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About The Wickes Pioneer (Wickes, Mont.) 1895-1896 | View This Issue
The Wickes Pioneer (Wickes, Mont.), 04 April 1896, located at <http://montananewspapers.org/lccn/sn85053310/1896-04-04/ed-1/seq-8/>, image provided by MONTANA NEWSPAPERS, Montana Historical Society, Helena, Montana.
• LILLIAN BLAUVELT. THE BEAUTIFUL SONGSTRESS IS AN AMERICAN. i'riaate Life She Is Mrs. Intrry lewed by Rate g •edew tree 1.11. tse Story of Her fluccesi at Boni.. and Abroad. cONCERT singer is but slightly known beyond the figure she presents on the platform, in fashionable even- ing clothes, before fashionable audi- ences. The eclat of the operatic and dramatic stage does not follow her; she Is simply name and a voice. She should be something more when the voice is flesh, sweet, all -satisfying, all con- vincing, the personality magnetic enough to spread like a wave through the throng, and that the many who have listened to the rich phrases of song from Lillian Blauvelt's lips may kuow something of the woman, I searched for and found her very inter- esting. In private life she is Mrs. Royal Smith, and lives in a sumptuous, telescopic apartment house .in the up- per part of the town, writes Kate Jor- dan in Leslie's Weekly. When she ap- proached me in the rich afternoon light I was impressed by the emphasis of pr type. There is a style of pale, ethereal eyed blonde who suggests a violet, and Just as surely does Lillian Blauvelt suggest a deep colored, full leaved, gracious red rose. It was strange to find her a Brooklynite by birth, an American in feeling and opinion, for her face is that of a southern -born woman. This secret of song, hidden and invisible in her throat, is not the only gift Miss Blauvelt possesses. She Is musical in mind, and long before her child's voice gave promise of its pres- ent power, she had mastered the tech- nique of the violin. \I commenced studying violin play- ing under Richard Arnold when only seven. After remaining vi,ith him a sear or two I played in many concerts, and I fully expected some day to be a all the principal salons. While there Madame N1188011 sent me some very charming compliments. I knew Del - Ines, the great compotter, end the bo- lero of his as I sing It was taught me by him. Bruneau selected me for the part of Angelique in 'Le Reve,' '-aniatized from Zola's novel. He di before waa put on.\ \You went to Russia, I believe?\ \Yes 1 paid a memorable visit to their strange, interesting, and terrifying country. I went to Moscow to appear in a series of concerts. My husband and I were almost suspected as spies; ail our books ransacked, and one, an in- nocent novel, where the word 'Russia' appeared, was confiscated. A lady prominent In court circles had been in- strumental in , bringing me to Moscow, and I found on arriving there I was considered the rival of a Russian singer of whom I had previously heard noth- ing. Then a feud began between the other singer and her friends and the lady who championed me. I was warned that my life was in danger; I received an anonymous letter telling me not to appear at an apparently innocent supper in a private house, because 1 would be poisoned. The latter threat disturbed me very mwth I insisted BLAUVELT TODAY. on going, however, my husband accOm- panying me, but I made an inward vow to touch no food within those portals. Fancy my horror when the first words, according to Russian custom, were: 'Will you come into the dining room THE NEURO MINSTILLL HIS IAYS ON THE STAGE ABE NUMBERED. The I cuin g *, 4:eneratton of I ...Pr.:F- utons tail to Fort-ell\e that w r pie Always Want Sotnettalsg Ne•-- %Sall of an Old Timer. NE of the things that puzzle some observers of the American stage is the entire decline of negro minstrelsy. Time was when the personation of the negro was regard- ed as an incident of an actor's work. Edwin Booth in his younger days played a negro role, and Lawrence Barrett did the same. This was not looked upon as undignified for any actor, -and many actors began their apprenticeship in this line of work. Negro fun was for a long time the one distinctively American school of stage humor. Within