B I' F 5! v i S3 S MUSIC NEWS hBELLS" BEST WORK OF RACHMANINOFF First Performance in America, by Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus, a Noteworthy One Third IMano Concerto nachmmlnott Sersel Rachmaninoff Symphony No 3. "Th Htlla". .IUrhmanlnolt Philadelphia Orchestra ond Chorus Yesterday was Ttnchmaninoff Day at the concert of the Philadelphia Orches tra at the Academy of Music, for the program consisted of only two numbers, both by the great Russian composer, nnd in the first of them be appeared as fcololst. However, great as Mr. Rach maninoff showed himself to bo as a per former, and his playing had everything of virtuosity, temperament and general all-round artistry that a performance ;ould possibly have, it was as a creative artist that he won the highest laurels. His third symphony. "The Bells," ret to a transcription of the words of the poem by Edgar Allan Poe. stands forth as conspicuously the finest com position of his that has yet been heard in this city. The music fits the -rords, or rather the spirit, of the original as closely as the artistic personality of the composer blends with that of the poet. In this the work i3 one of the highest class, not taking into consideration the wonderful workmanship which is mani fest in every measure, the intimate knowledge of the possibilities nnd the limitations of both the orchestra and the voices and the wonderfully effective orchestration. A brief analysis of the relation of the poem to the music and the remarkablo points of .similarity of artistic feeling of both composer and poet appeared in these columns yesterday, and therefore It is not necessary now to go into these details. The composition is a real sym phony, and it is the only choral work in existence, so far as is known to the general musical public, which follows the symphonic lines in all four move ments with ihe voices as well as with tbc instruments. But it is in its musical values and not its technical workmanship that the great value of the music lies, and this is the thing, and this alone, which will determine the ultimato position of the composition, which seems on a first hearing to be a gigantic work. Knowl edge is there in abundance, but it is always subordinated to the musical ef fect to be achieved. The work is full of the finest musical effects imaginable. One of the very best of these is the close of the third movement, which corresponds to the eherzo in an orchestral symphony. The voices end fortissimo ou n chord unaccompanied and the effect is elec trical. It was so stupendous that the audience sat in silence after the move ment had been concluded. At first there is little doubt that the hearers were undecided as to whether the move ment had been finished and whether it was the right time to applaud, but even after this doubt was removed, they sat jn silence, a more eloquent tribute to the senilis that had inspired the move ment than the most tumultuous applause could have been. This is only one of the many effects with which Mr. Rach maninoff has filled the composition. The work was superblv performed from beginning to end. The orchestra was fine, as always, and the chorus Wrmycd an immense improvement over its-work in the Beethoven Choral Fan tasia, in tone' quality attack nnd in nsemble. Mr. Townsend has done u llbp. piece of work in preparing thern 6 so high a degree for the public per formance under Mr. Stokowski. Top soloists also did exceedingly well. Miss Jjiukle has the best kind of a voice ifor singing with n large orchestra, having exceptional clearness and a tim bre that makes it stand out from any or all the instruments of the orchestra. Mr Arthur Hackett has also a fine voice, although a little more power Tnight have been desirable and a little inore clearness of enunciation. Sir. Patton, the baritone, made a most favorable impression His enunciation was far the most clear of any of the ftoloists and his power, tone quality and manner of singing loft little to be de sired. Mr. Stokowski did one of the finest bits of conducting that he nas yet done in this citv. Always at his best, in the production of great choral composi tions, he is evidently en rapport with Mr. Rachmaninoff's work, and he knew the involved and complicated score from end to end. The result of this combina tion of fortunate circumstances was a magnificent performance and one well worthy of the genius of the composi tion. The first number on the program was the third piano concerto by Mr. Rach maninoff, the one in D minor, whieh Mr. Cortot recently played with the Philadelphia Orchestra. A certain great writer once said "comparisons are odorous," and so they would be in this case. Mr. Rachmaninoff, in his reading of the roncerto, took the entire work at a much more rapid tempo than did Mr. Cortot, but, strangely enough. this did not result in a gain in bril liancy, for the Cortot reading was moie brilliant than that of the composer. Btit it is evident from his playing of it that Mr. Rachmaninoff does not intend the composition as a brilliant work. As lie played it it follows the model of Beethoven and Brahms in their violin concertos, in thnt it is almost a sym phony with an obligato for the solo in strument, whereas Mr Cortot treated the work as a piano concerto pure and simple. The two readings were those of a great pianist ami of a great com poser, respectively. An audience well worthy of the ncca- sion was present, every t-eat being " taken and the orchestra pit as well being filled. Mr. Rachmaninoff was received with the cordial reception which his genius merits, both after the roncerto and after the symphony, when Mr. Sto kowski insisted that be rise from the box in which he heard the work and acknowledge the applause. DISCOVERED BY BONCI Young American Tenor Making Vaudeville Success Atessandro Bonci, the famous Italian tenor, is credited with the discovery of Allan Rogers, the young American tenor, who, it is predicted, will prove a success in the operatic world. In 101.1 Bond first heard the young man's voice. selecting it from nmong the members of the glee club of the University of Chicago- Je wus so impressed with the quality after a special hearing that ho declared that he had heard the most promising tenor voice in America. Inspired by this praise, Rogers began vocal study, and hns done much to fulfill 'the prediction of the opera star, Mr. ilogcrs made