Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], September 09, 1909, Page 6, Image 6

About Springfield weekly Republican. [volume] (Springfield, Mass.) 1851-1946

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6
OF MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.
TOPICS OF TIMELY INTEREST
FIXED QUANTITIES IN MUSIC.
Can Critical Jndament be Made
Absolute ?
Arthur Judson tells in the Etude how
• he trained his class in musical history to
discuss critically concerts which the mem
bers had attended. The written critiques
he found not only poor in English but
discordant in sentiment, and he en
deavored to instil into them some critical’
sense:—
It was discussed between pupils and teach
er and the conclusion reached tnat there
were tacts which were absolutely certain and
not open to the expression or opinion, and
that there were certain phases of a per
formance which depended on the
of the listener "hod
The facts were cataloged as follows, it
the performer sang, ibe natural voice of the
singer was considered as a
either good, fair or bad; it manifestly uld
uot be all three. In the case of a >W® r
the quality of tone was considered in the
same wav as a settled fact, allowing, boxy
ever, for the quality of the instrument
used. In order to aid in judging tone-quality,
the pupils were instructed to catalog the
tone as big or small, broad or thin,
sympathetic or cold; in addition.to th!, • they
were asked to look tor rtifferent qualities
or registers, in the voice of the singer. The
next eentainty in criticism was
tion of technic. Were the rapid 9®=*®^“ s
clear nr not? Was the legato
Was the playing rhythmic or not. was tne
into Jti™ correct or’ incorrect’ Surely there
can be no doubt about these. Ihe Lt
eertalntv was the arrangement of the pro
gram. I do not refer to the content* of the
program, since that is a question of Per®™® l
like or dislike, but to the order ot piece,
on the program. Was it too long or too
short? Was the climax wrongly placed! Was
the arrangement fortunate °, r ''“ f 2 ‘ t 7u,On
So far we have mentioned nothing but plain
indisputable facts: now we must.
those phases of concert work where per
sonal opinion may play a part.
This test of musical certainties, it must be
said, is somewhat staggering. A voice is
jood. fair, bad—that seems simple, nut
s it surpassingly good, very good, good,
fairiv good, rather good. fair, mediocre, in
different. tolerable, inferior, not very good,
not good. poor, rather bad. bad. very
bad. horrid, horridissime? And just where
in this scale does it cease to be “fair and
become good or bad? It may be suspect
ed that Air Judson's alumnae know more
about it than they ever will again. More
over. one must ask. good, fair, or bad m
comparison with what? A voice may s. em
good when heard with worse and bad when
heard with better. If no other voice is
heard simultaneously, none the less the
hearer is carrying a standard in his mind
—what is that standard? Is it Melba or
a hxal soprano? Again, is it so simple
a matter to judge at a single hearing in
concert of the "natural" quality of a
voice which may he distorted by a bad
method or by various causes? There are
good singing teachers who do not in al!
cases feel so confident. There is- the
case of the player, how is "the quality of
the instrument" to be allowed for? Is that
also "a settled fact." concerning which
there is no room for difference of opinion?
On the contrary, there is great difference
among violinists as to the merits of in
struments. "Big" tone and "small" tone,
again, are relative terms; what is a big
tone for a pupil may be a small ton" for
a concert player, and what seems like a
small tone may have such carrying
quality that at n distance the advantage
is on its side. In regard to programs there
is the same room for difference of opinion.
What is too long for one audience may be
'just long enough for another, and the point
of climax may likewise depend upon toe
svmpathies and cultivations of rhe Hear
ers. Now for the phases in which per
sonal opinion may play a part:—
As far as judging the value of the com
positions themselves, the pupils were in
structed to study the authorities in regard
to well-known numbers and not to disagree
unless they could che reasons. With new
compositions, no opinions were regarded as
filial until the composition had become
familiar through repeated performance. The
history nr analysis of a composition fre
quently convinced the class that a disliked
composition was good and a favorite com
position very ordinary. For this reason,
emphasis was placed on the -wearing
qualities" of compositions and the pupils
advised to allow- posterity to settle the on- --
tion. where there was any doubt While the
class never developed any startling sigua of
latent critical genius among its members,
ret it taught them to write sane critical
comments on performances, couched in good
English and far better than the average
report in the daily paper The course might
bo pursued with profit in our public schools
and even among the classes of our private
teachers.
It is to ho feared that the system would
result lyainly in producing dogmatic prigs-
The less the intonative mind is set to sort
ing out art fails into pigeon holes the
better, and specially when the pigeon holes
nre labeled "good," "bad." "fair." It is
hard to get over a premature habit of judg
ing instead of absorbing nnd enjoying.
But If the pupils who had written in
"poor" English name n turn out reports
‘‘couched in good English." it may be
worth while to call attention of touchers
of composition tn the method—they do
not luv claim to such decisive results. Or
possibly their special set of pigeon holes
does not quite correspond.
Bond on the Study of Singing.
Students of singing will find matters to
interest them in the article which the
famous tenor Bonci contributes to the
September Etude on the method by which
he was taught, and on his earlyexperience
'-.as Q singer. His masters in the conserva
tory a-t, Pesaro, were Pedrotti and Coen, rhe
latter a pupil of Dolle Sedie in Paris The
youthful Bonci was so slight and delicate
looking that his teachers doubted whether
bis physique warranted him in becoming
a singer. But the breathing exercises
strengthened him very greatly. Coen, as
part of the Dolle Sedie method. laid much
stress on the breath, and recommended the
familiar candle test. For two years Bonci
was not allowed to sing above G. in throe
years he gave a concert in connection with
the inauguration at Pesaro of a monument
to the poet Mamiami. and thus secured
money to continue his studies. He lived
with three other students, all desperately
poor. They had no piano:—
I did all of my studying with the aid of
a pitch pipe, and I think this proves that 1
w»s even then a musician, since I must
resd st sight all the works I studied and had
no accompanist save when singing at inv
lessons. 1 practiced with this pitch pipe
for hours, and spent so much time on th»
Dellh Sedie exercises for attack, sung
mezzo voce, that my companions used tn
declare that 1 was mad. iu>|| F sedie s
method and vocalises fill three large volume-.
I studied them all. This question of the at.
tack in singing is another matter to which
too much attention cannot be given When
one hears excessive portamento, when a
high note cannot be taken rtlrecrlv and
clearly, without sliding up to It from be
low, In a manner that Is so instantly
criticised If resorted to by a violinist nt
violoncellist, you may know that the offend
er has not studied the attack: portamento
in Us place is an excellent effect. .„
a means for covering faulty singing "annot
be too strongly condemned.
