The morning times. [volume], December 29, 1896, Page 4, Image 4

About The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897

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THE MORNING- TIMESrTUESDAY, EMBBR 29, 1896.
T
(Moiuv-ixo, Evening a' Suxday.)
OWNED AND IF SUED BY
THE WASHINGTON TIMES COMPANY.
TIMES BUILDING.
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; by maHj, postage prepaid.
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Tho Times has a regular ami
permanent Family Circulation much
greater than any other painsr, morn
ing or evening, published in Wash
Ington. As a News and Advertising
Medium It has no competitor.
WASHINGTON, D.C DECEMBER -9. 1690.
REMOVAL OF BUSINESS OFFICE.
The business office o The Times
will bo removed to the Iluteliins
Building tomorrow.
Our Too Tonic Element.
Intending celebrants of the day which
Is to mark the advent of the year of
grace, 1897, are affectionately cautioned.
to be mindful of the days after. With
many, perhaps too many, it is an an
nually recurring occasion of pain and
sorrow, and its lessons are easily for
gotten; therefore tliis warning in advance.
In the American calendar, the second
day of January is the festival of those
sad-vlsaged saints, Remorse and Reform.
The latter is not to be confounded with
the Star-Eyed Goddess df the same name,
the property of Mr. Henry Wattcrson: that
pure and radiant being with the whisky
ring on her wedding finger. These be
saints of a totally different plumage, wiio
jointly and severally preside over the
confessions and penances, and register
the temporarily honest resolutions of all
who fitly observe the day; a large but
diminishing number, witli gratification he
It said. So true is this that the time even
may come when these saint will have
to spout their halos and retire from the
business. Many excellent and enthusiastic
persons believe that this will happen when
universal prohibitory laws are passed by
the national and all other legislatures.
There are others who predict that the
same end will be accomplished vu the
thirty-second day of the thirteenth month,
and the eighth day of the week.
While waiting patiently to see who s
right on the matter, there is some satis
faction la remembering that the cmntry
has scored a notable advance in the di
rection or practical temperance during the
past five and twenty years. For some
time after the close of the civil war it
was not as unusual as it ought to have
been for gentlemen to provide thcmstlves
with hats of different sizes to suit vary
ing circumstances and conditions. But a
rapid change from that state of tilings
began to be observed years ago. At the
present time snakes frnvc considerably
loosened their hold on boot-legs; jaguars
do not so much prowl around bachelor
apartments; while the amusing but sug
gestive monkey of azure hue mostly has
retired to his native solitudes.
The altered conditions are not to be re
tributed to an abatement of temptation.
The same number of Kentucky Kernels
are represented in each drop of Bourbon
as of yore, and sugar is cheaper; but taste
and fashion apparently have changed.
Ever since 1870 a diminuendo movement
iriay be noted in the use of spirituous
liquors in the United States. In that
year the consumption of distilled spirits
amounted to 2.07 proof gallons per
capita of the total population; in 1SS", it
had fallen to 1.12 proof gallons. If the.
70,000,000 population of today drank
as much whisky per capita as was im
bilKHl twenty-seven years ago, the govern
ment might realize sixty odd millions
more of revenue for the current year than
It is likely to from that source.
It should be stated in this connectionthat.
wlrfle the best government the world ever
saw has been thus suffering in its whisky
Interests, the consumptlcn of malt liquors,
which was only 5.31 per capita in 1870,
had grown to 1 5 gallons in 1895. It was
as high as 16 gallons in 1S93, just before
the panic.
The foregoing data may suggest the
reason why the Treasury for some time
Sas shown a disposition to impose new
burdens upon beer, which appears to have
become the national beverage. The gov
ernment mUht have revenue, and it the
people stop drinking whisky, taxation will
doubtless follow what they do drink, i:i
the last extreme, possibly down to soda
water. It is impossible to say what queer
results might ensue upon a heavy beer
tax. Any considerable advance in the
price to the consumer, or 'any material
degradation of quality at the old price,
might perchance send the American people
back to their first love. In that case the
dibtllllng friends of the Star Eyed would
be open to congratulation, but Virtue would
hide her head and mayhap look with
Borrow upon the American Eagle, as being
not much better than a little Old Crow.
"While the marked revolution in our drinks,
as represented in the transition from spirits
to beer, docs not clearly indicate a wave
ot total abstinence, it would seem to show
a temperance tendency. American beer of
today is without superior, and nearly with
out rival, abroad. The art of brewing has
made wonderful progress In this country
during the last two decades, and the brew
erics of the United States lead the world
In equipment and scientific applianres
The use of beer, whether as a beverage or
medicinally delivered at the house In un
lettered wagons Is so great as to appear
nearly universal.
It might be objected, of course, by ex
tremists, that cutting in half tho whisky
fer capita, while trebling that ot malt
liquors, docs not represent a decreased
consumption, measured in alcoholic units:
hence, that the change is not good evidence
of increased nationalsobricty. Such aa
objection would not hold. The estimated
consumption of wheat flour in the United
States is something like a barrel per capita.
