davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

Where double parlors are used the wall
space above and at each side of the door
opening will serve as proscenium arch.
Tasteful draperies are better for the dec
Grafton of this than evergreens, and do not
require the driving of so many tacks and
nails and the consequent designation of
the wall surface.
The curtain is most important acces-
sorry 4 curtain which is fitted to a roller
seems simple enough, but it is likely to
prove complicated at just the wrong time
and get stuck. Therefore it is to be avoid
ed Hanging curtains, which meet at the
middle of the stage opening, are best and
easiest handled. The diagram shows how
they are arranged, looking from the stage.
At each upper corner of the stage open
ing pulley is fixed IA AZ. Through each
of these pulleys line q b runs to point
about half way down the inner edge of
each curtain &C c.. At the first signal
from the stage manager these lines are
pulled and fastened round the cleats Cd d.
provided This will swing the curtain
noiselessly and gracefully upward to the
corners of the stage opening The lines
+ f run through the same pulleys and are
attached to the lower corners of the cur
drawn, lines F. f should be used to pull the
ends of the curtain, which will be hanging
at the upper corners of the stage opening,
out of sight of the audience. These lines
are fastened to cleats + f. The two sets of
ceats should he placed at some distance
from each other, to avoid the possibility of
pulling the wrong lines first. In lowering
the curtain lines L, f should of course be
loosened first.
But better places for amateur theatricals
can be found than the parlors Of a private
house The loft of a good sized barn, if it
be high and can be heated, offers many ad-
vantagcs. chief of which is plenty of room.
Folding chairs can be hired at small ex-
pense for the audience, or if greater econo-
my is desired chairs may be contributed
for the occasion by the actors and their
friends.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
Well Disciplined Ducks.

During our stay at Hankow we visited
duck farm. The process of keeping
the ducks is very simple. A large
wooden shed stands near the edge of the
river, where the owner of the farm or
an employee spends the night with his
feathered friends. There must have
been several thousands of ducks in the
farm we visited. Before sunrise the
door of the shed was opened, and out
run the ducks, scrambling one over the
other into the river, where they spend
the day feeding.
AS soon as sunset approaches, from all
parts of the river they come, for they
wander far among the rushes and islands
during the day, and there is still more
hurry and scurry to get into the shed
than there was to get ont at dawn. The
reason is simple lmmovable by the
door sits the Chinaman, long cane in
his hand, and woe betide the last duck
TO enter, for down on its back comes the
long bamboo with a pain in1icting thud.
IN this way punctuality is insured among
the ducks.
Children could hardly have learned
their lesson better than the ducks
Blackwood's Magazine
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
An Ancient Hot Bath.

Remains of ancient hot air baths OF
sweat houses still exist on the island OF
Rathlin, on the northeast coast of County
Antrim, Ireland. The Rev. d. B. Null
cahy describes one he visited on the farm
of Widow McCurdy. III the townland OF
Knockans. Mrs. McCurdy said she had
used it fifty years ago. and that it had
been used by the islanders from time i'm
memorial. \ heap of ashes lay outside
the doorway showing it had formerly
been heated by fire.
Mrs. McCurdy said further that pre-
vious to a bath fire was kindled inside,
and when it was sufficiently heated the
ashes were swept out. The people came
to be cured Of rheumatism There was a
hole az the top TO let out the smoke and
admit light. a stool or scraw on the
floor was used TO sit on or stand upon in a
stopping posture-Philadelphia Ledger.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
DIAGRAM NO. II.

In such a case the prosceniUm arch viii
of course have to be constructed for the oc-
caSion. \ simple framework leaving an
opening not more than fifteen feet wide
and twelve feet high above the stage can
he easily built by a carpenter, or if the
dramatic club is lucky enough to have an
ingenious member who doesn't mind turn
ing his hand TO that sort of thing. by q
member of the club This framework may
be draped so rs to hide the region behind
the scenes. - as the taste of the fair ones in
the club dictates.
Where the performances are given in a
room high enough. the stage should be ele-
waited about two feet above the level on
which the audience sits This can be done
by substituting horses" of the required
height for the scantlings or pianks sug-
gested for parlor stages. Great cara
abould be used in building this foundation,
as the tall Of stage might cause a ven
serious accident.
After the stage, proscenium arch ana
curtain have been arranged for, scenery
and foOtiightS are the most important ac-
cessorieS. In theaters the footlights are
hidden from the audience by being set in a
trough. Such an arrangement is toe
elaborate for xn improvised playhouse, X
a boanl about four inches high should be
run across the front OF the stage as n
screen. The footlighrs themselves may h
small oil lamps, If necessary. but wherg
gas is accessible It is lsetier TO use it. by
means of long pipe. punctarel II inter
walls OF three or taur snchss II thar j.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
He Wanted n Dollar.