In time I finished my conserratorv studio,
and the question of how best to begin mt
career had to be faced. My thought* were
all of tha operatic stage, and f did not
greet my professor a proposal with em
tbuslaam when he came to me one da, Ilh d
totd me that there war a tenor racancr | n
the choir of the famous church at I-orntto
and suggested that t try for It 1 demurred
but he urged It. "You nre still to., delicate
for the stage.” he advised. "Walt u f PW
years longer and give yourself a chance to
develop. Take my advice and try for this
position.” I did so and was accepted out
of 4b candidates. The church was. and still
is, although to a lesser extent since the
adoption of the present style »f music In the
Italian churches, famous for Its music There
were 16 solo singers, and we gain rhe must
difficult music. I received I.V> francs a
month iW<>> nnd on this salary 1 marrlerlv
Put all th* time that I was a member ,n
‘the choir the thought of the stage never left ’
• me. I was constantly studving for It and’
learning new roles Finally.' after three
years. I made my dehut in Verdi’a ■•FalFtaff”
in Parma, one of the most critical cities in
Italy. My success there meunt a successful
career, and after my debut I was im
mediately engaged for the Pal Venue
theater. Milan. Within 10 month* 1 wns
recalled tn Milan, made my debut at La
Sr^la in “I Puritanl.” and my suireess may
then be said to have been established.
The Coming Season at the Metropoli
tan Opera Hon«e in New York-
The season at the Metropolitan opera
house in New York will open Monday
evening, November 15. Of the plans for
the coming winter the New York Tribune
gives this account:—
Andreas Dippel, administrative manager,
and Giulio . Gatti Casaxza. general manager
or the Metropolitan company, have been
traveling about Europe during the summer
and. with the assistance of their staff, have
engaged singers and members of the bailer,
"hicn will be finer, than ever in previous
years. But of a total of 75 artists 21 are
Americans. There are two or three Rus
sians. several Frenchmen and even an Al
gerian The new operas include Raoul La
parre's Spanish opera. La Habanera. ’ the
theme of which is ihe national dance of
Spain, known the world over for its weird
and tragic music Laparre, who. is a Span
iard with an American wife, wrote both
book and music. The principal part, that
of Pilar, who is loved by two brothers, will
he sung by Mme Jane Noria, one of the new
American singers. The opera itself is of
melancholy strain, the stabbing of Pedro,
the successful lover, by his jealous brother.
Ramon, being followed by the appearances
of the dead mans spirit, which threatens
dire things if Ramon marries the forgetful
Pilar. The ghost, in a graveyard scene,
promises to drag the young girl into Pedro’s
grave unless Ramon gives her up. This he
refuses to do. and Pilar dies In Pedro’s
grave. The stage pictures are full of weird
spectacular effects. Another new opera is
Xavier Leroux’s "Le Chemineau,” in four
nets, the scene being laid in Canada. A
French-Canadian harvester seduces a young
girl in Quebec and then disappears, becom
ing a wanderer. His child, a girl, grows
up. wants tn marrv. but cannot on account
of having no •‘dot.” At the right moment
the harvester returns, buys back the farm
and sets everything straight, only to dis
appear once more as the wanderer. Alfred
liirunenu’s "L’Attaque du Moulin,” after
tho book by Emile /lola and poems by Louis
Geller. will bring before New Yorkers one
of the most talked of among Buropean so
pranos. Marie belli*. and Bruneau himself
may come to America to conduct the per
formances. Mme Delna has alternated for 12
years between the op ia and the Opera
Comique in Paris, ami has sung as many
as 30 times in one month.
She has persistently refused all offers to .
leave Paris, but Mr Dippel succeeded only i
by convincing Mme De na that her artistic ]
career would not be complete without a sea
son in New York. The contract was signed
at Ostend on July 2b for performances.
Bruneau’s opera is founded upon an inci
dent of the Franco-Prussian war. It was
first preserved at the opera < omique "is
November 3, ISf*::, when Edmund Clemment,
tenor, who ba^ also been engaged - by the
Metropolitan, was a member of the cast,
as was also Mum Delua. • Germania.” by j
Franked. Jhe b("»k by llimn. Pu“ :
einPs librettist. will be given -‘hleily fdt the
tebor part. Frederico, which has been one
of Carusos best. Lt is also announced by
the Metropolitan that the operation on Caru
so’s throat has resulted in a complete res
toration of his earlier voice, with the bari
tone quality of <ate performances entirely
gone.
’1 ne new American singers at the Metro
politan will he Jane Noria, Mrs Jane Os
boru^Hannah, who has ben singing in Ger
many and Holland for several years; Alice
Nielsen. Alma Gluck. Florence Wickham,
who alternated in Paris with Kirkby-Lunn.,
nnd Vera Courtney, all sopranos; Clarence
Whitehill, a bass, from Berlin; Glenn Hall,
tenor; Anna Case. Elizabeth Clark and Lil
lian Snelling, sopranos. The other Ameri
cans of rhe company have, been heard here
before, Described as a “coloratura Trass,
Dinh Gilly. who has been singing in Paris,
Is an Algerian of pronouncedly dark. , com
plexion. The Metropolitan will be unusu
ally rich in tenors this year, with i aruso
Bonci. Clemment. Regis. Carl Jorn. Carl
Burrian. Walter Koch. Ricardo Martin and
Glenn HaTI. Leo Siezak. a Czech, a new
tenor robusto. Iris been called in London the
greatest <Hello sime Tanmgn”- He wuig t”?
nine vears nt the imperial opera in \ ienna,
and is a pupil of Jenn de ReSzke. John
Fmsell is a baritone from the Stockholm
Roval Opera, wlv. will ho heard at the Met
ropoHtan.. For opera lyrique at the New
Theater .Leo Deveaux. a tenor buffo, has
been engaged, and also Ljicette ‘Lievia. as
souhret. Among the Russians are
Anna Mcitsehlk. a mntra I to; Lydia Lip
kowska. who was a prima donna at l< and is
now onlv 2-3, and Anna Pavlova, the famous-
Hus^ian' .lan’C'ist'. "h., has bwi premiere
of the imperial ballet in St Petersburg for
a unmber << year?. Mr Dippel and Mr
Gdtti-Casazza are now nt Madonna di ( om
piglio, in the Austrian Tyrol, and wilt not
return to New York till the middle of Sep ;
tember.
Mr Hammerstein’s Preliminary Sea
won of •’Edncatlonal” Opera.