Suppose now that John Doe eats his barrel
exclusively in the condition of pies, while
Richard Rocasslmilateshis in that of good,
wholesome bread! Will not consequences
vary? In the fust case are the results not
likely to be dyspepsia, despair and death,
and in the second meat, muscle and multi
plicity? Considered from this point of view
the arrest of the great and once spreading
whisky habit and Its diversion to the milder
channcrbTnccr should be pleasing to ev-n
strong prohibitionists, as a movement in
tberightdirectlon: Just as the humanitarian
would hail with delight the conversion of
homicidal mania into the lesser crime of
procrastination.
Beer has grown to be a large subject,
and it is said that the President-elect has
given it thought, wit hsome view to revenue.
It may be not improper to remind hint, in
case he entertains any taxational designs
upon the American beverage, that an ante
type of his, an English William and fourth
of that name, earned the gratitude of his
subjects in quite the opposite direction;
and the laureate of the day celebrated the
fact in this warble:
"Come Britons all, both great and small,
And pay your duty here;
And loudly sing, 'live Billy our King,'
For 'bating the tax upon beer."
Nevertheless, the need of the Treasury
may require a round beer tax and the
brewers may have to stand it Probably
they would pay it without- much grumbling,
and possibly without raising retail prices
or reducing quality. The penalty of either
might be a reversionlo the national whisky
habit. If matters are allowed to remain
as they are, as far as consumers are con
cerned, the Jivertige American will con
tinue to drink his fifteen gallons of beer
ler annum, and to occupy the conservative
position indicated by the statistics and
depicted by. 'another British bard, who
sang:
"Twixt wet and dry, I always try,
Between the extremes to steer;
Though I always shrunk from geltlng-in-toxicated,
I'm particularly partial to beer."
The I.lon nntl the Laureate.
The Queen and Parliament, the premier
ami the privy council, all may hold up
their hands in horror at such crimes as
filibustering, and regard privateering as
impolite and unchristian. They may even
go to the length of punishing an unsuc
cessful land-grabber like Dr. Jameson;
whereas, if he had been successful they
promptly would bavctnade him a peer or
a K. C. B. at the minimum. They sent
Jameson to prison as an object lesson
for foreign consumption, hut they hugged
him to their hearts in private, and The
Times will go ball that he has had a
larder and sideboard in his dungeon cell,
better furnished than the commissary de
partment of a first -class Washington
lobbyist, all the time.
The real British feeling on the subject
of filibustering was voiced by the present
poet laureate. In a moment of exultation,
and before he received any tip from the
Marquis of Salisbury on the proper treat
ment of the raid into the country ot the
Boers. Quoting from memory the exact
text of the poem is not at hand Victorias
own minstrel thus praised what she and
her government affect to consider a crime
in other nation and people.
"He wrought as Britons ever did,
From Capt. Drake to Capt Kidd;
This firebug on the Empire's limb,
This blooming shrub called Dr. Jim.
You bet there ain't no flies on him."
The beautiful and Britishly patriotic'
lines, in substance given above, nearly
cost the poet his job. Not quite, though,
for the reason that he expressed the real
sentiments ot his sovereign and his peo
ple. Nevertheless, he came to be con
sidered as homething dangerous and liable
to go off at any time when loaded. He
has been muzzled, therefore, and now is
only permitted to sing about births in
the royal family. That keeps him busy
week days and Sundays, and fairly welt
out of mischief.
Pirates and Powers.
The most extreme critic of Mr. Cleve
land's attitude, in connection with- the
Cuban resolution, must admit that the
naval episode of the Three Friends places
the foreign relations of this government
in a new and very serious position, and
that it now bee omes the duty of all citizens
to attend strictly to their own affairs
and toleavetheadmlnistratlona freehand
to extricate itself from the scrape In man
ner and form befitting the dignity of a
great nation.
Judging from the press rei ortsand com
ments upon the warlike, if bloodless, en
gagement between the filibuster flying our
flag and a craft belonging to the Spanish
navy, there is too much reason to fear
that the only construction that can be
put upon the conduct of the American boat
is that it was an act of piracy. There
can be little doubt that the extradition of
any participants in the offense who may
happen to he found in the United States
will be demanded by Spain. There is
equally little reasonjo doubt that it would
promptly be granted. That being true, it
were exceedingly well for anyone con
scious or being wanted in the premises to
get under cover lomcwhcre as speedily ns
possible. It is not fo long ago that several
Japanese boys took refuge in an American
consulate iu China, being charged with
sketcldngthe fortifications of the town for
the benefit of their country, then at war
with his Chinese majesty. The late. Mr.