his initial bow in this city several months ago, when he created a genuine sensation at Keith's, and he is 'to return there the coming week in a. cV repertoire. His voice is of excep tional range and quality. He sustains high 0 bhurp. and his lower register Is fig nrloar as his upper. HWxaxf! rjk " -xr"""- AND VIEWS THEATRE THE CRITIC TALKS TO MUSIC LOVERS Weekly Comment on Things Musical in Discriminating Philadelphia TUB performance of Henry Hadlcy's new opera, "Cleopatra's Night," by the Metropolitan Opera Co., in this city last Tuesday evening, brought up again for at least the several hundredth time the perennial question of the practica bility of grand opern in English. One of the great lessons pointed, out by this nnd by several other performances of opera in our own tongue, within the last five or ten years is the necessity for an adequate libretto. Without going into the merits or otherwise of the libretto which Mr. Hndley has set to music in his latest work, the matter of a fine and, above all, n really poetic libretto, is of moro importance than anything else at the present stage of American operatic de velopment. Curiously enough, much of the American music thnt has been com posed for the grand operatic stage by the present generation is good enough, but in many cases its real merits have been largely obscured or at least nulli fied by the libretto. The reason than a libretto is more important than the music to American opera just now is becauso we have no operatic traditions. We are not ac customed as the European nations arc to hearing everyday phrases and com monplaces sung instead of spoken, nnd the first impulse of the fun-loving American public upon bearing such (to him) an apparent incongruity is to laugh. ' THIS was just what happened on Tuesday niirht in a number of situ ations which were anything but humor ous from the dramatic standpoint, ana quite naturally the laughter, which at that was hardly more than a ripple of amusement, entirely spoiled the stage situation. The most flagrant occurence was at the death of Mardion, when Cleopatra ordered her body to be thrown to the crocodiles. Perhaps hero the situation might have been saved by the declamation of these words instead of having them sung. It occurred again as Cleopatra was about to enter the bath, but here it might justly be laid to causes other than the libretto. However, for a long time to come, the libretto of grand opera in English will have to be so circumspect that where there is any question of the common place, the poetic form of speech should be used. At least this will save the sit uation, for wo are accustomed to hear ing this form in song and otherwise set to music. It is not that the librettos of tho operas in English arc any worso than many of the librettos in Italian or French, for some atrocious things have been perpetrated in both these tongues, put the Italians and the French are ac- customeu to nenring inesu mmgs sung, and from yenrs and generations of asso ciation with them, they no longer see anything strnnge in it. We are not, and it "sounds funny," and every one knows what the Americans do in this case. WE AMERICANS are an eminently practical people, and it will prob ably be a long time before we can hear a plain narrative expressed vocally in English without at least a twitch of the risibilities. When this time comes we can do as the foreign nations do and sit under the most ridiculous absurdities such as constantly occur in the French and Italian operas without a smile, but that timo is not yet. But, while we have not nn operatic tradition of our own, we find it easy to adopt one. MnnvLsthn arc Americans in all that the word implies, and who go to hear the opera regularly, under stand what is being said on the stage in a foreign tongue, and it sounds all right and they see nothing funny in it. But put the same thoughts into every day English and there are comparatively few of them who could keep quiet. Therefore, tie first need of a success ful grand opera in English is a first class poetic libretto. We have the com posers who can set it to music which will compare favorably with many of the European novelties which we have heard in the last few years, but the limitations of our operatic experience as a nation must bo taken into consideration in using a language with which all are familiar, but under circumstances which are decidedly strange. And. incidentally, while American operatic composers are on the lookout for a suitable libretto, why doesn't one of them take a look at Longfellow's plaj . "The Spanish Student"? Here is a play written by one ot tne great mas ters of English and containing all the elements which go to make opera popu lar nowadays, including a high-class shooting affair at the close, while the lofty standard of the poetry is indicated bv the fact tne "stars ot tne summer Night," "All Are Sleeping, Weary Heart," "Tell Her, Thou Moon," "Good Night, (iood -Mgnt, iieioveo, anu some other wonderful lyrics are taken from this play. rnHE writer of this column wishes to J- aeknowleUge heicby tho receipt of a larce number of letters calling atten tion to a slip, which occurred in the notice of the Boston Symphony concert in last Tuesday afternoon's paper. The protesting leaders are every one of them right. Ttie Vincent a may sympnonv was played here for the first time in the Vuited States by the Philadelphia Or chestra, and not by the Boston Sym phony, as stated in the article. If an apology ran make any amends for an erroneous statement which was made from memory and not looked up, as' it f-hould Lave been, said apology is Hereby made. I T IS seldom indeed that a musician cn take the works of another com poser and by changing them in any way, make a decided improvement in them, Busoni has done muny wonderful things with some of Johann beonstian Bach s music (wonderful in more ways thnn one), but there arc many purists who think that he has utterly failed to im prove it in any way. Of course, Mr. liusoni s idea was neiiner to improve nor to modernize, for Bacli is a composer whose work is impossible to improve, and most of it, especially the choral works, sounds as modern today as three fourths of the music now written. The reason for this is doubtless that virtually every legitimate harmonization found in modern music is found also in Bach. The transcriptions of Franz Liszt of