Manhattan Sketch Passing of Red Eagle

160 THE SOONER MAGAZINE Volpi, the significance of the revival after such a period of somnolence is the evidence it offers of a new interest in Verdi. Manhattan sketch It has been somewhat the fashion to scorn Italian opera. Over the proscenium glimpse at the Metropolitan operas house of the Metropolitan where the names of A illustrious composers are engraved, the By ELGIN E. GROSECLOSE names of Verdi and Wagner are upper- most-and side by side. But the star of Wagner has held the ascendancy, save HE Metropolitan Opera House is That the spell begins as conductor for the war years when German opera the most democratic gathering T enters. The boxes and the orchestra was banned, and to the sophisticated the place in New York . This may be mysteriously immediately fill . and Ab- continued playing of Verdi has been more said with due deference to those rendez- solute silence reigns. The violins draw a concession to his popularity than to his vous of the hoi-polloi, such as the Cotton forth the first threads of music; the wood intrinsic merit. Club, the Villa Vallee, or Little Russia, winds, the brasses and the percussion in- Luisa Miller, itself is a lurid melo- where for a paltry five or six dollars one struments join; the curtain rises; and the drama, based on Schiller's Kabale and may purchase the right to order a dinner glorious fabric of the opera begins to Liebe, and one of the composer's earlier (cover charge it is humorously called) spread itself, the auditorium becomes pos- works-of the group of operas typified by and squeeze in behind a two-by-two table sessed of a single and universal soul. Ernani. But is is written in a stronger next to Irene Bordoni, Harry Thaw, Jim- and more emotional vein, mie Walker or any number of other fuller of power local and celebrities. HAT may well prove one of the melody, intensely dramatic. In the major successes of the present words of one critic it is "Verdi with his In the first place you don't have to Metropolitan Opera season is the revival mighty genius for melody and drama; wear a stiff bosom shirt to gain admis- of Verdi's Luisa Miller, an opera which Verdi furiously in earnest; Verdi riding sion to the opera. In fact, it may be has not been heard in this city in nearly the whirlwind and storm of a fiercely doubted if any shirt at all is necessary-a half a century. clamoring orchestra, and producing many tightly buttoned overcoat accompanied by The first performance was inauspicious pages prophetic of a later day in opera a proper air of dignity will serve just as ly offered the Saturday afternoon before and of Verdi's own later work." well and look entirely natural in some of Christmas, but the house was neverthe- The revivals accorded the opera in the drafty upper circles. less filled and the opera, remounted with Germany of late years, where it has been subjected to some modification in libretto In the second place, a mere dollar new scenery by the incomparable Joseph will and numerous experiments in staging, has speak the pass word to admit Urban, with Rosa Ponselle in the title role, you to a been hailed by some as a fad and as a place where you may satisfy your demo- and supported by Giacomo Lauri-Volpi, reaction against Wagner, but the impetus cratic instincts by gazing down Giuseppe de Luca and Pavel Ludikar, with a given by the revival at the Metropolitan supercilious eye upon the was received with enthusiastic acclaim. bald heads of suggests to others that the star of Verdi some of the uncrowned royalty of these Aside from the fact that it marked the is again mounting and that a just if United States . You may for return of the popular Rosa Ponselle after two dollars belated recognition is to be accorded also use the crowded buffet on the Grand a long illness and absence, aside also from the true nature and value of the Italian Tier floor during the entr' acts, rub the enthusiasm engendered by the emo- genius . shoulders with some of these royalty, and tional Italian singing of Giacomo Lauri- if you have a playful disposition, or are particularly class conscious, even tread on their toes. There may be lingering doubts on the Passing of Red Eagle part of some regarding the above con- clusions. A quarter of an hour before the curtain the Family Circle is crowded, An Osage goes to his Happy Hunting ground ten minutes before and the lower tiers are comfortably filled, five minutes and By JOHN JOSEPH MATHEWS there is a sprinkling in the orchestra ; stone ridges and limestone prairie. lie boxes are still