Gresham, then Secretary of State, ordered
them over to the Chinese authorities, al
though their guilt was much in coabt. The
order was equivalent to a death warrant,
and was known to be so in advance. The
boys were surrendered and were subjected
to torture for a season, after which they
were duly executed. There "was much less
excuse for drastic action on tho part of
the Executive in that, than there would
be in the case of the Three Friends fili-
Lbusters. In the Japanese instante there
was an outcry of horror against the ease
with which the State-Department ap
peared to let go the unfortunate refugees,
which would hardly find Justification if
Mr. Olney were to surrender the Cuban
naval offenders to Spain. It Is greatly to
be hoped that such an extreme course may
not become necessary, but if it should ap
pear to be.the only alternative to a gen
eral row with all Emope, the government
might feel compelled to adopt it, and rho
unfortunate people concerned would have
only their own rashness to thank for the
awful fate that would await them at the
hands or the Spanish captain general.
It is the piratical end or the Question,
and by no means the bluster of European
interference, in case we should recognize
the Cubans, that Is calculated to or need
give us uneasiness. If the Emperor of
Germany, or the French government,, or
Lord Salisbury, or all of them in combina
tion, entertain the idea that a threat, op'en
or implied, on the part of any or all of
the Old World powers would exert tho
least influence upon American action as
to recognition or non-recognition of the
Cuban insurgents, the sooner they are dis
abused of such a fallacy the better. Tho
people or the United States are not ,n the
mco:l to take much bullying from anyboily,
much less from nations whose practices
arc not In accordance with their precepts
in the matter of gobbling up territory and
waging piratical war against any State,
race or tiibe too weak to resist them. It
should rot require a great deal in the way"
ot monarchical menace from Europe to
make us recognize the republic of Cuba on
general principles. There are millions in
this couutry who are Just spoiling tor a
row, and circumstances might increase
their number until the force of warlike
sentiment Could i:ot be successfully opposed
by the most peace-loving administration.
Doubt Cleared iway.
A doubt has clouded our mind ever since
the late election, but it has been dissi
pated by the statement that Gen. Buckner,
the estimable gentleman who tailed the
National Democratic ticket, lately sent to
the County Clerk or Haskell county, Dud
ley township, Kansas, twenty-five gallons
of old Kentucky whisky.
Thus runs the story: In Dudley town-'
ship there are only twelve voters, and
it is the only precinct In the United States,
that cast a majority of its votes for Palmer
and Buckner.
Having been informed ot this fact, Gen.
Buckner opened his heart and his purse
and bought for each of the voters or that
township two gallons and over of whisky
old whisky old Bourbon whisky. And on
Christmas Day, just passed, this whisky'
was used in celebrating the triumph of.
the Gold Democrats or Dudley precinct, the,
only truly patriotic spot in the Republic,
as both Gens. Palmer and Buckner will
testify. The dinner given was a glorious
one, hilarious, loud and long
As stated, we have doubted the clajiu.
of the Palmer and Buckner Democrats
to the title of the only true Democracy;'
but, as we have also stated, we
doubt no longer. Buckner's gift -of,
whisky for celebrating purposes has con
vinced us that he and Gen. Palmer, nnd
the 330,000 Democrats who voted for
them, are the only true-blue Democrats
extant arc Bourbon Democrats In whom
there may be a good deal of whisky at:
times, but in whom there is, at no time,
any guile. By his Bourbon whisky token,
Gen. Buckner has assured us that his
Democracy has not been impaired by his
late contact with the Republican party by
what the Bryan Democrats have been
pleased to call his unholy alliance with
Mr. Hanna and other leaders of the Re
publican party-
Let Palmer, Buckner and Bourbon! there
fore, hereaftorbe the watchword and the
cry or the reunited and rejuvenated De
mocracy. The publication by an evening sheet, cir
culating largely in saloons nnd cigar stores,
of an entirely false and injurious statement
about a prominent and enterprising mer
chant, in connection with last night's fire,
cannot be too strongly condemned. The
gentleman in question is too well and
favorably known here and elsewhere to re
quire contradiction of the report referred
to, but we cannot allow it to pass without
emphatic denial. Much indignation was
created by the rumor, and many of our
leading citizens denounced its author in
unmeasured terms.
This is the way we go up, up, up, and this
Is the way we come down, down, down.
Major Newman Borchart located Miles City,
Custer county, Montana, about a quarter of
a centuiy ago, and now he is a watchman
in the Treasury Department. But while
Borchart has gone backward from pros
perity like a crab, Miles City has gone
forward, not rapidly, but surely. It is now
the cattle town of Montana, and there all
the "cattle barons" of the State reside.
The esteemed New York Press is ."-.till
soothing its tarirf itch with double-leaded
scratches.
The inaugural fireworks committee is
undoubtedly lost in admiration of the Hon.
Bill Chandler's cannon-cracker department.
Now that it's all over It appears to us
that women complained of Christmas shop
ping mainly because it was really neces
sary to buy something.
ABOUT NOTED PEOPLE.
Rev. Thomas Dixon, jr., the New York
divine, has preached a Cuban sermon lo his
congregation. He asked all the members to
write to their representatives in Congress
urging them to vote for the passage ot the
Cuban resolutions.
Dwight L. Moody, the renowned evange
list, is almost sixty years old, and was
converted to Christianity forty years ago.
