davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1899-04-11
Season of Grand Opera.

Thursday evening the curtain will be rung
up on ''Lohengrin" and the short season of
grand opera will begin at the Grand Opera
House. Everything indicates that from all
points of view the season is to be memoir
able one. The favorite singers of the
epoch, gathered from every opera house in
the old world, will all be here. The cosmn-
politanism of the list of artists under the
direction of Mr. Maurice Grau, testifies to the
universally of the divine art. The singers
will be from Germany, Italy, Poland, Hun
gary, Holland, Belgium. France Australia
and America There will be singers dra-
matte and singers lyric; tenors robusto and
tenors di grazia: bassos cantante and bassos
prOfGndo. All languages will be used and
in parenthesis 1t may be said thai the
American artists will be the best linguists
When the Metropolitan Opera House
Company begins its short season at Wash
ington on Thursday evening an absolute
majority of the worlds greatest and most
famous singers of the present generation
will be here. 1t IS the very apotheosis of
the star system. Its progress throughout
the long season in New York and its re-
cent engagement in Boston has been
watched by students of musical matters
everywhere, and Mr.. Grau's success will
doubtless give stimulus and nerve to every
manager in Europe.
The four operas TO be given here-"Lo-
hengrin" la Traviata,' Faust and Die
acknowledgements the best works of the
German, italian and French schools, and
each one of them will be sung in the orig
inal language In which ii was written.
The cast for "Lohengrin" has long been
known in New York the ideal one. 1t
includes Nine. Nordica and Schumann-
Henk, and NM. Jean and Edouard de
Reszke, Muhlmann and Bispham Franz
Schalk, the Wagnerian conductor. who has
succeeded Anton Seidl, will lead the or
chestra-
Mime. Marcella Sembrich will make a re-
appearance here on Friday evening in La
Traviata." The role of Violetta Is the best
one in the repertory of this famous So
prano. She not only sings the part in an
unrivalled manner, but acts 1t SO well that
she has been termed the lyric Duse." The
ether artists who will be heard in conjunc-
ton with Nine. Seulbrich are Mines Rou-
dez and Bauermeister; MN. Salignae. Du-
friche. Pringle. Meux, vanni and Campa-
mari. Signor Maneinelli, the well-known
Italian composer and conductor, will direct
the orchestra on that occasion.
Faust has been selected as the bill for
Saturday afternoon, with Nine Emma
Eames as Marguerite" anu Albert Sleza,
Evening star., 1899-04-11
PIANO M ANU,FAC TURERS
y y 1.-'Et- III
Annual Meeting Of Their Association Begins
Tomorrow. %- --- ~
Subjects to- Re Arrange
ft."tS l.. tYS+
ments for the Pleasure Side
! of the. Occasion.

The National tPianpsi Manuf As
soctation of America, body comprising a
memt ershfp of ab6at sixty of the leading
piano Manufacturing Arms of the country
will hold It's annual meeting at the Airing
ton Hotel tomorrow. The business session
will begin at o'clock am. and occupy
the entire day, and the evening will be de-
voted to a reception and banquet
Thursday at noon the members will be
granted a special reception by President
Mckinley, and will afterward go to Mt
Vernon as the guests of the washington
piano dealers and enjoy a planked shad
dinner at Marshall Hall. -.s
Stencillins of Pianos.
Many subjects of vital interest to the
piano trade will besconsidered at the meet
ing tomorrow, the most important of which
will be the question of stencilling pianos
with the names of their respective manu-
facturers. Itis said that at present nearly
one-half of the pianos manufactured. which
amount to about 100000 annually are
marked with names of others than those
VINO make them. This, it is stated is true
OF cheap grades of pianos, which are given
nctltlous names in order to secure higher
prices for them than they could command
In their real character. An effort will be
made to reach an agreement under which
all pianos will bear the name of the respec-
tive firms making them.
other questions to be considered will be
the payment of commissions to teachers
and others, trade ct hics, credits and various
matters relating to the manufacture and
distribution of pianos.
Officers and Committees.
The officers of the association are as fol-
lows: President, Henry F. Miller, Boston;
first vice president, A. H. Fischer New
York; second vice president, Handel Pond,
Boston; secretary, Robert C. Kammemer,
New York; treasurer, George P. Bent. Chi
cago
Executive commit ttee-Chas H. steinway.
chairman, New York; Louis p. Bach, New
York; Theo. B. Brown, Worcester Mass;
Geo. F. Blake, Boston; Fred. P. Stieff, Bal
tilnore; r. A. WidenmanI., New York.
Nominating and membership committee
George A. Gibson, chairman. Boston; Wm
Dalliba Dutton, New York; Robert Prod
dow New York. -
The general committee having In charge
the arrangements for the present meeting
and the banquet is composed of N. Stetson,
chairman; Charles H. Parsons VIM. Dali
hba Dutton, A. H. Fischer, r. E. Widen
mann, E. s. Conway Henry F. Miller,
Henry l.. Mason and Calvin Whitney.
Evening star., 1899-04-11
CONDITION OF THE CROPS.
Bulletin Issued From the Agricultural
Department.

