T
N ONE thing Portland la advanced,!
certainly. It la in the matter Of !
I the removal of hata at a concert
It la surprising to note that many
of the largest cltlea In the east
oltlea that had had the advantage of
generation! of culture long before Port
. land had even aet iti foot on the map,
era behind In thla matter. Frequently
the paper take up the fight and make
cauatlc commenta on the subject, And
the larger hats, the more witty their
commenta. But It may be that they fear
they would be deprived of a prolific
aubject tor humor were the trouble ium
marlly disposed of and ao they don't go
into the fight with sufficient determin
ation.
Ordinarily in theatres hata are re
moved because all who go to the thea
tre go to aee and they make their de
mands peremptory. All have the aame
purpose and so, moved by their own de
sires In the matter, people remove their
hats ."as they would it should be done
"to them." The rules of most theatres
are stringent In this respect But too
many go to concerts only because it Is
"the thing." They don't care if they
can't sea the performer; why should
anyone else care?
Concerts are more often given in con
cert halls than in theatres in the cities
nd there usually are no rulea about
hats. And yet because concerts here
are given in the theatres there is no
reason to take away all credit from
Portlanders. The theatre has been the
means of education, but the people her
have been ready to grasp it And when
you attend a concert In Portland, wheth
er it be at a church, or in a lecture
hall, or In one of the small recital halls
at the piano house, one need hot worry
about the hats in front. Portlanders
are accustomed to taking off their hats
and thev do not need a placard to make
them do It. For which w may take
off our hats to Portland.
In New York and in Boston It Is not
so. Efforts have been made to have
rules passed to this end. but to no
purpose usually. I take It for granted
that if they nave not arrived at the
stage of removing their hats they have
not yet learned to listen In silence. For
I believe one step follows the other and
that the removal of hats for the con
venience of others' sight comes before
the removal of noise for the convenience
of others' hearing. Portland, I grieve to
say, has not accomplished the latter step
yet.
But to hark back. One clever writer,
Louis C. Elson of the Boston Advertiser,
has hit upon a clever Idea for satir
izing the flaht between the "hata-on-
nera ' and the "hats-offers." No, It Is
not to be a fistic struggle for suprem
acy: that would hardly be worthy of the
arttstio subject. For It Is doubtless art
istic on the one side the artistic -er-s,on
striving to get the most out of an
urHstlc concert; on the other an artistic
person trying to get the most out of an
aiiitsuc creation.
Mr. Elson's plan Is to write a sym
phonic poem on the subject one that
would fittingly embody the Importance
of the subject and the subtleties of the
contest. This Is his Idea as presented
to the Advertiser after a recent con
cert: "But there was something of far more
Import than Schumann, or Smetana, or
Wolf, or Schroeder, at this concert
-r
Singer's Wise Investments
Add to
JL
Madame Nordica, Who Combines Business With Art.
It Is seldom that any great musician
wins the esteem and personal Interest
of the. public to such an extent as ha
Madam Nbrdlca. Every Item regarding
her life and personal characteristic I
received with interest by literally mil
lion of readers. Th fact that she
maintain three beautiful homes, on In
New York, one on the Hudson, and
'one lrv-. Paris, Is. well known? to many,
but; the question . naturally .. arises; I'
,
'she, too, going to waste th earning of
her sarressful " year in extravagant
living end in the end be reducea to
THE
There wai revolt! The gen tie male wno
had been gaiinc- at the back of a milll
nery cartwheel during the last three re
hearsals, suddenly rebelled, 'and a re
quest to remove feminine neaagear was
Visible at all the doors! Not that this
disturbed the minds of all the topheavy
ones present On gentle dame sat
sturdily near the storm center beneath
an inverted bathtub and enjoyed (doubly
enjoyed) th entire program. But the
vent might rive a good ubject for
soma of our native composers, who are
languiahtng for American subjects. The
1- I . V. . I 1 ...4 "II- tmrff
an American tone poem."
"It might begin with the request
motif,' followed by deep mutterlngs in
the woodwind. A very long rou.nd
might typify a Herry Widow' 'hat and
the trombones might give the theme of
defiance. The approach of the usher
might now be depicted (timoroso e
tremolando) and the defiance theme
might respond to it 'allegro feroce.
