A guide to the operas, symphonic poems, overtures, incidental music and songs based on Shakespeare's plays

liv-s *

A Guide

to the

Operas; Symphonic
Poems; Overtures
Incidental Music

and Songs

Based on

SHAKESPEARE'S

PLAYS

by
THEODORE J. 1RWIN

Price 30 Cents Post Paid

Theodore J. Irwin
1548 N St.
' ?re?nc
C&i

Copyrighted iQf 4 by Theodore J. Imvin

«?

y

THEODORE J. IR WIN

Professor Pianoforte, Organ and Composition
MUSICAL LECTURES OUTLINED

154.8 N St. Fresno, California

"THE SHIP O' DREAMS" Vocal
25 Cents Post Paid

FRKSNO

INDEX

TRAGEDIES

Page

Antony and Cleopatra 3

Coriolanus - - 3

Hamlet 1

Henry VIII 6

Julius Caesar - 3

King Lear - 2

Macbeth - 4

Merchant of Venice 3

Othello 2

Richard the Third 3

Romeo and Juliet - 4

Romeo and Juliet - 5

COMEDIES

As You Like It - 9

Measure for Measure - 10

Merry Wives of Windsor - 10

Midsummer Night's Dream - - 9

Much Ado About Nothing - 10

Taming the Shrew - 10

The Tempest 7

Twelfth Night - 8

Winter's Tale 11

SONGS

Cymbeline - 12

Love's Labor Lost 12

Venus and Adonis - 12

The Passionate Pilgrim - 12

The Merchant of Venice - 12

Two Gentlemen of Verona - - 12

884821

Introduction

The aim of this book is to give a complete list of the
musical compositions, operatic and orchestral, that are based
upon the different plays of Shakespeare. To some of these
works short notes are appended. I hope the book will be of
especial value to librarians, music clubs and teachers.

That the book may be of the most practical use, I have
adopted the following plan:

\Vorks of prime importance are marked thus**.

Works of secondary importance are marked thus*.

If there are several compositions based on one play, I
place them in the order in which they should be acquired.

A certain proportion of compositions named have no sign
.attached. These are the works which have not stood the test of
time. I should also state that a number of Shakespeare's
plays have never been set to music, speaking in an orchestral
and operatic sense.

Many people have doubtless wondered that the great com-
posers have not written more music based on Shakespeare's
plays. This may be attributed to two causes : In the first
place, the attempt to heighten the effect of Shakespeare's
plays by presenting them in an operatic or orchestral form is a
task that would daunt any man not profoundly conscious of
his ability, or possessed of a highly favorable opinion of his
own talents. Secondly, some of the great classic composers
left the operatic field untouched ; others selected their subjects
from such sources as the Greek tragedies (Gluck), Legends
(Mozart), Folk Lore (Weber), Mythology (Wagner); and in
fact, with the exception of Mendelssohn and Berlioz, we must
look for the musicians who were at their prime during the last
half century to find our musical settings of Shakespeare.

Regarding the purchasing of these compositions, I would
say that two-, and sometimes four-hand pianoforte arrange-
ments of most of the leading orchestral works can be had, while
the leading operatic works will be found in vocal score with
frequently an English version under the original text of the
opera.

There are several books published giving the traditional
airs to Shakespeare's songs. I omit mention of those airs, but
after each play will be found a list of mostly modern settings of
the Bard's lyrics.

TRAGEDIES

HAMLET
**0verture Fantasia, Op. 67A. Composed 1885, Tschaikowsky

This work does not offer the clear cut outline of the play
which we find in the same composer's setting of "Romeo and
Juliet" or "The Tempest." Neither is it as effective pianisti-
cally as the others. In its orchestral form, with all the rich
tints of the orchestral combinations, one would have a much
clearer conception of the work. Of course, this statement ap-
plies to all pianoforte arrangements; but some works, as the
two mentioned above, are more effective on the piano than
others. The best one can do is to state the movements.

