davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01

saton with his friend, Giuio Ricordi. who. by
the way, Is the grandson OF the Ricordi who
bought the score of "Oberto" nearly sixty years
ago. He was a young man. organist at Busseto.
married. and the father Of two children. when he
first went to Milan. Then he was commissioned
to write an opera for the Philodramatic Theatre,
and the libretto given to him was that which.
with some notifications became "Oberto Conte
oil San Bonifacio." He. returned to Busseto.
and it was three years later that he retraced
his steps to Milan. carrying with him not only
the score. but also the voice parts Of his opera
But his friend Masn no longer director of
the theatre. and he had to be cOntented with
the prospect Of q single performance at La
Scala for the benefit of the Pho Istituto The
rest of the story is best told in his own words:
The parts were distributed. and the vocal re-
hearsals had scarcely begun when Moriani Uhe
tenor fell seriously ill.,. Everything was thus
Interrupted. and the production of my opera
was no longer to be thought of. i was quite
diSconcerted and getting ready TO return
TO Busseto. when one morning | arrive at
my door one Of the staff Of the theatre OF La
Scala. who said to me IL gruff tone Of voice:
going to give opera for the Pho Isttuto?
Come to the theatre; the imrresaro is waiting
for you
"Rcay"' | cried.
Yes. signor. | was ordered to go and find out
the maestro from Parma who was going to give
an opera. If it is you. come
And l went. The mpresario of La Scala at
that time was BartolOmcO Mere one night
behind the scenes he had overheard a cOnversa-
ton between Signora StreppOni and Giorgio Ron
conf. a conversation in the course of which Strep-
poni spoke very favoraby Of the music Of "Ober-
to d San BOnifaciO.' which RoncOni also found
to his taste. / presented myself then to Merei
who, without any preliminares, said that in
Of the favorable opinion which he had
heard expressed Of my opera he was Of his own
accord disposed to put il on the stage during the
next season. but that if / closed with the offer
! should have to make some alterations in my
score. the artists who would play in it not being
the same those who TO have sung il
originally 1t was a brilliant offer for me- young
/ came across impresario who
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01

changes in the nature of its shore line have made
1t impossible to battle where only a few years
ago the beach was considered the best.
| But the changes at Cuney Island are greater
than those at Long Branch or at any other place
along the NewJersey coast. and they are still
going on. changing not only the coast line, but
| making necessary the removal Of large struct-
ures, wiring out railroad lines and threatening
to submerge a part of the land and cause the
formation of an additional island.
There old residents on COney Island who
remember when the beach in front of the Man
haitian and Oriental Hotels fully two miles
out from where the hotels now stand. 1t was
known Pelican Beach. and was one unbroken
strip Of hard white sand. There was at that
time an inlet about midway between the spots
now occupied by the Oriental and the Manhat-
tan Beach hotels. and 9s the beach washed away
the sand deposited in this inlet. which was
finally obterated In the same way other inlets
and coves were closed up and disappeared but
all the time the beach was growing less.
For some years sandbars formed Just beyond
the shore line Those who had the matter at
heart and were anxious that the natural desruc-
ton should cease believed that these sandbars
would prevent further loss of beach line. But
until they were visible above the water. a sud
den storm would wipe them out and leave the
waters free play the sands. which would d-
minish more rapidly.
While this destruction taking place the
east end Of the island the sands were filling in on
the west end, and while owners Of property at
one end OF the island seeing their real es-
tate dwindle fakirs and sQuatters at the other
end were doing a good business with land which
was continually making"
1t is the opinion Of many people that unless
changes take place in the action Of the water on
the coast line .he water will eventually break
through as far as Sheepshead Bay and either
drain that body Of water into the sea or sub
merge all the land which now separates it from
the
The map which is published herewith gives a
good idea Of the falling away OF the beach at
Coney Island. Where the bathers enjoyed the
sunbaths on the sand in 1878 there are now fifty
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01

