TTTTS SUXDAT OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, JANUARY 14, 1917.
PERSONS AND SCENES OF NEWS INTEREST ARE HERE DEPICTED
Roumanians Use Pontoon Bridges Over Danube New; York Factory Girls Wear "Efficiency Garments" Girls' Peace Meeting Astonishes Washington Square Belgium Issues Queen's Medal.
y i.v
it
- ft 's- i :
W X -
- : A .i
4
ROUMANIAN troops crossed the
Danube on one of the army pon
toon bridges made to maintain
the communication between the north
part of Dobrudja and the left bank of
the Danube.
Rellg-ious services are held dally for
the British troops before Monastlr. The
chaplain of the regiment conducts
service for the men.
New working: costumes have been
adopted by grirl employes of a New
York bakery and macaroni factory.
Many girls are needed to pack breaM.
flatten noodles, and to blow holes in
the macaroni, and they are not work
ing: in long: cumbersome skirts, but rn
efficiency garments all of white.
Here is what caused the big- idea to
go into effect. The manager was much
worried over the safety of the girls
because they are surrounded by ma
chinery. He thought that if the maca
roni caught fire and the girls had to
make a hasty exit, their long skirts
might be caught in the machinery with
disastrous results. Then he evolved
tha astonishing idea of dressing the
girlies, and they are all pretty, in the
whice efficiency garments.
Washington Square, N. T.. Is rather
an exclusive section but its soberness
was rudely disturbed on the afternoon
or .December 28, oy the arrival of a
group of lively young ladies carrying
timber, planks, saws, hammers, nails,
etc. These young ladles are pacifists
and on New Tear's day they regaled
the ears of the passerby with argu
ments as to "Why the War," "What Is
Peace?" etc
Each fair one represented one of the
nations of the world. Miss Rosalind
Fuller, a sprightly English girl, did her
share in the platform-erecting by saw
ing some of the heaviest pieces of lum
ber that went to make up their peace
platform.
One of the main reasons that the
Germans started their Invasion of Rou
mania was to get hold of her resources.
The oil lands of Roumania are real
producers and would be a great aid to
the German Empire. The Roumanians,
when they saw they could not prevent
the capture of their lands, destroyed
all the machinery before the Germans
could take possession.
The Neighborhood Playhouse Is one
of three dramatic enterprises in New
Tork devoted to the production of un
usual plays and plays with literary
merit. It is financed and managed by
amateurs of wealth, some of whom
appear in its productions. Gertrude
Kingston, an English actress, is its
technical' director. It was so success
ful in the production of one of Shaw's
plays recently that the play was trans
ferred to one of the regular theaters
for a run of two weeks.
A most expressive statue of Inez
Milholland Boissevaln, the martyr suf
fragette, who died for the cause, is by
Paul Swan, sculptor. painter and
dancer. Many prominent suffragists
who knew Mrs. Boissevaln have ex
pressed great Interest in this symbolic
statue. Some who have seen it claim
for It the personification of Mrs. Bois
sevain's life and ideals.
The Belgian government, to show Its
appreciation of the acts of kindness
1 '
1
f 'yap
i gel
4 r
i' .
?4V iV f$
IT
S'
.rrr
tv-f V-f
tec AJfc
fcrsn Sri.
IT.
1 1 E
tV . U- -.'V- -C '"Y 1
itra . k ifr".-.:-. ,v.-. -.: : : : 1 m m - - 4- a
V
that have been bestowed on the war
ridden country,' has created- a new war
decoration to be known as the Queen
Elizabeth Medal.
The government states, in announc
ing the issuing of a new medal, that it
will be conferred- without any distinc
tion of nationality.
The decoration was engraved by
Victor Rousseau. On one side is shown
the effigy of the Queen with the words
"Elizabeth Queen of the Belgians." On
the reverse side the figure of a nurse
refined, sweet and pretty, is sho?n in
a harmonious and contemplative atti
tude before a sconce in which burns a
watch-light. It is a touching emblem
of Charity, bowing to fate of misfor
tune, but untiringly watching to dress
mankind's wounds.
NEW YORK'S MUSICAL SEASON RESUMES WITH
FULL FORCE FOLLOWING LULL OF HOLIDAYS
New Year's Eve Celebration Said to Have Been "Triumph for Higher Development of Man" and Night Is Entirely
Given Over to Music, in Which Great Artists Participate.