Opening with a Lento Lugubre, the music works up into a
Poco Animate. Then the tempo goes back to Andante, quickly
followed by an Allegro Vivace movement. This movement is
quite long, relatively speaking, and is followed by an Andante
of eighteen measures. This passage has the Russian mould,
and later on is treated more fully. A mournful melody, which
is undoubtedly the "Ophelia" motif, is next heard. This is
given out once and followed by a passage Animate. The theme
preceding the "Ophelia" motif then appears again for ex-
tended treatment, then the "Ophelia" motif again. A passage
of stormy music folows leading into an Allegro, Alia Marcia,
and the work end with a short Grave movement.
*"Melodram, Maersche and Entractes" to Hamlet,

Tschaikowsky
**Symphonic Poem, No. 10 - - Liszt

This work has neither program nor any kind of preface,
and is described in the original manuscript as a "Prelude to
the Drama." It brings before the hearers the brooding prince
— not the story of his life, not even his whole career, only a
dominating feature. The indications, "very slow and sombre,"
"Appassionata ed agitato assai," "this episode in three-two
time should be played extremely quietly and should sound
like a shadow picture." Pointing to Ophelia — "ironica lugu-
bre," shows that allusions to persons and circumstances affect-
ing his mood were not wanting.

**Hamlet, Orchestral Poem - - Macdowell

*0phelia, Orchestral Poem - - Macdowell

Overture, Op. 37 - Gade

Overture - - G. A. MacFarren

Overture - - Joachim

Opera, Hamlet, Comp. 1868 - ... Ambroise Thomas

This French work is the only attempt to write an operatic
version of "Hamlet," and as the music is more tuneful than
dramatic, and the librettists butchered the play, it can hardly
be considered as a serious attempt to present Hamlet in operatic
form.

KING LEAR

* Overture

- Balakireff (1837-)
*Entractes

**0verture, "Le Roi Lear," - - Hector Berlioz

Composed about 1825.

This overture ranks high among dramatic overtures.
Overture - - Bazzini (1818-1897)

OTHELLO

**0pera (composed 1887) Verdi

Notable passages and scenes in the play :

End of first act, duet, Othello-Desdemona.

Second Act, lago, Scene "Credo."

Finale, Othello appealing to Heaven to punish the wife he
believes untrue.

Third Act, Othello accusing Desdemona of unchastity.

Fourth Act, "Willow Song."

"His (Verdi's) inexhaustible stream of melody remained
as pure and full as ever, while the more declamatory parts of
the opera, down to the slightest piece of recitative, are in-
formed by a richness of suggestion, and an unerring instinct for
truth, such as it would be vain to seek in his earlier work. In
'Othello' the action is rapid for the most part, and in many
scenes the music only aims at furnishing a suitable accompani-
ment to the dialogue." (Streatfield — The Opera.)

"From the opening scene to the strangling scene, the
music flows swiftly, as swiftly as the drama. Rich, varied and
eloquent, the orchestra seldom tarries in its vivid and acute
commentary. (Huneker.)
**0verture, "Othello," Op. 93 Dvorak

First performed in America, 1893.

"It is a graphic picture of the last scenes of the tragedy—
the prayer of Desdemona, her sleep and terrible awakening, the
jealousy and revenge of the Moor." (Upton — Standard Con-
cert Repertory.)
Opera - - Rossini

Long since vanished from the boards.
Symphonic Poem - - - Zdenko Fibisch (1850-1900)

Songs :

Ave Maria - Verdi

And let me the canakin clink - Harvey Worthington Loomis

The Willow Song - Rossini

The Willow Song - - Humfrey

JULIUS CAESAR

Overture, Op. 128 - - Schumann

Outside of this overture, which is one of Schumann's in-
ferior works, I can find no mention of any other compositions.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

*0verture - - Vincent D'Indy

D 'Indy is one of the leading French composers, and such a
subject should be peculiarly well fitted to D'Indy's orchestral
coloring and melodic outline.

Overture - - Rubinstein

Overture, title of "Cleopatre" - - August Enna

CORIOLANUS

There is no music written to Shakespeare's play, but Bee-
thoven wrote one of his noblest overtures to a play based on
the same subject, and written, I believe, by an Austrian dra-
matist.

RICHARD THE THIRD

"Symphonic Poem - - Smetana

The composer speaks of this work in a letter to Liszt say-
ing : "It consists of one piece (Satz) and the tonal vesture
(Betonung) clings pretty closely to the action of the tragedy —
the attainment of the proposed aim after the overcoming of all
obstacles, triumph and fall of the hero. Two short motives are
quoted as representative of the hero (who acts throughout the
whole movement), and of the opposing party.
Volkman also wrote an overture.