the last fifteen years, which about measure the period in which its fall had been accomplished, there have been numerous minstrel companies traveling over the country. Now there are probably not so many as three that find their way to the first- class theaters in any cities of the coun- try. There is one prominent organiza- tion of the kind, and it seems about all that the country can support. The amount of genuine negro fun in any of the negro personations now is so slight that the performances are more like a vaudeville act done with the aid Of burnt cork. This fact is mentioned often as the most potent reason for the decadence of the amusement, which was at one time the most popular form of comic entertainment in this coun- try. Some say, however, that the in, tioduction of features not distinctively characteristic of the negro did not be- gin until it had begun to be manifest that public taste was drifting away from minstrelsy. In the attempt to win that back the minstrels took on features that had become popular in other forms of amusement, and ended by absorb- ing so many of these that the old-time THE BEAUTIFUL DEYO, WHOSE DANCING HAS CAPTURED violin's.; needless to say I was filled with the determination to be a great one.\ \At that time you did not dream that one day jou would be a singer?\ \My mother wished it, but I was en- grossed with my violin. How I loved It! and\—lifting it from its velvet case on the talie beside her—\how I love It still! I wish some one would write an opera on a modern theme where the heroine plays the violin, and give me a chance. It is my dream to do this. It is also my dream to possess a Stradi- varius. 'I he violin is such a com- panion!\ \When did you commence to study singing?\ \I was fifteen years old when the Na- tional Opera started here. I applied for admission to the National Opera school and was accepted. Madame Fursch- Medi advised me to give up the violin tor the voice. For one year I studied 'feggio, Italian, but not singing, as 'as too young to have more than an •asional lesson. Toward the latter of this time I did become a regular BLAUVELT AT SEVEN. pupil of Madame Furech-Madre, and when she was away, Ringing in opera, I studied with Bouhy. In him I felt 1 had found my fearher. When he loft America I followed him to Europe to study French repertoire with him.\ \Did you appear in grand opera tbroed?\ \vex; at Brussels I appeared as Mi- eIlie and Vloletta. I was com- plimented by the queen, and I may say I WAR VPri successful. In Paris sang at mieWilaneous concerts: also at NEW YORK. 4 and have a cup of tea?' It is very amusing to tell about now, but I assure you I was shivering as I stirred that tea, and at last in the bustle attending the entrance.of some one else, I changed My seat and assumed a pose before an emp- ty cup.\ \I suppose you received a great many gifts in Russia. They love music there, and are so lavish in showing ap- preciation.\ \These enameled spoons, a turquoise ring, and several other lovely things were given me—but I think the most unique gift was a tremendous basket of blood -red camellias which were handed up over the foot-lights—and what do you suppose they were tied with?—a long, Russian sable boa. It was a princely tribute, indeed! I knew Rubinstein in Russia. It was near the end of his wonderful life—he was al- most blind.\ \Tell me about your American de- but.\ ''I first appeared after my return with Seidl, and sang selections from 'Cavalleria Rusticana.' Since then I have appeared constantly in concerts all over the country, and lately with Walter Damrosch at the Sunday even- ing concerts in Carnegie hall.\ \You will one day appear in grand opera here, of course?\ \If I could only echo 'of course' posi- tively\ she said with an anticipative smile, nodding her head. \But I do saY it hopefully. That is my dream, my ambition—and there are signs which say it may not be far away.\ \You would rather be a singer—than 'just a woman'?