A final apotheoaia of the hat theme
smothering a feebl flue theme in minor
might indicate the retreat of the usher.
'rAnd the trombone's loud blare,
And the trumpet's fierce air.
Gave proof, at the end, that the hat
was still there.
"A few fragmenta of the 'request-motif
might portray an unfortunate aud
itor (by no means a spectator tlck."d
in the nos by the waving feathers and
vainly endeavoring to peep beyond the
obstruction."
Mlscha Elman. the celebrated Russian
violinist who as a mere boy, set Europe
agog about three yeara ago, and who has
been steadily climbing upward since
then, will sail for America this week,
aeeompanted by bis father, hla personal
manager, Dnlel Mayer, and his pianist.
Waldemar Llachowsky. His New York
debut will be made December 10, with
the Russian Symphony society at Car
negie hall, and if he duplicates his Eu
ropean suocesses New York will be
tafklne; Mlscha Elman fast and furious
for some time after. He will play the
Tschaikowsy concerto at his first ap
pearance. Wifchiri three weeks after his
arrival he will appear at 10 orchestral
concerts, a record quite unsurpassed by
any young virtuoso. Elman Is booked
for concerts through the middle west
and on the Pacific coast, and it Is Just
possible that arrangements will he made
to bear this young wonder In Portland
a matter for congratulation if It Is
effected.
The music at the First Methodist
Episcopal church today, will be as fol
lows:
Morning Organ; anthem, "Fear Ye
Not O Israel" (Splcker); offertory, con
tralto solo. My Redeemer ana My .uora
(Buck). Miss Kstherine Davis.
Evening Organ; anthem, "Gloria"
(Mozart); offertory, anthem, "While th
Eartb Kemalneth (Tours;; organ.
My attention was called to an error
in the account of Adela Verne's concert
at the Scottish Rite Cathedral recently.
Her claylna of Chopin's "Thirty-fifth
Sonata" waa mentioned. The error was
a careless misplacement of the number
which refers to the work which waa the
thirty-fifth. The sonata, which contains
Her Large Fortune
Such straits a other great singers who
have gone before?
Those who know her best however,
realise that sufch an outcome is Impos
sible. Whil the madam lives In a man
ner worthy of a princess, beside being
the personification of generosity she
has the keen perception of -values that
ha enabled her to Invest her surplus
earnings In securities that are abso
lutely safe and yield good returna. She
is not a.J"nDcula.tor." hut ,,..
land each year has. gone on adding to
the' wealthiest women In the ewintry.
Her concert at the Helllg Thursday.
I)ecember-19, Is the.second on the Lois
Stears-Wynn Coman , course.
'' Q':.
OREGON SUNDAY " JOURNAL. PORTLAND, SUNDAY
;
If'" 'V i V
r - : y ! ' "
Miss Olivia Dabl, Celebrated Norwegian Soprano, Who Sings Tonight.
the celebrated Marche Furtebre and
which is not often played In Its entirety
because it is teeming with Tllff Iculties,
is. I believe, the second of Chopin's
sonatas, of which there are only three.
And while on the subject I should
apologize for not mentioning the change
In the last number of her program from
the Liszt nolonalse to the second rhap-
eoaie. Absence from the nan preventea
my hearing the final number and lgnor
ance of the change made It appear that
the number had been played as at first
planned.
The Wanamaker store In Philadelphia
gave a series of Invitation musicales
known as the "Autumn Musical Festi
val." from November 16 to November
21. Among the artists engaged were
June Reed, Janet Spencer, the Saseard
sisters, Hans Kronold and Marie Stod
dart. This Is a good hint to our own
enterprising stores, though It is hardly
to be expected that names so well known
could be secured here for that purpose.
At a political meeting an Irishman
watched closely the trombone player in
the band. Presently the man laid down
his Instrument and went out for beer.
Paddy Investigated, and promptly pulled
the horn to pieces. The player re
turned. "Who's meddled mit my trom
bone?" he roared. "Ol did."' said Paddy.
"Here ye've been for two hours tryin'
to pull It apart, an' Ol did It In wan
minut!" The Argonaut. .
The musical during the mission at the
Holy Rosary church, was under the able
direction of Miss Elizabeth Hoben, and
was exceptionally good.
