The New York Clipper (March 1904)

94 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER. MABOH 26. grind open season tt th« Metropolitan. He la Slgnor ," mentioning the name of one of the tUn. "Why be got f20,000 for ten performance! I" "Ob, never mind then, about speaking to bin," quickly Interposed the young lady, which showed conclusively that then are different degree* of Impudence In a stare, and they an according to the eatery the ■tarer receives. Cbe$$. To Correspondent*. AnoLf Dosjbnbich. —Welcome back, old friend, with your fine multi-Tar. problem. Quo. B. Carpenter. — We remember that "fractions mule," but not exactly In this harneaa; will trot him Into the ring one o' these daya. Blog. received, tbanka. Are conalderlog the Mr. W. snjggeatlon. Mr. Bhlnkman admits a second solution to 2,407, and has sent a revision. W. A. Shinexax.— Doea 1. .B to B 4 die. ch. lead to the second aolutlon of 2,457 7 F. B. Phblfs. —Tbanka for solution of Mrs. Balrd'a retractors. Other matten un- der consideration. We ahould be much pleased to have your opinion of the Bev. Dr. Bolton's problems—not from the pnsent exacting standard of criticism, but from the standard reached in hie day. F. V. Cobbt, Arcade, N. T.—Second in- quiry received and attended to; did you re- ceive Miron'a private note and enclosures? La Boa Williams. —Ton see Carp's glit- tering blade gives point and edge with the same blow; the coup will Interest you. Chess Problem Development. BT J. W. AMJSN—COHTINrjBD. "In Illustration of the fact that the early problem tourneys did not quickly produce any general agreement even upon funda- mental points, I quote the following from fllwat. Ion. Newt, I860: 'Do we understand W. E. K.,' demands a writer therein, 'to con- tend that the composer la forbidden to dress tbe board' to give an appearance of reality to the position, or to Increase the difficulty of tbe solution, by adding one or more men 7 Tbla can hardly be bis meaning. None but a tyro In chess would Insist upon anything to unreasonable?' 'A chest problem should re semble, as much aa possible, a real end fame,' aascrta a writer In the same paper Id 864. The people responsible for these re- marks were no doubt behind the times: bnt tracts of this hankering after 'naturalness' of potttlcn can be found very much later. And it may be well here to recall that so late as 1878 Lord asserted that: 'It Is a great mistake to consider It a weakness for a problem to commence with a check.' T 'Tbe problem solrlng public was, aa has always been tbe case, comparatively unln- ttrncted, and Its views differed considerably from those of tbe Judges In tbe tournaments. If we examine the prise winning problems of tbo period of 1862-'02 we shall find that the judicial committees of the time wore Id very general agreement upon tbe number of important points. In tbe first place they agreed In a total disregard of plausibility. No positions could be practically less plausi- ble than the great majority of the prize winners of Buyer, who was by far the most successful of tbe competitors In tbo Inter- national tournej'B of tbe time. But not one of the leading composers of the period was In any way shackled by considerations of plausibility. In tbe second place the judges were agreed that piquant variation It highly desirable. In a problem, and to this agree- ment tbey were no doubt practically forced by tbe necessities for discrimination. It Is tbla Insistence upon the value of piquant variation tbat, above all elte, broadly din- tlngulshes (be problems of tbe period of 1852 '82 from those of the preceding decade On other points there Is less agreement; but, broadly speaking, the judges of the time agreed that structural unity, or tbe employ ment of all White pieces In all Important variations, pure and economical mates, and quiet keys and continuations, were all points of merit Id a problem. There waa no abso- lute objection to checking keys, but such keyt were distinctly discouraged, at