In one of his recent services he prayed that
some young man should feel called by the
Lord as his successor and should succeed
in converting souls In the next forty years
as he had done in the past.
The Kaiser Wilhelm I centenary fetes
begin on March 22, which day will be of
ficially declared and everywhere observed
as a national holiday.
Prince Hohenlohe, the imperial chancel
lor, will celebrate his golden wedding on
February 16.
Jean de Rcszke, the famous tenor, 13 a
rich man, and Issaid to have made $95,000 I
on ms racing scamc aione instyear. ins
artistic career lias been crowned with
ej'i6ug!i'a'clneveiriL'iitsi;o satisfy any man.t
The Comte de MedranoTset a spring gun
so thnt.it wou'd..dIs,charge,.ph,ppenipg,tha
door or lils plieasantry, near Monet. He for.
got all aboutltln sliowinghis place to some
friends recently, and on turning the handle
ot the door, received the full charge in
his breast, dying on. the spot. ,
The Empress pt Germany ordered at
Lyons some white silk, with flowers, birds,
and foliage in rellef.'at $1.20 a yard, rivc
slxths of the price being the actual-value
ot therawhilk-. She intended' to make a
dress ot Jt, Jjut.it was so beautiful she
used it as a curtain.
Bogdogoggen, the Buddhist high priest,
rules Urga, on cHie' River Selva, in Mon
"golla.'a coiumunjty recently visited on his
journey to Karakor.um by Herr Hans
Leder. Urga Is a grent monastic univer
sity rather than a town. Ot its 15,000 In
habitants, 12,000aie monks or Lamas, the
rest being Mongols, Russians, and-Chinese;
-The- univcrsity'inris four faculties, the
theological, the 'medical, the astrological,
and the expounders. or the sacred writings.
Bogdogoggen isytw,enty-slx years or age,
and islookcd'upoii as a perfect god-man.-
Earl de Groy jiatj kept a record of the
.-'-'game" he lias- killed In twenty-eight.
years. It amounts to 316,099 his aver
age for ttic last twenty years being about
lO.OOOi while in 1893. his record was
1-9,135. He has put to deatli 200.000
pheasants and partridges, 47,000 grouse,
G,00o other game birds, 50G deer, and
9,000 miscellaneous animals, including
pigs, capL'rcai!ziu,sambur,adozuu buffaloes,
and tigers, and two rhinoceroses.
DEATHS OP A DAi.
Columbus, 0 Dec. 28. Prof. .Emmanuel
Schmid died here today ot a paralytic
stroke. He had been professor of Latin
and Greek in' the Lutheran Capital Uni
versity here since 1859 and was for the
same periods one. ot the editors ot the
Kirchen Zcltung. Prof. Schmid was Iiorn
in Ann Arbor, Mich., in'l3Gi
Wilmington; Del., Dec 28v Joseph
Parker, manager of the Oliver Byiou 1 he
atrlcal Company, died suddenly here to
day from heart disease. The company,
which appeared hert!"on Suturday, left for
Lancaster, Pa:, today.'
Plica, N. Y., Dec. 28. Alonzo Churchill,
M. D., died here todays aged eighty-five
years. During the war he served as sur
geon of the -Fourteenth New York Volun
teers and tJeElghth Regiment of heavy
artillery. He was captured at Gaines'
Mills and sentf tb Libby prison": Subse
quently ""fCrcaserf, he returnedto active
sen-ice, -reroa'ininft. until trite .close, ot the
war, .when he was brevetted lieutenaut
colonel.
PICKED UP AT HOTELS.
A notable delegation pt'leamea'men Is
registereu aVWUliird's. U forms the bulk
ot the membership of the American Geo
logical Society, which mee-Us in this city
today and many names 'of national fa
miliarity are among ttie'ntimber. . !
These savantsture. not altyrxjan the Last,
though the seasot,C"jirlstma8, would render
appropriate anr. anniversary celebration
o.f the first convxfnuon of,' wise men at
Bcih!oJrtcjm,jiea.rjj?,3ineteen hundred years
ngo. Then the Magi studied a star; now
they study the ehrth'and there arc among
the delcgatldn'a Wulnrd's some thateaii
see much further into a millstone than
any ordinary mprtalj
Prominent among 'the names are. those
of " Profs'. H. S Falrchild, of Rochester,
N.'Y.; F. -B:- Taylor, Fort Wayne, Ind'.;
M.E. Wadsworth,, of. Houghton, Mich., who
has made a liferstudy of the formation of
the upper peninsular of Michigan and the
wonderful copper and iron deposits therein:
B. K. Emerson, of Amherst, Mass.; Charles
Palachc, of Harvard University, nnd Collier
Gobi), ot the University of- North Caro
lina. Miss M. A. Fleming, of Buffnlo, N.
Y., a famous woman geologist, is also in
attendance upun this meeting.