The opening la«t week Monday evening
of Oscar Hammerstein's season of “edu
cational grand opera" in New York with
“Le Prophets" is thus •••jmuifnted upon
by the New York Times; —
A season ft what is spoken of as 'grand
opera’ on any smh scale as Mr Hammer
Stein propose*, and as was exemplified by tne
performance of last evening, has not been
undertaken in N?a York in the dog days
within the recollection of man; ami most
ambitious musical enterprises that have
been purveyed tor New York .n ihe sum
mer, from * Theodore Thomas s concerts in
the Central Park garden and Anton Seidl's
later ones of the same sort, as well as others
of more recent memory, have iesuited in
more or less dismal financial failure. Rut
'•grand opera.” after all. makes a different
appeal; ami Mr Hammerstein is of < uurse
• ounting on various hypothetical factors to
carry him to succese; on the newly awaken
ed trenzi for operatic entertainment that is
supposed to have kindled nil rhe levels of
New Y’ork's population; on the interest of
the summer visitors to thifc resort In what
they have never bad opportunity to enjoy at
this time before. Then .dr Hammerstein has. i
so to speak, a large operatic plant that has |
to be kept up: and a not very expensive
company of principals, added to the orches
tra and the chorus that he must maintain in
any event, would enable him to invite a
new public to help him utilize his resources.
It any had supposed that the word 'educa
tional” wa* one with which some «oniur
ing was tn be done. Mr Hammerstein correct
ed them in his little speech upon the stage
that never fails on ?n opening night. He is
not educating the public in music. He meant
to give performances of grand opera at cheap
prices that, by their grandeur, should edu
cate people to come to his regular season at
regular prices. The audience last evening
war large an<i seemed ready to be educated.
It found numerous occasions for applause
and enthusiasm, which indeed were not mis
placed The performance was In many ways
of surprising excellence. It certainly was
nnt to be compared with any of the offer
ings of opera at cheap prk*es that are made
fioui time io time in this town. It had
much of the flavor of the real thing in'
opera; there were several of thn principal
singers of competence and more than'com
petern e; there was a chorus. In rue. sonorous,
and active, well trained in both singing and
action on th** atage. There was appropriate
if not always rkh or sumptuous scenery,
and there were new and effective costumes.
The performance was carried through with
vigor, not. however, without certain hesita
tions and halting and a good deal of rough
ness and slipshod playing by the orchestra.
CALIFORNIA FOREST PLAYS,
The Production of the Etmoot
Bohemian Club.
The annual production -of a Forest play
by the Bohemian club of San Francisco
counts among California's important ariis
tic events of the year. Herman Scheffauer,
the poet and ‘'sire" of the club, contributes
to the Theater magazine for September a
lengthy article describing these interesting
open air dramatic festivals. In part l.e
says: "Should you be favored with the
rare privilege of spending a happy neck
or two in the jood fellowship’ of the
Bohemians. anti, finally, to crown all, have
witnessed the unforgettable sped a tie of
their yearly Forest play, your remaining
days of life will he haunted with potent
pymorjes of a rich joy and visions of
unfading beauty. Yoilr sojourn in the
redwoods will seem like some fair dream.
Some brief respite in Vahatln or the Land
of the |g|tiw*Eaters, and most gorgeous
drama or opera in the gilded theaters of
the city will appear a paltry thing, a play
of puppets, hacked with palpable arti
nciatity, mmatnra'l light and Settings tinsel
sttd mechanical trumpery. For you will
recall the glory of the moon floating above
the towering crests of tbo. redwoods, the
solemn hush of the vast colonnades, hursts
of music rolling ■ gloriously through the
imgm. vision, y,f gods and men, glimpses of
THE SPRINGFIELD WEEKLY REPTRLIOX: THI’RSDAY. SEPTEMBER 9. 1909.
annm and. torch-fire? amidst the trees, a
natural stage suffused with a soft and
lovely radiance, the chanting of choral
harmonies, and golden lines of poetry
thrilling the air.
“It will seem to you like some effect
of magic,, some prospect vouchsafed you
into the mightp festivals of age-old cm
pires, some sumptuous pageant of anvjent
days. So closely veiled with secrecy have
bevu these performance* of the chib, that
but little of their glamor has made its
way from the forest fastnesses into the
outer world. To the general public they
are all but unknown. Wore such an end
desired by, the xdub. these grove play*
might easily become fixed and powerful
attractions in America and draw their
audiences from all parts of the I'njon.
or finally, like Baireuth or Oberammergau,
from the world. No newspaper has. as
yet. been permitted to report them, diough
the press is supplied with an official ac
count of the play. The distinguished per
sons who have been the guests of the
chib have, nevertheless, borne the fame
of the Forest plays far abroad, until critics
of the drama all over the world have be
gun to turn their attention towards Cali
fornia. realizing that here some new and
beautiful form of music-drama has slow -
ly been perfecting itself. It is nothing
more or less than the creation of a new
form of dramatic art. determined by a
peculiar environment and a natural de
velopment impossible, perhaps, anywhere
save in California.
“The yearly encampment at the grove
opens a fortnight before the play, which
is always set for the last Saturday and
close to the full of the moon. Every day
brings more members, tents spring up in
the open snares between the trees —Arab,
army and nouse tents. Indian topees and
spacious striped pavilions with courts,
private buffets and grills for midnight
suppers. An army of servants and work
men are busy about the grove under the
direction of the captain of the camp.
Cooks and waiters come from the city,
and the members dine royally at tables set
in groat concentric circles in a clearing.
And inevitably Old Paul, the Indian, re
appears to tend the huge camp-fire around
which the Bohemians gather every night
for song and story. This tire blazes in rhe
center of a natural amphitheater of trees,
surrounded by immense seats hewn out
of solid lengths of a reilwood almost six
feet in diameter. The fire sends up its
showers of sparks to the stars looking
brightly down between the shadowy heads
of the trees. A small platform fronts the
circle, equipped with a piano for im
promptu pntertainnumts. Not far off is
the bar. always a center of hilarity.
’The utmost good fellowship prevails
ami the minds and hearts of all are mel
lowed by true camaraderie and Bohemian
lightheartedness. A writing tent, barber
shop, a masseur, hot and ‘"old baths, a
fine swimming place on the Russian river,
which hounds the camp on one side; a
pretty rustic club chalet, ami other
luxuries and conveniem-es, may lessen
Ruhvmian simplicity, hut certainly pro
mote <Teatur<? ‘comfort. Every train from
the city adds to the numbers of members,
until on the Thursday and Friday before
the crowning event of the play there are live
to GOO men In camp. A special train brings
the remainder on the last day. M’omen are
rigidly barre< 1 from either attending or
participating in the plays. Old-fashioned
barbecues in the style of the early Spanish
days, with deep-digged pits of glowing
coMl’i and beeves ami muttons roasted
whole and carved by customed trencher
men, are often held amidst rousing wassail
and good che^r. Oh the Friday night be
fore the play a regular light entertain
ment lake* places in the camp-fire «dreh‘—
usually a brilliant and original affair, in
which the various talents of the members
and visitors are utilized. A camp cartoon
ist' and other artists decorate the grnve
with their creations, usually of a humorous
nature, or symbolical of the play of iho
year. An open-air stmHo is provided with
all materials. Behind the drawn curtains
of the stage mysterious operations and
echoing rehearsals go on.”