feet Of water. Bathing houses were moved back
and the Marine Railroad. which connected the
hotels had to be taken UP and placed further
back on the island to escape the wash OF the
water, which came dangerously near the tracks
A large hotel which when 1t was built stood well
away from the waters edge was threatened by
the encroaching water. and the great pile had to
be lifted from its foundations and rolled back
several hundred feet. Then the nature Of the
water front became changed In appearance.
Breakwaters and seawalls constructed,
and the sandy beach became a matter Of the
past, while the few patches Of beach which were
preserved for bathing purposes were pointed out
as samples Of what I'VE had before the beach
fell into the ocean,
A great bay has been washed out between
Brighton and Manhattan and the Marine Rail-
road, which connects the two places. makes cir
cuitous route. a strong bulkhead has been built
near the Manhattan property. by means of which
the destruction has been arrested at that point
without the bulkheads.' said H. II. Finlay
superintendent of the work, the beach wouid
certainly continue to fall away. and the DuiK-
heads have been the means OF preserving the
Manhattan and Oriental property" These bulk
heads are four lines deep, about nineteen leet
wide and are filed in with broken stone making
them perfect walls which resist the hard knocks
of the ocean. Thousands of feet of these bulk
heads have been built for the protection OF the
shore leaving only few hundred feet of beach
for bathing and these bathing places are pro-
tected by breakwater structures Unless storms
of nature than any that have
hitherto visited the coast destroy the break
waters. the island will not fall away much more
at the points where these seawalls have been
In; bufx vhern no hpac ic or
work of destruction goes on.
The iron piers which have been built out into
the water have acted as magnet for the re-
cedng sands. and around their base tiny reefs
have formed which grew and became firmer.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01

They were the cause CT lard making" to such
an extent that in some instances the piers had
to be extended to serve the purpose for which
they were intended.
The experience of some property-owners on
Long Island is more pleasant than that OF the
Coney Island land-holders whose real estate
grows less every day. Sands from other shores
have been washed upon their beach, and new
building lots have been created. and the process
Of deposit is still going on. This has been par
ticulally noticeable at Arverne, where several
rows OF houses now stand upon ground which
was made" after the development Of the SPOT
began. Houses which when they were built stood
facing the ocean, with nothing between them and
the water except the boardwalk. now look upon
the back yards of newer houses built upon
made" land.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01
HAPPY TORONTO BOYS.
From The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

From The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
That somewhat staid and highly moral town,
Toronto, could give this city of ours numerous
pointers on good municipal government. What
ever the city officials in the CaLuck town I'M
derake for the peoples benefit is thoroughly
carried out. Here. for instance. is an example Of
the way in which the summer welfare Of the
Toronto boys is looked after. A Cleveland gen.
teman clipped the item from one of the Toronto
papers and thought it well deserving of local
attention. Read ii and you will agree with him:
Swimming, Public Notice to the Boys of
Toronto-Public notice is hereby given that
every boy under sixteen years of age will be
given free passage from the Queens Wharf,
foot of Bathurst-st, and from the wharf at the
foot OF John-st. across the western channel,
where they will be permitted to battle on the
sandbar with or without bathing SUITS, be-
tween the hours of and 9 o'clock p. IN. on
each day Of the week, Sundays excepted
Boat will leave the John-st wharf hourly,
beginning at p. m, and Queens wharf thirty
minutes later. Robert j. Fleming Mayor).
chairman Board Of Control
Mayors Office, Toronto, July II, 1897"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01
MUSICAL COMMENT.
VERDI CELEBRATION-HIS REAL
BIRTHDAY AND HIS FIRST OPERA
SEIDL IN BAYREUTH.