41
J
y
iK
S tSnJmmm-l .
BT EMILIE FRANCES BAUER. ,
NEW YORK. Jan. 13. (Special.) 1
After a slight, almost impercep
tible lull in musical activities
during the holiday week, things re
sumed with full force and the first
week In January was emphasized by
another of those musical overflows
which fairly amounted to a bombard
ment. It is a triumph for the higher devel
opment of man. to note that the New
Tear's eve celebration, which is usually
a thing of horror to all who abhor un
due noises, was given over entirely to
music, some of which will never be for
gotten by any one fortunate enough to
have been present.
Such a concert, for Instance, was the
one given at the Manhattan Opera
House, where for the first time Osslp
Gabrilowltsch appeared in the capacity
of conductor, which role he had fre
quently assumed, in his European ca
reer and In which he was no novice.
Gabrilowltsch has a firm beat, a con
trolling personality and a deep musi
cal sense In which power is splendidly
contrasted with delicacy and grace. His
reading of the pathetlo symphony of
Tschaikowsky was one of the most
moving and most Impressive Interpre
tations ever heard since the days of
Safonoff. having the true Slav color
and throb.
Orchestra Glvea C 00 per t ion.
Clearly read and well defined was
the "Francesca da Rimini" of Tschai
kowsky, which was doubly Interesting
In point of the fact that It Is less fa
miliar and showed the conductor in an
other light. Then Gabrilowltsch turned
the baton over to Arnold Volpe, who
conducted for him as he gave his su
perb and well-loved interpretation of
the great Tschaikowsky concerto,
which has no greater or more feeling
interpreter.
It has been obvious to all who study
his art that he has made great strides
in actual pianism during the past sea
son, and this was more fully present in
his marvelous performance of this fa
vorite work than ever. The support
given him by Mr. "Volpe served to re
mind many present of the skill of this
conductor, whose orchestra no longer
dispenses the musical pleasures of for
mer seasons, and may establish the
fact that Mr. "Volpe is too skilled. in his
line to remain inactive in this direc
tion. It was throughout a triumph for
Gabrilowltsch, and one in which a most
excellent orchestra drawn from the
New York and philharmonic organiza
tions gave excellent co-operation.
At Carnegie Hall the Russian Sym
phony orchestra under Modest Alt
schuler dispensed musical delights be
ginning at 9:30 P. M., so that the New
Year might float in on wings of music.
Was it definitely planned to have a
Russian celebration? It could not have
been more cleverly arranged, because
here, too, the Tschaikowsky concerto
was heard in the masterly hands, of
Leopold Godowsky, with Modest Alt
schuler conducting.
Godowsky's sweep Is too well known
to require a word of comment upon his
reading. There was an interesting
sense of novelty about it, because the
great and ever-favorite pianist has not
been heard in this work so far as mem
ory serves. He also played a group of
Chopin numbers and the Schubert-Tau-sig
"Milltaire." Hugh Allan, formerly
a baritone but now listed under the
tenors, proved his right to thi classi
fication by singing the "Cielo e Mar"
from Ponchinello's "La Gioconda," and
Belle Story delighted her hearers with
the "Olseau charmant" from Bavid's
"Perle de Brezll" and songs by Chaus
son, Bemberg and encores.
With due regard for the country In
which he lives and has his success, Mr.
Altschuler timed his -programme so that
at the stroke of midnight his orchestra
played Victor Herbert's "American
Fantasy," and the enthusiasm and pa
triotism mixed made those present for
get the usual turmoil and hubbub of
Trinity Place and the chimes.
Blupham Sings Well.
Sam Franko at the Harris Theater
also included the "American Fantasy."
by Herbert, on a programme which oth
erwise consisted of an overture by
Sacchinl and a ballet by Gretry for his
share. The soloists were David Blsp
ham, who made the occasion memorable
by singing of the most Interesting and
finest sort, as must always be expected
from this great veteran artist, and Lola
fatterson, who featured songs by
American composers, and a third solo
ist was Olga Carrara, who sang an
aria from "Madame Butterfly." Mr.
Bispham's contributions consisted of
"The Two Grenadiers," by Schumann;
The Seven Ages of Man," by Henry
Holden Huss. and songs by Arensky
and scnuDert.
The New Year's gift offered by the
Metropolitan Opera Company to its pa
trons was the return of Geraldine Far
rar. In whom Interest is higher -than
ever.