Tax Collector Stewart comes in for his
share Of amusing incidents. The other
day fat, little, understood, gray headed
negro man waddled into the apartment
for taxpayers. 1t war early in the morn
ing and ne was the only taxpayer there.
BY getting on tiptoes tho old negro could
Just peep through the window between
the apartments; bat no one in the tax
Office seemed to see him. At last Mr..
Stewards attention was attracted by
various and sundry noises.
what Is il uncle:T asked Mr Stewart
"Mawnin, boss, Inawnin. les' want
ed ter fin cut how much my ole lady =
tax wuz. boss. I'm bout sho' it's erbous
ix-forty"
Mr.. Stewart consulted the tax books
''Only five-forty.
Boss, said the old fellow in a dubious
tone, Il specs you better look ergin- I'm
sho' II mus be six-lorty."
In spite Of al the old tax collector
could say the old fellow handed him
81. 80. The tar collector returned the
old man a dollar ard gave him o re-
ceipt
"Thankee. boss thsnkee. said the old
negro when he saw the dollar returned
Re pocket the dollar aud departed with.
the receipt.
The next morning Mr.. Stewart met
the same old negro fellow on a street
car. When he negro saw Mr.. Stewart
ne broke into laugil.
Look here. Uncle; why id yoa want
70 paw more tar than was Necessary"
Wen, il WIZ dis way, boss. wanted
4 dollar. didn'; knoT 'zaefIy how ter
ut 'er paid y0n 81 -. dsdut /, brsss
goes hogas ST tells TIE ole lady dun
paid Mr. StuArd - 80 Dat dollar 10
Iongs . me Atlanta Herald
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

Her disagreeable experiences began with
the awful Brooklyn theater fire in 1875.
which killed 700 persons, three of the vic
Tins being members of the company. Her
own escape was almost miraculous. In
1877 she passed through the famous St.
Louis fire.
Since that time she has seen more than
a dozen theater panics, three Of which
were caused BIZ fire. Besides, she says that
several times scenery in theaters where she
has been playing has caught fire and been
extinguished without the knowledge Of the
audiences At Rochester. y. Z. one time
she pulled down some blazing canvas and
stamped the flames ont herself
More % the panics which she has seen
she says. have been caused by the noise Of
fights outside the theaters in the streets
than BIZ anything else. 4 frightful disas
ter was barely averted at Owens opera
house in Charleston once when she was
playing there. The only reason fer it was
a worJly war between TWO men On The side
walk in front Of the theater.
Miss Claxton has gained so much Of a
reputation as a forerunner Of theater scci-
dents that she SAYS she is satisfied that
many people who would otherwise 90 70
See her act stay away because of their 81
peTstifioEs dread
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

gas on the premises it is simple matter
to connect such continuance to any near
by jet by means of rubber tubing. A strip
Of new tin will do very we'll as reflector.
The question of scenery is a most i'm
portant one and one difficult to discuss In
the limited space of a newspaper article
The fewer changes of scenery there are for
each performance the better Plays which
can be performed with only one stage set
ting are best for amateurs. Even when
the club has enough money to hire or buy
two or three cheap sets, it is a question if
it were not better to spend the whole on
one and get good one. One of the firms
which make speciality of supplies for
amateurs furnishes fairly good scenery
painted or printed on strong paper and
mounted on frames or unmOunted, as may
be desired.
remember that very satisfactory gar
den scene, mounted on good frames and
ready for use, was purchased for twenty
dollars by dramatic club of which was
once a member Unmounted, this scene
could have been bought for about ten dol
lars This scene consisted of a back
cloth" the perspective view hung at the
rear of the stage, two wings" for each
side of the stage (they represented trees, Of
course) and border Borders or flies"
are the pieces OF scenery which run across
the top of the stage. Blue paper, repre-
senting the sky, makes cheap and effective
borders. There should be as many borders
as there are wings. Diagram No. shows
how the stage was set in the scene of which
/ write. the dotted lines representing the
location of the borders above the stage.
If the club doesn't care to spend SO much
money on its scenery, sitting room or
drawing room interior can generally be
easily arranged by the judicious use Of
wall paper and borrowed carpets and furni-
ture. EDWARD MARSHALL.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