MERCHANT OF VENICE

Overture - - Macfarren

Incidental Music - - Sullivan

Songs :
How sweet the moonlight sleeps - - Calcott

Quartette, mixed voices.
How sweet the moonlight sleeps - - Henry Leslie

Quartette, mixed voices.
How sweet the moonlight sleeps - - William Reed

Quartette, mixed voices.

MACBETH
Symphonic Poem, Op. 23 (composed 1887) - Richard Strauss

This is the first of Strauss 's symphonic poems. Beyond the
title — that is, beyond the wider reference to the drama — there
is little to indicate the details. This "little" consists of the
word "Macbeth" above the sixth bar, and further on these
words of Lady Macbeth, "Hie thee hither, that I may pour niy
spirits in thy ear, and chastise with the valour of my tongue all
that impedes thee from the golden round which fate and meta-
physical aid doth seem to have crowned thee withal." If a
brief account of the work as a whole is wanted, we may call it
an illustration of Macbeth 's character and soul-struggles.
Cantata, Lady Macbeth - - Wambach

Overture and incidental music - - Spohr

This has passed into oblivion.

Overture - - Bruell

Overture, Op. 30 - - Lucas

Incidental music - - Sullivan

Opera - - - Verdi

This opera was killed by the libretto. The music shows
Verdi striving for a higher plane of musical expression than
he attained in his earliest operas; but nevertheless it is one
of Verdi's poorest operas.

Overture - - Raff

Overture - - Lucas

ROMEO AND JULIET
*0pera, "Romeo et Juliette" - - Ch. Gounod

Produced in 1869.

The libretto is in five acts.

First act: Ball at Capulet's house, and first meeting of
lovers.

Second act : Balcony scene.

Third act : Marriage of Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laur-
ence's cell; duels in streets of Venice.

Fourth act : Parting of lovers in Juliet 's chamber.

Fifth act : Tomb of the Capulets.

Gounod's music is considered by critics to be but a faint
reflection of the enchanting strains found in "Faust." Oc-
casionally liis music is very fine, but the general dramatic
worth can be estimated by Gounod's own action in closing the
Fourth Act with Friar Laurence giving the potion, making no
{Attempt to set the potion scene to music.

Seventeen operas have been written on this play, but
Gounod's opera is the only one that has survived.
**0verture Fantasia - - Tschaikowsky

Here we have an orchestral work by the great Russian
composer that stands in the first rank of works of its kind.

Tschaikowsky at one time had serious thoughts of writ-
ing an opera on the play, and it is to be regretted that he did
not carry out his intention. In this overture-fantasia no de-
scriptive notes of any kind are attached to the score, yet we
can trace the action of the play from beginning to end in the
music.

The composition opens with religious harmonies suggest-
ing Friar Laurence, or symbolical of the serious action of the
play. The music gradually works into an Allegro descriptive
of the hatreds of the rival houses. Measure after measure of
syncopated, crashing chords, rushing passages for violins, un-
derneath, the basses in deadly earnestness. Studied out, this
impresses the student as thoroughly descriptive of the raging
passions of the opposing families. The tumult dies down and
the Love Theme enters. It is very short — only eight measures
— but it comes again worked out to a magnificent climax.
After the Love Theme comes a passage of lamenting chords
that seem to say, "Thy joy is brief; canst thou not feel the
chill wind that ere long will quench the rapture of these em-
braces ; the icy hand that will lead thee unresisting to take thy
place with thy forbears who also loved and died."

The strain is brief; the Love Theme enters again, soars
aloft, then dies down. The stormy movement begins again,
and we read in the music the many episodes which mark the
tumultuous passage of the drama. Again the weird chords
enter with a throbbing undercurrent. Again the Love Theme
enters ; this time it is worked out Apassionata. The ominous
strains of the feud are heard again, but they quickly die down
and sombre chords follow. Then comes a melodic arpeggio
passage. Could we call it the soft lament of gentle, high-born
maidens on the passing of the loveliest soul of all? — and the
composition ends with dirge-like chords.
**Romeo and Juliette, ' ' Op. 39 - Berlioz

Dramatic symphony with choruses, vocal solos, and a pro-
logue in choral recitative.

