Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-04
THE TOPICAL TALkER.
peatb in Double FIXTURES.

InE IUfICHL IhlhChs
Death in Double Fixtures.
There is good deal of danger in these gas
and electric light fixtures" said a practical
electrician to me the other day; Il mean in the
kind which are used for gas and electric light
in combination. OF course it is convenient to
have the gas all ready for use If the electric
apparatus gets out of order and in theaters
and public institutions the joint fixtures are
particularly useful, no doubt. But L think
where the double fixtures are used in hotels or
private houses the taps ought to be made con-
spicuously disrinct-in fact, 1t would be well to
have the gas tap screwed up, while the electric
light is being used. The other day two actresses
came mighty near being suffocated in Pitts
burg hotel through the double fixture trap.
When they wentto bed one of them tried to
turn out the electric light. She did turn tap,
but it didn't shut of the light. Then her COM
panion got up and turned off the electric light.
But the first girl had turned on the gas when
she thought she was turning off the electric
light. Result two young women in a state of
asphyxiatiou next morning; would have been
dead had not their room been very large 1t is
a mistake always likely to occur and those who
have double fixtures should take care in time"
Authors as Their Own Interpreters.
Comparatively few authors have been sue
cessful as public readers of their own books or
as lecturers The gift of writing is not often
linked with the gift of speaking. James Whit
comb Riley is peculiarly fortunate in being
able to give perfect Interpretation to his own
poetry. What other poet of his rank, which
everybody seems to be realizing now is the
very first, has been able or at all events willing
as well as able, to act as their own interpreter?
n nnn nnn1 i'm i,,u%
elists who have given readings from their own
works are more numerous. The man who
heard Dickens and saw him act "The Christ
mas Carol" for example, has an advantage
over the mere reader of the printed pages that
we can hardly realize. Thackeray must have
been in a very different way a delightful
reader. Dickens was capital actor, who
might have shone on the boards if he had not
preferred to win immortality with his pen.
The tradition is well authenticated that sup
ports BYron's fame as a reader as well as
writer. Of course SO sensitive and proud
man never could be induced to read in public,
but the favored few to whom he revealed the
melody of his voice and his power of expression
have recorded in glowing terms their admira-
ton of both. None of the modern English or
American poets have been public readers Of
their own works. Mr.. Riley perhaps stands
more in need of a resort to reading of his own
works because he is the apostle Of new gospel
in poetry. Nothing like his realism in far
more than the mere shell of dialect has been
revealed to the American people by any poet.
His realism is radical, and his ability as an
actor enables him to demonstrate its truth. In
this city know of scores who have become
worshipers of Mr.. Riley since they have heard
him read his own poems. 1t is curious to note
how gradual is the growth of fame even when
genius commands it.
Let Go Everything!
II remember, good many years ago." said
Captain Steele last night, "being ashore one
Sunday in New Bedford, in Massachusetts,
The village had Bethel. and above the pulpit
was sounding board which didn't at all give
satisfaction Some how the parsons voice did
not reach his hearers with the desired distinct
ness and accordingly the deacons were expert
menting with the sounding board to ascertain
just at what height above his head it would
throw forth his voice with due distinctness. A
block and tackle was rugged to it, with the in
tention of raising and lowering it from Sunday
to Sunday until the proper position was OBJ
tanned, and the fall made fast to q clete in the
deacon's pew.
ION the Sunday chanced in, and while the
minister was holding forth from the fourteenth
Epstle of st. Paul to the Ephesians. half
drunken sailor looked in at the door. The
deacon. actuated by desire to snatch one
brand from the burning, went to the sailor and
sat him down in his pew where, overcome by
the heat of the church, he presently fell asleep
with his head resting on the clete to which the
sounding board halliards were made fast.
''The parson proceeded with his discourse
until, looking over at Jack. he paused and said:
Let US digress, my friends, for a moment, to
consider the life the sailor leads when afoat.
Consider the sailors life on board ship.
Many of you have brothers and sons
on the water. You are here doing your
duty; what are they doing the night of this
Christian Sabbathf Let me draw you picture.
The ship is in the tropics. She lies becalmed,
with Tapping sail. and scarce moving except as
the slow current carries her along. And the
sailors-how do they occupy the spare timer In
praying and reading the Bible; in rejecting on
the uncertainty of life and the certainty OF its
termination3 Little reck they. my friends, of
danger, either here or in the world to come.
The grog can flies round; the merry feet are
tripping over the deck, and the sailor is dancing
and singing and fiddling away his soul. But
retribution is in store for them. A little cloud
appears on the horizon; ar first no bigger than
mans hand. 1t grows larger and larger, till at
length it spreads like mighty black pail over
the whole face of nature. The wind rushes
Is
the shrouds. tearing at the sails, rattling the
blocks and careening the ship. The squall
strikes the vessel with giant strength and
threatens to broach to. AL Is confusion, and
too late they recognize their danger, when the
captain jumps to the bridge and. seizing his
trumpet, roars out in voice that is heard far
above the shrek of the elements: LET 60 the
halliards fore and aft; let 60 everything"
AYE. aye, sir is the prompt answer from
the deacon's pew, down came the sounding
board and boxed in the parson. He was lifted
out, but was so much injured that he was sent
as missionary to the Flathead Indians, where
he immediately became a great medicine man,
owing to the shape of his head.''
shakespeare's Queer Fist.
Wasn't that rather unkind cut at Shakes
peare in THE DISPATCH the other day? The
allusion to his signature especially. 1t is true
that the great dramatist used to sign his name
In An s.irrepular lop-si misshapenn stvle