leaat after 18A0. "tt may be of Interest to notice here the results of the first great International prob- lem tournaments. The first prise of the lira tourney of 1857 was won by Ilnyer, tbe second by Henley. Henley's set Included an unsound problem, but It was not therefor disqualified, though It would otherwise have taken the first prlie. At New York, In 1850, tbe drat prise was taken by Rudolf Wlllmen, a pianist; Bayer was second, and Lloyd third. At Bristol, In 1801, Hoaley was first and Ilnyer nguln second. The London Con- gress tourney of 1802 was by far the largest that had yet been held, no less than 402 problems being entered. Bayer took the first prise, Joseph I'lnchutta second, and Anton Novothy third, while a special price for sul- matea was taken by Count Arnold Fongraca, Itealey wat one of the judges. In tblt tourney Kohts and Kockelhorn, P. Klett and J. Berger were among tbe competitors. The set of Kohts and Kockelhorn wat disquali- fied for double authorship; it would other- wise have ttken a prize. "All this Implied not only a rapid ad- vance, but a rapid formation of definite schools of composition. Already by 1802 tbree such school! were visibly coming Into existence. On the continent tbe Influence of Konrad Bayer was dominant; In America, tbat of S. Loyd. The developing Bagllsb school was to tome oxtent Intermediate, and Its great representative wat Frank Henley. Of these schools of composition and their tendencies I thai* have something to say In my next and final article of this series. "The appended problems ore fair samplet of the prise wlnnen of tbe early problem tournament!: BNIOMA No. 2,450. 1st Prtat <n mi. M Priu in I8ir. BT B. tOVD. BT T, HBALY. That 180 Move Solution. Onr doubts about why that Brobdlgnagiao specimen of chess analysis did not take the prise offered, being 10 moves lets than the winner's, ars resolved. The prise bearer's aolutlon was tbe shortest "sent In," Herr Blatby himself finding tbe published solu- tion. Our contributor. G. K. C, saya of It: "The whole tbtng bad too much end game about it, and I understand It to be Blathv's Idea now to bring ont something where this tedious feature Is not present." Herr B. now proposes a new tourney with a liberal list of prizes, in which no entry shall be In less than 20 moves, but no limit Is placed on the number of moves to which tbey may extend. Solutions. PROBLEM 2,468, IMPROVED. BT OBO. I. CABPENTIB. Play to move 18., as given by that keen edged blade, La Bne Williams—K to bis it sq. K to Kt 8—then proceed a little keener: 6*1 H Q j B?,Q,Kts,KKt8,KH3. * i i KKtr, «, KU6. An\.ch.iro.,r.,i>.8iA. White to play and mate In three moves. Problem No. 2,400. 1st Prise <» Bra Tourney, 1857 BT KONRAD BATHE. BLACK. ■ ■ ■ n ■«BHr!*B 8 saiiii m m ■ ■ H ■* ■ s®a ■ ■ ■ B ■ !■ nsUB m ■«■•■ m .RtoKR8PteB6 ,B-KKtl FXB-f .K-Ktsq P-Bo QK4t- KB 8 18..KttoBB KtoKt4 19..Q-K0 KB 8 J0..B.K8+ K-Kta n..B-Kt6 P mates. 'That's almost as good as a Bhlnkman,' PROBLEM 2,467—BHAWN. BT o. a, c. 1 -.It to K Kt 0, K tks F: 2..R (K) to K Kt sq, K to his 5; 8. .R (Kt tq) to Kt 4 cb; 4..P, or R, mates ac'ly; If Black 1.. K to Q 4; 2..B to Q R 01, K to his 6; 8.. Kt to Q 6 cb ; and 4. .P mates: (If 2. .P to Q 8; 8..Kt tks Q P; and P mates): If 1.. 1' to K B 7; 2..Kt to Q 0 cb, K to B 0: 8..B tkt P; and 4..R mates: and If 1..P to Q 8; 2..Kt tksF ch, K to Q 4; 8..K to Kt 7; and 4. ,P to Q B 4, mate. OF NO'B 2,455. BT r. B. P1IILF8. Tblt enigma it tolved neatly by retracting P from B 5 tkt P to B 6, and replacing Black P on Kt 8; play 1..P to BO; and 2..Kt mates In the letters two-ply effort, the left band tide Is mastered by 1.. B to B 0; and the right band, by B to Kt 7. Game No. 2,4tlo. Between Dr. J. P. Bice and our contribu- tor, R. A. Hart, Of Baton Rouge, La. M1DDLBTON COUNTER OAMBIT. White, Black. Dr. Rloe. Mr. Hart. l..FtoK4 PtoK4 3..P-KB4 8..KKt-B8 4..KB-B4 •..Catties 0..P-KR8 7..RPXB RPXF B..P-Q4 P-Ktfl O..P-KB 1'L.K II-K3 lL.R-Ksq 13..F-QKtS M..K-Baq I4..QB-RS 15..KUmme Kt-K i l«..QBXKt QXB I7..l!