The United States weather bureau of the
Agricultural Department has issued the
following bulletin giving the crop condi-
tions throughout the different sections of
the country: JEf
''The season is unusually late in all dis
tricts east of the Rocky mountains, except
over southern and western Texas. The
ground is still frozen to a considerable
depth in the states Of the upper Missouri
valley, frost being still in the ground as
far south as northern, Missouri, with con-
siderable snow on tie ground over the
northern portions of the upper lake region
and New England. From the middle Rocky
mountain region eastward to the Atlantic
coast the season Is variously estimated to
be from two to four weeks late, and as
result farming operations are much delay
ed, the unfavorabe temperature conditions
in the Ohio valley, Atlantic coast and east
gulf states being accompanied by excessive
precipitation, tending to further delay. On
the Pacific coast and in the plateau regions
the weather conditions have been very Ia
vorabie.
Some corn has been planted as far north
as Tennessee and the extreme southern
portions of Missouri and Kansas, while
planting is nearing completion in Louisiana
and Texas
"Over the central and eastern portions of
the cotton region but little cotton has been
planted. II southern Texas much cotton
has been planted and planting will soon be
general in the northern portion. Some of
the early planted cotton was killed by re-
cent frosts in Texas.
The general condition of winter wheat
continues unpromising in the principal
wheat producing states of the central val
leys. On the Pacific coast the condition of
the crop is very favorable in California
and Oregon, but in Washington much, has
been winter-killed, which, however, will
be resown.
Slow progress has been made with oat
seeding, which has been almost wholly
confined to the states south of the Ohio
q nd lQIyAr MisSallri rim
Evening star., 1899-04-11
DEATH OF GODFREY ID. BLAND.
Was First Secretary of the British
Embassy.

Mr.. Godfrey Davidson Bland. first secre-
tary of the British embassy. died suddenly
last night of heart disease al his apart
ments, at 1851 I street, He had complained
during the afternoon OF feeling i'll. and
physician was called. He grew ramdly
worse however. and expired shortly before
s Cock.
Mr.. Bland entered upon his duties as sec
rotary of the embassy the first of the pres
ent year, having been transferred to this
post from The Hague. He entered the
diplomatic service as a clerk in the foreign
office in 1852. and has served I'm various
capacities in most of the capitals of the
world. His first duty was at Constantine
pie, from which place after a number Of
years he was transferred 10 Berlin and
thence to Buenos Ayres. In lSb he was
secretary OF the British legation at Mexico.
from which post he was transferred To
The Hague and then promoted to Washing
ton. Mr.. Bland was the grandson of the
late Thomas i. Wharton Of Philadelphia.
Evening star., 1899-04-11

the young French tenor, in the ttular role.
Pol Piancon will be the "Mephistopheaes,
Sig. Cam! anari the valentine" and Nine.
Meisslinser the 'Siebel."
The. short season will be brought to a
close with performance of Die WaIkure, .
given with an extraordinary cast. Music
lovers will thus be given taste of the
popular in New York this winter The
principal roles viii be sung by Mines. LiiIi
Lehman, SchumannH Heink, Marie Brema
and NM. Van Dyck, Bispham and Van
Rooy. The roles Of the eight Walkyre
.Schumann- -Heink, Pevny. Meissiinger, Rou-
dez. Djella, Bauermeister and Molka-Kel7
logg: s.s..gI -..-,
The advanced sale has been unsually
large, and everything points to a most sue
cessful season, both financially and artisti-
caliy.
Evening star., 1899-04-11
OUR TRADE IN CHINA.
Consul General GOodnow Describes
the Strides 1t Has Made.

