Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-26
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
Wagner sheuId Have Been Born In China
May Festival Observation-Disclosures
Sennfor Rutau


Wagner sheuId HIVE Been Born In China
May Festival Mendacity-Crackers-
Senator Rutan.
ONE of the impressions which the May
Festival has made upon me is that Richard
Wagner ought to have been born in China. Not
only would the beautiful musical instruments
of that country have suited Wagner's ideas Of
composition to I, but he would there have
been able to write an opera of model length ac-
cording to his notion; one. for example, that
would have taken ten years to perform.
#s#
A VERY great many who went to the concerts
last week cannot devote this day to q better
purpose than to repenting for all the falsehoods
In which their indulgence in Wagnerian uproar
is certain to have involved them.
1t would be very interesting to know how
many persons out of the 5000 whoSat for three
mortal hours in the Exposition building on
Friday night while the Wagnerian waterspout
was loose really and truly enjoyed themselves.
1t is one of those things we can never expect
to know, because not one man In ten or one
woman in hundred dares to say outside his
or her souls chamber the thoughts which
Wagner's music-not all Of 1t, but most OF it
conjures there. Hence the prevalency Of polite
lying after such an event as the Wagner con-
cert on Friday night.
Ax<
The crop of travellers tales is being harvest
ed in some places. A Pittsburger writing from
London details a little experience in that city's
hotel life which seems worth relating.
They were four in number, ali Americans
and they were having dinner in the gorgeousy
furnished dining room of the Hotel Metropole
When the soup was brought the Pittsburger in
the party asked the waiter to bring some
crackers
beg pardon" said the waiter; ''what did you
say. sirf'
Crackers" replied the Pittsburger.
The waiter looked puzzled, but walked off
and did not appear again near the table for
several minutes. The soup was getting cold,
and the Pittsburger called another waiter and
sent him after the first with renewed injunc-
tion to bring some crackers. Another minute
or two passed, and then both walters re-entered
the room with the stately head waiter. They
were engaged in earnest conversation for an
other minute. At last the waiter originally
sent bashfulIy approached the Americans and
laid beside the Pittsburgers plate pair of
silver nut crackers.
There was general laugh in which the Pitts
burger joineds when another member of the
party said: 'If you want crackers to eat you
must call them biscuits as long as you're in En-
gland"
THERE is q movement among the CLERGY of
the Episcopal Church in the East to revise the
Episcopal Hymnal. The Bishop Of Western
New York said recently: Away with these
nauseous ditties, which have degraded our
church solemnities Of late, letting US down al
most to the level of campmeeting melodies or
the minstrelsy of a strolling Salvation Army"
Bishop Littlejohn, at the convention Of the
Episcopal diocese of Long Island, at Garden
City, on Wednesday last, quoted these words
with approval, and proceeded to urge upon his
auditors the importance of revising the
hymnal.
Has it not occurred to Episcopalians in this
part of the world that great many Of the
hymns they use are not at all in harmony with
the services of their Church 1t is in the tunes
rather than the words that the unpleasant dis
cord is to be discovered. If change is ever
made the Episcopal clergy and laity should ex-
anime Hymns Ancient and Modern" CON-
piled by the celebrated DR.. W. h. Monk, re-
Gently deceased, in London. This hymn book
is now almost in universal use in the English
Church, and, to my thinking. it is the most
beautiful collection of sacred songs in ex-
istence The dignity and inspiring melody of
the old hymns has been carried into those of
later date in this book, and there is not a hymn
in it that is. Objectionable to any reasonable
churchman, be he high or low.
~
SENATOR j. 8. RUTAN was saying goodby
yesterday to his friends here, or, at least to as
many of them-and no man has more friends
than Mr.. Rutan-as he could reach. He is
bound for Europe, with Carlsbad as his specific
destination. His health is a good deal i'm
proved and he hopes the famous German
springr may complete the cure.
When met him yesterday he seemed to be
in capital spirits and he laughingly alluded to
recent political events and added: "As to my
political ambition, there are only two things
care fora seat in the State Senate or one in
the United States Senate, though the latter, I
suppose, is long way off. see they've been
saying that I've been after favors at Washing
ton, but that is not so. The Commissionership
Of Customs, which went to Mr.. Holiday, had
no attractions for me and l did not seek it, nor
was my name presented in conn ection with the
appointment Until September, when L return,
I'm out of politics, at peace with all mankind
and in search of health"
HEPBURN JOHNS