How difficult it is TO rectify blunder after 1t
has once got into the books is illustrated in the
newspaper announcements concerning a contem-
plated celebration Of Nerdi's eightyfifth birth
day. The feature of the celebration in num-
Der OF Italian towns and cities is to be revival
OF his first opera. "Oberto, Conte di San Boni-
facio. which was brought forward at La Scala
Milan, on November II, 1889. ffty-cght years
ago. The newspapers. in making the announce
ment. give the birthday, some as October Q.
others as October IS lot single notice that has
come to hand gives the correct date which is Oc-
tober TO- 1913. This date fixed by the publ
cation in 1854. by the ''Gazetta Musicale of Mi
Ian, of a fac-simile of the certificate of Verdis
birth, drawn up in French and signed by the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01
EATEN BY THE HUNGRY SEA
THE GRADUAL RECESSION OF THE
CONEY ISLAND SHORE LINE.
ONCE THERE WERE TWO MILES OF REAL ESTATE
IN FRONT OF THE ORIENTAL AND MAN
HAITIAN HOTEL sITEs-vARIED EXPE-
RIENCES OF PROPERTY OWNERS.

Among the many coast-ne changes which
have taken place near New-York within the last
few years have come under the direct OBJ
servation Of the people more than those at the
various seaside resorts. The Tribune pointed out
recently the changes in the harbor OF the city.
and the obstacles with which the officers In
charge Of the work of improving the approach
TO NewYork had to battle. That was subject
in which owners of ships and the promoters OF
NETWORKS commerce were interested, while the
falling away cl the various beaches on Coney
Island and the changes on the Long Island and
New-Jerscy coasts are Of more interest to those
who seek pleasure and rest at those places
From what residents OF Long Branch and peo-
pie who visit the place every year say there can
be no doubt that the has been playing sad
havoc with that beach. and has made bluffs and
steep and abrupt shore lines where only a few
years ago there long stretches Of smooth.
hard sand beaches. For miles along the ocean
front there was surf bathing. and although places
were staked cut with ropes for the timid and UNI
tutored there necessity for bathing
grounds because the whole beach was admirably
adapted for the purpose.
Tie water began to eat away the sand beach
several years ago. The distance between the
houses on the shore and the water became less
every year. until breakwaters had to he built to
prevent encroachment the highway. Long
Branch is still favorite resort for people who
take pleasure in salt water bathing. but the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01
IT WAS DEFECTIVE.
From The Boston Budget


The Sauntcrer dropped into a caterers not
long since TO leave order. and little con-
versation he overheard there reminded him Of
the remark of the waiter at "a church picnic or
festival which ran to this effect: Them pious
does eat awful" This not grammatical,
but it expressive Of the idea that church
members naturally have very good appetites.
But to return to the later incident. Two at
tendants putting up what appeared to be
a very large order and one OF them said to the
other:
rs that frozen pudding all right?"
NO." was the reply; there isn't enough rum
In ii for temperance crowd"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01