Among last night's arrivals at the Coch
ran Hotel were Mr. L. E. Love, of Pitts-'
burg, Ta.; M. G. Whitcomb and wife, ot
Milwaukee, and..J..W- Edwards, and Miss
Edwards, ot New York.
The.names.of Amory A. Lawrence, Amos
A. Lawrence, and Miss Edith Lawrence of
Boston, on the Shoreham register last
night, announced the presence in Wash
ington of the representatives "of one of the
most notable of American famlies. More
than three -quarters ot a century ago
Abbott Lawrence was probably the mer
chantpriuce of tlie American continent, ind
laid the foundations.-in his enormous trade
with China and the East Indies, ot the
gigantic fortune that in that day vied with
that of Stephen Girardot-Philadelpiila, and
that or the Tirst Astor ot New York, for
the Uistinction-of being the greatest mass
or money in America.
While the Lawrences proved themselves
worthy or the distinction their money
had given theni.they achieved rame in each
succeeding generation in nearly "ovary
branch '.of .learning.
Inlaw:, in diplomacy,, and in sclencesand
letters, the family has been distinguished,
The name is, iii Boston, synonymous" with
the-bcsi-hi tHC'sdeial and literacy world.
It. is one, of, the sources of the pride .of
the nub.
Mr. and "Mrs. Charles J. Bonaparte are
at thcA.rlington.
'Mr. Tlentfy Harrison or Virginia fs at
the Ra!eIgh;'-Mr.'Harrlson is the Atlfoiican
i.ed nnd.ideaHzed coiijitry gentleman, and.
reproduces in hlsj manner or lire on his
Loudoun county estate all the best feat
ures and phases tor - English country life
that-hae always cminiored American trav-"
elcrs in their observations or the typical
British squire. Mr. -.Harrison is stanchly
American, though' as he has a right to
be, as a scion of-jlho Virginia family that
has furnished two Presidents to' the coun
try and a liost.of-di&tinguished names-, to
the roll of fame of the Old Dominion.,.
From the well Stocked trout streams of
his Virginia homeoPresideut Cleveland
J has -lured--many -4."P0tfeu 'beauty.' Mr;
Cleveland and Mr. Harrison nre close per
sonal friends and tho late summer days
never come without bringing the Presi
dent in their train to the shady nooks of
Cold Brook.
Proderick R. Coudert, of S'ew York, one
or the Venezuelan commissioners, is at
the Arlington.
Senator Lindsay, of Kentucky, went to
New York last night.
AT THE PLAYHOUSES.
The Bostoniana presented Reginald De
Koven and Uarry B. Smith's beautiful
opera, "Robin Hood," at the New Na
tional Theater, last night, for the 2,100th
performance. The occasion was not made
eventful by any conspicuous effort.
The cast included those familiar and
popular singers, who have made this
organization thepetof nllmusic-lo vers, and
the theater was crowded by an en
thusiastic audience, the usual one In point
of quuntlty and quality with the Bos
toniaus. y
The singers seem to become better with
increasing years of acquaintance, for they
not only maintain an established excel
lence, but their coming stimulates the
affectionate regard in which the public
holds them, as it does no others.
Judgment and sentiment confirm their
title as the best producers of light opera,
well sung and legitimately presented, ofr
and on the stage. There Is always an
'assurance that what they do will be done
as well as possible and that the proprieties
will not be offended by cheap stage de
vfces or clowning, which is not humor.
"Robin Hood" retains the charm which
has endeared it to a generation, as an
approximately ideal piece of operatic
'composition. Its pastoral atmosphere
and medieval simplicity are reflected
in the stago pictures and the score of the
intelligent and facile, but not always suc
cessful, Mr. De Koven. With the sweet
and true melodies, of "Robin Hood" still
ringing in the ear, forgiveness is easily
and graciously written for the composer of
"The Mandarin," ror the indiscretions ot
the latter are but the shadows of the
former's brilliancy.
The opera was almost thrice given last
night in the pleased, but scarcely pleas
lug, persistence of the audience. '
i None of the familiar airs was permitted to
,pass unchallenged, and the last curtain was
rung onlylongattcrthe usual hour of theater
closing. The hits, as before, were the sher
iff's song, the Brown October ale song, the
Armorer's song, and the interpolated "O
Promise Me."
Atthehendof the cast was Mr. Barnabce,
honorable in years aud achievement, and
rich in a quiet humor which mellows with
maturity. Jessie BartlcttDavis shares with
him the regency ot the company. Her
seniority is- established on many years of
admirable service as leading contralto.
Her singing ot the "Chime Bells" and "O
Promise Me" were the two especial fea
tures of attractive performance of the boy
Alan-a-Dale. George Frothlngham was
dehciously comic as Friar Tuck, who stirred
the stew and led the song. Eugene Cowles
wus encored repeatedly for his matchless
singing of the forge song, and earlier for
'It Takes Nine Tailors to Make a Man."
Jonephine Bartlett was as happy as usual
In her familiar assumption of the comic
Dame Durden.
