Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-02-27

WHAT AMERICANS READ.-There is
such thing as reading too much If
you would grow mentally, you must
study. Perhaps no people in the world
read so much as the Americans DO; but
what is the character of the literature
they read2 The details of criminal
courts, sensational and exciting news
extravagant stories and romaDees; and
the incidents of prize-6ghts, baseball
games and riots are read with avidity1
but literature of high order is neglected,
and the most profound treaties opon
scientifcsSartis;ic, moral and useful sub
iects are allowed to grow dusty on the
shelves of libraries and book stores. The
fault is mainly in their early training.
which has failed to deyelop taste for
learning, industr ou' habits, and man..
ly ambition to ga n the respect and conf
dence of the community by persevering
efforts to improve things of real value
Baltimore BUery Saturday.
VICTOR HUGO ASA SCENE PAINTER.
1t is told of Victor Hugo that he once.
figure as theater scene painter It.
was atsthe Comedia Francaise, at the.
first performance of 'Lucretia Borgia.''
Hugo had not noticed the scenery before,
and now, Just as the curtain was about
to rise on the second act, he, looking
about the stage to see that all was well,
discovered that the secret door in the
wall through which Genuaro escapes
had been made anything but secret,
being surrounded with rich ornamen-
tation. "Hold the curtain!' he cried.
''This is UNANIMOUSLY absurd! Call the
scene pai1ter!" But that worthy was
not to be found, and the audience grew
impatient at the long entr' acte. ''Then
give me a paint-pot and brush, quick!''
and the illustrious hand that had penned
the drama quickly repainted the scenery
and the only harm done was that Lu-
cretia and Gennaro got somo fresh paint
on their hands and costumes.
A CAT AND 4 KIss.-Ellen Terry said
to an Indianapolis reporter the other
day: 81 shall always remember my first
visit to Chicago by reason of an accident
that occurred there. In the casket scene
in the Merchant of Venice the lines
make Batsanio say that he seals his be-
trothaI with loving kiss. Mr. Terriss
was the Bassanio, and Just as he kissed
me very considerable litter came from
the audience. My face was in fame
in minute and | was just ready to cry.
[ did not dare look around, but when /
reached the flies the cause Of their laugh>>
ter was apparent. The stage cat, a
magnificent and portly creature, had
come on and watched the whole proceed
ing. and when we left she followed,
apparently well satisfied. But can't
bring myself to the kissing again, so thai
Mr.. Terriss raises my hand to his lips
instead"
BITING OFF THEIR OWN NOSES. New
York Tribune: Sundry of the "anti-
monopolists'' who have been clamorous
for Mr.. Reagans interstate commerce
bill, have seen a great light. They live
in Western states. TIE bill proposes to
prohibit different rates for long and for
short hands, that railroads would be
compelled to give the grain of Ohio and
Michigan, and the cattle of New York
and Pennsylvania, an enormous advan-
tage in rates for transportation over the
grain of Minnesota Or Kansas, and the
cattle of Texas. 1t OCCURS to these far
Western statesmen that their desire to
get rid of ''monopolies'' is not at present
intense enough to induce them to ex~
clude their own products from the worlds
markets.