-Kt4 K-Kttq 18..P-QB8 B-KtJ KPXP P-K Kt 4 F-0 8 QB-KtS F-KR4 F-Q4 Kt-Q2 q-Ks KB-R8 Castles OK 8 White, Black, Dr. Rice. Mr. Hart l«..Bt0R6 KttoBsq JO.. Kt-K R8 KR-hl8 8 21..B-Kt4 Kt-K 8 M..P-U.KH R-hl»6 ia..B-hls» P-QB8 I4..KOQS KR-home 2»..OKt-B8 B-R8 M..P-QR4 KR-Kt(o) 21..0 KM}I F-Bfl 18..KtPXF P-Ktl 2»..BXP KRXB S0..BPVR Q-R6 8i..KKt-homeF-KtT + 82..KXP R-Ktaq 88..01t-hlsJ RXP + M..K-Bsq BXKt BB..QRXB Q-KtB S6..Kt-B8, and WblTB (Dr. Rice). B B*aiB BtB ■ • BLACK (Mr. Hart) announces mat* In alx moves. . (a) An error In recording. I intended the much stronger move 20. .Q R to Kt sq, and Mien P to B 0. If Kt, or Q, x P, Wn "« loM * a piece; and If P x P, F to Kt 6, with a very strong attack.—R. A. H. gbcckerSe To Correspondents. V. B. Haobs. —Have written you. O. T. SlitTH.—We may be able to use the matter. Grosvbnor. —Pleated to hear from you. W. Seward. —Foaltlona O. K. Solution to Position No. 4, Vol. o>2. BT W. BBWARD, NBW TORE. Black 1 2 8 0 8 0 10 12 18 20 White 10 18 10 21 22 26 20 28 80 82 Position No. B, Vol. B2. BT QHOSVENOH, NEW TOBK. Black 11 12 10 K10 14 & ® H eft KKM,QB2,K8, K. B I, Whit* P at Q Kit * * i I Q8, QRBq.QKtB, Q4. ■ ■©■ I ■©■ ■ ■•■•■• l®l _■•■ ■ ■ B I ■ BloH WHITE. White to play and mats Is Its moves White 20 24 82 K 8 7 White to play and win. Game No. B, Vol. Oil. GLASGOW BT DR. A. BCnAEFIB, KBW TOBK. 11 15 8 7 4 8 16 10 10 28 28 10 28 24 20 28 28 10 82 28 8 11 7 10 10 20 IS 10 0 10 22 17 24 20 80 22 22 17 18 0(C) 11 16 10 10 8 11 14 28 28 27 24 20 25 22 81 27 27 18 28 24 10 28 0 14 2 7 7 10(0) 10 14 27 11 20 25 22 18 17 14 Drawn 7 16 5 0 10 16(0) 10 17 20 11 17 IS 25 22 21 D the following Is nice . 6 27 24 26 21 21 17 14 17(6) 17 22 22 20 21 14 28 10 82 28 10 16 21 14 10 20 25 22 0 10 18 14 14 17 18 6 12 10 Drawn. « 10(d) 1 10 10 (< 28 18 6 17 18 18 » 10 16 10 17 MN 18 4 81 14 • § 10 28 17 14 80 20 10 15 16 28 26 28 80 82 28 28 24 24 10 White wins. («) 28 24 18 14 14 10 10 7 7 8 10 10 23 27 27 82 82 28 28 10 Drawn - ■ News of the Game. The man with a hobby la never in evidence more than when be Is Interested In check; en. The game itself seems to make those eccentricities more prominent and to bring to the surface the dormant traits In that line. Some playen are partial to waiting moves, others to neat little traps. Nothing that I know of teems to give Jim McBntee more pleasure than a little trap, and his con- stant endeavor la to get yon Into one. With Dr. Bchaefer It Is to make tome Inoffensive looking move tbat apparently it perfectly harmless, but In reality It the keystone to tbe arch. Lew Head differs from thlt just a little by baiting you, which, If taken, re- sults In a stroke usually to your disadvant- age and often to the lota of a man. W. W. Avery, in tlmea gone by, wonld often past s banb, smashing win to obtain a delicate ending, to which he knew well bow to give a poiUbed finish. Yates often would work for the sacrifice of two or three men to tie you all up, always keeping the win in tight When a player of mnch personal pride finds himself being surpassed by youngsters he usually, when defeated, baa a headache or tome other ache. You know It's so hard to admit that tbe boy whom you have beaten for yean can now beat yon. If we jutt ■top and think (yon notice I say we—and I mean it, too, as I am willing to concede the fact tbat I am a member of the "bat been" association) tbat In only a abort time the youngster will meet with tbe same ex- perience, we can well afford to admit the merit of tbe boy's efforts, and not try to back up hill with excuses. OUR LONDON LETTER. (a) Tbla solves the problem for a draw. The following Is nice play: 10 17 7 10 11 15 14 21 18 11 7 2 0 14 White 11 7 wins 82 28 18 27 16 18 10 12 24 10 27 81 80 01 11 IB 6 3 8 10 16 10 White » • wins (raou oua own cobbxspondbnt). Clipper Bureau, 48 CrtMtbonrne Street, Leicester Sua are, London, W. C. Mabcu 4. Wilton Barrett has broken out In a new place. No sooner bat be completed one