"While was doing some shopping,
saws man, Il encountered the typical
woman shopper, She was with another
woman and they reached a counter
where some charming little teakwood
cabinets were displayed.
"'Therer exclaimed tie type enthusi-
astically, the very thing of all others
for Mrs. {. Only last week she was
aG;niring little one of mine and wish
ing for it, fellow for Der dressing table
How fortulater exclaimed her com
panion. / shoIld get it directly, and i,
viii be OF your mind
The other hesitated, looked at the
price and commented: They're not al
all dear, and they're certainly very pref
~ and | know she wants one, but, put
ting the cabinet back, 1 feel as If /
hadn't looked quite enorgh-you know
! had planned TO give up the sest of the
afternoon to Mrs. C.'s preser... New
York Times.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
NlllIlt agle
NOtIIinp Neiy.


Ia the immense parlor of a Fifth
aveEue house vast as IA desert. where he
roic tapestries, gilded candelabra, furni-
ture covered with antique darnask, por.
traits of captains in white cravats, and
Of austere ladies with scarfs of flowers.
evoke vanished epochs. the grandfather,
whose hair is white as snow, acclaimed.
As is his custom every Sunday since the
time when Polk was president. Moth
ing ever happens" he said. Il mean
nothing having an absolute character
istic, for the man who was run over IN
Seventh avenue yesterday at 3 o'clock
might as well have lived 1000 years
ago and been run over in street of
Nineveh under the reign of Nebuchad-
uezZar. 1t is not the newspapers, but tire
newspaper men that am interested in
Aren't you dazed by them?
Every morning, without a sign of
fatigue. they serve the public with the
sublime, the ironical, the gay and the
farcicaL. They have charming and en-
thusiastic phrases, irresistible argu-
ments, and, like pianist with long fin
gers of quicksilver, they make the en-
tire gamCt laugh, murmur, sing and
Thunder endlessly. The things that they
ignore they are bound to know, and
they know them; the things that they
could not do, they do: from their ex-
hausted minds they draw inexhaustible
inventions. They put their hands il
their empty pockets and withdraw them
filed with gold. They have not the time
TO dream, and they are compelled to be
universal. New York Times.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
How Man Sleeps.

Adult man is, believe, the only ami
NAL who ever elects to sleep upon his
back. Some of the lower savages seen
to sleep comfortably on occasion IN q
crouching position, with the head bent
down upon the knees. Just IS well as
the common tribes OF monkeys do
Among the quadrumana 1t IS not until
we come 10 the platform building an
thropoid types that we find 7ecumbent
position habitJailv taken during sleep.
The yoUng orangs and chiInpanzees that
they have had 1T the geological gardens
slept with The body ssmIproae and with
the limbs, or all except one arm. which
was used as pillow. cT7rled under them
This Is exactly the position voluntarily
adopted by ~ per cent Of children
between ten and twenty months old
which | have had opportunities Of
watching. was told By the attendants
at the geological gardens that nc ar-
will sleep fat - his beck as aay1lt rEau
often dos %s-----7-.-,-s- f'.s-rrrsry-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
Two Points to Observe In walking.

There are two wal points lndlspensa-
bic to good walk which. If the student
viii observe. he will acquire free and
elastic carriage. These two points art
TO let the chest lead. and TO feel the ball,
Of the feet rs one walks. do not sa,
point The toes downward. for this will
give a strained and mincing gait at first.
But as you walk. so poise yourself that
the heels touch but lightly. and, rs il
were, incidentally. and all the weight
and strain coming on the balls. This
with forward and erect chest, will
give the main items for good walk
and the minor points, such as controlling
the hips, restraining the arms slightly
etc, may follow as incidentals.-Chi.
cago WomauS News
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
HIND reis Of Prnfesaora.