At the close of the mission Mrs. Mil
lie Perkins sang Mascagnl's "Ave
Maria," with violin obligato played by
Miss Cornelia Barker and with Miss
Elizabeth Hoben at the organ.
Miss Cornelia Barker's violin solo,
concerto bv De Beriot, was played with
much skill.
An embittered local composer told us
that he loves to play "Salome," for when
he turns over two pages Instead of one
It Is not necessary for him to turn back.
He keeps on playing, and no one knows
the .difference. Professional jealousy is
a devastating thing. Musical Courier.
An error was made in the local pa
pers in announcing that Miss Beatrice
Wilson played a piano solo at the Pat
ton home Tuesday. The player was
Miss Elaine Clouse, a pupil of F. W
Goodrich, and she did excellent work.
Henry T. Flnck Is at work on a new
and enlarged edition of his life of Ed
ward Orleg. In its present smaller form
it Is considered an Interesting work.
T7DVARD GRIEG,
JLJ Norway's Poet Musician
-a
By Olivia Dahl.
When Orleg died, September 4, last
year, all Norway was In sorrow. He
was only 64 and his death came as a
surprise. We knew that he was hav
ing a serious attack of bronchitis every
year, knew that he had only one lung
left, but we were so accustomed to his
getting well again every time that it
was hard to realize that it was really
the end.
Grieg leaves a big empty place In
Norway, even more so than Ibsen, be
cause he came personally in closer con
tact with the public.
How many a concert I remember
where the little dwarf-like man, with
the big head, held us spellbound when
he Inspired a rather ordinary orches
tra to do the extraordinary. Grieg's
music is well known all over the orld.
who does not know the "Peer Ovnt
Suite," and who has not played "The
BprtngTV But I do not think that his
songs ar as well known In this coun
try as they deserve, as they are perhaps
the - most typical expression of his
lyric, talent Through most of Grieg's
music one can trace the Norwegian
fo'Wo nd t'11 h entirely orig
inal. The queer rhythms and odd har
monies of the northern muslo came
Swsk.,J.eoJn.,Jt!is magnified and
beautified. Of the piano.composltions I
prefer the A minor miuvrin and k
sonata In E. Among hi songs I have
r "V' nifs mat l. win not at
tempt to name them. Y .
but he did not dare to cross the ocean.
He was terribly seasick and the raw
climate of the west scared him. Al
though he had him lovely home "Trold
haug" tn Bergen, he never could live
there except In - the summer time as
it wag too damp and raw. He had the
most splendid offers "for touring the
United States to direct the performance
of his compositions. 'In fact, "w
would pay him anything." as a New
York manager told me two or three
years ago. Grieg traveled a good deal
but he always spent few months of
every winter in Christian!, where he
waa very much interested in all young
musicians.
At concerts he always sat tn the first
row and it has given many young
musicians trembling knees to have to
face him when they sang or played for
the first time in public. If he were
interested in you, he might be induced
to coach you. but he wa not easy to
satisfy. He told straight out what he
thought of you and wanted everything
just so and the tempo, he wanted!
You could never be too fast to suit
him. ' I remember hearing Fanny
Bloomfleld Zetsler tell of her meeting
Grieg in Copenhagen once. After he
had complimented her on her playing
some or nis tnings at trie concert the
day before she told him that she In
tended to take up the concerto. "How
do. you want it?" she asked. "Oh,
faster, faster." was the reply.
Socially Grieg was a charming man
to meet, that is when he was among
people he liked and sympathized with.
He hated to be Invited out to be
"shown off," and he was very out
spoken. One summer, when the kaiser was In
Bergen, Orleg was Invited on board
the "Hphenzollern." The military or
chestra was playing on deck and the
kaiser, who imagines himself to be
a musician as well us a' poet and sev
eral other things, took the baton to
lead a number himself. Grieg never
said a word until the kaiser asked
what he thought of him as a leader.
"Very poor, your majesty." The kaiser
looked somewhat surprised, then burst
out laughing.