play than he starts upon another. So short, moreover, la the Interval between the pro- duction cf these that one la constrained to wonder how he contrives to find time for acting. Even now be it finishing the first draft of a new play In four acte, which Is to be read to his company on Monday. To It he has given tbe name of "Lucky Dur- ham," and he himself will appear In the title role, that of an Anglo-American millionaire. The ecenes are laid In England, among tbo Ter classes, and the story la an original one a serious and engrossing description. "Lucky Durham" will be presented during Mr. Barrett's Spring tour, and, If a tultable theatre can be found, played later in tbe Wett end. Meanwhile Mr. Barrett pursues his successful coune at the King's, Ham- mersmith, where he It teen in "Claudlau," "The Sliver King," "The Sign of the Cross" and "The Manxman." Tbe latest features which have been In- troduced Into "Tbe Love Birds," at the . Savoy Theatre, are "The Belle of Avenue A," which is sung with very great success by Blanche Ring, and "My Groat Provincial Tour," which George Fuller Golden Is utilis- ing as a vehicle for the Introuductlon of bis famous monologue entertainment For ten minutes Mr. Qolden convulses his audience with half a dozen of bis drollest stories, and the whole representation of "The Love Birds" has gained Immensely thereby. At tbe Strand Theatre, on March 18, will be celebrated the 1,000th performance of "A Cblneae Honeymoon." Whenever the bill Is changed George Dance'a new musical play, to be called ■'Mile. Paris," will take its place This piece Is tbe tame wblcb has bad a run in America under Ita original title, "Tbe Ladles' Paradise." Mn. Hayden Coffin's German translation of "Lady Tetley'a Divorce," which was orlg Inally announced for production last Thurs day, will be performed by tbe German com- pany at the Royalty on March 7, Miss Mar- gant Ha Is tan will play the principal part, and the play will be entitled, 1 'Frau Tetley'a Urtbelltprucb." At tbe Theatre Royal, Mancheater, Scott Bultt will produce a Dew play by Cyril Hall- ward, entitled "The Sadducee and the Sin nor." If tho play Is a success it will be brought to London. '•Tho Blnchalee," the new production at Daly's, is due on March 6. Tbo play la tald to possess some remarkable scenic ef- fects, and the production Is on a scale elaborate even for Daly's. Some little time ago I took occasion to mention that a new theatrical combination. In which Otho Stuart and Oscar Atcbe would be Jointly concerned, might shortly be ex pec ted. Mr. Stuart has. virtually secured the lease of a Wett end house, where he will ttart management early In the coming Autumn, under the control of Mr. Asche nnd hlmtelf. For their Initial venture these gentlemen have selected an original play In verso and prose, entitled "Tbe Prayer of the Sword," by James Bernard Fagan, who gained no small measure of pralae for him- self by the presentation, two or three yean back, of a stirring drama, named "The Rebels." Tbe new play It to be produced— a word which nowadays takea the place of "stage-managed"—by Mr. Asche, who will also play a leading part la It, while the principal female role hat been allotted to i.lly Brayton. The story belongs to tbe Italian medieval period, and bat, at most popular plays have, a love theme aa Its oasts. In tho development of that atory music la to play a very Important part, .and, In order that tbla feature may be adequately dealt with, tbe services of a distinguished composer will be secured. Mr. Stuart has also acquired another 'play by Mr. Fagan, which will probably be nls third production. Mile. BauermelBter announces her Inten- tion of retiring from the opera stage after the Covent Garden season. Her retire- ment will menu a great loss to tbe mana- gers of opera In London and New York, for khe line been a very useful member of every' company with which she has been con- nected. Gounod's "Faust" and "Romeo et Juliette" will hardly teem the some