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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!
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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
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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.
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LW z&ibji,. alh&'N
, aawsJifllfll ..Ct ..,! .'HAjijftigi