some of the songs of Schubert for the piano may also be questioned from the standpoint ot improvement, although this was doubtless far from Liszt's mind when ho wrote them. The chief beauty of most of the vocal compositions of Schubert lies in the simple lines of tho work and the extreme beautv of the melody, which in many cases jg lost to a certpin extent in the wealth of elab orate figuration with which the great transcriber has embroidered them. But there is one musician, and, strange to say. his chief claim to famo iiph nt least thus far along intennretn- tive and not creative lines, who has made a number of transcriptions, every one of which is a distinct artistic gain for the original composition. This is Frits Kreisler, whose transcriptions hav vivified and modernized many LK''Tit -i" WmStg& -fcUKDIO .. ' RACHMANINOFF works of the older Italian violin com posers, and have given them a beauty which surely they never possessed in their original form. The latest piece o work which Mr. Kreisler has shown to us in Philadel phia is his orchestration of the Viotti A minor concerto in which he shows ability as an orchestrator almost equal to his jvork as a violinist. By this use of tho orchestra and some moderniza tion of the harmonies in certain impor tant places, Mr. Kreisler has put this composition in the front rank of violin concertos, whereas it had been for years relegated to the classroom. And ho has done it as he has done all the others, without sacrificing the musical ideas of the original composer. The eoul of the work is still Viotti's; only the dress is new. COMING MUSICAL EVENTS Th ooncrt by th Philadelphia Orchea tra at the Academr of Music on February 13 and 14 will present MaffCla Teyto. aoprano, as nololat. She will sins Chauason's "Le Temps des Lllas" nnd "1,'Invltatlon au Voy ace" of Dupaxc. The orchestral part of the proaram will consist of 11, Watford Davles's solemn melody, a -work new to Philadelphia, the "Enigma"; variations of Edward Elg-ar, and the overture and Vemisberr muslo from "Tannhauser." Tha pext concert of the New York Sym phony Orchestra will be held at the Academy of Muslo on Thursday evening-. February 28. The program will open with the Tschalkow sky "Pathetique" symphony, to bo followed by the Schumann piano concerto. In which the solo Dortlon will bfl uit;Ltnf1 bv Mlnrha. I.evitckl, while the program will closo wlthi Emit F Schmidt will h th& Rnlnlnt nt thm third concert of the Phllharmonla Society at the Shubert Theatre on Sunday nlsht. This Is the lat concert to bo conducted by Henry Gordon Thunder. Tho remaining proeram will be under the direction of Josef A. Pas ternack. On Monday evening. February 0. the Such Trio win elve the second of their series of chamber music concerts at the New Cen tury Drawing Rooms. The program will In. elude the Brahms C Major Trio., Op. 87: me nrsi pertrrmance or tne l'nantasio Trio in E Minor by James Frlskln. and Mozart's E .-uajor itio air. Arthur New stead, the eve nine's soloist, will give six of the Debussy piano preludes. On Monday evenlne. Februarv 9 at With erspoon Hall. th world-famed Mountain Ash Male Concert Choir will sine a proeram under the direction of T. Glyndnor Richards. It Is probably the finest choir of prize win ners in the world, Tho only recital to be given by Amellls Galli-Curcl here this year will be at the Metropolitan Opera House on Monday eve ning, February 10. A concert will be Blven bv the Palestrlna Choir la the near future. Mr. Montanl, the conductor, has selected an attractive pro eram which .will Include selections from the old masters as well as one cf his own com positions. Euirene Tsaye and Mlseha TJIman will appear for the last time in a Joint violin recital at the Metropolitan Opera House. Tuesday evenlne. February 10. The Philadelphia Operatic Society will meet for rehearsal only next week. The meeting w-ill be at the Chamber of Com merce In the Vtdener Bulldlne, and at 7:30 next Wednesday evenlne there will be a reheaTaal for "Boccacio." tri be friven March 17 at the Metropolitan Opera House. The second of three lecture-recitals on "The American Sone." by Nicholas Douty. tenor and composer, to be elven on Wednes day evenlne. Februarv 11 at Witherspoon Hall, will be "The Composer of the Mid dle States " 'Che proeram will includo works of Hummel. MacDowell Horsman, Woodman. Zuccav Herzbere and others. Henry Gurney. tenor, will elve his second annual eone recital before the University tfxtenson Society at Witherspoon Hall on Thursday evenlne, February 10. The Philadelphia Music Club will elve Its elehth concert of the season on Tuesday afternoon, February 10, at .'I o'clock, In tha ballroom of tho Aldlno Hotel The chOTUs of the Merchantvllle Musical Club, under the direction of Miss Julia K Williams, has" arraneed an attractive proeram. The as sisting artists are Miss Dorothy Stnckham Glthens. Mrs, Knupfer, Miss Helen Rowley, Miss Ethel V Rudderow. Miss Florence Coddlneton. Mrs L.ou!se Underbill Vail. Miss Julia B. Williams and Mrs, K G Hoyler In charge. Philadelphia muiic lovers will have the first opportunity to hear Sammy Kramer in a formal violin recital at the Academy of Music on Friday evenlne. February 27. Sammy Kramer Is tho seven-year-old Amer ican boy who a few weeks aeo created a furore at the University of Pennsylvania, when hp, played a private recital at tha In vitation of Llehtner Wltmer, professor or psycholog) . The members of the String Orchestra ot the Symphony Club William F Happich, conductor, wll elve their first concert of the season at the Graphic Sketch Club tomorrow night. They will be assisted by Master Ja cob Savlt, violinist, and Miss Rosalie Cohen, pianist Miss Mary Bray, a talented young singer, Is to elve her first conceri recital, at Witherspoon Hall, on the evenlne of Wed nesday, February IS. In tho program she presents a number of unusual songs as well as the old favorites Her accompanist will bo Miss Oladvs Barrett, who will also offer two croups of solo piano work. A piano recital will be given in the audi torium of the Combs Conservatory of MujIo next Tuesday afternoon, by Helen Krebs, of St Clair, Pa., asslst'd by William Green berg, violinist, who graduated from the conrervatory several years ago, At the half hour of muslo which tvIII open the evening service at St. Paul s Episcopal Church, Overbrook. Dorothy Johnstone Baseler, harpist, and Emll