without tbe Martha and the Nurse of Mile. Bauer- melster, In which roles she bat always ap- peared of recent years. In the days wben 1l TflBtan" and ''Die Melaterslnger" wen . conducted at Covnnt Garden by Slgnor Man- clnelll, Mile. Bauermeltter was Invariably tbe Brangane and the Maddelene, She Is an excellent musician, and Is at home In Italian, French and German music alike. Henry Arthur Jonet will contribute to And Still They Comet Bdward Van Wyck writes: "Last week we received four letters, with a request to send catalogues. In answer to my ad. In the Christ- mas Issue of Tut Cupper. Two were from Mexico. My ad. certainly paid me many times over." 4i » Op Mount Lowe, California. One of the most lntenting inclined plane railways In the world Is up Mount Lowe. From the summit one has a marvelous view of Pasadena, Los Angeles and the Ban Ga- briel valley, with the broad Paclfle Ocean beyond. ion can reach It from New York or Boa- ton In four days. If 708 80 Til tat Maw Tort Gsagral Uas* tbe March number of The mneUenih Oen- hay tuvartlcle called "The Becognltlon of the Drama by the State." . . :^ J "The Beautiful Avenger" •■ »f tempttof title of a sensational drama of the day, by Y. A. Scndamon, to be produced at the Royal Theatre, Stratford, on-Blaster Mon- da G'eorgn Bancroft has Joined the staff of Hit Maetty's Theatre et secretary to the Academy of Dramatic Art. . „j_^■. ■ After an absence of two yean Edward Terry hat arranged to make bis teappjMrBncs at his own theatre on or about Apr!Mtm, In Louis N. Parker's adaptation, named ' 1** House of Burnslde,"-of Georges Mitchell's Odeon success. "La Malson." yhe story In- vented by tho French author Is an exceed- ingly powerful and Interesting one, and the part played by Mr. Terry one of great emotional strength. In connection with the event certain Important engagementa art now "•"j^*^ tnat the new theatre now In course of erection upon the site of the Prince of Wales' off Tottenham Court Road, will be occupied by Sir Henry jff tsfr .^. "The Cherry Girl," which is attracting such large audiences at tbe Vaudeville Thea- tre, and. Indeed, baa beaten all previous records there, wat played for the 100th time last Saturday. Mme. Sara Bernhardt, before going on tour to America In tbe Autumn, will come for a abort season to London in June Last Saturday a lively debate was pro- voked at the meeting of the O. P. Club by a paper read by Mr. Lands on tbe subject of "the Influence of the Music Hall on the Theatre." Among the speakers who took Sirt In the discussion was George Fuller olden, who, not unnaturally, had somu forcible remarks to make In defence of tho former. At a sequel to the proceedings Mr. Golden lias now rndertaken to give further expression to his views in a lecture, en- titled "The Effect of the Theatre ou the Music Hall," which be will deliver to the members of the aame club on Sunday week. Mflr.iiinl) Moon (of Drury Lane Theatre) hat keen appointed stage manager of the Coliseum, the outer walls ot which are rapidly rising. Tbe Roys) Ibis week futures tbree Ameri- can acts. Tbe chief item is a' sensational scene, entitled "The American Fireman's Christmas Hve," produced by Madeline Bar- ber, the great "loop" impreasarlo. It is un- doubtedly a fine stage show and It baa In It many thrills snd exciting moments, but It relies on an adaptation of tbe race scene from "The County Fair" for Its climax From a commercial point of view, however, I cannot tee hew managen can pay tho prlco that must necessarily be demanded tor a show of this magnitude. On the same bill are the Chamber>lns, lasso throwers. The whole net consists ot trtckt done with a lariat, and one or two with a huge stock whip, yet It It wonderful the amount of variety they extract out of such simple apparatus, Their feats are ex- ceedingly Interesting and are evidently the results of years of patience and practice. They were the hit of the bill. The other American act under Mr. Lundy's direction Is the Young