Hilda Clarke is not entirely new to the
Boatonian cast, but she is still in her
apprenticeship for a position among the
old favorites. She smgs Maid Marion as
no '6ne has before her. The only soprauo
to approuch her was Camille d'Arville, hut
Miss Clarke has vivacity and vocal strength
without the rasping quality which marred
the vigor of d'Arville's voice. Another
soprano, in no way second to Miss Clarke
except for her position in the cast, is Miss
Gratia Qulve, now spending her first sea
son on the stage and also her first within
the Bostonian fold. Miss Quive sang Anna
bel last night. She possesses a rich and
melodious voice of even excellence at all
points of a broad range. Her singing was
always excellent, orten it was brilliant,
especially in iter pretty solo iu the last
act. Miss Quive unites to the charms or
fine natural and technical vocal accom
plishments a magnetic personality, a beau
tiful faco and a dramatic Intelligence
which will elevate her to eminence in
iter profession.
Two others in this splendid cast call for
individual commendation. Mr. Charles
R. Hawley sang Little John in place of
Mr. MacDonald, who was taken ill last
night and decided to rest until this even
ing. Mr. Hawley sang well and did not
permit -Mr. MacDonald's absence to be
come a matter or unusual regret. Mr.
l'hilp in the title role displayed a manly
physiquc and a tenor voice or many good
points. The choruses were sung with
Bostonian perfection and the scenery was
correct. '
One of Charles Frohman's companies of
players presented the farce, "The Gay
Parisians," from the French ot Feydeau
aud Dcsvailliere, at the Lafayette last
night. It is the second engagement of
this entertaining comedy in this city. It
was last year given by the present com
pany except for the substitution this
season of Miss Sadie Martinot for Miss
Odette Tyler.
The piece, on its former presentation,
was generally approved as a diverting en
tertainment of the Jight and ultra farcical
species. It is based on possible but im
probable absurdities, which are sketched
out by the authors with amusing results.
The fun is rounded upon the complicated
but hilarious results ot the digressions of
a hen-pecked husband from the straight
and narrow path.
He goes to a certain Bohemian hotel
whither the drift of events and the con
structive skill of the dramatists drives
all the rest of the characters, including
his wire. The situations pile up like a
show ball, and the climaxes, as different
appalling discoveries are made, bring forth
from the audience bursts or laughter and
applause, which arrord evidence of their
own satisfaction and pleasure to the
actor who is striving to please.
The cast is especially good as all will
attest who last year laughed at the es
capades of Pinglet, his wife, the pretty
spouse of the architect aud the other
parties to the complication. W. J. Fergu
son played Joseph Pinglet, whose comfort
aud character are in continual Jeopardy.
He is considered by many as one of the
finest character actors on the American
stage, and his present creation and former
achievements certainly confirm this judg
emnt. He is clever in everything and
artistic to the, slightest detail.
Miss Martinot is a beautiful and attrac
tive Mine. "Paillard. She is a commediene
ir distinction, and in her care the role of
Mnrcella claims an equality with Pinglet,
which Miss Tyler did not always give it.
Mrs. Phillips is becoming an institution
in the affections of theater-goers. Her
performance is nlwnys characterized by
care, skill and .appreciation of the best
methods on the proper occasions. As
Angelique, her personality and her art
help to make magnetlc'a part which is
easily conventional in.- the farce world,
Charles B. Wells does acceptable work as
the architect, Paillard, and in the same
class may be mentioned Mr. James O. Bar
rows' excellent performance ot Mathieu,
aud Willis Shirley as Maximo.
The players all exhibit the ease nnd
fluency which naturally results from long
familiarity with their parts. A word
ot credit is deserved by the stage direc
tion, which animates the actors to a con
tinuous assumption of freshness and spon
tanlety in their performances. It is easy
after constant repetition to become truiled
in the care for small details or even the
sense of proportion In large effects, but
neither of these Is the fault or tin, mem
bers ot "The Gay Parisians" company.
This week there willbe a bargain matinee
on Wednesday, a holiday matinee on Fri
day, and the usual Saturday matinee.
Kellar, who is now, by the death ot
Herrmann, easily the first in the world
of mystery upon the stage, opened a
week's engagement at the Columbia The
ater last night. The audience was large
and representative.
In delusions imolving mere felelght-of-hand
Kellar has always stcod pre-eminent
among pi oressiouai magicians. Last night
he fairly eclipsed himself in this branch
ot his art, devoting a very considerable
partofthe evening to such Teats of dexterity
as coin manipulation and transferase of
rings and other small articles to and from
all sorts of Queer places, and eo alternating
these tricks with Quasi explanations that
merely added to the mystery that the
audience was kept In a constant bu7z of
excitement and laughter.