As last season the interest In this
great artist was whetted by the pres
ence of the film production of "Car
men," so this season there is even
greater admiration for her presence In
the picture play of "Joan of Arc." but
to her hordes of worshipers "Madame
Butterfly" of Monday evening was
worth everything else, particularly as
she is also promised for later in the
week in "Carmen." Miss Farrar re
ceived a royal welcome and Polacco
placed to his crdlt another huge suc
cess in the Puccini opera which had
as interpreters in addition to Miss
Farrar, Martinelli, whose Pinkerton is
most fascinating, and Scotti, whose
Mkx . M y
-, V x,
1 1
-av.'-. ..;.:. ."
Vv. l s .
x7
Sharpless is one of the gems of the
Metropolitan collection.. Mme. Fornia
as Suzuki rounded out the admirable
cast.
In the afternoon to celebrate further
the holiday and because the great
Wagner work has come to be used only
upon special occasions, "Parsifal" had
its second performance of this season
with Mme. Kurt as Kundry, Urlus in
the title role, Herman Weil as Am
fortas and Braun, Gorttz, Ruysdael and
Reiss cast as usual. The beautiful voice
outside was that of Sophie Braslau and
the Flower Maidens included Mmes.
Sundeliua, Sparkes, Garrison. Mason,
Curtis and Howard. Mr. Bodanzky conducted.
The admirers of Caruso. Judging by
the size of the audiences when he
sings, are beyond count. The bring
ing forward of "The Elixir, of Love"
was a master-stroke on the part of
the Metropolitan direction, because real
novelties are almost impossible to pro
cure and the mental outlook of the
public is such that they are specula
tions beside which Wall street Is a mild
and cowering lamb. .
Therefore the naive Donizetti opera,
with its extraordinary opportunities
for real singing, came as a balm and
full of indefinable Joy, most of which
was derived from the wonderful "Una
Furtiva Lagrima." as sung by" the
great tenor." Coming as this 'aria does.
laden with tears, consummate beauty
and pathos, in-direct contrast with the
naive comedy spirit of the part and
which is accentuated by the surpassing
skill of Caruso, it represents one of the
supreme moments in opera.-
Never has he sung more appealingly,
never with more true depth of feeling
and exquisite .vocal beauty, and never
has he shown more convincingly that
the artist has come into his own as
contradistlnct from the great singer.
Mme. Hempel Without Peer.
Caruso represents the simple country
lad who has been led on by the co
quette. Adina rich, handsome and
young. - Needless - to say, -this role- Is
sung by Mme. Hem pel. who. for sheer
beauty of vocalism. of voice and of ar
tistic finish, has had no peer and need
fear none. Mme. Hempel never sings a
role of this sort without showing anew
the remarkable colorature which. In
addition to that which is natural. Is
heightened by the sort of schooling
which makes each tone as perfect as a
pearl. Her superiority over her own
earlier achievements at the Metropoli
tan is due entirely to the excellence
of the training she has had and her
present familiarity with Italian roles,
and they have done indescribable
things for her.
In addition to the charm of the great
tenor and soprano, Scotti. as Belcore,
a young sergeant who has also been a
victim to Adina's charms, heightens
tremendously the importance of the
cast. To say that his voice Is as fresh
and lovely as ever, that his exquisite
elegance is only the smaller part of his
unique charm, is not doing Justice to
his impersonation, which one of the
cold-blooded critics described as "ador
able." and it is true Scotti is adorable,
particularly so as the man who. meet
ing the grief-stricken Nemorlno, who
has no more money to buy a Becond
bottle of "Elixir of Love," gives him
the money to buy It en the promise
that he will hie away from the wiles
of Adina.
The "elixir." of course, is only a good
strong brand of wine and the money
fails in its mission because Adina has
decided in favor of the peasant in any
case, Didur, that Prince of Buffos, ap
peared, rather than make it necessary
to change the opera, but he was so
hoarse that he had to give free rein
to the dramatic side and he almost
spoke his lines instead of singing them.
It is not difficult to see what he will
do with the role when he is in good
condition, and neither was it difficult
to understand why Belcore, the hand
some sergeant, satisfied himself with
Gianetta, charmingly done and sung by
Lcnora Sparkes. into whose voice great
beauty has come these days. Gennaro
Pnpi established himself again as sat
isfactory to the patrons, as he is a
well-routined conductor whose ten
dency to slow tempi is frequently try
ing on his sinsera, . -