The Grieg memorial concert given
at the National theatre was one of the
evenings one never forgets. Every sesit
waul taken; In fact the concert had to
be repeated three times, Most of the
people dressed In black. On the stage
was a bust of Grieg, crowned with a
laurel wreath, and the same orchestra
played the same music in the same
place where he had lead them so many
times. The songs were sung by Thor
vald Lammers. a singer now pretty old
but Btill in good voice, who was the
first W bring most of these songs be
fore the Norwegian public. It was cer
tainly emotional.
DRESS AND MUSIC
Discussed in Journal
a . a
An interesting new department opened
in the Musical Courier Is one that at
first thought might seem out of place
In a first class musical Journal. It Is
the department of dreps and fashion.
Selz Royal Blue Shoes
Have the "Sole of Honor"
Selz Royal Blue Shoe $3.50, $4, $5
MORNING, NOVEMBER 29,
On second thought however.. It will be berg would be proud to count his md
readily seen how strong an influence mirers. To the one It is a neceasity of
dress has on the sense of harmony and ! life, to the other it Is cheap tinsel that
it is with thia idea in view that theils better done away with altogether,
department has been openecV under the "Who made the doctor a doctor?" he
attractive and fitting head. 'rTone, Dress asks. "What is a musical doctort Any
and Music." The goyningA proper for body can be a musical doctor. I was
musical iuncuons; i.ie comoinaiions
that should be worn by certain types;
the necessity of a pleading style of dress
In a singer or player appearing before
the public; the Important part that
harmony in dress plays In adjusting
the mind fit the audience, are all em
phasized. Of course anyone will readily
recognize the disconcerting element that
is introduced If a singer wears too
bizarre a costume or If a stout ptanlstH
aDDears in a Blender woman's tain
These are details not to be overlooked,
for though we be musical we are but
human. And from the other point of
view a listener who Is not dressed in
accordance to the rules of fashion often,
when she finds herself anions- other
better dressed than she, will become
self cousclous and In a frame of mind
which must be banished before she
can be entirely in sympathy with, the
music she hears. A performer, too, who
Is conscious of errors In lier dress, will
become self conscious and awkward.
So after all the department is In good
place and should give some valuable
hints.
kORTLAND POET
Praises Maud Powell
a
A pretty compliment was paid Maud
Powell at her concert the other evening
when Erskine Wood, a young writer of
promise and a good deal of prominence
penned the following praise poem to her
art. Madame Powell was unable to
grant his request though the poem
struck her as such a beautiful expres
sion of appreciation that she allowed
me to copy it. Incidentally few socalled
sonnts comply with the rules so well.
REQUEST FOR DRDLA. A SONNET.
"Maud Powell who from your old
violin
Draw music like the 'strains of Or
pheus rare.
Who lift from heavy hearts of men
their care
And make thorn feel a glad content
within.
Who love and plaudits from your fel
lows win.
Because you make the sorrows that
they bear
All fHde in muKhx and t lie world more
fair.
Hear my requent that is to prayer
akin.
There is some music that doth strike
the ear
As sweet as that the spheres of heaven
made.
On violin I ne'er have heard It
played.
And O, the pleasure It would be to
hear!
Play. I entreat, the joyous Ser
enade , And then the fairy dainty Sou
venir!" OPERATIC SINGER OF
Note Settles in Portland
a- a
Considerable attention has been at
tracted to George Walcker. th; operatic
baritone who recently arrived In Port
land, for a temporary stav and opened
a studio in the Tllford building in the
meanwhile. Mr. Walcker has not appeared t
before the Portland public at all; In ' amount, turned It over to the un
fact his admirers are beginning to fear fortunate, who without a word was
inai ne aoes not miena to and are
bringing polite pressure to bear upon 1
him. It seems only fair that when we I
have among us a singer with Walcker's
record he should give us the plea
sure of hearing him.
Walcker came from the Royal Opera
at Berlin and, I believe. Is west for
the rest and change only. He Is ar
ranging to give some song recitals on
the Pacific coast this season and next
season will tour the United States.
thus giving himself a rest from the
arduous lire, or an opera singer. I am
told that he has a repertoire of 40
operas, and among them are several of
vvagner s most airncuit roles. A num
ber of the professional musicians have
discovered mm and are croinar to him
already for Criticism. Those who hav-j
neara mm. speaK most enthusiastically
of his voice. A number of prominent
people have agitated the matter of In
ducing him to appear here in concert.