A distinguished critic, speaking of this work, says :

"In 'Romeo and Juliette,' Berlioz produced a work which
shows his genius and craftsmanship at their highest pitch;
but which as a whole is a monstrous jumble of incongruities —
a compound of all styles and genres, where symphony and
cantata, the narrative, the lyrical, the dramatic and the pro-
grammatic are intermixed in defiance of taste and reason. The
five pieces that form the predominating symphonic portion are
of unequal value — three of them belong to the composer's very
best achievements and most commendable specimens of pro-
gramme music; and two to his least happy achievements and
most doubtful specimens of programme music."

The three notable orchestral pieces are: The first and

then exceedingly brilliant "Romeo alone"; Sadness and Con-
cert and Ball (Grand Festival at the house of Capulet) ; the
enchanting "Love Scene — a serene night, the silent and de-
serted garden of Capulet"; and the indescribable Scherzo,
"Queen Mab, or the Dream Fairy."

HENRY VIII

Opera - - Saint Saens

Produced in 1883. This opera is still popular in Paris.
This opera, like all of the distinguished French composer's,
is a masterly piece of writing.

Orpheus with his lute - - Sir Arthur Sullivan

Orpheus with his lute - - Carl Busch

Orpheus with his lute - - C. F. Manney

Orpheus with his lute - - Clara Ross Ricci

Trio, female voices.

COMEDIES

"The Tempest" has had at least fourteen operatic settings
by French, Russian, Italian and German composers, one of the
most recent works being —
Der Sturm - - Zdenko Fibisch (1850-1900)

Also —

Overture - - Vierling

Overture - - Raff

Incidental music - - Sullivan

Ballet Music - - Ambroise Thomas

-Fantasy, "The Tempest" - - John K. Paine

*Music to "The Tempest" - - Van Der Stucken

**Fantasia, Op. 18 (composed 1873) - - Tschaikowsky

During the winter of 1872 Tschaikowsky asked his friend
Vladimer Stassov to suggest a subject for a symphonic fan-
tasia, a Shakespearian subject preferably. Stassov shortly
wrote to Tschaikowsky, proposing ' ' The Tempest, ' ' and outlin-
ing in elaborate and enthusiastic detail the poetic and drama-
tic plan which he conceived should underlie the music, as fol-
lows:

' ' I have in my mind that the sea should appear twice — at
the beginning and at the end. At the beginning, in the in-
troduction, I think of it as calm, until Prospero speaks the
magic words and conjures up the storm. But this storm must
break out instantaneously in all its violence, and not, as
usually, becoming gradually wider and louder. I propose so
peculiar a form for the storm, because in this case it is raised
by magic words, whereas in all operas, symphonies and orato-
rios hitherto written it arises from natural causes. After the
storm has abated the magic island appears in all its wonderful
beauty, and the still more beautiful, still more glorious maid,
Miranda, who, like a sunbeam, walks with light step on the
island. Her conversation with Prospero, and immediately af-
terwards with the youth Ferdinand, who surprises and enrap-
tures her, and with whom she at once falls in love. The mo-
tive of the falling in love should be like an unfolding, like a
growing; in Shakespeare it is so described at the end of the
first act; and I believe that would be the very thing for your
talent. After this I would propose the appearance of Caliban,
the animal-like, low slave; then further, Ariel, whose pro-

gramme is to be found in Shakespeare's song, "Come unto these
yellow sands." After Ariel, Miranda and Ferdinand must
again come upon the scene, but this time full of impetuous
passion. Then the imposing figure of Prospero, who resigns
his magic power, and takes leave of his past. At last, at the
end, again the sea, the calm, still sea, which bathes the lonely
island, now abandoned, whilst its hapy inhabitants are carried
in a ship to distant Italy."

It will be noticed in going through the list of musical set-
tings, that Tschaikowsky composed music to several of Shake-
speare's plays. I recommend the "Life and Letters of Tschai-
kowsky," edited by Rose Newmarch, for those who wish to
get a fuller insight into the personality of this man who de-
voted so much of his talent to musical expositions of Shake-
speare's plays.

