The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-24

4
| valsr, arriving al the same time as the
real lord and his valet. In the con-
fusion that follows. General Knicker-
| booker consents that they draw lots 10
| determine which is the real lord. With
| Violet's assistance ALVIN draws the
lucky straw, and the real Lord Dolphin
IS dismissed by the old gentleman, much
10 the satisfaction of the lovers
| General Knickerbocker soon discovers
| the fraud, and blocks the game again
most effectually
| The college men soon hit upon anotl-
or scheme. They address a letter to the
| general. informing him that Sham, Great
| Tycoon of Japan, will call upon him that
evening. His vanity IS tickled with such
an honor. He Immediately invites his
| friends TO the reception, has his villa
decorated with japanese flags and IAN
terms, has his guests appear in japanese
| costumes, and awaits the arrival of the
Great Tycoon.
With great ponlp the honored guest
arrives, and after much ceremony, the
Great Tycoon asks for the hand Of Gen
eral Knickerbocker's daughter in mar
| riage. Lady Dolphin arrives just in
time TO take care OF her lordIy son, and
hurries him off home. The general,
thinking his daughter better mated TO
the distinguished nobleman from Japan,
gives his consent, only to find himself
beaten al his own game for the Great
Tycoon is none other than Alvin Barry
The old general makes the best of il,
and ali ends happily. Prices of admis-
sion %, 35. so and 70 cents.
The curtain will rise tonight at the
usual hour at the Crawford opera house
and it is hoped the attendance Will be
good
ROYAL HAND-BELL RINGERS.
The organizer Of the company and the
conductor from the beginning is Mr..
Duncan S. Miller, a sketch of whose ca
reer follows:
''The personal history of Mr.. Duncan s.
Miller is very much the history of the
band of which he is the conductor. When
a schoolboy, Duncan had a passion for
bells. His native place, the ancient city
of Norwich. in the county of Norfolk.
is endowed with thirty-seven parish
churches of the Church of England, most
of which have their belfry, and some Of
them boast peal OF seven or eight bells.
st. Peters church, especially. had a
very 1ine peal. and the ringers were the
boast Of the old citizens. who fondy be-
lieved there were no such bells and no
such ringers in the world Here young
Durcan spent his leisure hours, and be-
came more daily infatuated with the
music of the bells
"Durino NiIIer'S opnrap+ioo.-;n T.,
Bath his passion for bells Continued TO
grow, and his mother presented him a
set Of eight bells. upon which he prac-
ticed for his own amusement. Finding
that the bells might be made instruments
al for good, he formed a small company, |
and with twenty bells, instead of eight, |
they went one evening TO the temperance |
meeting conducted by the Rev. G.. NJ |
Murphy, in Lambeth. The hall was
crowded, and the well-known prince of |
London philarthropists, Samuel Morley. |
was chairman. The effect was tremend- |
Gus. The audience greeted the bells with |
a perfect storm of appreciation. AppIi-
cations from struggling temperance So
cieties poured in upon the bell-ringers
thick and fast. They were warted here.
prompt and willing desire to further the
cause Of temperance, they frequently
travelled ten. twenty or thirty miles out
or London, paying their own expenses.
By-and-by friend urged them to go to
a place called Wilton, near Salisbury.
but the distance was a barrier, as il
would take them too long away from
business. Come said the friend. ff it
IS question Of moEey, we will make
that right; 1 viii give you ten pounds
and pay your expenses we had no
thought said Mr.. Miller, of performing
for money; but ten pounds, that was
colossal sum-Croesus was a fool to il.
We wanted to increase our stock of bells
and here was more money than we had
dreamed of getting together for the pur-
pose. or course they went to Wilton,
ard then offers of engagements poured
IN upon them constantly. They went to
Windsor, 10 give assistance to Canon
Ellison, then Vicar of Windsor, in his
temperance work. The house was crowd
ed, and the first step was taken toward
royal performance in the presence of
the queen. From that time forward.
-hese young men. who went before the
English public as the Poland Street
Hand-Bell Ringers. grew daily ir pop
liar favor. Their charming perform
ances were an attraction everywhere. and
mere are few places in the Old Land
where their wonderful bell music has not
been heard.
Mr.. Miller, as the leader is all alive.
lie throws heart and soul and limbs al :
nto the work and with an animation that
seems 10 be inexhaustible, blends wit and
Vaggery with the more sober perform
lnces. In appearance he might be taken
or ar ordinary, spare-ribbed. Iong-faced I
Yankee. In action, when performing. he
3 like man on wires and springs. and
ne might almost fancy that some hand /
vas Behind him, pulling the strings that {
et him in motion. But ne is genuine.
arrest, patriotic SOU. His whole enter i
ainment is pervaded with a high moral i
one, and happy hit is frequently made
gairst abuses and evils which comes il {
FREE To EVERY MAN ,