Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-18
Eprnug saturua Nuueuber

$4,000 necessary for 20 per cent divi-
dend. These are the kind Of men we all
like to honor.
Mrs Cady's plea in behalf of the Or
ganized Charities Society, in her
Golden Gossip" was q very timely in
vitation to help most worthy cause
to aid the only society in our midst that
gets down to the level of practical char
ity and seeks to lift the needy and the
unfortunate and even indolent from
their unhappy plane. There are hun
dreds of people in this city who could
help the society in it's noble work If
thoughtful consideration were given the
question-if not with money, old cloth
ing, books and discarded furniture are
acceptable. A piece of furniture that
would disgrace some parlors would
grace the living room of an humble
home.
While some of the plans heretofore
suggested regarding hospital facilities
would be better than no hospital at all,
the ladies who have taken up the work
this kind in Marshalltown should be en-
couraged to a greater degree in their
determination to establish an indepen-
dent hospital. In reaching this view
the ladies have weighed the existant
jealousies among professional men, to
which the members of the medical pro-
fession are not exempt. And the CO.
operation of the physicians in an un-
dQr "a lfi nj of jc ~ t,
fact it would fail without 1t, just as 1t
will fail If the people do not rise to a
full appreciation of one of the greatest
Words of encouragement are good,
financial aid is better. but a combina-
ton of both is best of ALL
The one paramount topic of CONVEX
sation in Marshalltown this week has
been the effort of the ministers to pre-
vent Sunday entertainment of grand
opera. full presentation of the case
was given in these columns on Mon
day since when discussion has been
rife Much moral and political phlos-
lophy has been aired but the prevailing
verdict of the public, church members
as we'll as indifferents, seems to be
that the theater manager had a little
the better of the argument. Not that
the public was not in sympathy with
the ministers efforts to preserve the
lsacredness of the sabbath, for the ma
ijority of people everywhere want to see
one day in every seven observed as a
day of rest but that the ministers and
their jealous church members over
reached themselves in going outside of
their churches in an attempt to inter-
fere with another mans business by a
threatened resort to obsolete laws. This
paper joins the public in sympathizing
with the preachers in their indignation
at the modern laxity of Sunday observ-
ance and it accords them the perfect
right to cry out against it but here
was an innocent entertainment, of a
highly moral and elevating influence, a
rendition of grand opera by artists
such as this city seldom hears, it was
given at the request of people who
wanted to hear it, who We're perfectly
capable of judging of the propriety of
their actions in attending 1t and who
would probably not attend the evening
services of the churches if there We're
no grand opera given. In view of the
extraordinary circumstances and the
character of the entertainment the
charge of Inconsistency was made and
justly so, since brass bands had been
allowed to play rag time music time
land time again on Sundays stores,
lshops and factories Were allowed to run
and unnecessary work in hundred diff
iferent forms allowed to go unmolested.
| This paper is inclined to side with the
public, and the view is so taken by
many of the staunchest church mem
bers in this city that that committee
had no right to interfere with another
Icitizen's business in the way it threat
ened to do. Ministers of the gospel may
preach against any institution, for 1t is
their business to express their views,
and the world rejoices in the work they
| are doing, but in these days no self con-
stituted body of men has the right to
prescribe the actions of another man or
men on purely religious grounds; the
moral propriety of grand opera was es-
members themselves on Friday and
Saturday nights.
1t is peculiarly unfortunate that this
mistake should have been made, for the
|citiZens of Marshalltown are deeply in
debted to Manager Speers for the eff
forts he has made to give them a mu-
steal treat far beyond the ordinary
possibilities of the town. An unfore-
seen opportunity arose, Mr.. Speers
boldly seized it. For four days and
three nights he labored incessantly, lhe
opened his theater at heavy expense
three nights in succession and the sun
/ total of his reward was s40-about one
fourth of what he would make on one
performance of Uncle Josh Spruceby OF
the like Mr.. Speers is a man of refine
ment, of highly moral and cultured
sensfbilities, an honest man and public
spirited citizen. He has given to Mar
shalltown the cleanest play house In
the west turning down hundreds of OBJ
ljectionable shows every season. HI
loves good music and high art. he I'M
Idertook grave responsibilities solely fol