Songs :

No more dams I'll make for fish - - John Christopher Smith

Where the bee sucks - - Dr. Thomas A. Arne

Where the bee sucks - - Sir Arthur Sullivan

Where the bee sucks - - Pelham Humfrey

Come unto these yellow sands - - Henry Purcell

Full fathom five thy father lies - - Henry Purcell

Full fathom five thy father lies - - Robert Johnson

TWELFTH NIGHT

Overture - - Mackenzie

Songs :

0 mistress mine - - S. Coleridge Taylor

She never told her love - - Franz Joseph Haydn

When that I was a little tiny boy - - Gerard Barton

When that I was a little tiny boy - - C. Villiers Stanford

When that I was a little tiny boy - - Joseph Vernon

When that I was a little tiny boy - - Robert Schumann

0 mistress mine - - Villiers Stanford

Come away Death - - Villiers Stanford

0 mistress mine - - H. W. Cardew

0 mistress mine - - H. Walford Davies

Come away, come away, death - - H. Walford Davies

Come away, come away, death - - H. Walford Davies

When that I was a little tiny boy - - H. Walford Davies

0 mistress mine - - H. U. Drayton

Come away, Death - - H. U. Drayton

Which is the proper way to drink? - - Dr. T. A. Arne

Comic glee, mixed voices.

If music be the food of love - - J. Charles Clifton

8

i * Overture (
**Incidental

Scherzo ;
drama ; Interi
iHarch; Allegi

I know a bank -

Duet for twi
Titania's cradle
You spotted snakt

Quartette, worn
Over hill, over dale -
Now the hungry lion re
Much ado about nothing
Sigh no more, ladies -
Sigh no more, ladies -
Sigh no more, ladies - Fisher

Take, oh take those lips away - John Wilson

AS YOU LIKE IT

Overture - - Lucas

Songs :

Blow, blow, thou winter wind - - J. Sargeant
Blow, blow, thou winter wind - - William Arms Fisher

The maid's garland - - Dora Bright

Blow, blow, thou winter wind - - Charles Hotham

Under the greenwood tree - - Charles Hotham

Blow, blow, thou winter wind - - Agnes Zimmerman

It was a lover and his lass - - Thomas Morley

Under the greenwood tree - - Carl Busch

Under the greenwood tree - - C. Hubert Parry

It was a lover and his lass - - Clough Leighter

Blow, blow, thou winter wind - - Gerard Barton

Blow, blow, thou winter wind - - B. Luard Selby

Part song, mixed chorus.
What shall he have who killed the deer? - - H. R. Bishop

Male quartette.

It was a lover and his lass - - Paul Ambrose

Quartette, mixed voices.

It was a lover and his lass - - Gerard Barton

It was a lover and his lass - - H. W. Car dew

Retraite (le chant D'amiens) - - Paul Vidal

Sous bois (2d chant d' Amiens) - - Paul Vidal

Ecossaise, due des pages - - Paul Vidal

Choeur des chasseurs - - Paul Vidal

Soli et choeur a 4 voix mixtes.

Wagner

imitation
;cided its

TS Stanford
ector Berlioz

Nothing." It

it. Though hu-

'ing impression is

:nelancholy."--The

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Zakmung" - Goetz

- Rheinberger

Song:
Should he upbraid - - Sir Henry Bishop

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR

Falstaff, Opera (produced 1894) Verdi

This opera is notable, outside of the intrinsic merit of the
music, for two things : First, that Verdi was eighty years of
age when he wrote it ; and, secondly, the masterly libretto of
Boito, the Italian poet and musician. The only liberty the
librettist took was that of including a passage or two from
Henry IV.

"It is the very incarnation of youth and high spirits.
Verdi told an interviewer that he thoroughly enjoyed writing
it. He has combined a schoolboy's sense of fun wtih the grace
and science of Mozart. The part writing is often exceedingly
elaborate, but the most complicated concerted pieces flow on
as naturally as a ballad. The glorious finale fugue is an epito-
me of the work. It is really a marvel of contrapuntal ingenu-
ity, yet it is so full of bewitching melody and healthy anim;il
spirits that an uncultivated hearer would probably think it
nothing but an ordinary jovial finale. In the last act Verdi
has caught the charm and mystery of the sleeping forest with
exquisite art. In the fairy music, too, he also reveals another
side of his genius."