Folgmann, cello, will assist. They will play first a number by Faure for harp, cello nnd orein and Mrs Uaseler will then play an elegy by Masienot for harp alone. The nfterUrlum will be the Melodle In E nat by Tschaikow eky NEARLY 100 PER CENT JAMS A. E. F. Entertainer Offers "Bomb Proof" Revue Returning to the local stage for the first time since her extended nnd nota ble services as an entertainer for the American troops abroad during the world var. JJisie jams comes to tne Garrick, where she will present an en tertainment of her own making, which she describes as a 'DomD-proot revue." This offering, the star announces, will follow In the main the lines of the impromptu shows she gave in France to olive-drab clad audiences. It is also an endeavor by Miss Janls to picture the lighter side of the world conflict aB revealed to the Tank doughboy, after the fashion in which the Ilairnsfathcr cartoons reflected the humorous and human side of the British- soldier. Care has been exercised by Miss Janis (who has also graduated to managerial dig nities as well as stellar honors) in the Kelection of her acting associates, whom he designates "her gang," Miss Janis is the author ol tne dooi;, nnu sue also wrote some of the songs and staged the prpduction. 'iED.GEEPHIBDLlPHli:, &AOTRDAY . ' ' ' CALENDAR THEATRE BILLS FOR NEXT WEEK Schedule of Entertainments at the Various Play houses in This City New Attractions FEBRUARY 9 QARRWK "Esic Janls and Her Gang," in nn A, E. F. revuo with music. The cast is mainly made up of former service men. Miss Janis was ono of the favorite overseas en tertainers. The scenes nro laid "any where at the front" nnd tho plot is both by nnd about soldiers. A num ber of splendid songs and dances arc featured. FORREST "Ben Hur" in a mam moth revival, with elaborate spec tacular features. Tho dramatization of General Lew Wallace's novel has not been seen locally for somo sea sons. The views of Jerusalem, the chariot race nnd other spectacular features are retained. Kichard Buh lcr, Virginia Howell, Laura Burt nnd other celebrated incumbents of the chief roles will nppear, PHILADELPHIA "Hollo's Wild Oat," 'comedy by Clare Kummer, featuring Ilolnnd Young, lately star ot "Buddies." Written in Miss Kummer's characteristic and pun gently pointed fashion. Tho engaging hero confines his sowing to ono wild oat, from which germinates a crop of comedy. Vaudcrtllo B. F. KEITH'S Frank Dobson and his Thirteen Sirens, tabloid musical piece; Allan Ilogcrs, tenor; Toto, clown; May Wirth, equestrienne;, tho Wilton Sisters, songs nnd dance; George Rockwell and Al Fox, come dians; Komo and Cullen, pantomlm ists; tho Aerial Lloyds, casting; Vera Sabini, assisted by Maurice Spitzer, dancers. ALLEGHENY Jean Adair, sketch; Johnny Jones and Marion Greeley, skit; Three Harmony Girls, sing ers; John Gardner nnd Marie Hartman, flMt; Noodles Fagan and Ijlsic, songs and patter; Jim, tho "Shimmy King," tear; and photo plav, Olive Thomas in the "Glorious Lady." GLOBE Horace Goldin, illusionist, presenting the lnreest number of tricks in vaudeville; Burns and Kissen in "A Hungarian Rhaspody" ; Friend and Downing, skit; Al Ray mond, mouologist ; Al H. White nnd company, playlet; the Lily Sisters; Charles McDonald, sketch: Bolger Bros., banjophiends ; Little Miss Helen, juvenile singer; the Burnett Twins and company, songs ana dances. WILLIAM PENNrimme Shea nnd Clare Carroll, skit; Coaklcy nnd Dunlcvy, comedians; Dave Vine nnd Luella Temple, songs; Billy Bounc er's Circus: Roland Travcrs, illu sionist. Joe Thomas nnd his Jazz Sextette head bill last half of week. GROSS-KEYS "Going Some." musi cal comedy; Georgia Uomcdy tour; Canfield Rose in "As You Like It"; McN'ally. Dims and DeWolf. skit: Jessie Morris, comedians; Toby and Girls, dancing; McCormick and Winehill, singing. "Too Man? Hus bands," musical comedy, heads bill last half of week. BROADWAY' "Too Manv Hus bands," musical comedy; Ellis and Irwin, original comedy; Grace and Eddie Parks, skit; Emma Francis nnd her Arabian whirlwind dancers; Five Melody Maids. ATXO"V Johnny FoTd, revue; Evnns and Wilson, comedy sketch ; Steve Fredo, novelty musician; Rhoda and Francis, novelty entertainers; Wood and Weston, sketch. Kingsley Bene dict and company, head bill last half of week. GRAND Ward and Van. street musi cians; O'Connor nnd Dixon, songs: Marion and Victor MArray, songs and chatter; Barto and Clark, talking machine novelty act; Captain Gruber and Mile. Adelina, animal net; Kar tells wirewalker. Minstrels DVMONT'S "Naughty, Naughty, Fetty; or. the High Cost of Loving" Kane, Lemuels. Tfoyden and Gib son aie in this; William Sheldon in a bouquet of songs; Lemuels. Leo nnd Gibson in "The Biter Bit"; Franklin and Patterson. Preparations are being made for the new comedy, "Spiritualism." Continuing Attractions CHESTNUT "Somebody's Sweet heart," tuneful musical comedy. William Kent, Louise Allen and John Dunsmore head the good and big cast. BROAD "Tillie's Nigbtmnre," a new version of a musical comedy classic, featuring the original Tillie, Mario Dressier. Not jazzical but jovial. SHUBERT "Greenwich Village Fol lies," described as a "rcvusieal com edv of New York's Quartier Latin." Frances White and Ted Lewis head good cast in good show. ADELPHI "The Crimson Alibi," ex citing mystery and crime melodrama made by George Broadhurst from Roy Octavus Cohen's successful fictional thriller WALNUT "Down Limerick Way," presenting Fiske O'Harn, the popular Irish singing actor, in a characteris tic role and featuring new and melo dious Milesian ballads. LYRIC "Forever After," a play of love and youth and wistful yearning and finally satisfied romance. Alice Brady, the movie favorite, is the star, and is capably supported. Stock ORPHEUM "Maggie Pepper," Charles Klein's drama of department htore life, in which Rose Stahl starred. It has comedy and pathos and sentiment. Miss Desmond w41I revive the title character and the other favorites will have congenial roles. DUNBAR "The Miracle Man," George Cohan's dramatization of Frank Packard's novel of crooks and faith and the redeeming influence of a good man, will be presented by the Lafayette Colored Players. A hand bome production is promised. Burlesque PEOPLE'S "Hello America," with tho two Sams, iwis mm uouy, as chief funmakers. They will imperson on VlilrliHh nnd Italian types and have tho support of a large chorus and talented