In the expose of spiritualistic hum
buggery, the magician reproduced all the
varied manifestations which have made
the mediums of the past andpresentfarnous
among ttieir following, differing oidy from
them in thut all his feats are performed
under the full glare of the electric light
and with none of the stock phases of manu
factured mystery that always attend the
seances of ttic ordinary run ottable rap
pers. Not the least entertaining pirt of the
performance were the demonstrations ot
mind reading, in which Mrs. Kellar took
part. These extraordinary tests were of
such a character as to utterly defeat the
most ingenious efforts at explanation and
as a mere exploit of memory on the part
ot either the magician or his confederate,
certainly deserved thellberal commendatory
applause that they received.
Most of ttic tricks are entirely new and
all of them of great interest. They will
undoubtedly draw crowds to the Columbia
at every entertainment this week.
The Flying Jordaus vaudevilles at
tracted a large audience to the Academy
lost night, there being scarcely a vacant
seat. This family of wonderful aerial
artists have gathered around them special
ists of great excellence, who combine to
form one ot the most interesting and
unique programs that has been offered here
this season.
Mons. Barre and Herr Dewell, the mar
velous French and German athletes, opened
the performance with almost incredible
Teats or strength, the former iifting a
table on which stood a dozen men, and
the latter balancinga hundred-weight bar
ball on his knees nnd head, as he stood
suspended from a Roman column.
The skatorial trio produced a favorable
lmpressiou with their songs and figure
skating, that increased to genuine en
thusiasm as each danced a skate clog aud
shuffle on a high pedestal with glasses
of water balanced on their foreheads, and
outstretched hands.
Mr. John J. Burke and his pretty assis
tant. Miss Grace Forrest, created hilarious
laughter with their comical skit entitled
'Tricks of the Trade," and Roslna Venus,
the Parisian wonder.direcsfromrheCaMiio,
Paris, performed amazing evolutions on
both slack and tight wires, turning in one
instance a complete somersault, and alight
ing on the slender thread as lightly as a
bird.
Thomas Giynn, the banjo expert, won a
triple encore for his clever selections, and
Lydia Titus alternately convulsed and
thrilled the audience with her marvelous
imitationsof a baby, and her exquisite sing
ing of operatic airs and ballads; her "With
in a Mile ot Edinboro Town" taking the
house by storm.
Marguerite Ferguson, contortion dancer,
posed herself in all sorts ot shapes, each
seemingly more Impossible than the one
before, and O'Brien and Havel, In their
original specialty, "A Newsboy's Court
ship," scored a decided hit by their songs
and tumbles.
The Powers Brothers made a fair share
ot fuu in a bicycle absurdity that showed
some clever wheeling, and then the vast
web of netting that had been bunched
against the balcony all the evening was
stretched to the footlights and the four
daintily dressed figures sprang on the
stage and, clutching at the dangling ropes,
climbed dauntlessly to the ceiling and
looked down as smiling and self-confident
as if that degree of altitude was the most
ordinary in the world.
As the wonderful gymnasts flew from
trapeze to trapeze, swung themselves from
each other's hands, to hang head down
ward from a vibrating bar to catch some
body in turn, people held their breath until
the silence was perceptible.
In addition to the usual Wednesday and
Saturday matinees an extra performance
will be given New Year's Day at 2 o'clock.
"The Sporting Craze," with bright mu
sic, versatile comedians and pretty girls,
all of whom are good dancers and singers,
wns the attraction at the Bijou last night.
It is a farce-comedy filled with a va
riety of entertaining features, and lias as
well much dramatic merit. It is fully up-to-date
and much above many shows of
this class, as its cast contains a number
of really talented people
There is a sufficiently strong thread of
a plot to hold the interest, while the merry
makers fill in the opportunities made for
them with bright and humorous dialogue
and high-cluss specialties".
It is a highly-colored satire on the pre
vailing craze for sports of all kinds- The
play is furnished with excellent scenery
and mountings and the costumes or the
young ladies are bright and attractive
and oT endless variety.
William Courtriglit, long known as a
minstrel of talent, has ample opportunity
as Josh Reuben, the sjiorty farmer, to
show his droll humor. He made a de
cided hit.
Not less funny and as well known is
George H. Adams, famous the world over
as a clown. He is undoubtedly as great a.
succcss in speaking parts as lie formerly
was in pantomime. He introduces among
other specialties that oT his Hunipty Dumpty
on stilts. Other actors are H. E. Meissmer,
who, as the bunt politician, looked and
acted, well; Robert Carlin a3 SI Watson
and as Broadbrim was clever, and Mrs!
George II. Adams as the preacher's wife
was well received. Miss Tonina Adams
was pretty and with her sister, Lily Adams,
appeared in several dances
Miss Emma de Castro, a bewitching
little soubrctte, with songs and dances
gave plenty of life to a pleasing part
Cecil Iverness sang clever songs. Viola
Dean looked the sporty old maid- and
earned a round of applause after her
specialty, the musical bells
Frank Farley gave a splendid exhibition
or bag-punching-
Carlin and Clark, a strong Dutch sketch
team, kept the house in a roar.
