LITERARY, MUSICAL, & DRAMATIC GOSSIP.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1234, 16 February 1878, Page 3

LITERARY, MUSICAL, & DRAMATIC GOSSIP.

(From English files.)

The third week of January was fixed for the re-entr(se of Miss Neilsou at the Haymarket. The lady would appear in a round of Shakespearian characters, and will after a brief interval be succeeded by Mr Sothern in ‘‘The Crushed Tragedian.” A. well-known West-end actor, accompanied by a friend, went one night to a penny gaff in the East. Being much struck with the performance of one of theco- nany, he remarked aloud to his friend. "R«klly that’s the best imitation of a ccSteHßOa g;r i ever saw in my whole life.” Upon this a guileless Israelite immediately cue iu with great contempt, “Vy, he vas a costermonger afore he was brought down to this I” —Tatler.

The Birmingham Festival Committee have given the commission to Herr Max Bruch—the composer of the opera ‘ ‘ Loreley, ” the cantata “ Odysseus” and the setting of the “ Winter’s Tale” of Shakespease—to write a cantata for the next gathering in 1879 ; by which time it is hoped that Sir Michael Costa will be ready with his third oratorio, “Joseph,” which he has some time in hand. It is rumoured that Mr Sullivan is making alterations and additions to his score of the “Sorcerer”—a very sensible proceeding on his part. He is by no means the first composer who has taken a similar course, as, for instance, Mendelssohn in “St. Paul” and “ Elijah,” besides the “ Lobgesang” symphonic cantata. An arrangement has been entered into with Mrs Harriet Beecher Stowe (author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” &c.), for the publication, from advanced sheets, of her new story, “ Our Folks at Poganuc,” in the columns of the “Christian Globe.” The story abounds in dramatic incident, and is written in Mrs Harriet Beecher Stowe’s well-known and attractive style, and is full of that mysterious life principle which is the first condition of the highest art in every form of literature. A Pose for a “Wounded Amazon.”— When Gibson modelled the “ Wounded Amazon,” he said to a friend of mine who went to his studio to see the statue in clay, “Yea, that is my ‘Wounded Amazon.’” You have doubtless heard Gibson’s peculiar, dry, crisp mode of talking imitated, and can imagine how he spoke. “Yes, I call it a ‘ Wounded Amazon,’ but that statue is a proof of how useful it is for an artist to keep his eyes open. Now, how do you think I found that pose? I was going along the street, and I saw a girl catching a flea. Yes, I did, she was catching a flea! I stopped and said to myself, * That’s a pretty pose—a very pretty pose, indeed,’ aud I took it down. So I thought it over; I sat up and worked it up, and there it stands now as my ‘Wounded Amazon.’ But it is the very pose of the girl catching the flea, nevertheless. A very pretty pose it is, you see ; and, as I said, it shows that an artist must not fail to keep his eyes always open.” “Rome Letter. ”

The whole race of blue stockings, even including such writers as George Sand and Daniel Stern, are criticised most severely in a new work called “ Les Bas Bleus.” M. Barber de’Aurevilly, in his masculine superiority, only admits the authoress whose talent is of the truly feminine order. Mmo. de Sevign6 and Mme. de Girardin are his favorite types, and the volume is a determined onslaught on all who write with a purpose and aspire, however modestly, to the realms of philosophy and science. Fortunately, even in France such notions as those of M. Barbey d’Aurevilly are not generally entertained, though the prejudice against female pedantry is very great, A somewhat feeble protest against this tendency has been made in a rather disconnected manner by one small journal. Tho production of an entirely new Italian opera is an event of some importance. “ Zilia” is the work of a young and almost unknown maestro, Signor Villate, and yet it has met with considerable success. It is well interpreted by Mile. Sanz and Tamberlik, whose great reputation stands him instead of voice, of which he has hardly enough left make himself heard, even in the admirably constructed auditorium of the Salle Ventadour. When the principal singers were recalled at the end of the second act, the Parisian audience was somewhat astonished to see a gentleman in a black coat among them; it was the author, who thus appeared in Italian fashion to how his thanks. Blondin is in Paris, and recently he appeared at the Palais de The advertisement announces that “ he will traverse the whole length of the rope on stilts. He alone has performed this prodigious feat, and that only once before, over the Falls of Niagara, and in the presence of the Prince of Wales.”

As winter has not come speedily enough to provide ice for the Esquimaux at the Jardin d’Acclimitation, they have been made honorary ticket holders at the skating-rink in the Ru« Blanche. The idea has proved a good one, both for the rinkholders and the entrepreneurs of the Esquimaux, The Laps excel in skating, and their feats on the ice are marvels of agility and grace. Mdlle. Rita Sagalli, the premiere danseuse at the Paris Opera, and who, a year or two ago, danced herself into the favor of English audiences at the Alexandra Palace, has been seized with the ambition to become a star vocalist. She is already a clever pianist, and she is now studying opera singing under Madame Anna de Lagrange. By the way, there is a funny little tale connected with the “ Sorcerer. ” Mr Gilbert had an idea that all connected with the opera should be natives of England. And so, although, as he could not do them himself, he was compelled to call in the services of a French gentleman to design the costumes, he declined to put that gentleman’s name in the bill.

At the rehearsal of “ Hernani” lately, M, Victor Hugo told his friends that he had two hitherto unheard of plays in his portfolio. One is founded on the story of the Iron Mask, and is entitled “Les Jumeaux,” while the title of the other is “ Torquemada.” M. Victor Hugo had once intended that these works should not bo produced till after his death, but it is now likely he will after his mind. The interest evinced in the revival of “ Hernani” has fired the ambition of the veteran poet, and, with a little gentle pressure, he may be induced to allow the world to hear the new plays without much further delay. An Oriental opinion of Dickens ought to be interesting. Here is a critique of “ David Copperfield,” written by a Mahommedan in his best English—it was found on the flyleaf of the book:—“I surprise that this book’s author being the composer of many other novels, has got such a style without taste. Though its style is very regularly made, yet the mind of the reader is never willing to see even a page thoroughly. Its seems to me that its author was not an intelligible. Those difficulties which 1 suffered during the course of the study of this idle book I can t express them. Sometimes the wretched author tries to write and deliver some oration, yet suddenly he falls in a pit of dullness. In short, this book is quite an unpleasing to the heart of the glowing heart. Let the reader see and confess my observation ?—S. S. E.”

In an article concerning Christmas annuals, the “Figaro” has the following : “ Mr. B. L. Farjeon is the guilty author of ‘ Solomon Isaacs,’ the Christmas number of ‘ Tinsleys’ Magazine’(Tinsley Brothers, Catherine street, Strand). This story shows that, given two old-clothes men, one modest, moral, aud everything that is admirable, and the other a hook-nosed old rogue, capable of monetary manoeuvres which would be disgraceful even in a public company promoter, the immaculate Moses will live in poverty all his days, while the felonious Solomon will migrate from Spitalficlds to a grand house at the West-end, and, after indulgence in colossal footmen, mammoth diamond rings, and other weaknesses of the mushroom, millionaire, will, when the retributive crash comes, be no worse off than if ho had been nice and conscientious all through. It also teaches—what everybody knew before—that some jews are a great deal better than some Christians. Tho illustrations teach— 'Well, certainly not drawing.”