reaching plan in my head
.lth regard to It. A Wagner theater
in BorllnT Nothing could have been
easier for me; years ago I had the offer
of the means for It. But that was not
the fitting place for the creation
meant to give to the world. What I
finally achieved ire. my secluded spot,
where the world is forced to come to
me, may now, if it Is required, be car
rled further on. But this requisition
must come from the other side; may
you represent the other side. '
Wagner wrote his friend and man
ager, Neumann, that any theater for
Wagnerian works to be built in Berlin
must be his undertaking and not
Wagner's, and be advised him to give it
up, if he could not find the way to the
establishment of a theater entirely de
voted to his works. Then about "Par
sifal" be said: .
King fplKMu Wagner.
"Parsifal" is to be given nowhere
else but In Beyreuth; and this from pri
vate and personal motives that my gra
cious benefactor, the King of Bavaria.
so thoroughly understood that he even
waived hm privilege of having it given
at the Munich Theater. In view of this.
how could I dispose of "Parsifal" to you
you propose?. I cannot and will not
ever allow it to be given in any other
theater unless it were that I fitted out
real Wagner theater a stage sacred
to the drama which wandering, of course.
from place to place should spread
throughout the world the creations
which I have so far tended and brought
to their full and stately perfection in
my own theater at' Beyreuth. In case
you are steadfast in your ideas for
your great enterprises, the time may
yet come when I shall be glad to en
trust my "Parsifal" not to any court
theater or to a municipal theater, but to
the great wandering Wagner Opera
Company."
About this time Wagner bad prom
ised to go to London for the rehearsals
of hia works, which were to have been
given there, but even though he was
offered the doctor's cap at Oxford, he
was unable to go on account of the
state of his health, which was failing,
and he was still devoting himself to
tatlon of "'Parsifal,' and he declined the
honors from Oxford with thanks and
he remained in Venice.
Angelo Neumann, in his admirable
memoirs entitled "Personal Recollec
tions of Wagner," described the first
performance of "Parsifal" as follows:
Parsifal Is a Work of Art.
"The first performance of "Parsifal"
took place on the 29th of July, and was
an epoch-making occasion to all pres
ent. The audience Itself, naturally on
such an evening, was tremendously in
teresting. Interest and expectation
were at their greatest height. Words
fall me to express the deep Impression
the work made upon us all. A lofty
ecstacy came over me and I felt I had
taken Dart in a sacred service. As to
the interpretation, Amalta Materna and
Hermann Wlnkelmanu were marvelous,
as was the orchestra, too. under Her
man Levy, but above all. Enill Scaria's
Gurnemanz was a masterpiece, and
without exaggeration I may say it was
the perfection of art. After the per
formance we drove home in a pouring
rain to our supper at "Fantasie," where
we were Joined by the "Klingsor" of
that evening, Siehr from Munich, with
his wife and daughter. And what a
remarkable coincidence, this famous
basso, Vho later was to sing Gurne
manz, had always been one of the most
violent public adversaries of Wagner's
school, and remained so until the close
of his days.
"Edward Hansllk sat next to me at
supper. That redoubtable critic was
evidently still under the spell - of
'Parsifal.' and was noticeably silent
and thoughtful. Naturally, the sole
topic of our conversation was the won
derful- experience of the day, Hansllk
joined eagerly in our enthusiasm, mak
ing no caustic comments, and we felt
he had been quite converted. During
our talk, each giving his Impressions
of the day, Forster made a statement
that struck us all with terror:
" "You will see, Wagner's not long for
this world.'
?Our animation faded at these words,
and we sat there unspeakably shocked
until I managed to stammer: 'What
makes you say a thing like thatr
Forster answered with quiet conviction:
A. man who is capable of producing a
thing of that order cannot be long for
this world his work is finished.'
"Earnestly he spoke, almost with
tears in his eyes, and his words im
pressed ns with such a weight of hor
ror that it was long before we recov
ered from their effect. But our earlier
light, gay mood was gone for that
whole evening." ,
Wagner Refused to Sell Play.
Later Neumann broached the subject
to Wagner that he should entrust to
him his most sacred treasure. "Parsi
fal, and, to his great amazement, be
promised to consider it at the next
meeting, and the manager was to bring
proposition for "Parsifal ' at the
same time as his contract for "The
Ring."
Neumann writes: "On the given day
I appeared at Wahnfried with my con
tracts for "The Ring' an Tarsifal.
The master seemed quite disposed to
grant my eager wish. As we proceeded
to business he signed at once my con
tract of The Ring and now came the
turn of the 'Parsifal' agreement.
Would the master consent as he had
informally offered, to have the thing
produced outside of Beyreuth and to
hand me over the exclusive right? He
was just about to sign the contract,
when suddenly be paused. With his
pen poised over the paper he sat there
lost in reflection, then turning slow
ly to me, he said in a low, gentle voice
"Neumann, I did promise you, and if
you insist I will sign the contract. But
you would be doing me a great favor
If you should not insist this time. I've
pledged you my word no one else
shall ever have "Parlsfal' but you.
" "Master, I answered, "if you say I
should be doing you a great favor then
naturally that is quite enough for me!