In the counties Of Luzerne, ScbgyllCiIl,
Carbon and Northumberland. Pa. there
are ATS men who insist upon the title of
professor" This includes musicians,
teachers Of music, sohoolmassers. two
sleight-of hand men, enc veutriloqnist,
four sluggers or professors Of sparring. >
nine dancing masters, two oyster openers
and twelve drink mixers or bartenders.
Twenty years ago the title was = scarcs
one in the coal fields. II was worn only
by college teachers and u carried a
weight with it.-Hazleton Sentsnel.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

poised on a cart wheel. When performing
another difficult trick he pulls out the
spokes of his big wheel, curls himself in
side the rim and rapidly rolls the wheel
around While in Europe Kaufman per-
formed privately before the Prince of
Wales and other noted personages, all of
whom heartily applauded his wonderful
exhibitions Kaufman holds what he
claims is the only genuine worlds cham
pionship badge, and he is extremely anx-
ious to defend it against any rider in the
world
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
The Relirious pimcuItr.

Gourville, the French ambassador, wait
Cd on the Duchess Sophia of Brunswick
Tor the purpose ct ascertainiRg il her
daughter. aged twelve. would make suit
able match for the dauphin
How exceedingly beautiful he ex-
claimed; she is worthy OF the highest
rank and position. May ask in what re-
hglon the princess has been educgtedf"
In none up TO now, " replied the duchess:
''as soon as we get to know what prince she
Is going TO marry, we will have her in
ntructed in his religion. "-Lubbener Kreis-
slatt-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

actress. W lille
preparing for bed
in a Cincinnati ho-
tel shes spilled some
violet water on her
dress. Afterward
8 h e approached
the stove, and the
c o IN b II 5 ii Bile
fumes Of the liquid
took fire. She died
the next day.
At the time OF
her death she was
anembeFof Come
dian Jimmy Pow
ers' A Straight
Tip com pany,
playing the part
of Bedelia Doan.
the Irishwoman.
She was a very
beautiful girl and
an actress of great
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

loa-s - a l,oz.r-usCEIcE NAETEgLfECK-
although 30 says lse has 20 sympathy viii
or desire 70 pVact5ee The legal peofesslofs
he j . sl0Es wgTzeT ard great sfrn5reT q
Engs.h sud American literature. lie con
sislers -T.ae Van n fhe Tsss--e x I -lser.
% Edgar AiisD Pc E3se bess sEoEt story
ezer writes u hae Dot yat Yza-sel Ais
rvensT -t.iekth ar kl.sy
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

- = 80
Belgian Shake
speare F" As be IS
sometimes called,
IS constantly add
Ing new lsureis 10
the crown which
ms tragedies have
on. N0fwith-
standing the NOR
biduess of almost
all his writings
Maeterljnck - a
very ordinarily
happy Iookin
tail. fair
haired anu Pink
skinned lie t~-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

promise She got her early training from
Mrs. Annie Yeamans, in the stock company
of Hsrrigan and Hart, in New York She
had been on the stage six years and had
hundreds of friends, although she was only
twenty-five years old Some of the bes5
work she ever did was as the wench in
Money Mad"
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

Sl.i believe .l,st . gvo5sle arc Es5s 4. lsss-
variiy and iawari.s sGaa~uer,8 ~ lLelr
astgr-. sasgs sslet. ---fs.ai ~-rBerY .a.a.
enees pa asas4Y fa- ]! ssizas.ssf.. roc
ku0ss iare faxzrei f.r-s
he 4e-. ssgHi tbst Cbseazo z.FI sssasBd
sss-. x ~ Hsr~ra f'zssr.e arsnss. Is sss
Aook IL I.ssc !. gAzral4x
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
THE WICHITAE AGLl
SPORTING NOTES.

New Orleans swimmers viii play water
polo this winter.
The international tug-of-war proved q
failure at New York city.
Mayor Grant, of New York, is very fond
of all manner OF athletic sports.
Chicago has lourishing wheeling or
ganiZation that rolls along smoothly under
the euphonious title OF the Pizen club.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29


be no Sinking. And the success of the
performances viii depend almost as much
on the surroundings in which they are
given as it will on the ability f the actors.
II the performances are to be given in a
private house the best plan is to select one
if possible which has double parlors con-
nected with sliding or folding doors. One
of these rooms may then be used as stage
while the other gives the audience place
It is easy and not expensive to have an
artificial flooring for the stage, elevated
somewhat above the real floor of the room,
and such an arrangement adds greatly to
the effectiveness of the performance.
Unless the rooms and the openings between
them are unusually high, however, the
stage should not he raised more than few
inches. The great objection which every
housewife offers to the use of her parlors
for amateur theatricals is that the walls
and woodwork are likely to be damaged
But any careful carpenter can build such
a flooring as have spoken of without driv-
ing a nail. Scantlings Tor planks with out
riggers at the ends to keep them from tip
ping, if scantlings do not give enough
elevation) Bay be laid on edge on the floor
at intervals of two or three feet as foun-
dation.
Over these a flooring of boards may be
placed. matched lumber being preferable,
and secured from shifting by screwing an
inch wide strip across the ends, which, if
the boarding runs crosswise of the stage,
will be in the wings and quite out of sight.
1t should be remembered that the lumber
used in such stage viii not be at all dis
figured, and that the carpenter, after the
performance is over, may take it away
with him again. This materially reduces
the expense. In one instance Of which
know a stage of this kind was put in for
two nights at an expense of five dollars.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

