Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-03
AROUND IN GOTHAM.
WONDERS AND WANDeRINGs IN THE
GREAT METROPOLIS.
Street Tragedy-slipshod sermonixing-
Crew and Nissionary-Case Of vivi-
section-Its Advantages
correspondence Of tho Richmond Dispatch.I

phrase III, IN the midst or lie we are III
death. Might have been in at the death
anyway. If not our own. as the bullets
whizzed around our carcases. Just COM
forted by snug little dinner near Union
Square. This is one of the sweet charms OF
dear life in Gotham: you never know when
you may leave it for the skies. Atragedy {?
Well, perhaps not. but the intent
was good. A scrimmage on the side
walk, woman's shrieks: n mans muiiied
curses, then cracking volley OF pistol
shots at flying target among scattering
crowd. he caught the bullets in his back:
she intended them for his breast. She
was whirled like magic into street-car,
where she Historically proclaimed her
woes for the delectation of her
alarmed fellow passengers, who paled
az she wiped the blood from her
neck, which he had tried to cut, shoot.
or some way main. The old, familiar
story; n stupid marriage between an ac-
tress and q stage workman. who posed to
her as an actor. When the veil was re-
moved love few out of the window. Omar
rels. separation, jealousy. powder and
shot, remorse, and wretchedness unspeak-
able. Tragic comedy, too. for the shot
carrying Lothario retired on the tri-
umphant arm of Belinda No. q; but an en-
not 10 bC ~ Nhc
best aid to digestion when witnessed sud
denly.
COAucAL CHURCH SHOCK.
Pass we on now to the farcical. Would
you expect 10 find il in church? Scarcely.
In church 1t was, nevertheless. Picture
solemn editce, half Lit with the fitting
dim religious light" the organ breathing
forth the most ethereal strains. everything
subdued, gloomy. yet withal genteel: for
this was q Presbyterian church IN fashion,
able Madison avenue. its preacher one of
the cleyerest half dozen of Gotham's
dlyines. DR.. Thompson, formerly OF
Kansas City. Topic: Athletics and God
liness," happily chosen to suit the tastes
of those whom the late Lawrence Oliphant
described rs the worldly holy and tho
wholly worldly. The preacher took a text,
of course, for how could there be a sermon
without one. but there was lecture-rOom
twang about II that was rather puZzllng
until in an evil moment Ot mind-wandering
the speaker slid into the secular manner
by addressing us as ladies and gentle
men," The shock was as welcome as an
ice-cream, and about as delicious. IL
any of the dear sisters or brethren tainted
away when they reached home on ponder
ing over this terrible innovation they pro-
badly soon recovered. 1t only goes TO
show how sadly the overworked clergy
men of fashionable churches need three
months vacation every year to revive
their wits and reduce their SURPRISES. Also,
that old weekday lectures can be cooked
up into Sunday sermons.
Talking of preachers and their enyiable
vacations reminds me OF q rising young
pulpit orator who has struck new thing
in vacations. The Rev. Thomas Dixon,
Jr.. has been preaching for some months IN
the hall of the Young Mons Christian As
ISOLATION, his own church being unable TO
hold the crowds that come 70 hear his
earnest orations. Tie is now enjoying his
holiday-enjoyment ought to be the word
seeing that he il preaching TO an uptown
congregation every Sunday while his own
downtown people are putting up with
substitutes. Preaching may be made pro-
ftable for all things, and sometimes IL
great gain for saints as well as sinners.
SAILORS "DEvoTIoYs."
Have YOU ever seen a crew of colored
sailors at their Sabbath evening deyo-
tions? On the forward deck OF ship with
the East Indian name OF lndramayo, lying
in tho inner BAY. were gathered about
score Of sturdy fellows. whether negroesor
lascars we were not near enough TO distIn-
guish. They stood in ring, like children
PLAYING ring-a-ring-O' -roses, their hands
seemed TO be holding rope on sail-sheet.
and they capered about with all the agility
and grace of the front row III the Madl-
son-Garden ballet. AT a signal from the
master Of ceremonies the dance changed
into high leaping. the sheet seemed TO be
let 90. for an instant the circle broke only
to come together immediately in closer
file, much like the contraction of rubber
rjno. then there was "a chorus OF hliarIOuS
whoops. but Just as the grand climax was
coming our yexatiOus boat shot u out or
sight. They must have been celebrating
the holy day by tossing their missionary
passenger in blanket.
THE "RrNG FINGER" AND THE PIANO."
Are you afflicted with an unmusical fin
ger? Does your ring finger " fail 10 per-
form its mission on the piano keys with
the flexibiity and strength the other
digits possess? Our leading professors,
and more particularly those in Boston and
New York, have lately. discovered
that nature arranges these things
somewhat clumsily. and they have
devised means to correct her short
comings. It's the simplest thing in the
world; you just get surgeon TO sever the
little tendon that connects the third and
fourth fingers of tho hand immediately
back of the knuckles-and there you are.
This odd little operation Is becoming quite
popular among budding musicians here,
and as many az 400 hands-principally
those Of very young girls-have been ope-
rated upon this season.
| talked yesterday with well-known
professional teacher on the subject and he
rather surprised me.
There are over 1900 young people,
great majority being young ladies, who
have had the ring -iinger liberated" said
he. land it bids fair TO become almost
general in the case of those who wish to
acquire complete musical education. In
Boston Professors Orth and Faction have
undergone the operation together with the
daughters of many families in society. In
this city Mrs. Mann is the leading profess
sonal whom recall as having submitted
TO it, but there is host OF
non-professionals. of course. Personally
was skeptical about the advantage TO be
gained, but since such distinguished mu-
sicians as S. Is. Mills. the celebrated pia-
mist Professor Lambert, of the New York
College of Music, and Professor Agra
monte, who is now visiting in Michigan,
have investigated and expressed their as
constituent at the change produced by the
little surgical operation, l have been CON-
PEELED TO fall into line. Even D'Albert,
the prince OF pianists, has been convinced.
He saw the operation reformed IN san
Francisco"
THE FINGERS BECAME STIFF.
"How did il first become known"
"By the merest accident. A physician
Of New York attempted TO operate on tho
tendons Of musician whose third and
fourth fingers had become stiff and unre-
sponsive through an injury to the hand.
AT first he inserted the instrument at the
back of the hand. little forward of the
wrist. by and by he struck the tendon.
and there was a slight improvement. Then
Professor L. S. Bonnelli. who is bit of a
surgeon himself. got interested. The ex-
pertinent gave him an idea, and when he
went to San Francisco he operated upon
them tor the privilege, Of course. lie was
unsuccessful until, one day, he got out of