company. CASINO "The Social Maids" will make their annual appearance in Joo Hurtig's "Hobby Show." Sprightly mubie and much comedy are pledged. Ina Hayward, "fculu Cortes and "The Three Crackcrjacks" are featured, TROCADERO "Stone and Pillard's Show" with the celebrated tramp comedian and eccentric comedienne in characteristically funny roles. A bevy of good dancers and singers sup port them in the burletta. Coming Attractions FEBRUARY 1G BROAD Robert Mantcll in Shakes- pearean repertory, a teature will be a new scenic production of "Julius Caesar," LYRIC "The Guest of Honor," tea tuttf William Hodge in a new com THE READER'S VIEWPOINT Letters to the Editor on Current Topics The Cause of High prices To tht Editor o the Evenina TuMto Istdaer: Sir. I am n render of vour paper and noticed in the Saturday evening's Punxio Ledqeb that Mr. McClaln is out wun nis Dands nntl banners to eaten tne profiteers and jail them. According to your idea, ho will go first after the small retailer. By that, if any ono puts up a building of fifteen floors high, he should begin building tho same from tho top, nnd to build downwnrd until ho comes to the basement. Where do tho high prices come from? Let us see. Begin with cotton goods; if, .last Friday, when the New York stock mar-' ket closed for tho day, tho last price on cotton was, say 35 'cents a pound., The mills, when they sco that the cotton has gono up to 35 cents a pound, they put a price according to the latest quo tation, say muslin 20 cents a yard, pants goods 35 cents a yard, hosiery $1.00 a dozen, etc., according to the grades. i They sena out salesmen to tho job bers, tho jobbers send out their sales men nnd add to tho above prices 25 per cent profitt Now it reaches the retailer who puts on a profit of 35 per cent. Then it comes to the consumer. The shoe and leather markets aro the Bame wny. Then n week passes. and. the gambling still goes on in Wall Street. Tho same raw cotton that closed lnut Fridnv nt 35 cents a pound closed -the next Fri day at 40 cents n pound. Tho weaver notices tnat raw cotton went up 10 cents a pound, they demand at once 10 per cent moro wages, which raises a certain per cent on tho yard goods. uv- we win go to tne manuiacturcr who makes up all kinds of garment from piece goods. The operator and cutter see that the weaver received a raise in their wages; they demand the same; which in the last two yenrs'has always occn granted. Then the same goods is made up in different garments. And now we will go to the jobber. Now when the cotton went up from 35 to 45 cents, the mills raised once, the manufacturer raised once, the job ber n'nd so did tho retailer. This has been going on since tho war started. Now I will ask 'you n question. You should decide what had to, nnd what is to be done. If tho mills had a few piece of goods left on hand from the time before the war started, when raw cotton was as low ns 8 cents a pound, shall they sell it nt n price, ns they sold before the war, when tho weaver worked for two dollars a day, or should they sell it according to what raw cotton sells today, when the weaver receives $0.00 a day or more? And tho same thine with the manufacturer, if he has any goods lett over, xsow take the retailer. Anything that is not staple he is glad to get rid of it nt any price, but any thing that is staple at what price shall he sell it? I, being a retailer, would like to know. For a better example, since four weeks ngo rubbers were raised from 20 to 35 per cent, on every kind that I had from 1019. I had to r6buy this month and to pay the advance price. How shall I sell them? Arrow brand collars went up in price nus monin, including oiu nnu new styles. I rebought this month. How shall I sell them? The same with all kinds of merchandise and nil kinds of business. Why pick on the poor retail er? Don't you think it would be more fitting and better to go from tho bottom or tbc basement where the price starts? The address of that place is The Stock Market. Wall street. Another example: When the war started, if the government had not put a price on the wheat. the gamblers in Wall street would. You and I would be paying 50 cents for one loaf of bread. You remember when onions reached the price of 15 cents a pound. If the gov ernment had not taken u hand it would be 50 cents now. That shows that the II. C. O. L. is pnly the fault of the government. Take another example: Twenty ycrfrs ngo I dealt in leather. At that time well-known brands of oak leather re tailed at ,32 cents a pound. Some of the brands were: Louisville, Baltimore Star, etc.. Calf and kids accordingly: Now the same leather bells at $1.2o h pound. Who is at fault, the retailer or the big leather company? Say, mister, jou and I know it. In President Cleveland's time, with the Democratic Congress and Senate, the tariff was taken oil of all kinds of goods, but the leather was not touched. I believe I am right. When the commission arrives from Washington. I would advise the mem bers to visit your office first nnd ask why the price on your paper was raised from one to two cents. And no doubt the advertising bpaeehas almost dou bled. AND ONWARD WE MARCH. To read what you had in your paper on .Saturday is enough to excite the public and to make pogroms on the small poor retailers, as happens in Russia. Say, mister, dues the Curb market help the II. C. O. L.? Before you say yes, go to a farmer who was not in , the market for two or three weeks, and1 edy of hilarious situations and dry humor. WALNUT "Twin Beds," with Lois Bolton, who has appeared here suc cessfully twice before with thft farce. FEBRUARY S3 GARRICK "Dere Mable," a musical show based on the doughboy letters. Louis Bennison plays Bill and Hattie Burke, Mable. MARCH 1 FORREST "Listen Lester," John Cort's musical dancical show. CHESTNUT STREET OPERA HOUSE "Frivolities of 1010," with a group cf fun, vocal and dancing specialties. HER MISS A HIT Bertha Mann Becomes Actress In stead of Dancer Bertha Mann, who plays the leading feminine role in "The Crimson Alibi" at the Adelphi, while recognized nt the present time ns one of the notable emo tional actresses of today, was really discovered by Ned Wayburn, producer of the Ziegfeld Follies dancing en sembles. She came from Kentucky when a child of twelve and joined Wayburn's dancing school. New Yotk. She ac knowledges to being a very bad dancer, 'but one day