The strides made, by American trade in
China are shown in the report of Consul
General Goednow. from Shanghai, to the
State Department. 1t discoses that our
cotton goods, -four and kerosene are being
introduced in large quantities, entering Chi
ma at Shanghai and thence being distribut-
ed up the Yangtze river and the populous
provinces of Chefoo, Tien Tsin and Much
wang The consul general estimates that
$1,000 900 pounds of our flour was Imported
into China last year, and the value of -four
imported into all China last year was
81 231 go. The imports in other lines were:
Kerosene, A., $780, 900 gallons; sheetings
2,472.OO0 pieces; drills, 1,298,00O pieces;
Jeans 105 900.
Evening star., 1899-04-11
Additional Case of sma,,nox

case of smallpox was reported from
the freedmen's Hospital last evening. the
patient being Cicero Burton, eolored, TWEEN
ty-seven years Of age Burton applied AT
TIE EosEatal for treatment yesterday. II Is
stated, having come here from Newport
news va. a few days ago Immediately
upon the character of his disease hetny
discovered che -Realth officer was notified
ana the man was removed TO the smallpox
nHSpitaL The usual precautions have been
taken 10 prevent any spread of the disease
at Freedmen's Hospital and the heeeth de-
partmeN believe they will suffice One
death from cerebro-spinai meningitis was
Escorted today.
Evening star., 1899-04-11
WOMEN AID THE STRIKERS.
Two Riot Calls Sent in at Wheeling,
w. Nn., Today.

WHEELING, W. Va. April 1i.-,lAided by
Authorities the Wheeling Railway Company
succeeded in running a feN cars ahis morn
ing, but at moon two riot calls game TO
headquarters.
Women and small boys he'd held mp cars
az two different places. The women rushed
cut and pegan to smash glass and raise
trouble. The police arrested some of the
most active The strikers are endeaVoring
TO preserve order.
Evening star., 1899-04-11
VIII Be Discontinued,

The Post Office Department proposes to
discontinue limited money order offices
June 30. The practice OF designating such
offices was substantially abandoned about
two years ago, for the reason that such Of
fees frequently proved unsatisfactory, per-
sens residing in those neighborhoods desir-
ing to receive money orders as well as to
purchase them. AS a consequence. the De-
partment found 1t necessary, after estab-
fishing limited offices, to frequently change
them to full nonsy-order offices, thereby
complicating accounts and adding to its ex-
ponsA
Evening star., 1899-04-11
CHANGING ITS, SYSTEM.
Work of Capital Traction Company
ON U Street Line.

'soAA VI ShPAtAi IrucNt0n company
ON Street Line.
The work of changing the underground
electric system on the U street branch of
the Capital Traction road to the system in
use on the other lines operated by this
company has been begun. 1t as expected
that month will be required to complete
the work from 7th street and Florida ave-
rue to the EASTERN etid of the Rock Creek
bridge. Until it rs possible to run the cars
by electricity a line df 'busses will be run
from 18th street and Florida avenue to 7th
street. On the seefioa from the bridge to
Florida avenue one track Will be kept in
use so that theskAfs' will run 70 Florida
avenue. 1t Is the purpose to operate the
ears all the way to the bridge by the un-
derground system, which will be an extern
sion of the present system north from Flor
ida avenue. When the work Is completed
the east end of the bridge wiH be maie the
terminus of the 7th street line of the>com-
pany, and the cars will run from the river
front to, Rock Creek bridge.
Evening star., 1899-04-11
b. AND o. sTockHoLDERs. MEETING
Hoard of Directors and an Executive
Committee Elected

BALTIMORE, April 11-At the meeting
OF the stockholders of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad at noon today the following
directors were elected: William Solomon OF
New York, Jacob H. Schiff of New York,
James ]. Hill of st. Paul. Edward r. Bacon
of New York, Louis Fitzgerald of New
York, Norman B. Ream of Chicago James
Stillman of New York, Edward H. Harri-
man of New York, J. Kennedy Todd of
New York. Charles Steele of New York,
Alexander Brown of Baltimore H. Cfay
Pierce of st. Louis H. Crawford Black of
Baltimore and John v. L. Ffndlay of Balti-
more.
The board Of directors met and elected
the following executive committee: VIM.
Solomon, Jacob H. Schiff, James j. Hill,
Edward r. Bacon. Norman b. Ream, Ed
ward II. Hartman and Charles Steele
VIM. Solomon will be chairman of the
board of directors and Of the executive
committee.
Evening star., 1899-04-11
Army Orders.

Lieut.. W. N. Swasey, LIST California Vol
unteer Infantry. having rendered his resig-
nation, has been honorably discharged.
Maj. E. o. Shakespeare, brigade surgeon.
u. S. ". now in this cidy. has been ordered
to New York city on business pertaining to
the medical department, on completion of
which duty he will return to this city.
Maj. ii. ID. Thomason. brigade surgeor
and Acting Assistant Surgeon Luke h. Peek
will accompany the 10th Cavalry from
Texas to Cuba
Evening star., 1899-04-11
A BARREN Victory.