INDIANS IN ROCKVILLE.
Their Kannh ami Habits Over a Cen
■tirry Iko Recalled by the Recent
Darning of Relle* at Snipsie Lake.
From Our Special Correspondent.
Rockville, Ct.. Saturday. September 4.
The recent loss by fire of the large and
valuable collection of relics, eurios»~ete.,
owned by 1.. E. Thompson was most un
fortunate. The collection included thou
sands of pieces, and had lieen for some
years at Mr Thompson's rooms on Union
srteet, but were stored nt the lower land
ing building at Snipsic lake, as he needed
the room for other purposes. Mr Thomp
son had beer, at work on the collection for
over 30 years, and it included the finest
collection of Indian relics ever secured in
this section of the state, and especially of
value as connected with the Indian history
of Tolland county. Fie secured nearly all
of them in th" vicinity of Snipsic grove
and Snipsic lake. They included a great
variety of. implements of war. cooking
utensils, arrow heads, and the like. He
had over a peck of stone ax heads of all
sizes. History shows that there were no
tribes that inhabited the shore- of Lake
Snipsic. but it was the favorite hunting
and fishing grounds for a number of dif
ferent tribes, who often spent much time
on the shores of the lake. The Indians
named the lake “Scheuipsit,’’ meaning
"good hunting ground." They made their
camps usually on the eastern shores, near
what is now known as Sucker brook. The
Nipmttck Indians, who had their main set
tlement in the southern towns.of Massa
chusetts, largely cnntroled the hunting
grounds about the lake, although the I’o
dunk Indians from the neighborhood of
East Hartford .and Hast Windsor often
hunted there. The collection included a
good array of arrow heads of all sizes,
many being of black flint stone, and that
stone is not found within stXl miles of
the lake. He had a large colloption of
money and coins from many countries,
minerals, implements of war and many
curios from all parts of the world.
SAILS THROUGH JELLYFISH.
Remarkable School of PortUKOcee
MeaoibWsr (onveys Pacltlc Liner,
for Lon« Distance.
The passengers who arrived at Snu
Francjsco. Cal.. Saturday on the liner Ala
meda enjoyed a rare and strangely beauti
ful sight two days before reaching that
port, when the steamer encountered a
fleet of Portuguese men-of-wnr, which
convoyed the ship for hours.
The scientific name for these beautiful
jellyfish js physilia. The body, which con
sists chieflyof tentacles, is supported by
a large air sac or float, with a sail-like
crest. The physilia are brilliantly colored.
Tue float is pink, purple and bright blue,
and thf zooid, or body. blue. The sail, or
crest, is white. They are graceful in their
movements, sring most viciously and are
able to sail to windward, an accomplish
ment which hm won for them the admira
tion of gailornicn and the name Portuguese
men-of war. by which they are popularly
known.
The Alameda steamed through them for
hours. They could he seen like a jeweled
mantle stretching out for miles in every
direction. ('apt Dowdell, who has en
countered thorn before, said that ho never
saw so many in any part of the world.
When nearer Ihe coast the man-of-war dis
appeared, hut old Neptune provided anoth
er attraction in the form of whales. They
were not so numerous as the physilia nor
so bevuliftil. but they made more commo
tion and. in their way, were equally en
tertaining.
The fund for a memorial to the late
George T. Angell, which is likely to take
the form of a building to house the or
ganization Which conducts the work he es
tablished. has reached Safi.SOh. and con
friout'ons ire coming from all over the
country
THE CITY’S 200TH ANNIVERSARY.
AS IT WAS OBSERVED MAY 25. 1836
Some InteremtlnA Feature* of a
Nearly-PorKotten < elebration —Pa-
rade. RellAton* Service, Banquet
anal Reception—Letter* From Dan
iel Webster and John Qnincy
Adam*.
With the numcrons celebrations of an
niversartea of events of national, sectional
and local importance that seem to ba
crowded in' so thickly these day? it is in
tereSting to read of some of the celebra
tions it’, the years long gone by that were
tl.e “big days? of man, decades in this
city. A liepnnHcan reader recently sent
in an "Order of exercises” that wet
passed around at the celebration of the
2tloth anniversary of the settlement of
Springfield on May 25. IN<«. The day was
a gala day for Springfield, and ilso for
the towns for miles around. Many men
prominent in public life were present, ani
a score of others who could not come
sent regrets and praises for the town for
its record during its 200 years of life.
The program for the day included a
drill by the fire department on Court
square, a parade of mechanics, religions
exercises in the old First meeting-house, a
collation served in the town hall, and a
reception at the home of George Bliss in
the evening. It is interesting to note that
mi the printed programs for the exer
cises in tire meeting-house the assem
blage is spoken of as "the congregation
when the request is printed that the. audi
ence join in singing "Old Hundred. ’
The citizens felt fairly sure that they
would not have a chance to see another
centennial anniversary in their day, and,
as The Republican said in its issue of the
next week, they all "endeavored to enjoy
that one.” The weather was cloudy iu
the morning, but "the mist vanished before
the rising suu as the aborigines of the
country have retreated before the , ad
vances of a civilized population. Ihe
governor and suite, the lieutenant-governor
and "other distinguished gentlemen from
abroad," arrived in town the evening of
the day before the celebration. That even
ing the governor and his party were ten
dered a reception at the home of John
Howard. They took lodgings at the eld
Hampden coffee house, which stood on
the corner of Main and Court streets,
where Smith & Murray's store now
stands, and which sheltered many a prom
inent visitor of those days.
The day of the 25th was ushered in by
a national salute and jhe ringing of bells
at sunrise. Early in the forenoon the
members of the.fire department assembled
oil Chestnut street, whence they marched
to Court square for an "exhibition of
their skill and dexterity.'' A little later
the mechanics formed in line on Elm
street, to the number ot about 500. First
came the printers with a printing press,
on which were being printed the "orders
of the day.” The armorers followed, one
of them bearing.a banner with the motto,
"In time of peace prepare for war.