American Quintet, a f;roup of four young fellows and a partlcu- arly lively young lady. Tbey sing- and dance and Infuao a lot of life and go Into tbelr performance. The lady member of the troupe sings coon songs with a verve rarely wftuessea over here. Although some- what early on the programme, tbey received a very appreciative reception from the au- dience. Seymour and Dupree are now on the Bar- ratford tour, being featured on all bills. They are tblt week at tbe Hippodrome, Birmingham, performing one of the most succenstul. of all tbe engagements played by them alncer their arrival -in England. Houdinl came to tbe Hippodrome this week, where be overahadows everything else, pantomime and all, He It billed tremendous- ly and his show It exciting the greatest pos- sible amount ot Interest. In all probability be will succeed In getting himself locked up In some historic Jail or other In London and make from It orieVof hit sensational escapes. On one evening mis week.I again had tbe lively act is a welcome novelty in Bngiar. i Johnson and Deans Save arrlvedln l D n don to open at the Palace on Monday .^V They have had a Wknly successful aca "„* .on the continent ,on ._j The Adobis Trio opened their Mofj a atoll tour engagement at the Bbephxni-. Bnsh.Empire this week. Their act U i novelty for English audiences and liielr comedy Is of a style to make them lmmeu.si'l* popular. Thoy have every reason to ('-on. gratullte themselves on their European de- tits Marlon Winchester opened on Monday at the Falnce, where the was made a 8pi><iai feature. 8be does not do a very lengthy art but It Just lonir enough on the stuge to show how charmingly nn American girl can look and how effectively she can wear bi-au. tlful couttumes; of course she dances cr- ceitently, but It'la ber attractive personality that ensures her success. Heeler and Meely. having finished a m >st successful pautomlme engagement ut ibe Tyne Theatre, Newcastle-on-Tvne, open n»xt Monday on the Barrasford tour, with the Palace, London, and tbe Htoll tour to follow The Tbree Sisters Macarte, bow nn the Stoll tour, tall for South Africa on July !> May Moore Duprez left for Australia ihls morning. J. Warren Keane Is meeting with great success in London. He opens at the Caelno de Paris April 1, for thirty days. Under tbe tents. ROBTtn or Miles ObtoH Show. — Mrs. Miles Orton,, sole owner: Norma Orton, man- ager ; Myron Orton, treasurer; Gordon Orton, (who goes with the Robinson Show), Michael Cahlll, Clarence Orton, Iva Orton. Mrs. thas. Cooper, Joe and Chas. Bell, all of whom will Join the Welsh Broa. Show; Ed. Brennan and wife, Prof. Chas. Snyder's cornet bond, Including C. E. Worland, Chas. Murphy, Ed Landon, Jose Roslnsky, Ed. Rocky, Billy Rash, Frank Richardson, V. 0. Clark, w. Smith, Wm. Mitchell, Paul Healon, John Maxwell, Ell Landon. Dick Wells. Otbe: performers r Mrs. Le Von, Baby Le Von, Mike Mitchell. Side show: Qua Fairbanks, man- ager; Mrs. Fairbanks, Fay Fairbanks, Madame Cerlta, Wlllard, the wizard; Millie Decosta, Prof. AJax, "Joae" Roslnsky. ittch. aed Rhlnelander and ten men en canvas. Fhll Harris, advance, with two assistants. We closed at Suffolk, Va., Thursday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day. Mrs, Miles Orton had ber arm broken at Klberton, Oa., on the Sea Board Air Line. However, the railroad com- pany has offered to settle all claims. Cut Fairbanks goes with the Sautclle Show as feneral superintendent. The Miles Orton bows will tour the South again the coming Fall and Winter. Notes vbom Bdstalo Bill's Wild West. —The opening date has been decided upon, and the ''calls' have gone forth for the mem- bers of the Wild West to assemble at Stoke- on-Trent where we begin our season Mon- day, April 25. Harvey Watklns has gone back to his first love, Barnum A Bailey. Al- though Mr. Watklns will be greatly missed with tbe Wild West, his place Is In efficient hands, Chat, B. Wells succeeding htm as con- tracting press agent Rehearsals