\ She extended both hands in a gesture of doubt, shrugged her shoulders, whtlr , a little veil seemed to have fallen arms , the humid brilliance of het eyes. \I hardly know. No woman, can have both. 4timbition demands one, and it Is thrilling, delightful. But, ah! the calm joys of the other, which the woman in public life can never know! If the choice were given nni in the be- ginning. I should have chosen to follow are as I have done—and I am happy. But I Rill a dog in the manger—for I'd like to be 'just a woman, too.\ KATE JORDAN. THE STAGE. Rpeaking of certain chill feet! driest, a gentleman, who might to know all about it, hits actors a istvage left - bander by saying that the atmosphere of the disreputable clubs In question is \highly charged with professionalism.\ Ii \professionalism then, a synonym for indecency ?—Ex. negro flavor was crowded out. Spec- tacular display was called lm to help the waning popularity of the sOngs and dances. The genuine negro , dresses gay way to satins and velvets. Men rattled bones and beat the tambourine dressed as Hamlet, Macbeth s t ud other Shakespearean characters. Evgry inno- vation of this kind seemed do hasten the end. Declining interest was not to be revived tit any such devices. Mul- tiplication of performers did no more to win back popularity to the negro min- strels. They seemed doomed. So it happens that one of the questions of the \show business\ to -day Is: \What killed negro minstrelsy?\ Whatever the answer may be, its Inference Is in- variably that nothing will revive that old-time diversion. It has had its day. It was a long one and a prosperous one; but there Is no doubt that it is gone for'good. An interested observer of this pres- ent condition of affairs, is William, or rather, \Billy\- Birch, who. with Backus, Wambold and Bernard, found- ed the old San Francisco minstrels, wki& from 1865 until 1885 played in New York city. Birch is an old man \BILLY\ BIRCH. now (Or the minstrel business. end hts three partners are dead. Despite his bed health, Birch finds his way to the theaters two or three times a week, and his reflections on the minstrel business are more cheerful than those of most of the men who have been in it, even If they are not flattering to the men who pre engaged in a similar line of work to -day. \The end of negro minstrelsy cams,\ hi said to the writer the other day, \not becat.se the people grew tired of it, but because the younger men who took it up were not able to create any new fun, but. went on doing year after year just the same things that had been done by their predecessors. They did the Berne old acts, told the same old Jokes, and expected people to keep on laughing at them. Even if A, Jokes had kept amusing, they ougt, 'et have remembered that the way it bleb a joke is told has a good deal to do with its effect. You know how much an or- dinary story depends on the way it is told. In the old days we were always en the lookout for something new. Sometimes it came to us suddenly, sometimes we had to work hard (Dr it. The people would laugh Just as much now as they ever did at negro min- strels if the men would give them some- thing new. But they won't. They tried to cover up this lack of novelty with marches and lots of men. But ontood joke that they weren't tired of an one good man to tell it would have been worth all these things put together. They won't get the new jokei, and minstresly is dead for that reason.\ TILLIE ANDERSON. Winner of the Women's\ Six -Day Ricycle Race at Chicago. Miss Tillie Anderson, a Chicago girl, won the women's six -day bicycle met TILLIE ANDERSON. recently held in that city. Her vic- tory over Miss Dottie Farnsworth was, won by only a single lap, or one -sev- enteenth of a mile, yet she fully mer- ited the boisterous ovation tendered her at the finish of the long struggle. The spectators at the armory developed in- to a mob, howled like wild animals, and swarmed over the track in an effort to carry the little blonde woman from the building. Friends and policemen had their hands full to get her safe into a dressing room, while the howling Co- manches bore her wheel aloft in tri. umph. SETTLED FOR GOOD. I The Tiins-Cabanne-Mnrphy Case Will Not He Reopened. Chairman Gideon, of the L. A. W. racing board, was seen the other day and asked' what foundation there is for the report that the case of Meksrs. Ti- tus, Murphy