empty. Democracy pos- OR ninety years Red Eagle had watched with passivity, shiny oil der- sesses the upper galleries, and filters down- F lived among his people. For that ricks spring up like phantasmal fungi, ward slowly . But the moment the per- many years of constant changes, from valleys, wooded hills and prairie. formance starts this pleasant and frater- contacts and shifting scenes, he remained Yet, with him remained the spirit of his nal atmosphere infects the whole auditori- an Indian ; thinking Indian thoughts and fathers. To the end he remained an um. If music, as Doctor Dowd suggests, dreaming his own dreams. In his later Indian. Frenzied wealth seeking and is the religion of the present age, the years he seemed to be waiting for some- confused material progress did not dis- Metropolitan is its Mecca within the con- thing. He lived quietly on his ranch, turb the soul of Red Eagle. fines of which all persons become de- preferring his horse to a car until he There is something poignant about the votees and all devotees become brothers. reached his eightieth year. He had oil death of the old warrior. He was the When the finale of an aria crashes to its royalties, but desired to live in simplicity. typical Osage. His handsome features ; close leaving you suspended in the clouds He had seen many things, and had taken his tall, straight body, and his mien of of enchantment and the dowager with part in wars in the southern part of the dignity. His eyes which seemed to look the lorgnette in the adjoining seat leans state; he talked of these wars with mem- beyond into eternity, and yet twinkle with over and whispers "Ecstatic," you have bers of the tribe. He saw brick buildings understanding of mundane things . the feeling of having reached at last the rise up among the jack-oaks, and his Na- He was the smbol of the older order. fraternal city dreamed of by the philoso- tion spanned with roads; some of them His passing seems to symbolize the end phers. sinuous black ribbons winding over sand- (Turn to page 176, please) 176 THE SOONER MAGAZINE LaHoma Porter, '27 arts-sc ., is head of the de- strained mawkish display. Red Eagle casket, as it moved slowly downward . college, partment of English at Westminster symbolized the dignity of a race. Red Eagle would need food on the long Mrs Addie T. McMillan, Tehuacana, Texas. On his left cheek was the daub of journey. '27 arts-sc ., is registrar and head of the depart- ment of education in the college . black. On his right cheek the five red We moved slowly back to the house to Lieut. William R. Morgan, '27 arts., of Hin- lines alternating with as many black ones . attend the feast. Near the house there safe landing when his ton, recently made a These were parallel with the long axis were three horses tied to a tree. Perhaps plane caught fire 1 .000 feet over Selfridge field, of the ear. He wore his beaver skin tur- Michigan. Lieutenant Mor- one of these would carry Red Eagle on Mount Clements, ban; his shell neck ornament, and his gan is assigned to Selfridge field in the army the great journey. The grey was the best air corps. wristlet of silver. In the right hand he of the three. One hoped fervently that had his eagle-feather fan. His moccasins he would be sure-footed. 1928 were unornamented . He was wrapped in Anna Mae Keating, ex '28, is teaching school a new red blanket. No Pharaoh in all at Avant, Oklahoma. the magnificence of his transition could A., is superintendent of J. T. Martin . '28 M. have been more regal. schools at Grandfield. THE TRAVELING THEATER M. Roberts (Nortna Hill, '28 M. Mrs George T WAs not so much the long painted A.) . has been principal of the high school at (Continued from page 159) Dimmitt, Texas, for two years. figure in the finery of his race, which Ellen Hopkins, ex '28, is employed as private caused emotion of sharpest regret, and Of all the traveling theaters, this is secretary to L. G. Fritz, vice president of the brought brave efforts to check visible evi- perhaps the most comprehensive and Tulsa. the Southwest Air Fast Express . Inc., at dence of the disturbance within, but the most '28, is a mathematics teacher -it communal in its aim. The activities Olin R. Edges, end of an epoch. A past of which there Ardmore high school. He and Joe Scott, '24 of the Arts League of Service is not con- arts-sc ., travel to Norman every Saturday to do is little evidence other than a few faded fined solely to its tours. It sponsors lec- graduate work at the university.

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