Having some time ago rendered deeI-
sion adverse to the application OF the Com
mercial Gable Company for permission to
land, a telegraph cable in Cuba. the Al
torney General has now supplemented II by
a decision touching the right of such COM
pany to land a cable In the United States.
The substance of the decision Is thar IL has
such right but as II is powerless to land
the other end Of the cable in Cuba the deci-
sion is a barren victory for the cable cou.-.
pany. ~
Evening star., 1899-04-11
divorce and Alimony.

By decree signed this afternoon by JUS
tice Cole in Equity Court No. 2. and on
the ground of cruel treatment, Eta Nor
man was granted divorce from Francis
A. Norman The petitioner Is authorized
to resume her maiden name, McCarty, and
is allowed aliaony at the rate of $50 a
month.
Evening star., 1899-04-11
NANCY A. GUILFORD's TRIAL.

Abandoned Because of the Sickness Of
Juror.
BRIDGEPORT. Conn.,, April 1.-THE trial
of Dr. Nancy A. Guilford on charge alleg-
Ing murder in the second degree has been
abandoned and the jury in the case dis
charged, on account Of the illness of Juror
Gregory. DR.. Banks. the physician attend
ing Mr.. Gregory, told Judge Wheeler today
that the patient would not be able to re-
sumo his duties for at least four weeks and
1t was then decided to discharge the jury.
Evening star., 1899-04-11
Italy VIII Coerce Colombia.

LONDON, April 1.-THE Italian govern
ment. according to special dispatch from
Rome, has declined to give Colombia any
further time in which to pay the Cerrut
indemnity. under Mr.. Clevelands award,
and has ordered the Atlantic squadron to
proceed Immediately to Cartagena Ito bring
the Colombians to their senses"
Evening star., 1899-04-11
The Department win Investigate.

The War Department has decided to in
stitute an investigation into the merits Of
the controversy between the superintend-
ent OF the Rock Island arsenal and the
striking employees. and to that end has
designated Major Russell of the ordnance
department to make an examination which
will form the basis of a91Son by the depart
meltt.
Evening star., 1899-04-11
Three Naval secretarie. Meet.

Three men who have held the Office of
Secretary of the Navy came together acci-
dentally in the Office of Secretary Long
this morning. They were General Her
bert, Senator Chandler and Secretary Long
Ii was regarded by the naval officials as a
singular coincidence
Evening star., 1899-04-11
WILL NOT ACCEPT AUTONOMY.

ABOncIIIO DtnheB u HW1hOF NtkNFOfhX
Aguinaldo's Policy.
LONDON, April 11.-Agoncillo, the agent
of Aguinaldo. who is still in Paris suffering
from influenza, has written a letter to the
Associated Press. saying:
"It is absolutely false that .Aguinaldo Is
willing to accept an autonomst system
similar to that of India. The Filipinos and
their government have only one ideal--ab-
solute independence as the only source Of
general welfare"
Evening star., 1899-04-11

Thousands of situations have been OBJ
tanned through the want columns Of The
Star.
Evening star., 1899-04-11
Fayors the Eighf-Hour Law.

The custom of having companies stores
at mines was practically universal and has
been universally condemned by miners who
want the privilege of dealing wherever
they wish. The operators discriminate
against those who do not deal at these
company stores.
During the last fifteen years the wages
of miners had gone down steadily until
two years ago. when the strike resulted in
some increases. He did not think the price
OF living had decreased in the mining
had taken place in the scale of wages. The
eight-hour day was greatly desired both as
means for giving the miner opportunity
for his own cultivation and for the pur-
pose of employing workmen now idle.
Congress-. he said. should pass a law
whereby the government could purchase
nothing not manufactured under the g.
hour law. The influence of such law
would be far reaching and would eventual
iy extend the S-hour rule to every in
dustry"
Wherever eight hours had been estab-
itshed as days work miners had become
more intelligent. They read more and spent
more time with their families They were
also in better physical condition
After the Recess,
After a recess Mr.. Mitchell continued his
testimony. He said unrestricted immigra-
ton had done a great deal to depress
wages Advertisements spread through Erl-
rope misrepresent the conditions of ernploy-
ment in America Labor men favor restrfc- :
fion of immigration. The mining associa-
tion had voted against contract labor but
not on further restrictions. About one half
OF the miners are of foreign birth of which
number % per cent are American citizens,
Evening star., 1899-04-11
Effectiveness of Injunction.