He has been entertained by prominent
people among whom were James Mcl.
Wood, who entertained him at dinner
and Robert May Tuttle, who gave a
luncheon for him at the Arlington club.
Walcker Is an American by birth
with German blood In his veins. His
parents live In the northwest and for
that reason he chose the coast for his
retreat.
TITLES VALUABLE IN
ProDortion to Effort
The editor of the Musical Courier of
New York waxes Indignant again at the
use of the cheap title "Doctor" applied
to a musician. Marc A. Blumenberg.
who Is versed In matters musical and Is
a well known figure among the musical
cult, scorns to fall back on the title him
self to make his name great, and it rubs
him the wrong way when he meets those
who make use of It. Mr. Blumenberg
should remember, however, that he ca
ters to a different olass from the "Doc
tors. The latter need the title to tm-
firess the kind of people they wish to
mpress. The people who kowtow to a
worthless title, jvno call a musician
"professor" with reverential accents
and translate him to the realm of the
constellations when he acquires a "Doc
tor" are not the kind that Mr. Blumen-
The sole of a shoe is the part
that gets the wear; and the only
reliable sole leather is oak tanned.
Many otherwise good shoes
have hemlock soles; they look as
good as oak, but they're not.
You can't tell without wearing
them that they're not oak.
That's another point in favor
of Selz Royal Blue Shoes; oak
soles always. We don't have to
guess about it ; neither do you.
Every Selz Shoe has on it the
-naker's guarantee of your satisfaction.
Cor. 7th .Mid Washington Sts.
1908.
axxed tfte other day to get a certain auit
of clothes In a tailor shop and buy a
mortar board and go to a certain place
and pay tioo and become a doctor of
music. People can make money by se
curing -candidates for the places that
Issue degrees for the disreputable title
of doctor. Schools give the degree, col
leges In the country give the degree, pri
vate enternrlHAH litta fnn..mr,tA,l.. H
longing to Individuals give the degree
....... auvuuc iu minx inai n
degree of music has value, when It Is
merely a travesty, gives us a clue to the
person's intellect"
XTORWEGIAN SINGER
To Interpret Grieg
In another column of this page is
given an interesting article on Grieg by
Miss Olivia Dahl, the Norwegian singer,
who was a friend of Norway's great
composer. The article gives some ln-
ic.roiing personal sidelights on this ln-
r Vi 8 '"n wno ulea within the year
Incidentally Miss Dahl is rather an
Interesting personality herself. She will
sing tonight at the Ari,. i,nn
the auspices of the Norwegian Singing
Till . w l1 .regreiiea that she
will not be heard while here bv a more
representative audience, for Miss Dahl
seems to be an artist of much merit.
She brings with her many commenda
ttons from well known critics, but most
highly she prizes the praise of Edvard
Orleg, who put In writing the very high
opinion he had of her art and especi
ally of her interpretative power A
written commendation by Grieg is'con-
tred alLe thln,f- for Grle was out
spoken and honest and seldom commit
ted himself irrevocably.
Miss Dahl is particularly Interested
In Interpreting Grieg's gongi, which she
considers very beautiful. She Is to
sing with the Seattle Symphony orches-
t.tnVV?el'Khte1 wit th oppor
tunity of giving some of the Norwegian
composers songs with orchestra for
the opportunity does not often offer.
-KTADAME NORDICA
11 As Lady Bountiful
A characteristic story of Madame
Nordlca's generosity has Just come to
light. Several years ago she straight
ened the financial affairs of a friend
who had been "plunging" In Wall street
and dismissed the unfortunate one with
a little salutary advice on speculation
in general and "Wall street' in par
ticular, after exacting a promise that
never again would this unfortunate be
found wooing the fickle goddess of
fortune through the Wall street route
Of course, "when the Devil was ill "
proved true as always, until the "Devil
was well. But no word of further
trouble came to Madame Nordlca's ears
until last spring, when back came the
friend, utterly ruined and facing bank
ruptcy. Little could be expected ' of
Madame Nordica, and only as a last re
sort was she approached. After lis
tening to the sorrowful tale, the
madame walked over to her Ho.k
signed a blank check without asking
u v me uoor, ana went away
Baved from disgrace. The story would
never have come to light had not the
beneficiary, with a heart full of grati
tude, told a few friends of this last in-
and now comes Xmas
and with It
The Gift Problem
yERILY, ours is "The Ideal Gift Store" a treas
ure house of Christmas Goods this season.