begin at Stoke, April 18. Tbe piece de resistance, "Custer's Last Battle." Posey and Piatt, master of stock and superintendent of canvas, with their lieutenants, already have everything In tbelr respective departments well under way at Stoke. Chas. H. Griffin, of the privi- lege department, says the concert and side shows will be the best ever teen with a tented organization, and embrace some startling surprises. We have bad a mild Winter, but an exceedingly wet one. We have the fincnt line of printing this season ever carried by this establishment and General Agent: Clar- ence L. Dean, with bit staff of assistants, will have begun tbelr labors before this let- ter reaches Tub Clifpbb. Notes vuom Tiir Great Holburd 8notvs. —We will open tbe season of 1004 In Cam den, N. J., April 80. Tbe staff: Byron N. Bui- burd, general manager; Sam McFlynn, as- sistant manager, nnd J. B. Bally, manager . of sldo tbow and concert. The following pleasure of;heTrrng the phenomenal vole* of people have signed for tbe season: Prof. KdltbHelent, wR»£.atlll remains the head- Martin Blnger and his band of twenty men; liner Btthe Brn>lreT Curiously enough this ■■ ■•■ week the management of tbe big Leicester 8qut,re house-- Introduced another vocalltt with an extraordinarily high note, named Mile. Amelia de Lagrate, who precedes Miss Helena on tho programme by less than half an hour. There In, however, a marked dif- ference In the quality of the two voices; tbat of I he French woman Is really more of a- mellow whistle than a pure voice tone; the carries the tone through without enun- ciating any words and holds her lips In a manner tbat irresistibly suggests whistling. Wben M|ss Helena appeared sho was ac- corded a tremendous reception, which tub- tided Into an Intense attention throughout her opening song. She then sang "Tbe Last Rose of Summer," and followed it with ber realistic Imitation of a violin'solo, but the audience were.not satisfied with tbree I um- bers, and after several curtain calls she had to come forward and sing "Coming Thro" the Rye," which she did with Inimitable effect It was Indeed pleasing to see an American lady to completely triumphant before the best music hall audiences we have In Eng- land. Altogether Just now the Empire pro- Frammo It ot an excellent standard. The .owcll Bros, occupy an Important position on tbe bill, and their act stands out on ac- count of Its distinctive merit. One ot this excellent twain hat undoubtedly the most genuinely humorous body I have ever seen. Ivery movement, every unstudied curve of his anatomy is plquantly funny, so much so tbat tbe audience is so taken up with laugh- ter tbat It is npt to overlook the very clever work done legitimately by tbe pair, Joseph . Adclmann, long associated with Gllmore's Pond, Is nnotber admirable mem- ber of the Empire company. He plays tho xylophone with rare skill and feeling, and manages to put more expression into this Instrument than one would think possible... Other old friends on tbe Empire bill are Mohamcd's Arabs, who twist and tumble In the old hurrah style. I was sorry on entering the Empire to hear from Mr. Davis, tbe energetic acting mana- ger, tbat Harry Hltcblns was away for the evening; owing to Indisposition. Mr. Hltcblns It one cf tbe doyens of bis profession, and a more courteous and kindly manager does not exist 1 am happy to bear that Blanche Sloan It now almost entirely recovered from her re- cent Indisposition. Chas. L. Fletcher writes from Sheffield, and informs me that be bos received return contracts for the Mots tour, 1005. Burke, Moller and Teller are on the same bill. They sail for Australia In three weeks. Dan Burke received the sad news that on 10th ult his sister died In Providence. It Is said that Thomas Barrasford, the mu- sic hall magnate, who has lately Inaugurated an English Palace of Varieties In Pails, and It to manage tbe New Lyceum when It la reopened at a home ot the "Illegitimate," will not apply for a liquor