Next came the carpenters and other work
ers in wood, followed by the machinists,
shoemakers and representatives of the va
rious other less populous trades. The
"hardware” mechanics from Willimansett
brought a banner displaying samples of
their work, but they did not carry the
banner because of the dampness. The me
chanics later joined the geiteral proces
sion. including the guests and. leading cit
izens, the Springfield artillery company,
the Springfield light. infantry, (he West
Springfield grays and a spirited indepen
dent company from East Longmeadow.
The line of march ended at the "meet
ing house of the Furst parish" for the
literary exercises. The’mi'.etiiig house was
crowded to overflowing. The Republican
of the week previous had • printed the
‘‘hope" that the "new Tashioir of small
sleeves and bonnets" UMttld be in rogue at
that meeting, hut the b ljronieler. of the
actual happenings .rUd nbf ■mention, a ppa
nt all. Tire exercises .ednsisted. of instru
mental music, hymns,, an address by Oliver
B. Morris, prayers and the beni-diction.
The procession again formed after the
meeting and inarched to the town hall,
where some 300 or i'M) persons gathered
about the tables that had been "liberally
supplied" with food by Mr Bishop of the
Springfield hotel.
The dinner was a jolly one. The distin
guished guests sat at a circular table.
George Bliss presided and two companies
of military were seated in the galleries.
The purpose of the presence of the mili
tary was not announced. Those who as
sisted Mr Bliss in presiding over the many
toasts that followed the eating were Johu
Howard. Justice M'illard. Charles Stearns,
James W. Crooks. George Ashtnun,
Charles Howard and George Bancroft.
The opening toast, given by Mr Bliss,
was to "The pioneer settlers of May. 16SG,
fathers of the ancient Agawam. May their
descendants, wherever dispersed, may their
successors within the ancient territory,
from ivhatever quarter gathered, venerate
their characters, imitate their stern integ
rity, and practice their unyielding devo
tion to the public welfare.” George Ash
nntn’s toast was. "The true sources of
the elevation of New England character:
Hor school-houses dotting almost every
acre of soil. and. like lighthouses, scat
tering far and wide the lights of virtue
and knowledge. Let rhe sons of the Pil
grims cherish the institutions which the
wisdom of their fathers has established."
Other toasts were given to ”Tho county
of Berkshire." "The Pilgrim mothers of
New England." "The inhabitants of the
Connecticut valley." "Hampden, a noble
name and worthily bestowed upon the
omtnty which boars it.” Dr A. J, Miller,
87. read the following finale:—
All hall to the Springfield; the east and the
■west;
It would puzzle a sage to tell which I love
best;
West Springfield indeed, was the place of my
birth.
I loved thee In youth and will lore thee till
death.
One of the guests, after paying a high
complim°nt to the orator in the meeting
house.. observed that the orator had made
an error tn regard to the history of witch
craft, for ho was sure that no one could
have cast his eyes to the gallery of the
meeting-house lohew the Women wore
seated) and assented to the declaration
of the orator that "all the witches had
departed from Springfield.”
Among the letters from distinguished
met?, sent with regret at inability to be
present at the celebration and read at the
close of the dinner in the town hall, was
one from John Quincy Adams and another
from Daniel Webster, who was at that
time the whig nominee for president Mr
Webster wrote in part as follows- “Two
centuries have made a great town out of
a handful of settlers, and the present proa,
poet is that its future history is to he
marked by a still more rapid degree of
grow th and improvements. Long may the
citizens of this town enjoy health and
happiness; and long may education and
knowledge, sobriety and industry, morality
and religion, characterize their enjoyment
of the blessings of Providence.”
DESCENDAXTS OF DR WOODBRIDGE
To the Editor of The Republican
Having recently hoard of a remark "being
made that the children of the late Dr
Woodbridge of Hadley, all are gone, I
wouhl beg leave to correct the statement,
inasmuch as I, tin youngest daughter and
my sister, Mrs Diekinsoil of Chicago, are
still living. Our beloved and gifted sister,
Susan, who left this world within a few
months. and whose remains now rest be
side those of oiir honored parents in Had
ley, lived to a great age. thia 30th of
August being her Wnh birthday. Ih look
ing over the "Quatter Millennial Sou
venir." just loceiwd, I am pleased to see
that the poem which my sister wrote for a
like occasion 50 years ago, has been set to
music as an anthem to be sung at the
coiumemoration service. 1 regret that the
onlv mention of my revered and honored
father is an attack, rather than a blessed
memory. H* was so greatly esteemed iu :
his day. his life so full of truth aud right
eousness such a rnliam soldier of the
cross, such a prayerful faithful pastor,
such a man of faith, that nothing really is
needed as a eulogy. When the great day
of account shall come, we will find. I ant
sure, that "the righteous shall be in ever
lasting remembrance.*’ And I may add
that all those who received from his lips
their early ihstntetion in divine things,
and the words of warning to "prepare to
tnoct their God.” will bless and praise
his great and holy name for the faithful
preaching of John Woodbridge of Hadley.
Octavia WoonßsitMiE Richardson.
Point Pleaiant, N. J.. August 30, IMO.
OLD FOLKS AT CHARLEMONT.
Famous Association 'Ha* an Intereat-
Ins Meeting.
Wednesday, last week, the day ■on
which fell the 40th annual gathering
of the Chkriemont. old folks’ asso
ciation, dawned lowering and threat
ening. and at times rain fell, just
as the old people were ready to start.
This lessened the attendance, but not tire
interest. Fully 200 had gathered by aft
ernoon in the hall of the beerfield Valley
agricultural society, whore the meetings
are held. The venerable president of the as
sociation. Ansel L. Tyler, who is almost
80 years young, and has been president
22 years, briefly welcomed the old folks,
after the choir, consisting of James and
IVill Booth, tenors: Mrs G. H. Marcy
and Mrs Ethel James, sopranos: Mrs
Nina Smart, alto: Wilbur Edwards and
David Bassett, basses, had sung "Be
thou, O God, exalted high." Mrs O. C.
Avery playing the accompaniments.
Homer Sherntan. the village lawyer, gave
the address of Welcome, pointing out the
contrasts between people and conditions
of to-dny with those of years ago. The
choir sang "Jerusalem, my glorious
home.” after which Reuben Streeter of
North Adams invited all the company
present to visit the old home week in his
city. Rev W. T. Miller recalled that in
1876 he attended for the first time the
old folks' gathering, when it was held in
the Methodist vestry, which was soon out
grown. necessitating a removal to the
agricultural buildings. Zenas L. Parker
of Bath, N. Y.. a native of Charletuout,
who is president of the Steuben county
old folks’ harvest- union, sent a letter
which was read by the clerk. The letter
contained many allusions to t'»e men for
merly prominent: in the association. Mr
Tyler said he had recently received let
ters from New Hampsdtire and lowa, ask
ing for information concerning the associ
ation, which is the oldest of the kind in
the country. Mrs Tower of North Adams
addressed a few earnest words to the old
folks, and then adjournment was taken
for dinner, after the chair had appointed
C. P. ('. Miner. W. S. Fairfield and Al
bert F. Sears a committee to report a list
of officers. After dinner the choir snug
the soul-stirring old anthem, “Strike the
cymbal,” and then-the committee on nom
inations reported these officers: President.