Wagner wrung my hand and kissed me
eagerly, saying with touching em
phasis. Thank you. Neumann, thank
you!' and so closed one of the most im
portant, incidents of my life. My little
son was waiting for me in the shady
walk leading down to the gates of
Wahnfried and as he came to meet me
I told him of our interview, and added;
'Karl, my boy, today when I relin
quished "Parsifal" I abandoned the
prospect of many millions.' "Father."
said the little fellow (he was then just
7), it's worth more than millions, isn't
it. to have Richard Wagner thank you
like that." " ,
Play Only for Highest Art.
Later, Neumann requested of Wagner
the privilege of opening a new opera
house In Berlin with "Parsifal" and
Wagner answered him as follows: "I
scarcely know what to answer to your
urgent request that you should be al
lowed to give "Parsifal" at the open
ing of this new theater after all our
talk on the subject! "Parsifal" once
and for all belongs exclusively to my
Beyreuth Theater and it is at our
yearly festivals tTiat this work is to be
presented. This segregation is due to
the lofty character of the work itself.
My creation of 'Parsifal' shall stand or
fall with Beyreuth. At least this shall
be the case until my death for who
then will carry out my intentions is
still a problem with me. In case my.
powers which are put to such un
speakable tests by these performances
should be exhausted before my life, and
I should no longer, be able to attend
these details I should have to think of
some other plans for carrying out the
traditions of my work.
"If, by that time, your Wagner
Opera Company has reached that per
fect plane toward which you are con
stantly advancing with my other works
I might- then find it feasible to turn
over to you my "Parsifal' for certain
festival performances at stated oc
casions. And it is only to you and on
these terms that I shall ever consign
my "ParsifaL Of this you may assure
your partners in the theatrical under
taking for their satisfaction, but with
the proviso that I take it all back if
ever yon should make this statement
public You know what the reporters
are and can hardly blame me for trying
to keep this last great task at Beyreuth,
my final creation, out of their clutches."
For this reason Fran Wagner and her
son have kept "Parsifal" in Beyreuth
in accordance with the desire of the
great master who died in Venice.
.Tribute Paid to Wagner.
a concert in the magnificent hall of the
Conservatorio. But that afternoon on
the Grand Canal, before the house
where Richard Wagner lived and died,
the members of the Master's Opera
Company arranged a stately tribute to
his memory that was worthy Indeed
of the name they bore. The muni
cipality of Venice had placed at our
disposal their great gondolas of state,
and in these Anton Seidl and all his
orchestra took their places. The artists
followed in six smaller gondolas,
linked together in well-known Venlcian
fashion, and all about us darted the
slender boats conducting us in state to
the Palazzo Vendramin. Here they
hovered about, flower decked and
beauty laden. All the nobility of
Venice was on the canal and as many
strangers as could find a boat. All
deeply impressed, they floated a silent
throng, celebrating with us the Apothe
osis of our hero. Arrived at the
Palazzo Vendramin, I joined our group
of artists on the balcony, while Anton
Seidl below with his orchestra began
the first great strains of the funeral
march from 'Die Goetterdaemmerung.
"Reverently we uncovered our heads
as the music floated up from the water
and all about us the crowds mutely
followed our example, crowds in boats
and on the quays, even on the roofs of
houses, in utter silence they listened
to this mighty masterpiece that came
like a message from the Gods, wafted
across the waters in all the matchless
glitter of that warm Italian sunshine,
and mingling with the scent of gardens
and the throb of Spring in the air
among those verdant islands."
In a similar manner is told the most
intimate details of Wagners' work and
of his relations with his producers, a
truly fascinating work is this interest
ing volume of "Wagner's Recollections."
Neumann describes further the
tribute to the memory of the great
Wae-ner as follows:
"On the evening of April 19. we beidjj
HISTORIC LINCOLN LETTER
When College of "Yew Jersey Pro
posed to Honor Him.
Princeton Dispatch to New Tork Times.
Professor Theodore W. Hunt. Prince
ton '65, in recalling some stirring
events through which" his class went
during the Civil War, makes public a
letter which Abraham Lincoln wrote in
acceptance of the honorary degree of
doctor of laws which the trustees con
ferred on him in 1864. The letter follows:
"Executive Mansion,
"Washington. December 27, 1864.
"To Dr. John Maclean.
"My Dear Sir: I have the honor to
acknowledge the reception of your note
of the 20th of September, conveying the
announcement that the trustees of the
College of New Jersey have conferred
upon me the degree of doctor of laws.
The assurance conveyed by this high
compliment that the course of the Gov
ernment which I represent has received
the approval of a body of gentlemen of
such character and Intelligence in this
time of public trial, is most gratifying
to mc. Thoughtful men must feel that
the fate of the civilization on this con
tinent is Involved in the issue of the
contest. Among the most gratifying of
the proofs of this conviction is the
hearty devotion everywhere exhibited
by our schools and colleges to the Na
tional cause. I am most thankful if
my labors have seemed to conduce to
the preservation of those institutions
under which alone we can expect good
government, and in its train sound
learning-and the progress of the liberal
arts.
"I am, sir, very truly, your obedient
servant. A. LINCOLN."
A Schoolma'am Sweetheart.
Pathfinder.' .
Pdttle Why did you break off your
engagement with that school teacher?
Poof If I failed to .show up at her
house every evening she expected me
to bring a written excuse signed by my
my mother.