license. Whether, In coming to this decision, Mr. Barrasford It making a virtue of necessity I do not know. He Is said to defend his policy on economic Srounds. Bars take up a great deal of room, e polite out, and he declares that It will pay the Lyceum better to throw all this space into the auditorium and fill It with teats. There Is possibly something In this Idea, an far aa a two-showB-nnbght house It concerned, the programme being' only about half the length of those given at the ordi- nary music halls. I hear from the Deherty Blstsn that they an a big ancctaf M the Btoii tout. Vhtli tbe Blckott Family, Vive Flying Banvards, Henry Ross, perpendicular 'cycle wall; Cooper's' troupe of 'cyclists, tbe Flying Zc- nos, Ray Tortunes, Earl V. Stoehr, tbe La Places, Nebraska Bill and wife, Geo. Hortcr, Anna Hooker,. John J. Morris, Myron Baker and bit troupe of 'cyclists. Prof. Bristol and liia troupe of pontes, Geo. Valentine, Ummu Valentine, Morello and Gorrlce, and their troupe of dogs, goats and mutes; the Slmp- sonB, Ray Butler, J. Duffy, T. M. Gray, Jack ICuhns. and thirty Indians. Managers Hul- burd A McFlynn will Introduce many new features In tbe clrcut and wild West, nmonc them "Custer's Last Fight, or Tbe Battle ot the Big Horn." NOTnS FROM THB CAP. STEWART VAUDE- VILLE Circdb. —We are about ready for our opening, which will take place In Fort Wayne, Ind., on April 30. The following people have signed: The Aerial Browns, Sanies O'Neill, Billy Weber, May Weber, Joe Hoover, Ed. Hollls, Fannie Day, Ed. Magner, Sam McCarty, Al. Decker, Cora Decker, Harry Decker, Geo. McNot, Clarence Spring- er, Chas. Watterman, boss canvas man, with five men; Bam Hoke, boss props, with ouo man; H, I. Shephard, general agent with two mcu, and B. Hollis, charge of cook tent, with two helpers All of our last season's people have signed but Walter Lyons. Our big tent will Be 60x00 foot; the cook tent will be 20x40; tbe side show tent is 80x00 foot, and the candy top Is 12x18 foot We are building six lengths of eight tier, foot and back rest reserved seats. James Beattlo is huBtllng day and night getting tbe show ready for tbe opening. Be bat engaged some good people both for the big show and also for the tide thow. Mr. Beattle't little daughter has JUBt recovered from a tpell of sickness. Notes fbom Sun BnoTrrans' World's Pbo- GRBBKivfl Railroad Shows. — We have signed B. L. Bowman to organize and mnn- oce our vaudeville annex, nnd all privileges. which will be new and as good as tbe best. We will also have all new reserve and blue seats, ten tiers high, and toven new wagon* are on tbe way To Norfolk. Dan Leon la making great progress with his ring and high school horses, and promisee to nave tbem perfected for our opening day. All our can are contracted for, and will be com- Slcted by April 10. Cooley Brothers, cf trasburg, Va., have purchased a complete wagon show, excepting horses, from Sun Bros., and Intend to open early In April, naklng an old route. „, Billt Fields, comedian, has signed with the Walter L. Main Shows for the coming season, to work In tbe concert In his black face act, wooden shoe dancing and comic tongs. The thow opens April 23. N0TB8 FROM CRANRB'S VAUDEVILLE CIS; cos.—We are ready for the opening, Apr! 28. Will havo eight all new wagons and tine horses and a new top, 45x70. We win carry ten people, and will play Michigan only. Ben Craner, owner and manager; Mrs. Ben Craner, Master Ruasell Craner, Freda Clever, George Telmass, Fred Leonso, Sheri- dan Craner, Con Mosler and Carl Elthrldge. We intend to mnke this our banner season. Tun Abbial Smiths, sensational trapere performers, have Just cloaed eighteen weeks in vaudeville, and open March 80 with the Rlngllng Broa' Shows. They an booked solid to April, 1005. Including a two years contract with that show. ... Thb Two Jbnarob have signed for the tenting season of 1004 with C H. Knight • Mammoth Twenty-flv* Cent Circus, to do their Juggling, win walking, singing '° d clows acts.