A. L. Tyler: vice-presidents. H. L. War
field of Buckland, -E; P. Smead, Lemuel
MeCulloch of Savoy; secretary and treas
urer. Mrs Mark Mayhew; assistant, Mrs
C. H. Sherman; musical director, W. R.
Edwards.
William G. Atkins of Northampton, sec
retary of the Cummingtott old folks’ asso
ciation, road a paper on the 40th anni
versary of- the Charleraont association,
giving a resume of the past 39 years of
the organization, which is the parent of
other similar ones in the country. After
a selection by a male quartet, made up of
the men of the choir, some little difficulty
that arose prer the declination of Homer
Sherman to serve as secretary was finally
got oyer by the appointmeut of Mrs Mark
Mayhew. The choir sang “Fly like a
youthfiil hart or roe” while the collection
was being taken. George D. Crittenden,
of Shelburne Falls thou gave some inter
esting reminiscences.
Henry L. Warfield of Buckland said a
few words reminiscent of the earlier meet
ings and then Reuben Streeter of North
Adams proposed a toast to the women. The
male quartet sang and then Mr Critten
den introduced Paul Cudworth of Plain
field. one of five surviving members of the
Legislature of 1853, a life-long democrat,
whose first vote was cast in 1543. In 1853
he represented <'hesterfield in the Legis
lature. Albert Burington of Heath was
called upon to speak of Heath's old home
week gathering. Squire Benson of Heath
volunteered a few remarks, exhorting his
hearers to practice good works. C. P. C.
Miner moved a vote of thanks to E. P.
Smead for bis 13-years’ faithful service as
secretary and treasurer. Mr Smead re
plied in a few words of thanks. The choir
then sang "The Lord descended from on
high from the Old Father Kemp collec
tion. Mr Harold of Hawley delivered a
fervent exhortation. Mr Atkins moved a
vote of thanks for the music and Squire
Benson moved the same for the dinner pro
vided. Then Ute choir sang in closing "Auld
Lang Syne," the audience joining. The
audience broke up after the benediction by
F. C. Thompson.
Those present, 70 or over, Charlemont
being their residence unless otherwise
designated, were :—
A. L Tyler. 86; Mrs G. W. Irvine. ,0; Mrs
William hoisythe. 72. William Forsvtbe, 75—
all of Conway; Thomas Eldridge of Hawlev,
78; Russen Pease Of Greenfield. 74; John
Lake. Stephen Smith of Gecenfleltl, 74;
Hugh Harold of Hawley, 71: William G At
kins of Northampton, 73: Mrs Hubbard of
Windsor, 72: L. F. Amsden of North Adams,
il; Oscar Lilly of Zoar, 72; Mrs Josiah Tin
ney, 70; S. G. Tower of Stottsburg. N. Y„ 71;
H. W. Starks of Hawley, 88; E. D. Codding
of Savoy, 75'; V. G. Trask, 76; Abbie B.
Taper of Heath. 85; Mrs O. B. Kendrick of
Colraln, 77; Mrs M. D. Johnson, 77;
Mrs J. t). Howard of Shelburne Falls. 83;
F. M. Simpson of Hawley. 72: R. G. Hall of
North Adams. 79; Elizabeth Hultt of North
Adams, 71: H. L. Warfield of Buckland, 74;
Squire Benaon of Heath. 86: Joshua Cranson
of Buckland, 85; Mra Joshua Cranson, 80;
H. N. Edwards, 80; Mary A. Davenport, 85;
L. It. Esty or Heath. 73; Mrs L. D. Esty, 74;
Z. E. Kemp of Savoy. 71; Mary. L. Tower and
Reuben Streeter of North Adams. 81; C. I'.
C. Miner ot Charlemont. 74; Beniamin A.
Andrens of Conway, HO; E. B. Howes ot
Hawley. ST; Mrs Sybil Thayer of Shelburne,
73: Elisha Edwards. 84; Mrs Julia Burt of
Adams, 81; V. <l. Trask, st: L. B. Leonard,
81: P. H. Cudworth of Plainfield. 87; C. G.
Miller of Adnma, 83; J. B. Totman of Con
way. 89; Robert Edward?. 91; Mrs Julia V.
Porter. 75. and Mrs Caroline Howes of Ash
field. 76: George D. Crittenden of Shelburne
Foils, 82: Mrs Harriet Haskins. 75.
The mortuary record for the year was
as follows: September 4. J. M. Parker of
Northampton; September ft. Enos Ware
of Bncklnnd: Septemlior 23. Dennis Cun
edy of Shelburne Fulls; October 7. Mrs
George Gould of Heath; January 20, Isaac
Chenery of Montague; January 22, Abbie
W. Maxwell of Charlemont: February 12
Mrs S. S. Gould of North Adams sue
Caroline Kemp of Shelburne F’alls; Man i
13, Mrs Henry Giles of Dorchester and
Amelia Scars of Jordan, N. Y.; March
31. J. IL Smead of. Charlemont; April 25,
John Whitaker of Athol; May 27, Almon
Hawks of Ashfield; June 5, Martha Bur
naid ot Shelburne Falls and O. A. Will
jauis of Heath: June 12, George Ritchie
of Shelburne Ralls; July 9, Sumner Ward
of Bncklnnd; July 14, E. E. Amidon of
Rowe; August 17, V, M. Porter of Churle
mont. '
REUNION AT WASHINGTON,
Over SOO People Attend Old Home
Day Festivities—Permanent Organ
isation Effected.
More than 2<D) people were in attend
ance at Washington's first old home day
I celehrntiou. held, in Corcoran grove, near
Washington station Monday. A basket
lunch was served at noon, and at 1 o'clock
I Rev H. A. Ferguson of the Washington
Methodist church made the address of
welcome. Mr Ferguson was followed by
John W. Crane of Springfield, who was
chairman of the meeting. Frank Sargent
of West Springfield, Gilbert Manley of
■Ware, Emory Crosier of West Spring
field Fred Bond of New York, Frank D.
Winslow of New York, and others. Mr
Bond and Miss Sargent of Springfield gave
several interesting readings.
