The age-herald., 1900-11-29
SKETCHES FROM
 EVERYDAY LIFE

'I see that Edward Strauss and his or- ehestra are again in New York" remarked n gentleman who is fond of music. Edward Strauss has probably the best orchestra in the world for dance music Considering that his father was the originator of the waltz this is as it should be. It seems wonder full to think how the world ever got on without waltzeg-and tobacco. The waltz they have had for less than seventy-five years. It was first brought into notice in a play. An actor and actress began to waltz to this new time invented by Strauss, and the music was so delightful and fascinating that the audience could not keep still in their seats, and soon the whole town was waltzing, and 1t Was not long before all sEu- rope, was enjoying the new dance. In, recent years Americans with their ficklensss have rather abandoned the waltz for the two step but am glad to see that the two-step had had it's day and that the waltz is com ing back into popularity. The two-step never was graceful, and the way it was often danced was merely vulgar. Is there a man woman living who has never wAltzed. to the Beautiful Blue Danube, and can they hear it without memories of Aud Lang Syne?
 Strauss is now playing at the Academy of Music. When he was here last 1 heard him and his orchestra in the Madison Square Garden. They were on little plat form in the center of the hall and, T have no idea how many thousand people were in the building. He is very eccentric leader and very nervous He will not put up with the least noise while he is playing. He plays the violin. himself and leads with his bow joining in every now and then as if he could not bear to be out of it.
 Those who have been in Madison Square Garden will realize its size, The evening I heard him, a-1ittle boy in the audience who was seated with his father at the end of the building furthest from the door began to cry No one in the audience any distance away would ,have.heard him except Strauss. He was in the midst of a piece but he stopped. his orchestra, put his violin under his arm and looking in the direction of the child waited for the noise to cease. Having eHeryone's attention directed to him doubt less made the child's father angry, for he got up and left the house. The little boy ev- idently felt he was in for it. for he held on to his fathers hand all the way through that immense hall crying, Papa, please don't whip me; papa, please don't whip me- Everyone felt sorry for the child, for his plea told only too plain what he was accustomed to receive.
 "When they had left the house and quiet was restored Strauss turned to his orches- tra and recommended his piece.
 ."People never get tired playing ghost said a man who was interrupted while reading a paper; "here is a woman in. Penn sylvania who put on sheet and undertook to friglpten a neighbor by playing ghost She circled around the house and finally approached and stood in front of the door. As she did so the door opened, the woman said "Boon' and the neighbor hit her in the head with an axe. Her skull was frac- tured and the doctors say she will never recover her reason. I don't think she had any to lose. At any rate people who have so little sense as to play ghost ought to be locked up in an asylum.
 At the school where l went, when - boy several boys thought 1t would be fun to play ghost. There was boy in the school who was very nervous and particu- larly frightened at the idea of ghosts. He was very .timid and always slept with pis- tol under his head. Of course he was se- lected as the victim. His pistol was slip
 
 tracted from the cartridges. The cartridges were then plugged up, replaced in the pis- tol, and the pistol put back under his pill low One of the boys proceeded 10 dress up as a ghost. There was just enough light in the room for the ghost to be seen. A noise was made and the boy awoke 10 see a ghost with outstretched arms stand ing at the foot of his bed He seized his revolver and fired five times at the ghost. The ghost did not appear to mind it and when he was through, one after another it took five bullets from it's mouth and threw them at the boy. The latter fell back on his pillow raving maniac"
 I don't know but what Bishop Potter's suggestion for vigilance committee of 25,. 900 for New York City is not a good one,' said an old Confederate. ''When the police officials won't enfore the law there is noth- ing else left for the people but to do so themselves, and it is generally thought that the New York police not only fail to enforce the law but are actually in the pay of the criminal classes. People in tho South will remember what restraining effect the Ku Klux had on the lawlessiy dis posed negroes It was only when the Ku Klux themselves got overbearing and ty- ranical that it ceased to be a moral factor. It takes fire to fight the devil and a little Ku Kluxing on the New York police might have a good effect Now that China is in the public eye, whether as a moat or beam I won't undertake to say, probably the latter from it's size, we might adopt a few Chinese suctoms. A few beheaded po- ;lioemen displayed about the city of New York would do more to revolutionize the morals of that bad old town than all the sermons and vigilance committees on earth. Banks never fail in China because the directors are beheaded if they do, and vice would be very proper in New York if a few policemen had their heads cut off. The criminals are mot to blame-they are only criminals after all Instead of cher chez les femmes in New York as the cause of all evil, the cry should be scherchez les