deputy of the Mayor Of Busseto. The composer
was born in lie Roncole little village which
was a dependency of the commune of BussetO
and the fact that the certificate is in French is
due to the circumstance that in 1913 Italy
under French rule Following is translation
of the certificate:
In the year one thousand eight hundred and
thirteen. the twelfth day of October, at o'clock
IN the morning. before us, deputy of the Mayor
of Busseto. officer of the etat civil of the com
mune of BussetO aforesaid, Department Of Taro
appeared Verdi Charles aged twenty-eight
years innkeeper domiciled at RoncOe, who pre-
scented to us child of the male SEX born the
tenth day of the present month, at O'CLOCK In
the evening. of him the deponent. and of Louisa
Utini. spinner domiciled at Roncone his wife.
and to whom he has declared that he wishes to
give the fOrcnamcs of Joseph FOrtunn Francois.
The said declaration and presentation made IN
the presence of ROmanelli Antoine. aged hity-
one years. usher of the Marie and Cantu Hla-
cinte aged siXty-One years, doorkeeper, uoml-
cied at Busseto. and the present document hay
ing been read over to the deponent ana VIII
nesses. they have signed with us
This certificate is reproduced in POugin's biog-
rapby of Verdi for the purpose of correcting an
error into which NJ. Pougin had fallen in the
biographical sketch which preceded the publica-
t,on Of his book Sgnor Muzzcato, however. in
his article on Verdi in Groves Dictionary Of
Music and Musicians" falls into the old error.
He gives October g. 1913, as the date. and says
'The following certificate will settle once for all
the questions so often raised concerning the
place and the date OF Verdis birth:
Ammo Dom 1873. die II Octobris-Ego Carolus
Montanar Prsepositus Runcuarum baptizavi In
fantem hode Vespere bora seXta natdm eX Cai-
olo Verdi ON Jesepho ct ex Aloisia Ctnl MIA
Carroll hujus Parocciae juGalibus, cul nomna
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Joseph FranciscuS. Iatrini
f,,ere Dominus Petrus Casali I'D Felicls ct Bar
bara Bersani fila AngiOli, ambo huJus Parocciae
This proves that Verdi was baptized on De-
tober H. but does it dsprove the statement OF
the 10Th?
1t remains to be seen what the towns that in
fifth anniversary will do in this matter Or
Verdis health concerning which alarming
statements were current few weeks ago, all
recent reports speak well. 1t is said that re-
Gently at a gathering in his honor at the house
of RIcordi in Milan, he sang the love duet from
"OteIlo" with Nine. Stoz. the original Aida,
and while doing 50 mimicked the poses and
manncrisms of Tamagno. Speaking Of the
runors of il-health he asked that the state
ments be contradcted (which announce that
am a candidate for Paradise"
When Verdi was eleven years old he became /
organjst in the old Church Of lie RonCole. Many /
wears after when his fame had spread through /
out the world, his name found scratched by /
his bovish hand in the paint OF the old organ /
case This is what il looked like:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01
THE GOLD-WINE NUISANCE.

From The Atlanta Constitution.
Talk about the far-off gold felds. listen to this
Georgia editor:
Our City Council should make an effort to
keep down the gold dust. 1t hasn't rained for
some time, and when the mines are at work the
dust from the gold nuggets Is positively
stihingi"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01

When Verdi was eleven years old he became
organist in the old Church of lie Roncole Many
years after. when his fame had spread through
out the world. his name was found scratched by
his boyish hand in the paint OF the old organ
case This is what il looked like:
The advocate., 1897-07-21

DIR. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets cure bilious
ness, sick and bilious headache, dizziness,
costiveness, or constipation Of the bowels,
loss of appetite, coated tongue, indigestion
or dyspepsia, sour stomach, windy belch-
ings, "heart burn" pain and distress after
eating, and kindred arrangements OF the
liver, stomach and bowels.
The advocate., 1897-07-21