An qrganizttion, the Sons and Daugh
ters of Washington, was formed, with
John W. Crane of Springfield as presi
dent, Mrs D. B. (May) Needham of
Monson, secretary, and Gilbert Manley
of Ware, treasurer. It was voted to hold
meetings annually, and it is expected that
M»ext year's meeting will be held earlier iu
tire season, that warmer weather may
be experienced. An interesting feature of
the day's celebration was the attendance
of Charles Crosier, the town's oldest citi
zen. 93 years old. Mr Crosier, through the
kindness of a Mr Tracy of Pittsfield, went
to the grounds in the latter's automobile,
it being his first automobile ride. Sir
Crosier is feeble and did not take part
in the speaking, hut enjoyed this part of
the program especiallv well. William A.
Bill. 83. who has lived in Washington
all his life, was also present.
ARTILLERYMEN HOLD REUNION.
3OTH COMPANY’S GATHERING.
Thirty-EiKht Members ot Company
Heve Pleasant Time at Memorial
Hall.
The rapidly diminishing ranks of the
members of the Grand Army of th" Re
public. left only 38 members and friends
of the 30th company of unattached heavy
artillery who could gather for the 34th
annual reunion of that company at Memo
rial building in this city yesterday. The
original number enroled in the company
was 147. and of those about 70 are still
living. They are scattered, however,
throughout the length nnd breadth of the
country, and accordingly 'less than 30 of
the actual members ot the company wore
able to be present to transact business,
eat and talk over old war times together
yesterday. The company was made up of
men front this city and neighboring towns,
and owing to the fact that all the regi
ments were full it was never attached to
a regiment The company saw only gar
rison duty during the war. Four members
of the company have died during the year
past, George W. Kenney of providence,
R. L, J. J. Chattaway of Brooklyn, N.
Y., S. F. Dennett of Boston and B. D.
Reed of Blandford.
The veterans began to gather at the
Grand Army building late in the fore
noon, where they passed the hours in remi
niscensing until 1 o’clock, when a dinner
was served them by member of the E. K.
Wilcox relief corps in the dining-room.
The guests of the day were Attorney C. L.
Young and William Harris of Boston, a
member of the 29th heavy artillery com
pany, who is well known and popular
among the members of the 30th. After
dinner had been eaten Mr Young spoke
briefly, in his characteristic manner, of
the war times, hardships and compensa
tions. The veterans then assembled in the
large hall for the business meeting. It was
voted to hold the next reunion at the
same place as that of yesterday, on the
first Saturday in September of 1910. The
old officers wore re-elected to a man, as
follows: President. C. F. Lewis of Wind
sor, Ct.: vice-president, George F- Bates
of this city: secretary and treasurer, John
E. Damon of this city; members of the
executive committee. Frank A. Snow of
Westfield and Lombard Button of Aga
wam. Letters were read from many mem
bers of the company in different parts of
the country who were unable to attend the
gathering.
Those present included Charles F. Lewis
of Windsor, CL, Frank A. Snow of West
field, Willis Clark of Waltham, Edward
.Miller of Brooklyn, N. Y., N. K. Hall of
Hartford,'Ct.. J. C. Amidon of Petersham,
W. C. Meeker of Westfield, D. F. Murray
of Kingston. N. Y., Oscar G. Owen of
North Grafton, E. F. Baldwin of New
Haven, Ct., George B. Plunkett of Troy,
N. Y., George S. Bates, W. W^ Forster,
Benjamin F. Smith, George J. Jones,
George B. Kilborn. S. E. Bugbee. Andrew
J. Hall, A. B. Chapin, Joseph Jefferson,
George M'. Cooley aud A. Ludington, all
of this city, and William Harris of Boston.
BACK FROM A NOVEL TRIP.
Harry J. Franck Spent the Snmmer
Walking Through Europe Disguised
as a Working Man.
Harry J. Franck of the technical high
school faculty of this city returned
Saturday, after an interesting tour
in Germany, France and Belgium. Mr
Franck is an enthusiastic pedestrian,
and much of the way he traveled
on foot. He has spent several sum
mers .abroad, and lie has often taken
long walking trips. This summer lack of
time compelled him to take to the trains
in order to see all that he had planned.
Mr Franck was unaccompanied on his
trip, although he visited relatives in Ger
many,
He sailed from New York on the Cu
narder Lusitania June 30, and proceeded
directly to Hamburg. A month was spent
in Germany visiting points of interest.
He did not walk much in Germany. On
one occasion Mr. Franck was about to
cross a path in one of the big parks when
he noticed a party of horsemen approach
ing. He stepped back, and found that it
was the emperor with a few officers taking
a ride. Most of the walking done in tier
many was in the Hartz mountains, where
be had a good opportunity to study the
ways of the peasants. He also walked
from Mainz to Heidelberg. He dressed
like a workingman and tried to look and
act like a workingman. In this way he
was able to win the confidence of the
people, who are shy of those whom they
consider to be above them socially. He
carried a knapsack on his walking tour,
and wore a peasant's cap. He spoke only
the language of the country he was in,
and did not use English at al). Even
when people talked to him in English he
protended not to understand. From Mninz
to Cologne he rode down the river Rhine.
In Belgium nearly every large town was
visited, and the battlefield of Waterloo.
Most of Belgium was covered by rail. In
this. country French and German are
spoken everywhere, although the lower
classes speak what is known as Flemish.
This is a sort of German dialect, and Mt
Franck had little trouble in making him
self understood. English is spoken only
in the hotels and at a tew other places.
The best part of the tour was that in
northern France. Mr Francke did this en
tirely on foot, and had a chance to get in
touch with the life of the peasants. From
Courtra in Belgium he walked to Aras,
Amiens and Rouen. The distance is 200
miles, and it will he seen that he averaged
over 30 miles a day, as he took only six
days to do it. The longest day's tramp
was from Amiens to Neufchatel. famous
for its cheeses, 48 miles. There were few
disagreeable incidents of the trip, and it
was thoroughly successful anil enjoyable.
One night he came to a town where there
was no inn, and ns the French law is
strict about allowing farmers to take a
lodger over night he could not find a place
to sleep. The mayor, a fat farmer, was
called, and he suspected that Mr Franck
whs a criminal of some sort and asked
him all kinds of questions Io explain why
he was there and what he was doing. He
finally demanded his passport. When that
was shown him lie allowed Mr Franck, ns
a favor, to sleep in a barn on a pile of
hay. Thia was the only time that he was
not treated with consideration and cour
tesy by the inhabitants of the countries
lie visited. On another occasion a police--
man demanded to see his passport. From
Rouen, Mr Franck went to Havre, where
he boarded the steamer St Paul of the
American line. A great deal of excitement
was caused on shipboard When the news
of the discovery of the north pole by Dr
Cook was received.