whllo Wayburc had al lowed the class a respite tor luncheon he passed the group where Bertha was reading a bit of verse to the other stu dents of chcreocrnnhy. Ho stonned ond listened nnd so 'impressed was ho with the dramatic taient oi uis pupil mat lie told her he wanted her to go up to the Harlem Opera House the next week and read a dramatic poem he had written. Bertha went, according to instruc tions, nnd at the matinee performance she spoke her little piece. At one place near tho end she was to pause be fore putting over the "punch" line. She paused, according to instructions, 'and the audience wildly applauded. However, Bertha was no nonplussed with this unexpected applause that she rfled. . . . Wayburn had invited several theat rical lights to hear his star nt the eve ning performance, but Bertha did not appear and she was "expelled" Trom the Wayburn school. Later he securiil rfor Miss Mann a small part in "Peter Tan." Tom mat beginning she bos steadily forged ahead. FEBRUARY 7; 1020' - does not read tho paper, ask him what the prico of his chickens and eggs, etc., are. Tho first thing he will answer, "I do not know the mnrkct prico of it," and. of course there comes the argu ment. When ho brings it to tho market what does ho do? Ho first goes around the stores nnd inquires the prices, and nnything ho has ho wants from 10 to 20 per cent more. Becauso ho claims his goods are fresh, no matter if they are or not, and when it comes to thd weight 7 Say. mister, is it the retailer's fault to sell a shoe with n paper insolo and counter? I know that they aro no good. You 'will say it is, especially when you know thnt tho small poor retailer sells it. Why don't Congress pass a law1 that no shoes of this kind shall be made? Kindly print this in your paper, and I will"save Mr. McClaln a lot of un necessary trouble and expense. He will go to Wall street before he goes to tho small retailer. And if tho Wall street nenivln will Ktnn the cambling. the prices .will come down and the H. O. O. L. will die a natural death. . I. II. ISENEBURG. Philadelphia, February 4. Finds Fault With Figures To tht Editor ot the Evtnina IfubHo Ledger: Sir I do not quite agree with your article iu the Eveninq Public Usdoer of January 30, stating that a family of five can live on $000 yearly or $75 monthly. You set aside $10 monthly for shelter. Now tell me where you can rent the meanest kind of hovel in Philadelphia for $10 per month? Now you set aside $25 per month for food; that is eighty-three cents per day for a family of five or sixteen and three -fifth cents per day for food for one person. I have a child, twenty months old, who consumes two quarts of milk daily in addition to his thrco meals. Tho milk costs thirty-eight cents daily. My gas and coal cost $23 monthly for a five-room house. Please enlighten me as to the method of existing on $75 monthly, in reality, not theory. We are now warned that there may be a food famine, owing to the farm help all flocking to the citv for hieher wages, thereby causing n shortage of iarm ncip. Why does the government not ellm inate the red tape, and set a minimum living wage for all classe3 of labor, set iuir pice on an iood,. ciotning and necessities, make it unlawful to strike and allow six months for conditions to adjust themselves to the new prices? This can be done by the government if they wnnt to do it. , ii theydo not, nnd existing condi tions continue, what is going to happen in the very near future when the people are driven and overburdened more than they can stand with the H. C. L.? G. A. DAVENPORT. Philadelphia, January 31. He Saw His Shadow, Anyway To the Editor of tho Evenina Puolio Ledger: Sir The picture you printed on Feb ruary 2 as that of a 'groundhog waa reany that of a hyrax, known to those who read their Bible as the coney of the rocks As the animal you picture la more closely related to the elephant than any other existing mammal. It Is hardly fair to put hlrn In the woodchuck class. It might interest you to note tho small tusks which protrude from the animal which you have thus abused. A boy who has been In the country any time would certainly be surprised to see such a new dental development on his old friend the groundhog. Th8 fact that this Is the first year In the history of our fair land that the groundhog has been unable to set a drink when ho Issued forth to make his annual prophecy on the weather would hardlv acoount for such a sudden change In his anatomical makeup. With kindest regards and best wishes for your continued success. ARTHUR T. FISHER. Philadelphia, Feb. 5. Objects to British Diplomatic Lobby To the .Editor of the Evening Publle Ledger: Sir One. of the trrentef Hma nf ,io 3erman-Amerlcan Alliance was (accord ing iu tne newspapers) tnat tne members of this organization p.nnriim.trt a lrthVw in Congress before tho war to keep our -wumij ueuiiai anii out ot war. Today we read that British diplomats (and not citizens) carry on a very active lobby in Congress, a thing never before heard of and nobody seems to be excited over It" They een go so far as to Ignore entirely our President, the elected head of our na tion ! When we look in the Congressional Record we find again and again that Senator Lodge has editorials from Brit ish newspapers read Into the Record. The papers tonight state: "It Is an open secret Senator Lodge and Viscount Grey have been frequently in conference," and further, "It must be said that senators have responded to the Initiative of for eign ambassadors." It also speaks of the close personal relations between Vis count Grey and Senator Lodge!" . W!lt '? thls leadlng to? Where will It end? Are We again becoming an Eng lish colony? Our senators recently talked so much of Americanization. It would bo advisable for them to study carefully the meaning of that word and act accordingly. J B M Philadelphia, Feb. 4. ROLAND YOUNG'S CAREER i - Star of "Rollo's Wild Oat" Schooled In England V Roland Young, who nppears here in the featured role of "Rollo'a Wild Oat," the new Clare Kummer comedy, to be presented by the Selwyns at the Philadelphia Theatre Monday night, en joys the distinction of being considered so suitable for his now part that ho has been taken from a reigning success on Broadway to create the hero of "Rollo's Wild Oat.'