and Cabanne would be re- opened at Baltimore previous to the meeting of the national assembly. He said: \There is no foundation what- ever for the rumor. The board will hold a meeting at Baltimore on February 9 to discuss various plans connected with racing interests, and Messrs. Titus and Luscomb, the latter representing Mur- phy, asked whether I would be willing to 'talk the matter over' at that time. Not to do so would be an unnecessary discourtesy, and I readily acquiesced. This does not imply that the case is to be 'reopened,' and there is no probabili- ty of the board doing so. Even if I desired to reopen the matter I could not do so without the consent of the other members of the board.\—Sorting Life. XtarAzAhl,„,..'kerkaavit04 545 ,13!:)WattZteril fr,san 0 . 4\T 4 t 110 4 P1 :ittifte tog tot est Ole $ . 46 P. a *V 4 ) • 1 :1 1: It A •14/ Fez ged• i b •S. 4' 6 13 f t 44 p o t . 44 4:10 \ f• 1 441 141- t •I eA' p ral i rti ryhr th i4rI (P* at&f. tAttAttAttAl•t. vittAttat. tallitWitaltftil60CialetAire'lrft tAtaltit8dCkall1t4 J. H. HILDEBRAND. WAT w i K H Es fi m i T K E R • Jeweler ond • Eograver Fine Stock of Watcbes filways Of) HM1d. • mszot5intUr... - ,•,) 6$624. 1 . 0 31/4.191.M60f5tAllatUillt• •.4 •i .40.41r;Cir •Tekir, 1 VO p • ire•tilftt,\\t ift 1 2i: fm.itiki V% .45.45 oti/ & A Z1 tticI :V ,till'i sliat4p4 WA ift• re : 4114) eetteaS 'r it 4% •et • - %Iv:: i •tht• to 0 Vet1 •*--• to. \Igo __,F tAltis e,., •Ips & •:. 4ita vre t. 4 .16 ni . Abs %gra 4pZ,i • 4 7.0 •crs lip• q r40 4P4 IP , .. 0 4 e, ...43 td • ast•t• • Pkinr\.. 11'4, 4 C1 v•fork,•401,.viv4 ...toll :41Io .4 fits g...lirt• ,e... te .4b so. The Wickes Hotel, NATI 33. JE MC:01%T . T. WE HAVE RECENTLY SECURED CONTROL OF THIS HOUSE, AND FITTED IT UP WITH I NEW VURNITURE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. Clean Rooms. New Bedding. TABLE SURPASSED BY NONE. THE ONLY PLACE BETWEEN HELENA AND BUTTE WHERE A FIRST CLASS MEAL CAN BE HAD FOR 50 CENTS. RATE: $1.50 PER DAY. Special Terms made to those desiring regular board. J. W. MONAHAN, WICKES, - - MONTANA, DEALER IN Hay, Grain, Flour, Rolled Oats, Corn Meal, Has of Racing News. The officers of the Iowa division o. the L. A. W. have passed resolutions Lo west favoring the government of racing by the league. Some of the best known American and English riders, including W. Mar. tin, America; L. Porta, France, and E. A. Harris, England, are racing in Aus- tralia. . The League of Wheelmen in Austra- lia recently presented Zimmerman with $500 and Martin with $125 In considera- tion of their plucky riding and the ben- ifit of their presence to the sport. . John McGinty. trainer of thorough- breds, formerly employed as Jockey by the late John M. Clay, died at Lexing- ton, Ky., last week. He trained Mont- rose and Leonatus, both Derby win- ners. The ambition of Thomas Eck is that ROMP members of his team should break the world's mile record on an English track and timed by Englishmen. He characterizes the lowering of the Eng- lish record as \pie.\ Chairman Gideon of the racing board and ex -racer Charles Murphy had a run -In at the New York show. No stenographic reports of the interview have been printed, but Mr. Gideon seemed to he worrying very little when he got back to town. Chairman Gideon of the racing board favors the appointment of a referee to officiate at the big race meetings this season, and the office will probably be created if his amendments to the rac- ing rules pass the aattembly meeting next month. A. G. Batchelder, the offi- cial handicapper of the New. York State division, has been mentioned for the position. The Illinois division of the L. A. W.. at its anneal meeting recommended that the western delegates to the na- tional assembly meeting be Instructed to vote against the league abandoning raring. The motion WAR lost !nil It Was the sense of the officers thrit while the delegates were not tuuiiol to vote on this matter, the Illinois ,11‘laion favors the I.. A. W. contrelling racing FRYE F - L...CDUFR. Prices for Cash. DEAN & TAYLOR, Wholesale and Retail De.dcts in Beef, Mutton, Pork, Hams, Bacon, AND MONTANA LARD. Wickes, Montana. SUBSRIBE FOR THE PIONEER ••• 1 • ••