Is an oversight which / beg leave 10
supply. There has never perhaps been
on instance in human history In which
a great power has 80 ardently devoted
itself "to the preservation of free In
stttutions" as did Wall Street in that
epoch Of mortal agony. Then it was that
Wall Street engaged in the patriotic
work, first Of destroying the National
credit, then Of buying It up at half
price, then Of converting It into a
bonded debt to be perpetuated for a
full generation, and finally Of COM
pelliDg the people to pay 1t in a dollar
worth four times as much as the dollar
with which 1t was purchased.
Detroit Tribune: On a man .of.war
discipline is everything, and being
constantly under the eye Of the officers
makes dutyTather irksOme to the proud
spirited sailor lad. With all the discl-
pline, however, 1t Is doubtful If navy
manned with aliens would fight with
the same grit and energy as a crew of
patriots such as manned the American
ships in 1913 and 1914. Along the
coasts of the country are thousands of
men who make but a precarious living
by risking their lives in the fishing
trade. They have the aquatic instinct,
and farming is dull drudgery to them;
but the fortune of the sea Is driving
more Of them into factories and out
upon the farms every year. 1t would
seem that these men should be encour-
aged to take service In the navy. With
suitable pay and a chance of promo.
tion through the merit system they
would be glad of the chance to serve
their country. If their enlistment on
large scale could be brought about,
the United States navy would be
manned with crews as brave and as
clever as any fleet which sails the seas.
The American: We do not blame
the miners for striking; we wish them
all success. If ever men had cause for
striking the coal miners have that
cause, We have only one regret for
their action, and that Is that the time
taken for a strike is ill-judged. If
conditions of employment were such
as made out by the metropolitan press,
the present would be an opportune
time, But conditions are not such az
they are made out to be; there is not
enough work to go round; there are
thousands of men seeking work to one
employer seeking Workmen, and that
employer has but to announce his want
Of hands to be overwhelmed with ap-
plicanta. Consequently, there are men
to fill the places of the strikers, and
even though they be men not skilled
in coal mining, they are factor
greatly strengthening the position Of
the mine owners, foE these idle men,
seeking employment, are ready to
stand the greater part of the loss while
learning the trade. 1t is true these
men are not on the field, have not the
means of going where the employment
awaits them, but the coal companies
have it in their power to open recruit
ing stations in the cities, to 90 to the
idle when the idle cannot come to
them.
The advocate., 1897-07-21

B. o. Flower, formerly Of the Arena,
is now editor of NeSO Time, which will
be sent with the ADVOCATE for $3.50 a
year.
The advocate., 1897-07-21

nearly acqulescence.
Harper's Weekly: Mr.. Hanna is
very likely more eligible to the sort Of
club which Senators have been trying
to make of the Senate than some Of
his predecessors. But It would be
quite absurd to pretend that he is Of
Senatorial quality, or that he has the
kind Of talents and the kind Of expert
ence that &c him to do useful public
service as a Senator. No citizen Of
Ohio would have thought of him as a
Senator If he had not thought very
hard Of himself in that capacity,
Globe Democrat: The coal miners
strike brought out two facts pretty
plainly, namely: The strike will not be
as extensive as It's leaders predicted,
and most of the injury which 1t will
cause will be inflicted on the strikers.
From present indications the contest
will be shorter than that which the
miners started In 1894, and the end
will be about the same. The miners
deserve the advance In wages which
they seek, but they have chosen an ex-
ceedingly bad method and time in
which to present their demands.
Pittsburg Dispatch: The Hawaiian
treaty involves danger of international
complications of serious character,
delay to the work for which the special
session Of Congress was called and an
innovation Of National policy which
promises to embrOil this country in
the selfish intrigues Of the Old World.
All this for the possession of little
island territory that can never repay
the cost of protecting 1t, and to bring
under the stars and stripes a miscel-
laneous population Of the most unde-
sirsble character.
w, j. Bryan In July Arena: We
hear much about "stsble currency"
and an "honest dollar" Il is q signi6.
can't fact that those who advocate
single gold standard have for the most
part avoided a discussion of the effect
Of an appreciating standard. They
take 1t for granted that q gold stand
ard is not only an honest standard, but
the only stable standard. denounCe
that child Of ignorance and svsrice,
the gold dollar under a universal gold
standard, as the most dishonest dollar
which we could employ,
Philadelphia Times: The politicians
of the higher or sbler class have ar.
rived at the conclusion that they must
keep clear head, good digestion and
sound health to enable them to climb
to the top, and they act accordingly.
The good old days when the political
fraternity "opened wine" by the case
on the slightest prOvocation or no prov
OCsticn at all seem to have departed
forever. Now leading party men, both
Republicans and Democrats, are quite
as abstemious, so far ss their personal
habits are concerned, as the politicians
of the Prohibition faith.
Plttsburg Commercial Gazette: There
are now on file at Washington more
than 100000 applications for office, and
the rate at which they continue to pour
in is said to be about 600 per day.
The worst thing that could happen to