Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-06
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
The Welcome Rain-DamnGe TO Crops, and
Trees and Lnwns-A Hoodoo Riddle

The Welcome Rain-DamnGe TO Crops and
Trees and Lnwns-A Hoodoo Riddle
Realism on the Stage.
RLEssINa as yesterdays rain was it came
little too late to save great deal of yege-
| tation. The market gardeners about this city
have reason to complain of the dire effect of
the recent hot spell. They need not tell Us
that the scorchinY sun played the mischief with
the corn; we who have found nothing but dry
ness and discomfort among many cobs appre-
ciate the effect of the untimely heat only too
well. The damage done to corn and potatoes,
particularly in Allegheny county, has been very
great. Yesterdays rain will be a godsend to
the farmers, but good deal more moisture Is
needed.
tits certainly fact that we have not had so
hot summer for four or i've years. Last year
at this time the lawns were green and flourish
ing; now they are brown and dead except in
spots. In a row OF young water naples, num-
bering score perhaps. which saw yesterday,
ten ha d shed most of their leaves and what re-
manned ratified in the wind dry and brown as
October's drift Along the railroads one may
see great patches of blackened turf and
charred underbrush-the result of fires kindled
by stray sparks from locomotives. The depth
OF dust on our country roads until the clouds
dropped water yesterday equaled that OF the
mud on the same highways last winter.
-
A coNUNDRUM which is disturbing certain
Pittsburgers soul is founded on this
question: II a man attends church picnic
once in five years and regularly encounters
drenching rain storm, should he regard himself
as hoodoo or harbinger Of evilf and also, is 1t
not the duty of the man so bewitched to eschew
church picnics for the sake of others If not for
his own?
ON operations have been hampered good
deal by lack of water recently. Work had
TO be suspended on several wells which are
being drilled in Bellevue and Jacks Run last
week, and the same story of creeks running dry
and water wells giving out comes in from
Montour Run, CHARTERS and other places
hereabout where water is needed to reach oil.
There will have to be good deal moro rain be-
Tore suf1cient supply Of water is assured for
the continuance Of oil well drilling in this
county.
EvERY mail brings to the dramatic editors
desk these days announcements of this or
that theatrical stars return from Europe. 1t
would be interesting to know exactly how
many of our leading actors have been across
the herring pond this summer. The Nation
has been quietly thinking about the extreme
heat, reciprocity, Baby Mckee. electrocution
risk Of losing several actors, OF the biggest
size, in a watery grave.
Another thing noticeable about the dawn Of
the theatrical season Of lS90l is that the tri-
umphs Of realism are not yet done. All sorts
of realistic novelties are being revealed For
instance, Manager William A. Brady has i'm
ported from Europe q genuine troupe of
Nautch dancers to be used in his production
of "An Irish Arab Mr.. Brady writes me,
that these girls are the genuine thing; that
they don't "chew gum and that they never
have seen the Bowery."
OF novelties of this sort the name is legion.
Some old ideas are being enlarged. When the
reproduction in Boston, of Dion Boucicaults
famous play, Flying Scud" takes place, they
will introduce in the third act of the piece their
newly patented effect, showing a complete
horse race from the start to the finish. Four
horses will be seen running abreast There
will be a grand stand filled with enthusiastic
people, betting shed, tally-ho coach and the
accessories to race track. Bookmakers and
pool sellers should be distributed among the
audiencne to complete the illusion.