The sun., 1896-08-13
IIvE roPrcs ABoUr roWN.

sting rumors of a more startling char acter
The presence Of two bodies on on of tho fire
| escapes was sufficient TO excite the imagina-
| tion of the spectators, and n red. headed man
| with glasses nutdid every other gratultous
narrator in the crowd of several thousand peo-
| pie that was gathered around the burning
building This individuals stories claimed
the merit of being personal experiences. Tho
most narrowing feature of his recital was
| concerned with the spectacle of four bodies
| which he had seen on the fire escape at
| the first floor. He accounted for their disap-
pearance by saying that tho stream from the
water tower had knocked the n down to the
street, where another stream OF water from
hose had driven them through the basement
windows into the cellar. man leapinR from
the fourth-story ire escape was to the solitary
VISION si, OF this appreciative spectator seen to
SIe,sI sirlk9 The he top OF an am6ulnnce and imme-
tion OF this spectator every fire escape was
| spread with the remnants of human bodies,
Nevertheless, the presence OF the two bodies
on the fire escape was the one actual horror
OF the scene, and the stories that il inspired
proved that an ordinary crowd Of New, York
pulidinE are not destitute Of the powers o
1t was By the merest chance that A. X.
! Warren and James Rich Steers, the two pnrt-
neIs In the electrical company that occupied
upper stories when the lire began. They had
gone out late to luncheon, and IL was only
hIter considerable persuasion from Mr.. Steers
that his partner consented to accompany him.
Mr. Steers was oarsman during his under
graduate days at Columbia College, aud he has
not yet abandoned athletics. In this way lie
forget the hour for luncheon. lie remem-
his partner the fire destroyed their offices
while they were in restaurant across the
street.
book store which exhibits many OF its
wares on the sidewalk has Just been compelled
to put back into the store all the books on the
silver question which had been offered for sale
ON tho counters outside. The proprietor re-
ports that there has never before been such n
call as now for campaign literature, and the
books and pamphlets discussing the silver
question from both sides are naturally in
greatest demand. To facilitate the sale of
these they were put on the sidewalk. But the
mistake of that move was soon made apparent.
Men who had stopped to examine the books
would soon fall into communication with
other prospective purchasers near them, and
grow out of their talk. The result would be
n, tne same in nearly every case Absorbed in
Argument; HEo, eh, the men would forget all about
other bystandcrs in their dispute, and In the
ensuing wranRle all hands forgot their interest
under an appearance of great prosperity kept
far below the figures which the proprietor
were taken 70 the back OF the store. scattered
about in small lots, and distributed with every
serve as dfu s or sks erSE 4
Even the clerks were warned under peril Of
dismissal not to express any opinion to dis
vershtion TO the questions involved in their
business duties. The plan has so far worked
well enough to keep the patrons OF the store
down To business. and though the same crowds
no longer gather more books are sold.
The return of Emma Eames and Emma
he fnrnaa pff bn
tho Metropolita An is not likely to lead to any
renewal of the hostlitics which accompanied
the last joint appearance of these two singers
here. They have not since that time been
simultaneously members OF the metropolitan
company, as when Calve came over here last
winter Eames stayed In Europe and did much
toward increasing her reputation. During the
preceding season, Eames came over while
Calve sulked at home. But they san. together
in England and without disastrous consequcn-
ces. appearing moreover in the roles they were
sustaining on that eventfu Wednesday even.
ing TWO years ago when they we're So rernRrka-
bly, rude to each other. They last sung in
Queen at Wind-or Castle, and the amia billy
OF the o. casion was not disturbed. Maybe tho
august presence had something to do with it,
more to do with IT. indeed, than the prntesta-
tions of mutual affection and esteem for each
other in which the two lad INDUCED them
selves from time to time. But doubtless if
they sing together here next winter there will
b. ,, no repetition of the OLD time animosity.
CalHe seems tO have this season the cay about
what she will do and what she will not do.
She decided that she would not sing In lie
Cid" and Melba was asked to undcrtaKe the
Leading role. She refused. and finally Nordica,
who is always willing to step into the breach,
consented TO sing the part So Calve /. .evidcntly
esting to see whether or not She gets the oppur-
,tunity y to sing Marguerite in Faust" That role
consent nohody can have a chance at it,
Eames rebelled against this last season and
stockholders last year expressed a desire to
hear Calve as the heroine Of tn. Gounod opera
Bnt she was only able to sing telectiun from 1t
a. one "f the sunday night concerts. and the
people who heard her realized thoroughly
why It was that Mclba proposed to keep her out
OF the role as long as she could.
Mrs Hicks-Lord was especially noted dur
ing her lifetime for an affablity Of manner
which manifested itself on all occasions, and
one cause of her repeated failure to secure the
qualification Of her social ambitions is believed
to have been her universal cordsllty to people
Her ambitions in "A social way were, Curiuusly
enough. united with this more admirable trait
She was indscriminately agreeable to all sorts
of people in all sorts OF places. Such "A char
acteristic naturally enough brought n series OF
disadvantages along with It, and these ap-
peared most conspcuously in the gatherings
at her own mouse. The famous first OF four re-
ce2tions at her Washington square house came
to its unexpected end when n number of the
guests retiring under tho influence Of the
Knockout punch which had been on tap in
side. pulled down the awning over the ste rs and
dragged it along the street with them for A
block. Mrs. Hicks-Lord's amiabilty was never
rufiied by these incidents, and she continued
TO he polite and hUspitRLle TO every 0ne she
met. An instance OF this is told by n Young
man who met her one day in jewelry shop
up town. He was acquainted with her by
sight, for at that tme--it was about six wears
ago-Mrs. Hicks-lIurd was more or loss IN
mliar figure in tho streets. She. however.
had no ide. who he might be. He was stand
ing with n friend al Jnc Of the counters ex-
amining II pair OF silver candclnbra. ana fIom
something that WAS said Mrs. Hicks. Lord
who stood next to him, understood that the
young mans mother. He was discussing the
advisability of the purchase with his friend
when Mrs. Iicks-Lord joined in.
II don't think you could find nything bet
ter" she said with a smile. I'm certain your
mother would be delighted with them. know
that ! should be. Candlesticks are always u
beautiful present"
She had moved off 20 another part Of the
store before the two men recovered from their
surprise. but she had offered the sug estion
with so much pOliteness and nmiability that IL
could never have occurred to any body In resent