SPENT THE SUMMER IN ICELAND.
LOCAL MEMBER OF ARCTIC CLLB.
W. s. C. Riisaell Collected Many
Geolostcal Specimens for High
School—His Mews on Polar Dis
coveries.
Waterman S. C. Russell, nn instructor
in the central high school in this city
and a member of the Arctic club,
returned Monday from a trip of 2^
mouths to Iceland, where lie ascend
ed Mt Hecla. Mr Russell said that
he received the news of Dr Cook's state
ment that he had gained the north pole by
a wireless message while crossing from Eu
rope. Mr Russell said Monday evening that
he was unwilling to. express, any opinion
regarding the. statement and. claims made
by Dr Cook, and said that, owing to the
scarcity of provisions taken by Dr Cook,
the number of miles which he claimed to
average in a day on his trip and the ex
ceedingly low temperatures recorded by
him. which were different from those re
corded by all other explorers, he thought
that it would be better to reserve judg
ment until a board of competent scientists,
made up of men like Melville and Greely,
who have had actual experience in Arctic
exploration, had had nn opportunity to ex
amine the data and observations taken by
Dr Cook.
Mr Russell was accompanied on his trip
to Iceland by his wife, who also made
the ascent of Mt Hecla with him. The
purpose of Mr Russell's trip was purely
scientific, and he has brought back a
valuable collection of geological specimens.
Mr Russell said that while the specimens
found in, Iceland were not such as would
attract the attention of the average vis
itor to a science museum, vet to a geolo
gist Iceland was one of the best fields
for the study of the formative principles
at first hand. Mr Russell’s collection w ill
ho placed in the Science museum, nnd in
cludes some rare and excellent specimens
of both very old and new lava and also
some good crystals. Mr Russell said that
Iceland contains no granite, metamorphic
or crystalized stone, nor sandstone. Half
of the ascent of the mountain was made
on Iceland ponies, but the rest was made
on foot.
In speaking of the discovery of the pole
Mr Russell said that this was not the first
time that explorers had claimed to have
reached it. and said that as far back as
1596 Cornelius Boule claimed to have
sailed a ship to 85 degrees, and in 1721)
Johnson, an English whaler, claimed to
have reached 88 degrees. In 1766 Jona
than Wheatley, an Englishman, on his ship
Grampus, claimed to have reached latitude
89, and in the archives of the Dutch ad
miralty a Dutch skipper claimed to have
reached 89, and one other Dutchman
claimed to have sailed over the pole nnd
beyond. All of these ancient mariners told
of the open sea with no land in the vicin
ity-of the pole, and investigations, of theiy
claims, made by geographical societies,
have shown that in all probability some of
the daring whalers of the 16th century
probably did reach very- high latitudes.
One of the points which puzzled Mr Rus
sell in Dr Cook's story of his trip was his
claim that the icq became smoother as he
-neared the pole. Mr Russell.said that when
Dr Cook returned with his proofs, then
the matter could be settled and that no
opinion was valuable till then.
THE COST OF FLYING MACHINES,
[From the Cleveland Leader.]
The London Economist, looking at the
question of aeroplanes through its accus
tomed spectacles of prices and economic
possibilities, predicts that within a com
paratively short-time' the cost of a prac
tical and well-made flying machine, capa
ble of carrying one or two persons, will
be cut down to about $750. Then, in the
opinion of that eminent British authority,
on business and finance, there will- be a
market for aeroplanes for quite ordinary;
use. .
The. Economist is certainly sanguine in
respect to the price of good dying ma
chines, for at present the engine alone, in
any one of the more successful types, costs
about S2OOO, and the complete, aeroplane
cannot be bought for much less than SSOIK».
Some are held at $7,000 or SBOOO- or even
more, the average being above the price
level of good automobiles.
If it is true that the market value off
practical flying machines can he brought:
down to $750, or such an average, it is
certain that many will be built and sold.
A large number of men, in many coun^
tries, will pay that price for an aeroplane
to use for pleasure and excitement of al
novel kind, even if the flying machinn
should not win a place for itself in every*
day transportation, just as the automo
bile has done, and the motor boat. Every
thing indicates that the day of aeroplane
stocks and flying machine financial scheme*
is at hand.
Ht’BBING IT IN. j
[From the .New York Evening Post.]
We are glad to know that the personal
baggage law is being so rigidly enforced,
that decent American citizens of bothj
sexes are being treated on our docks aS
if they were pickpockets, thieves ami
smugglers. This is what the law calls foil
and Collector Loeb is to be thanked, not]
abused, for so enforcing it.. Every Amer*
ican is a suspect in the eyes of his gov*
ernment on his return from abroad, with*
out regard to color, creed or preriou^
condition of servitude. Privacy no on®
need ask; respect for modesty or decency
is particularly forbidden by the law. Ini
specters have the right to open one’s
pocket-book, feel the contents of a hip
pocket, and kick the lining of a woman's
skirt. There is no disrobing performance
which they cannot order, if they see fit}
it is only kindness on their part that they!
permit ladies to be examined in seclusion.
This is America in 19W: some few years
after civilization was supposed to have
been established in this country. We hope
sincerely that Collector Loeb's authorized
ruffians will invent still other -means off
annoying travelers. The latter had theit?
chance during the “revision downward.'’
but the personal baggage abomination -re
mained unchanged. Nothing will satisfy
us, except such rigorous humiliation of
every American criminal enough, to.spend
money abroad as to make him sweat ven
geance on the political party responsibla
for so great an outrage. ,
AUTOMOBILIXG KANSAS.
[From the Baltimore Sun.]
The Kansas City Times published an
illustrated article a few days ago describ
ing the glories of the Pratt county fair.
Pratt county is in the wheat belt of Kan
sas. It is prosperous, but not more pros
perous than many other counties in the
Jayhawker state. One of the most sug
gestive of the illustrations published by the
Times depicted the farmers' automobile pa
rade nt the Pratt fair—a double line of
motor cars stretching far down the race
track. There was one solitary hot-so in
sifrht. "That lone horse," explained the
Times, “belongs to a farmer who found
that his wife and daughters had gohe for
a spin in the ear when he got in from
the field ready to go to the fair." Kapsas,
it would appear, is almost in the horseless
stage. It is easy to understand now why,
the automobile factories are doing such it
tremendous business. The western farmer
finds the motor car a necessity now, while
only a few years ngo he was denouncing
the automobile ns a luxury which only the
very wealthy could enjoy. Times huvo
changed mightily In Kansag. and the
changes are along the lines of greater com
fort and luxury for the Jhylinwkcr agri
cnJturists. It la Bo longer “bleeding Kuu
sag,” but autoiuobiling Kansas.