-" Starred with Donald Brian and .Peggy Wood in "Buddies," nlso a Hciwyn production, the trio created a furore when "Buddies" achieved its success. There is also a matter of sentiment attached in the transfer of Mr. Young o his new play. When he first arrived n this country from England, where he had become a fixture on the London staKC, it was m Clare Kummer's come dies, such as "Good Gracious, Anna, belle " and "A Successful Calamity." that he won the American public. His personality and his schooling in the finesse of comedy fitted him admirably for the naive heroes Miss Kummer has pictured. Mr. Young's first part was in a farce, by an American, Charles Klein and calfed "Find the WomSn," when it was presented in London. Mr. Young nlso created a role in "Wedding Bells." 'BEN HUR'S' ROLLING STOCK Fourteen Cars Needed for Scenery ana uast It is interesting lo note that nine seventy-foot baggage cars are used in the transportation of t h "nn n..i scenery and effects with two pa ace horse cars for the horses and camels and three passenger conches for the use of the principals, ballet, mechanics and musicians. Though the play is in Its twenty-first year, there has not come to light meanwhilo a production requiring S1rtan array of people to.operate. "Ben Hur" draws its public from the masses who seldom attend any other theatrical entertainment. A new gen cration has sprung up since it was last t uvtc, tujtr uuu anxioiu to wit. ness it. " .SOME SERIOUS BOOKS NATION ALT ARKS IN UNITED STATES Robert S. Yard's Handbook Describes Them and Gives Their History To most readers Robert 8 Yard s book on tho national parks will bo a revelation. Not only does it describe tho marvelous beauty and grandeur of our national parks, but it throws much light on their processes of creation, nnd of world building, and especially the making of America. Beginning with the Yoscmitc, nn account of the natu 'ral features of each ono is followed by its geological history, which embraces periods of millions of years. Then in formation is given as1 to how the dif ferent parks may be reached, and the way in which the visitor is accommo dated in them, by inns or by camps. The first national park was the, Hot Springs Reservation, in Arkansns, created by Congress ns a national reser vation in 1832. The last is a tract of 5000 acres on the island of Mount Desert, on the Maino coast, which in February, 1010, became the Lafayette National Park. A chapter is given to tho proposed Roosevelt National Park, in southern California, which, while similar in kind to the Yoscmitc, the author holds to be far ruggeder nnd more masterful. Many will be sur prised and enlightened to rend of tho wonderful volcanic summits "which Congress reserved on the Islands of .Hawaii and Maui in 1017," n park which has a "wide range of novelty, charm and beauty." The absence of an index is very much to be regretted, ns it takes materially from its' usefulness as a book of reference. Its attractive ness is greatly increased by seventy-six beautiful illustrations from photographs and fifteen maps and diagrams of the regions treated. TUB BOOK OF THB NATIONAL- PARKS. By Robert Stcrllns: Yard. Wltn maps ana Illustrations. New York: Charles Scrlb ner's Sons. 3. Talks to Girls Would that every girl and joung woman who arc starting out in life to earn their own living could have Anne B. McCall's "The Larger Vision." Written by one who early in life faced poverty triumphantly, St shows out .ot this experience how to meet the daily needs of life successfully. Many of the difficulties to be conquered and hard problems to be solved aro shown, and tho way she overcame the obstacles in her daily path is told clearly and sug gestively. The author frequently helps her readers by apt and wholesome quo tations from our best poets and writers. Among the specially impressive chapters is the one on the "Gift of -Courage." in which she pictures vividly the impres sion made on her of one of our return ing regiments when the eyes that looked out from the haggard faces were the real inspiration ; eves that "had looked upon the worst that life could show them, and the best." Charming is the reference to the two most popular Christian saints in the chapter on "The Graces of Life." One she calls the Saint of Joyous Giving, Saint Nicholas; the other is the Saint of Joyous-Self-forgetfulness, Saint Valentine, whom we celebrate "in gifts nnd messages of affection that we contrive to give with the more delight because no one shall ever suspect hat it is we who give them." Most impressive nro the closing chapters, which have a deep religious feeling which will appeal to every reader and help to make her lead a life of zealous effort for the right. JHE LAFIOEU VISION. Toner Room Talks uy Anne urjan ic(jaw. ivew York. Dodd Mead S. Co. J1.30 Secret Diplomacy "A Year as a Government Agent" by Vira B. Whitehouse is a distinctly personal account of the haps and mis haps of the only woman employed dur ing the war by the United States Kuvvi'iuiieiii, in -a. position ot capital importance of a quasi diplomatic char acter. Mrs. Whitrhoiise represented the committee of public information in Switzerland, which it will be recalled was the center of all sorts of spies and propagandists. The German system was met, when the nature of the work that was being performed there in be half of the Wllhclmsstrasse was once realized, by elaborate counter svstems of the Entente powers. Mrs. White house, chosen for this post on account of the remarkable work she had done in the Pew York state .suffrage cam paign and other public movements, had as her task the countering and thwnrt- mc nf tnrnryv Hoc SM... .. jli.. i --- ,u icrj suusiDiy adopted an American openness of uicuiuu uuu uiieriuion in ner endeavor to present the American side of the f-rpnt unr Stlin lin.l .... Aim ,. . with the routine diplomats with their irui-cuce, secrecies and indirections. Many an interesting page is devoted to pnliphtnninc' nml Rnmnwlinf .l:n ing, descriptions of the old-worldly uifiuiuuij iimi, imn wuu aunerents in our own state department. The book is brightly and briskly written. A ?nArinA?K0Y,?.RNi'?NT AGENT. By L UroZ t2.7S "" ner A Stimulating Booh In "Letters nnd Leadership" Vau Wyck Brooks, one of the most brilliant of the younger American writers, whose "America's Coming of Age" was rec ognized .by literary critics, economists nnd publicists as a fine performance for its substantial and stimulating quality has written a worthy