"The action in Falstaff is almost as rapid as if the ti-\t
were spoken ; and the orchestra, the wittiest and most sparkling

10

riant orchestra I ever heard, — comments upon the monologue
and dialogue of the book. When the speech becomes rhetorical
so does the orchestra. It is heightened speech, and instead of
melody of the antique formal pattern, we hear the endless mel-
ody which Wagner employs. But Verdi's speech is his own,
and does not savour of Wagner. If the ideas are not devel-
oped or do not assume vaster proportions, it is because of their
character. They could not be so treated without doing violence
tothe sense of proportion. Classic purity in expression, Latin
exuberance, joyfulness, and an inexpressionably delightful at-
mosphere of irresponsible youthfulness and gaiety are all in
this charming score. No one can ever reproach Verdi with
lack of ideas in FALSTAFF. They are never ending. The
orchestra flows furiously, like a stream of quicksilver, tossing
up repartee, argument, facts, amplifying, developing and
strengthening the text. No melody? Why, the opera is one,
long, merry tune — jocund, blithe, sweet, dulcet and sunny. Few
moods of melancholy, no moods of madness, but all gracious

folly and fantasy Verdi's musical scholarship is

enormous. He paints delicate fairy-like pictures, using the
most delicate pigments and with the daintiest touch imagin-
able ; and then he pens a severe and truthful canon in the
second act, which excites the admiration of the scholar."
James Huneker.

Richard Strauss says: "Falstaff is the greatest master-
piece of modern Italian music.
Merry Wives of Windsor, Opera - - Nicolai

The overture is familiar to everyone ; but the opera as a
whole is far below the plane of Verdi's.
Incidental Music - - Sullivan

TWELFTH NIGHT
Overture - - Mackenzie

WINTER'S TALE

Overture - - Joseph Suk

Opera, ' ' Hermione ' ' - Max Bruch

Opera (produced in 1908) - - Goldmark

Songs :

Autolycus' Song J. Greenhill

Lawn as white as driven snow - John Wilson or R. Johnson (?)
Six Songs (First Set) - - H. Baines

0 mistress mine ; When icicles hang by the wall ; Orpheus
with his lute; Sigh no more, ladies; Love's renewal; Shall I
come, sweet love, to thee?
English Lyrics (Second Set) - C. Hubert H. Parry

11

0 mistress mine ; Take, oh take those lips away ; No longer
mourn for me ; Blow, blow, thou winter wind ; When icicles
hang by the wall.

CYMBELINE

Songs :

Hark, Hark the Lark - - Franz Schubert

Hark, Hark the Lark (3-part, women's voices) - Fr. Schubert

Arranged by N. Clifford Page.
Hark, Hark the Lark - - G. A. McFarren

Quartette, mixed voices.

Hark Hark the Lark - - Karl Friedrich Curschmann

Hark, Hark the Lark - - Dora Bright

Fear no more the heat of the sun - - C. Hubert H. Parry

Fear no more the heat of the sun - - Howenstein

Mixed or men's voices.

Fear no more the heat of the sun - - H. W. Cardew

Aubade - - Paul Vidal

LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST

Songs :

When daisies pied and violets blue - - Arne

When icicles hang on the wall - - Arne

Measure for Measure - - Song

Take, oh take those lips away - - Wilson

Take, oh take those lips away - - J. A. Taylor
Take, oh take those lips away - - B. Luard-Selby

Chanson d'Hiver - - Paul Vidal

Chanson de Printemps - - Paul Vidal

VENUS AND ADONIS

Bid me discourse - - Sir Henry Bishop

Lo, here the gentle lark - - Sir Henry R. Bishop

THE PASSIONATE PILGRIM

Crabbed age and youth - - Hubert C. Parry

Crabbed age and youth - - Harvey Worthington Loomis

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Le carillon d' Amour (chanson de Porta) - - Paul Vidal

Duo pour soprano et contralto.
Les coeurs fermes - - Paul Vidal

Duo pour soprano et alto.

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

Who is Sylvia? - - Franz Schubert

Who is Sylvia? - - Gould, Monk

Who is Sylvia? - - Dora Bright

12

m

Gay lord Bros.

Makers

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PAT. JAN. 21. 1908

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