rider who claims
worlds honors, for
$500 a side. Kauf-
man was born at
Rochester about
Twenty-Five years
ago, and began his
bicycling career in
1882. It was not
long before be was
astonishing large
audiences by his
marvellous feats on
the wheel. He Wis
tied the principal
American cities
and went abroad
five years ago.
Since that time
he has presented
his repertoire of
100 difficult feats
in all the leading
cities of Europe.
One of his most
pop ular exhibit
tions is skipping
rope while be is
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

actress III Oc.o
er o. last year She
b rou ght suit
against her hus
band for the sliD
port q herself ard
their sixteen gezr
old daughter
PhyIlis TIE Ran
kias became wide
~ farmers as ths
principal actors n
he I1sniirs.
y Inch ss-ss.- = -EaU8
ard IL ceS~ for
a3-.Hy years lRf
S.ncr e I1zR
- vuTF uIt hs
has beea uaah1F
lB;g5E r r-0-tT
rs al
a--ea
Egarser.. Sat rrsu a
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

Henri Moanier, when dining ~ 4 re-ts-i-
rant, noticed long hsir trailing on tbs
ouisletts which bad been SO before hins
Calling the waiter. BE- graosfuily handed
him the Dish. saying
Mon sfni I prefer ny onsIsttss balaip
-Spieii du D.manche.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

Ro-slis-Nr. Trotter proposed 20 me LAD
might.
Her Motksr-wsli. whas did yg1 tell
him.
Rosalie-f wss % rcftl~si I soBt kfsw
Whist sad. bat thinE zoeegtssi s.rB.--
Epoch b.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
Trick RicycIist Kaufman.

Nicholas f. Kaufman, who claims to be
the champion trick rider of the world, will
soon return from England to his home in
Rochester n. Y, and arrange a match
with Canary Maltby, or any other trick
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

Jadgs- Have zen soTtAanx - say -hy
sentence u death Should ngs h. $500
lgoa YSa'
prfsoneT fsauTh.ilT} III htss ssvthis1
- sa5. Ia ST. q 10 ~ sstos.ozrsolly
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
Usaossnafasi.

Hush1u5-i ngss teii yDu Il faaay
thing tbst hapgene1 f0daF' Do yon
rernennb Der thar fats morning T0a essss4 :
buffoz o. mr. iroaaers'
WRs-Why. cer<ain'y WHIST - IT.
HasJsnd Is IA EI there -gsoskiyn
lie
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

the news that Mckee Rankin had sued
his wife for divorce was not surprising 20
most theatrical people. Mrs Rankin WIS
once well known as Kitty Blanchard. the
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
Maurice Maeterliack.

The new light in dramatic literature
which rose on the European horizon IN the
person Of Maurice Maeterlinck shows no
Sims If fading On INC cnrltrarr the
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
AMATEUR THEATRICALS
How to Improvise Stage, Cur
tain and Scenery.
GOOD RESULTS AT SHALL COST.

DoubIe Parlors Offer a Fine Opportu-
nifty for Amateur Perform ances, but
the Best Place Is in - Comm odfous
Loft or Like Apartment.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29
Ill Fated Mary Bird.

An awful warning to women who use
toilet lotions carelessly near fire is contained
in the story of the death of Mary Bird, the
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-29

Consumption carries off
many of its victims need
lessly. 1t can be stopped
sometimes sometimes it
cannot.
1t is as cruel to raise false
hopes as it is weak to yield
to false fears.
There is a way to help
within the reach of most who
are ACKNOWLEDGMENT LIv-
ING and SCOTS Emulsion of
cod-liver oil.
Let us send you a book
on the subject free.
Scorr & BowHE, Chemists, r3z South 5;h Avenue,
New York.
Your druggis, keeps SCOTS Emulsion of cod-iyer
oil-all druggists everywhere 50. 81.