The injunction" said Mr. Mitchell, sis
one of the most effective weapons that has
eyer been used to intimidate workmen.'
The injunction had been used to prevent
the commitment of crimes that had never
been contemplated; miners had been en-
Joined against walking on the streets. on
the theory that they were going to commit
crime.
The Injunction he said, was issued in
1897 against Mr.. RaichfeTd. q member of
this COMMISSION In 1877 when 100000
miners were on strike, not a single act of
lawlessness was committed that could be
laid at the door of the miners who were ar
rested by Sherins. on the theory that they
would commit acts of violence. =
The Miners Association had often offered
services of their members in the capacity
of officers To protect property, but they had
never been accepted in such positions. He
wanted miners TO have the same right to
assemble was enjoy ed by politicians
Asked il there was not danger in such
meetings through the throwing of missiles
he reoiisd:
Il have seen more missiles thrown at Do
litical meetings than at meetings of min
eFS"
The leaders of miners had always advised
in favor of obeytng the law.
Evening star., 1899-04-11
Destroyed the Werkingmea's Con

Nothing has done nlore.' said Mr.. Mitch
ell, ito destroy the confidence OF the work
ingmen in the judiciary OF the country than
the Injunction. Miners are law-abidng pa
tE5otic, and respect the courts, but since
this practice of issuing injunctons against
them has been inaugurated they have felt
that the courts were against them II is
common to hear men say now: The courts
are against as and the troops will be against
Us. They feel that the government.
through its agents. is not acting impartial
ly between employer and employe. The
courts should not anticipate that bodies of
American workingmen are going to commit
crime. The injunctions have invariably
been made upon application of mine operat-
ors or men he imports TO take the places
of striking miners. The government has no
more right to say to miners: You are en-
Joined against the commitment of crime
than it has to say the same thing against
other persons The miners understand the
scope of the law, and they should be ex-
pected to keep those laws until they show
they give evidence of doing otherwise
Men who are brought to the mines to
take the places of strikers are always in
duced to go there through misrepresenta-
ton. and he thought a law should be enact
ed TO make 1t Illegal for an operator to in
duce men TO go to their mines under false
repres entations of wages and general con-
ditiOns
Evening star., 1899-04-11
Further Testimony Before the Ia
dustrial Commission.
NO LIBERTY OF CONTRACT
importance to Workingmen of the
Eight-Hour Law
AG AINST INJUN CTIONS S

The investigation into the mining indus
try of the country was continued by the in
dustriai commission this morning, when
Mr. John Mitchell of indianapolis. Ind,
president of the United Mine Workers of
America. went on the stand. Mr.. Mitchell
is a very young man to occupy the import
ant position he has reached among the
miners of America. He is sturdy-looking
man, and was very direct in his manner of
giving testimony He was working miner
up to three years ago, when he was elected
to an official position in the miners asso-
citation last January having been elected
president of that organization There are
3g7, ,701 miners in the country, of which
number TS.0oo. or 20 per cent. are members
of the unions. Seventy-fve per cent of this
number are in Pennsylvania. Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois. all of the organized miners be-
ing in thirteen states and territories. which
in addition to the above, are Kentucky,
Tennessee, Iowa. Kansas, Arkansas, In
dian territory, West Virginia. Alabama and
Michigan. The contracts of the miners as
sOciatiOn include all miners, whether they
are members of the organization or not.
The non-members obey orders to strike as
readily as the members, though, except in
rare instances. there are no elements of
intimidation used in securing their coop
Grafton.
No Liberty of Contract.
There was no such thing liberty of
contract between miners and their employ
ers. The employers dictate terms and the
miners accept them. the contract they sign
not being. in the full sense of that word. a
contract. They do not deny the right of
miner to individually make contract, but,
believing that he injuries himself and others
by doing so, they discourage such course,
preferring to have their contracts made by
the union to cover all workmen. They favor
arbitration in adjusting their troubles. He
did not favor compulsory arbitration. Pub
lie sentiment was always sufficient to cause
the enforcement of awards OF boards of
arbitration. He knew of one case only in
which miners had declined to submit to
such awards. though he recalled several in
stances in which the employers had repudi-
ated them.
The capacity of the coal mines is the wit
ness said. from S3 to ~ per cent greater
tnan the consumption. that miners are
not employed more than twO-th.rds of the
year. For that reason a strike does not re-
suit in loss of time to the miner. In 1897
when the miners were on strike eighty-four
days, the largest strike in the history of
the trade, the miners worked more days
than they did in the previous year. when
there strike