successor in the qualities of substance, spirit nnd stim ulus. The author proceeds on the thesis that a nation without a great literature cannot function greatly or flower to its finest possibility. He sets forth the case for a literary renaissance in this country a rebirth which by the wav, is in process nnd progress, especially in poetry. He sounds a stirring call to young writers, high in hope of nehieve ment and with all their ideals firm and few of their illusions tarnished, to rie to the great task of exalting America', literary banners to the loftiest nltltudes of humanity and the spirit. The wnr lias been a goad and a whip, Mr. Brooks hopes their urge will be felt in better endeavors and in greater achieve ments. His brief book is an admirable plea for creativeness in American lit erature, and iu American life, of which literature is the reflex or the reflec tion. I.ETTERB AND LEADERSHIP Jly Van Wyck Brooks. Ntw York: B. W. Huebicb. New Editor of Harper's Magazine Harper & Bros, announce that Ttinmoa Tti,rVltn Walla l,no l....... .., .uu.ua ,.. ......a ,un urril Ul pointed as editor-in-chief of Hnrpcr's ,uuia.ui, iu duu rm mr mic IlCUTi Mills Allien. Mr. Wells, who is a mem ber of the firm, has been associate edl tor of the magazine for some time. Fol lowing his promotion to the chief cdi torshlp LeoTostcr Hnrtmann has been named as associate editor. A New Political Weekly Francis Neilson, until recently a member of the British House of Com mons, author of "How Diplomats Make War," nnd "The Old Freedom," iB to be au editor of the Freeman, the political weekly that B. W. Huebsch will pub Uih bezinnlng Mart -. ' '" " ---: 'I A GLOOMY STUDY OF LIBERALISM Harold Siearns Is More Pcssu mistic Than Constructive in "Liberalism in America'' Harold Stenrns, formerly associate editor of tho Dial, ono of tho liberal or rather frtcllcgentsia, weeklies, Iias' compiled a number of his nrtlnira -in! - , .villi somo reorganization of tho material and what gloomy but none tho U int. i ing nnd stimulating volume, "Liberal ismun America." His chapters trac and outline the oriirln. nml f collapse of liberalism as Mr. Stearns de- uues , ana tnrow out somo suggestions as to its future. His definition of liberalism is that It is a definite tolerant and rationalistic attitude rather than a specific political and economic creed. On this basis he criticizes much of the recent war, not merely its conduct, but its very being He holds firmly that conscription i breeder of wars and that so long ?,wna .remalrt nrm?1 camPs the mili" tnliBtlxin J:owcr wiU ,vn8 wan. 1, fact, Mr. Stearns seems to place rather a disproportionate amount of emphasis 0tnrOJrlptioa,' in relation t0 other A" publicopiniSn0!10 r mBr " ,ibcrali" .I!ie.writcf '? Bloomy, one would think unduly pessimistic, in his consideration of the past and the recent present. Much Hr f Sn'S has ?.iJght nnJ substance 7. i iVSJyi "J1"1?, 'Hernl thinkers wil SSJS" kc I crltie.aI rathcr tUai con structive and creative. The genuine- ness of his concern 'at conditions, and his burning sincerity, at least make h . book n challenge at this day when re action is seeking to consolidate posf. .Sfii16? pfopIe,s aro irritated and ed impulse and mood, and uL HlVJL' cconomic and social prob lems that the war brought up, aside altogether from its political and mill! tary aspects, are clamoring for solution along lines of popular welfare. "F,5S"'ISSi, IN AMERICA. By Harold Steanu. New York: Bonl & LlvVrUM. America's Tomorrow Snell Smith in "America's Tomor row discusses the prospective programs and policies of our country for the next quarter century. With the settlement of tho world war will its work for hu manity bo over? Whnt is its task oh this continent on the Pacific and in the Orient on the Atlantic and in Europe Africa and South America? How shall the United States attain its mis sion on earth? What problems politi cal, social, economic must be settled before the pride of civilization comes into its own? There is no preachment in this work nnd nothing academic. The author sums up all the tendencies of a new era. He constructively presents the great issues of reconstruction. He pleads for liberty for all men every where and the ultimate ideal of the hu man rncc the federation of the world, the republic of man. AMERICA'S TOMORROW. By Sncll Smith, NevV York- Drltton Publishing Co. THE MASK - John Cournos THE MASK h a novel for those who atk not only an ab sorbing itory of unusual cir cumstance but a revelation of life, the epic of John Gom barov, Russian emigrant to America, and his struggle to gain a foothold in our indus trial world. Mr. Cournos's work is new to American readers and it offers that rare pleasure of discovering a writer of extraordinary individuality and power. GEORGE H. D0RAN COMPANY Three Informing Books How to Write Poetry By ETHEL M. COLSON Tells a great many things a student of the art of poetry should know. Sets forth the fundamental rules which govern the production of poetry. Shows by example and an alysis what constitutes good poetry and how to judge it A timely and much needed book. Price $1.25. National Evolution By PROF. GEO. R. DAV1ES Do world wars and Eolsheviki move ments just happen, or are these dis turbing events the logical results of certain causes? What'is the trend of human society as revealed by past history? To these and similar questions Sociology is able in some measure to mafc, answer from its accumulated knowledge. This know ledge, of which a btief account is to be found in this volume, is of the utmost value in arousing devotion to the ldeals"of democracy and in throwing light upon the problem of the realization of these ideals. Price $0.75. TheMonroeDoctrine and-the Great War By PROF. A. B. HALL There is a close connection between the Great War and the Monroe Doc trine. Our isolation from European difficulties is no longer a fact. We are a part of the world and com pelled to carry a share of its bur dens. This doctrine has been a great feature of American diplomatic history for a century. In the minds of rrhny, a league of nations means the giving up of this historic po icy, but Professor Hall shows that it is essentially akin to the policy W down in the covenant. Price f 0,76. Publiihtd by A. C. McCLURG &ca , i. y LW z&ibji,. alh&'N , aawsJifllfll ..Ct ..,! .'HAjijftigi
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers