davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02
LINCOLN AS A LOVER.
Q Of the strangest Proposals Of Mar
risge Ever Written.

risge Ever Written.
Abraham Lincoln's offer of mar
lge was very curious one, and,
gularly enough, it has but recently
one to light. Numerous as his b.
caphers have been, and closely as
ty have CLEANED for new facts and
iterials, it was left for the latest one,
J. Jesse Welk, of Greencastle, to dis
ger this unique and characteristic
pduction of Mr. LincoIn's almost
tutored mind. The letter is one of
scral written, presumably, to the
ly he afterward married. Addressed
my Dear Mary" threads as follows
you must know that l cannot see
u or think of you with entire in
ference; and yet it may be that
u are mistaken in regard to what
7 real feelings toward you are. If l
ew you were not, | should not
,uble you with this letter. Perhaps
~ other man would know enough
thout further information; but l
0sider it my peculiar right to plead
norance and your bounden duty to
low the plea. | want in all cases to
{ right, and most particularly SO in
{ cases with women. | want at this
rticular time, more than anything
&c, to do right with you, and if ! knew
iwould be doing right, as l rather
spect it would, to let you alone, l
,uld do it. And, for the purpose of
aking the matter as plain as pos
ole, now say you can drop the sub
It, dismiss your thoughts-if you
er had any-from me forever, and
ave this letter unanswered without
lling forth one accusing MUIR
ur from me. And / will even go
rther, and say that if it will add
lything TO your comfort and peace
mind to do SO, it is my sincere wish
lat you should. Do not understand
7 this that l wish to cut your ac-
laintance. / mean no such thing.
That l do wish is that our further
Acquaintance shall be depend upon
ourself. If such further acquaint-
ace would contribute nothing to
our happiness, l am sure it would
OF to mine. If you feel yourself in
ny degree bound to me, am now
filing to release you, provided you
'lsh it; while, on the other hand, l
m willing and even anxious to bind
GU faster, if can be convinced that
! will in any degree add to your hap
iness. This, indeed, is the whole
uestion with me. Nothing would
make me more miserable than to be-
leve you miserable; nothing more
Apply than to know you were SO. In
7hat have now said think cannot
e misunderstood and to make myself
Understood is the only object of this
etter. If it suits you best not to
nswer this, farewell. A long life
md a merry one attend you. But if
you conclude to write back, speak as
plainly as do. There can be neither
laim nor danger in saying to me any
hing you think, just in the manner
you think it. Your friend, LINCOLN.
Probably this is the queerest love
etter on record and the most remark
able offer of marriage ever made 1t is 6
love letter without a word of love anc
a proposal of marriage that does not
ropose.-Indianapolis Journal.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02

sic, instead Of ceasing until the beginning of
the next scene, is continued without any in
termssion, and when the curtain rises on the
splendid Wartburg scene the music has paved
the way for the progression of the story by
form lg u sind of harmonical foreground
Bayreuth, where Wagner built his great
festival theatre and where he supervised the
production of the works of his mature genius,
is quaint, rustic little town In Bavaria, on
the left bank of the Red Main. There are
three palaces in the town. The Hermitage
palace is fanciful building, where Frederick
the Great and his sister, the Margarine of
Bayreuth, resided. An excellent bronze sta
tue of Jean Paul Richter, the philosopher,
who died and was buried in Bayreuth in 1895,
is in the gymnasiumsplatz, and an inscription
in gold letters marks his house. 1t is pic
turesque little town, with a population of
about 10000. The quietness of the place was
probably its chief attraction for Wagner,
and it was here that he saw the completion
of his life's work. He had long been pos
sessed of desire to have an opera house of
his own, where his works could be produced
under his personal direction. He wished to
have the four operas comprising the great
Nibelungen Tetralogy rendered to his own
satisfaction, and he would not entertain the
idea of having them produced anywhere but
in an opera house of his own.
Ludwig ii of Bavaria, the king who be-
came insane and drowned himself few years
ago, loved Wagner as he loved no other man
or woman, and it was he who furnished the
composer the means to crafty his desire. He
had a splendid mansion constructed for Wag-
ner in Bayreuth, where he could superintend
the carrying out Of his project. The corner
stone of Wagner's Opera house was laid in
1872, and it was completed in 1876 when the
first festival took place. The theatre occu-
pies billy site within easy walking distance
of the heart of the town. 1t is built of brick,
and the architecture is severely plain. The
interior is remarkable for its simplicity. 1t
will accommodate about 400 persons. There
is no attempt at ornamentation, and this is
in accordance with Wagner's idea that there
should be nothing in theatre to distract at
tention from what is taking place on the stage.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02
A CriticiSnl.

If one were TO shave the hair of
your Hercules there woull not be
skxn enough left to holl his brain;
it says that it is imposs BILE to Gistin-
guish whether his features are those
of a man or of something between q
horse and an OK; the face, too, is
turned away from the action of the
figures, and is SO badly set upon the
neck, with such poverty of art and so
i'll a grace, that nothing worse was
ever seen; his sprawling shoulders
are like the two pommels of an ass
pack saddle; his breasts and all the
muscles of the body are not betrayed
from man, but from big sack full
of melons set upright against wall
The loius seem to be modelled from
bag of lanky pumpkins; nobody can
tell how his two legs are attached to
that vile trunk; it is impossible to say
on which leg he stands or which he
uses to exert his strength; nor does
he seem to be resting upon both, as
sculptors who know something of
their art have occasionally set the fig
ure. 1t is obvious that the body is
leaning forward more than one-third
Of cubit, which alone is the greatest
and most insupportable fault commit
ted by vulgar, commonplace pretend
ers Concerning the arms, they say
that these are both stretched out with
out one touch of grace or one real
spark of artistic talent, just as if you
had never seen naked model. Again,
the right leg of Hercules and that of
Cacus have got one mass of flesh be-
tween them, 50 that if they were to be
separated, not only one of them, but
both together, would be left without
calf at the point where they are touch
ing. They say, too, that Hercules has
one of his feet under ground, while
the other seems to be resting on Goals.
-Benvenuto Cellini-Symonds.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02

There are no proscenium boxes no visible
footlights or orchestra, no prompters hood.
Those who are accustomed only to the dis
tracing architectural accessories of an ordi-
nary theatre can hardly conceive, perhaps,
how greatly the effect of any scene is en-
hapced by its thus being, so to speak, the
only thing in sight. And in a house so built
no one can possibly do aught but look and
listen to what is ON the boards 1t is not a
show place for the audience, but darkened
hall whittier the audience comes for the sake
of the opera alone The musicians sit in a
kind OF ''moat," which runs across the the
atre between the stage and the audience, and
they are entirely hidden from view. This
concealment of the orchestra is an equally
fortunate arrangement. The power of the
music is increased by its thus seeming the
work of invisible agents, instead of piping,
putting gentlemen in non-dramatic garb.
And the whole volume of sound comes to
the ear with far more unity and precision OF
effect
The stage is 100 feet wide by 1903 feet in
height and So feet In depth. Back of this is
another stage of 50 feet in depth that is only
used on extraordinary occasions. The scenic
arrangements, as is necessary in the produc-
ton of Wagner's operas, are probably the
ileoo LII luO VIII uONei eAeNIS .
introduced. For instance in "Parsifal," the
old knight and the boy Parsifal appear to be
walking through deep forest to the castle
Of Montslavat. But in reality it is the scenery
that is moving past them, sometimes entirely
hiding them from view, and they are finally
seen to emerge from the wood and enter the
grand hall of the castle, although they have
not once left the stage The shifting is mar
velously well done, and the illusion is com
plete.
Lovers Of music from all over the world
assemble at Bayreuth during the summer to
hear Wagner's operas. The price of seats is
twenty marks, or SIS each, regardless of loca-
ton, so those who apply first get the best
seats. There are usually fourteen or sixteen
performances, spreading over period of
four or five weeks. The performance begins
at half past in the afternoon, and continues
until half past 10, with two intermissions of
an hour each, during which the audience
leaves the house and walks around the spa
cious gardens, or dimes at the nearby restau-
rant When the tetralogy sgiven the per-
formance lasts for four days, one opera each
night. Leaving aside certain passages in
Tristan" and die Meistersinger," which
Wagner never surpassed, the tetralogy is
considered his most complete and in many
respects his greatest work.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02
Closed Rooms.

Queen Victoria is in the habit of
keeping rooms which have been occu
pied by deceased relatives locked up.
The apartments at Claremont in which
the Princess Charlotte died more than
seventy years ago are closed, and no
body is allowed to use them. Prince
Albert's apartments at Windsor, Os-
borne and Balmoral are all kept pre-
cisely as they were when he was alive,
and ON the wall of the room in which
he died there is tablet with aN in
scription recording the fact that this
apartment was the scene of his de-
mise" John Browns rooms at Wind
sor have also been closed since his
death and marked with large brass
sign, with an inscription commemo-
rating his virtues and deploring his
loss London Letter.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02
wAGNER'S VILLA.

poetry Of "Tannhauser;" when it had listened
to the marvellous "Lohengrin," teeming with
haunting strains of mystical meaning, and
when he composed Tristan and Isolde" a
profound work which deals with conditions
Of human life that have passed away many
centuries since, and the music Of which is an
absolute defiance of all rules and traditions
when these great operas were fairly thrust
upon the notice of a public whose palate was
becoming jaded with the mechanicalness of
the existing opera, they inspired an apprecia-
ton and an enthusiasm not paralleled in the
annals of music.
Wagner's theory of the true mission of
opera was the development of a vague idea
which he conceived when but boy. The
vast influence which the works of Byron ex-
ercised upon continental Europe during the
first half of this century had the effect of
creating an interest in English literature,
and Shakespeare particularly was carefully
studied When Wagner was still in his twelfth
year he was an enthusiastic admirer of the
Bard of Avon. His two heroes were Beethoven
and Shakespeare. He resolved to compose
an opera, the music of which should be as
great as Beethoven's, and the poetry as great
as Shakespeare's. He set to work and pro-
duced tragedy that was sort of combina-
ton of "King Lear" and Hamlet" There
were over forty deaths in this remarkable
tragedy, and in order to have enough char
acters to finish the story Wagner says he was
obliged to bring back upon the scenes the
ghosts of the dead characters But this in
cid mt represents the first crude formation Of
his theory, which, briefly stated, is that
there must be perfect union of the music
with the action of the drama.
The drama must not be a mere auxiliary of
the music-simply a thread upon which to
hang a certain number of arias and duets for
soloists Any one who reads the ibretto of
one of Wagner's operas will recognize the
masterful touches of poet. And the music
Is in exact accord with every variation Of
the story. Every passage, almost every
note, has, when taken in connection with the
development of the drama, a meaning Of its
own. When the curtain falls on the first
scene of "Tannhauser," for instance the mu-
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02

In about one hour and half this teinpera-
ture reduces the body, and all that remains
is few handfuls Of pure, pearl like ashes.
These can be placed in an appropriate urn,
to be taken away by the friends, or placed in
a niche in the chapel.
1t does not throw any discredit on the Gin
cinnati crematory when we say that it is not
SO fine as the one at Troy, considering that
there is difference of $4,000 jim the amount
Of money expended on each. The magnif-
cent crematory at Oakland cemetery, Troy,
cost the good round sum of 100000. 1t has
been erected by Mr.. William Earl, one Of
Troy's most prominent citizens, to the men,
DRY of his son. 1t stands 800 feet above the
level of the Hudson, in one of the handsomest
cemeteries in the country. A magnificent
view of the surrounding country is obtained
from the portico. The town of Cohoes lies
to the north, and farther down the river lies
the city of Troy, while way in the distance
toward the south can be seen the top of the
state capitol at Albany.
The crematory has been designed to serve a
double purpose. On rainy days funeral ser
vices of t..ose who are TO be buried will be
held in Tie chapel aud through the kindness
Of Mr.. Earl bodies can be cremated at any
time at the cost of the materials used. The
crematory is built mostly Of granite, and is
1856 feet in length and 20 feet wide, with a
tower nearly 100 feet high. 1t stands short
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02

cOurag IN g n I or
success, with but small incentive to pursue a
theory to the end and make Of the theory a
living and palpable fact. Wagner's whole
life was devoted to the establishing of his
theory. 1t was life of protest. He was one
of the most berated men of his time
Not until the great wave of approval which
swept over Europe in the early part of the
rios did the critics do him justice 1t was
organized in every large city of Ger
many. Men who from sheer pertinacity,
mingled with u fanatically conservative dis
inclination to accept anything that was new
and swerved from established criterions, be-
came the most ardent enthusiasts over what
was then known as the Emusic of the future
but what is now more aptly termed the music
Of all time Wagner never composed any
thing for the mob. When he first went to
Paris, friendless and absolutely without any
tangible future before him, he was we'll quail
flied to compose any number of horid, tin
selfish operas that would have captured the
town and put money in his purse. But the
idea was revolving to him. He preferred to
live in a garrett and perform for a pittance
such musical drudgery as the adapting of
comic opera scores for the cornet a piston.
Nearly all of the music that he wrote while
In Paris was rejected as being too eantastical
When Wagner had composed 1.-The Flying
Dutchman" Ito which he was inspired by
an intense appreciation of the wonders of the
SEAL an opera which, although morbidly
gloomy, contains some of his most noble
music, the public was so bewildered by the
composers daring departure from all estab
lshed rules that it was undecided as to
whether the innovation should be stranged
or applauded. So it remained passive But
when Wagner offered to it the splendid har-
monies allied to the sonorous and significant
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02

distance from the gate of the cemetery. and
is built ON the verge OF preciplce on a foun-
dation of solid rock. 1t is in the Romanesque
style, and, the tall tower is visible for many
miles. An open portico connects the chapel
with the tower, which is supported by pol
ished granite columns The chapel is of good
size and connects ON either side with two
rooms, the one on the west containing the re-
torts, with the furnaces below it. The one on
the east is used for the preparation of the
body before incarceration.
The interior of the building is fitted up ele-
gantly. The floors are laid In highly polished
tile and the walls are of tile and close grain
ed red Carlisle sand stone Much of the ma
terial used was imported. The altar is made
of Italian marble and Mexican onyx Back
of the altar at the northern end are three
stained glass windows with figure Of Christ
in the center and adoring angels on the
sides Near one of the walls is a bronze bust
Of Gardner Earl, Mr.. Earl's dead son, to
whose memory the crematory has been erect
ed, and who died two years ago. At the
southern end of the chapel are three inches
for urns holding the ashes of the Earl fam
lily, each niche to be inclosed by handsome
bronze tablet, while below Is a crypt for the
body of any member who may not want to
be cremated-
In front of each retort in the cremation
room Is heavy iron door, hung ON weights,
so that it can be readily raised Inside is a
movable iron framework, which is pulled
forward to receive the body, and beneath
which is a long iron pan to receive the ashes.
The furnaces are In the cellar. The intense
heat Is produced by combination Of gases
and requires but little fuel The body Is
trussed with wire to prevent the bones aging
of by the action of the heat The memorial
will be endowed with sum, the interest Of
which viii keep It In perpetual repair
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02

herself would make If she had an orchestra
The tetralogy more commonly known a:
the trilogy, on account of the fact that the
first opera, "Das Rheingold," merely serve:
as an introduction to the other three was
first produced at the first Bayreuth festival
of 1876 as it will probably never be produced
again.
Wagner left in his will stipulation tina,
"Parsifal," his great religious opera, the last
of his composition, should only be produced
in Bayreuth. Mrs. Wagner still holds thi:
right, and derives a considerable income
from the annual productions of the opera
Mrs. Wagner, by the way, is the daughter OF
the late great pianist Franz List, and was
first married to Hans Won Bulow, from
whom she secured a divorce and was mar
ried to Wagner She is a woman of many
accomplishments, and was Wagners idol
Her father, Franz List, assisted Wagner
many times when he was in sore distress, and
they We're the closest of friends.
The greatest singers of Europe give Their
services for nothing at the Bayreuth festi
walls, and are glad to do SO, their reward
coming in the instruction they receive and
the pleasure in which they share, and in til,
universal fame which can in no way be S,
quickly and completely gained as by Bay
reuth triumphs.
During the Bayreuth festival of this yea
three of Wagner's greatest operas-"TristM
and Isolde, )" die Meistersnger" and "Pars-
fal'-will be sung, and preparations on
grand scale have been made. A larger crowl
than ever before is expected to be in Bay
reuth during the season, and the list of sinl
ers who have volunteered their services
scarcely less than list of the pre-eminen
vocal artists of the world
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02
How to Make an Eolian Harm.

Have any of our young friends ever
seen an eolian harp2 1t is musical
instrument made by the Greeks many
centuries ago, and hung among the
trees, or where the wind could blow
upon it, making a low, soft, musical
sound. The Baptist Weekly tells how
to make one, which is very easily
done and inexpensive, for most of the
material can be found about the house
WAX a piece of buttonhole twist
about two and a half feet long; tie
each end strongly to small peg, and
thrust the pegs down the crevice be-
tween the two sashes of your southern
or western windows, stretching the
silk as tight as possible. 1t will sur
prise you the sweetness and variety
of the tones the wind will bring
from it. Having done this you may
be moved to go further and prepare
a more elaborate eolian harp.
Take some quarter inch wood and
make box the length of your win
dow frame, four or five inches deep
and six or seven inches wide. Bore a
few small holes in circle near what
will be the upper side of the back of
the box when placed in the window
with the open side of the box, fasten
two bridges like violin bridges, one at
each end, and stretch on them several
strings of fine catgut, contriving
series of screw pins to aid in the tight
stretching necessary, and allow OF
their being tuned to one note Then
raise your sash on the windy side of
the house, and the wind passing
through the hole and over the strings
will, in its rising and falling, make
very sweet music. Boston Budget.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02
Cement for Broken Iron.

By new method of cementing iron he
parts cemented are so effectually Joined to
resist the blows even of a sledge hammr
The cement is composed of equal parts of Ill
phur and white lead, with proportional
about one-sixth of borax. When the como
sition is to be applied it is wet with strog
sulphuric acid, and thin layer of it is plaei
between the two pieces of iron, which arat
once pressed together. In five days it WILDE
perfectly dry, all traces of the cement nv
ing vanished and the work having every.p-
pearance Of welding. York Telegrm.
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02

end, until it is put out by the rising waters
of the Rhine bearing the maidens on the sur
face; these scenes, with the glorious music
accompanying, cannot be matched by any
act Of any other opera. Nevertheless, it is
the opinion of the best critics that as
WHOLE "Siegfried" is the grandest part of
the tetralogy. In no other work of Wag-
ner's is there such minute correspondence
every second between the poetry, music and
scenery. Every action and gesture on the
stage is mirrored in the orchestra. A great
musician once said that "in 'Siegfried' we
hear for the first time music such as Nature
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02

Many regard the first act of "Die Wal
kure" as the most finished of his creations;
and certainly it has wonderfully impress
dve climax. But grand as this is, there are
many who consider the last act of "Goetter-
daemmerung" the supreme achievement of
Wagner Tho exquisite trio Of the Rhine
maidens swimming and singing in a pict-
uresque forest scene; the death of Siegfried
and the procession that slowly carries his
body, by the light Of the moon, up the hill (;
and the burning Of the funeral pyre. at the
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-08-02
FRITZ REUTERS STATUE.
Germans i'm Chicago Propose to Put 1t L
in Lincoln Park.

The name of Fritz Reuter- is at present O.
cupying the attention of the German pop
lation of Chicago They propose to put up
monument to his memory in Lincoln par
but it seems there is some opposition to II
plan. The monument however, a cut /
which is given with this article, is in tn
process of manufacture, and it seems prot
able that the Germans will have their way
The great question of Who is Fritz Reute
that there should be monument erected t
his memory in Lincoln park has been aske
many times by the American population d
Chicago. Well, Fritz Reuter- was German
poet He was born in Mecklenberg in LII
and died in Saxony in 1874, and his specially
was the Plattdeuttsche dialect. He stands q
Germany in about the same rank that WI
Carleton, James Whitcomb Reilly, Brit
Harte and John Hay do in this country. L
is the poet of the common people, and SON
of his characters are acted by the Germa