Hundreds of Gift Things everything for every
body appropriate for the holidays is here.
For many years we have maintained an enviable
position among the discriminating shoppers of
Portland as the most satisfactory store in which to
select Gifts, and never before this year were dis
plays so elaborate variety so great prices so
tempting.
It is not too early to begin thinking about the
holidays especially if the Gift is to go out of town.
Furthermore, the early shopper chooses from a com
plete, new, bright and inviting stock, and selections '
will be held or future delivery if desired.
We quote no prices heTe ; we'd rather you would
come in and see our superb display. Then you'll
grant that our showing is incomparable. For your
own pleasure satisfaction economy come. And
early.
THE X K. GILL CO.
, . THE NEWEST AND BEST IN ; --V : ;
-Books Stationery Desks Bookcases Fancy
Leather Goods Business and Social Engravin';
Architects': Supplies Surveyingj Instrume nt, t ;
CORNER THIRD AND A UV" I
MMII"!SMM,g,ff J -I um." . m
stance of th tender heartednees of hl
great womanT What words had fallml
to do thla silent act of klndncs ht
accomplished, and speculation naa loat
a. devote. ' . . ,-v..-.f-. ,
f uVsTORICAL MUSIC ' ;
I il Given by Famed Violinist 1
The New York papers have a not
concerning an exceptionally Interesting
"historical recital" given by Ovtde :
Musln recently, at which he Instructed
his audience on th history of the Vio
lin. Beginning; with a number by Cor
elii dated 1663, he played from the
master who have given some of tho .
best to violin literature. In chronologt- ,.
cal order, pointing out the character
istic and the advance In style. Th
portraits of the composers were shown
on th, stereoptlcan screen as he played
from each one and he prefaced his se
lections with sketches or each composer.
Others whose names have figured in
vlolinlstic literature whose compoat
tions were not played or who were
merely performers and not composers
were spoken of. Views of crude looking
instruments antedating the violin Were
shown. The homes of Cremona ami
Brescia and other famous violin makers, .
and many other interesting subjects
were shown In stereoptlcan views. Musln
was pronounced a delightful lecture
recitalist who spoke easily without
notes giving, without hesitation, dates
and many detailed bits of data. The
lecture was instructive from many
points of view.
SLU3r OF CANTOX
Where the Poor of a Great Chinese
City Live.
From the Lady's Realm.
Stand beside the imperial custom
house at Canton and let the eye rang
down the river toward Hongkong. As
far as the sight can reach lie boats,
boats and again boats. These are no or
dinary craft mere vessels of transport'
filying hither and thither, but the count
ess homes of myriad Chinese, ta which
millions have been born have lived and
died. They are the dwellers of th
very poor, who live in them practically
free from rent, taxes and the other
burdens of the ordinary citizen. - i
The Tankia (which means boat dwell-
ers), as the denizens of these floating
houses are called, form k sort of caste
apart from the rest of the Cantonese.
The shore dwellers regard them as be
longing to a lower social order, and in
deed they have many customs peculiar
to themselves which mark them a a
separate community. How the swarm
ing masses of them contrive to support
existence Is a mystery, but their chief
mode of employment Is in carrying
merchandise and passengers from place
to place. In some oases the daughters
of the family go ashore to work In fac
tories, as do the girls of other countries,
but the year's earning of a Chinese
factory girl would scarce suffice to buy
a single bat for her western sister. . Of
course as against this low rate of pay
the standard of living is correspondingly
different
The houses which make up these vast .
floating s'ums are of all sizes. Some
are but IS feet long. From these
cramped dimensions, however. they
range up to a length of 69 or 60 feet.
A beat, large nough.o sccommQdate a
family of moderate size can be ob
tained for $20, and since the anchorage'
is freo it is obvious that the Tankia
effect many savings impossible to the,
shore dweller.
Adolph Zlnert a Frankfort, Ger
many, slaughter-house employe, has
killed 5,000,000 hogs during the last 21
years.