"On the Mississippi" is a success on the
rotomac. It made a hit last night at the
Academy of Music. A largeaudiencevoted
it a" most thrilling and realistic melo
drama. As its title indicates, the play depicts
Southern life and the fcenes are located
at Chattancoga, New Orleans and Lookout
Mountain. It contains unique types of
backwcolsmenandtbecomedyacdtragedy
la very evenly balanced. The most inter
esting of all the scenes is the one showing
the Star and Crescent gambling palace iu
the Creole City.
Robert McWade, Jr., gives a very spirited
personation or theleading role. Grant Sher
wood As Philip Baretow, the Northern
mine owner, J. J. Farrell Is excellent.
Alfred Beverly gets out all the comedy
there is iu the part of Sheriff Billy Dean.
Others of the cast deserving special men
tion are Louis F. Howard, W. H. Harvey.
Gerald Flint, James Blair, James Burt.
George W. Crane, Joseph Welctiand John
Harden.
The levee scene is enlivened by John W.
West, who, as Monte John, does a smart'
specialty.
The ladles of the cast are pretty and
painstaking- Emma Dunn Is interesting
as Jean Barstow's sister. Valerie Bergere
made a clever adventures. Mablv Craig
and ImaKuhn werepleasinginsmallpartd.'
SamDevere's Own Company is the happy
selection Manager Kernan has made for
the New Year's week attraction ,it the.
Lyceum Theater, and the performance
Iastnight secured for It the stamp of public
approval.
Larry Smith, the funny German comedian,
and Mamie Champion, the vivacious
soubrette, started the ball of merriment
rolling, and Rosalie, famed for her acro
batic feats, as well as her Jolly songs and
clex'er dances, kept it moving in her turn.
Canfield and Carleton, the comic opera
burlesque artists, gave a pleasing imitation
or the legitimate Catheryn Rowe Palmer,
in her dizzy whirling dances, and curious
contortions, was a general favorite.
Sam 1'evere, who neccis to mtreduction.
was, as ever, clever in his original tongs
and banjo accompaniment.
"Her Other Husband," as presented by
James Flynn and Maude Walker, was the
introduction of a Lthind-the-curtam scene
ot domestic strife and lireside family
troubles which took well with theaudience.
A novelty selCom seen on a vaudeville
stage was Alf Grant's motologue and
character sketches, which should have been
better appreciated. "Something new"
was a surprise to the audience, conducted,
by the Bapgesens, the unique contortion
ist and the dazzling juggler.
A roaring farce entitled "Two New
Wives,' a scene in the sultan's harem,
concluded the performance and gave op
portunity for Florence Miller to do her
sensational kutcha-kutcha dance.
"TOjF PLATT'S denial.
New York, Dec. 23. A down town news
agency sent out today an interview with.
Thomas C. Piatt in relation to a rumor
that he had withdrawn or would with
draw from the Senatorial race.
A reporter for the United Associated
Presses later asked Mr. Piatt as to tha
truth of the statement and he replied that
as he had never been a candidate for the
position, it was impossible for him to with
draw. "I had calculated upon retiring from,
political life," said Mr. Piatt, "The best
evidence or that was my refusal to stand
for governor of this State. I do not like
Washington life. Since the present Tight
has been made on the lines drawn, the
situation presents itself in a different
light. I am satisfied that Mr Chouta
will not be the next Senator. Whoever
It will be, It will not be Mr. Choate. It
is not true that I have sought this posi
tion or have worked for it. Anyone who
knows me, knows that this statement ir
true."
NAVAL CHANGES.
Capt. C. J. Barclay has been ordered
to command the cruiser Raleigh, reliev
ing Capt. Merrill Miller, who is granted
three months leave.
Commander W. C. Gibson is ordered to
command the Adams on her return Truro.
Hawaii, relieving Commander E- W. Wat
son, who is detailed to the Portsmouth,
N- H., navy yard as ordnance officer.
Capt Nicoll Ludlow ha been assigned
to duty as member of the examing board
at Washington-Lieut-
A. P. Nazro is detached from
the Enterprise and will become executive
officer of the Vermont at the New Yorlt
navy yard January 5-
AID FOR THE POOR.
Commissioner Ross handed to Col- Moore
yesterday afternoon $25 to be expended
by the police in relieving distress among
the poor.
"Cash" sent $2 and "Terra Cotta" $1
to be applied to the same purpose-
The police are receiving many requests
from worthy persons, mostly widows or
deserted wives with dependent children,,
for food, fuel and clothing-
OLD FRIENDS.
(Dedicated to the memory of my daughter,
Katie Darling.)
How the heart will beat responsive
To the fancies of the brain,
When the dearly loved and lost ones
Come to visit us again;
Forms that once we fondly cherLied,
Oneby one appear in view-;
But, in all the world there's nothing
To replace the lost and true.
New-found friends may gather 'round us.
While we "float on fortune's tide;
Be they true, or be they fickp.
None but old friends have been tried
Those fond hearts that still are faithful,-
In our weal or in our woe.
Are the rarest gifts that heaven.
In its bounty can bestowt
JOHN A. JOYGE. .
I Washington, D.- C, December 25, 1896.'