davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16
Second Week of "Ben Hur."

The religious interest of Ben Hur. -
which will be continued at the National
this week, is established in the prelude
depicting the meeting of the wise men
Balthasar, Melchoir, and Jasper-in the
desert, and the appearance to them OF the
Star of Bethlehem.
This interest is continued in the Roman
galley scene, when Hur tells Arrius of
the carpenters son in Bethlehem vino
gave him a cup of water and blessed him
as he Was being dragged away as a slayer-
and again in the incident in the house of
SImonides, in Antioch, where Sheik IL
derim tells OF the coming of the wise
men TO him in the desert for protection
from Herod thirty years before. and that
Balthasar. the survivor of them, is now
his guest in the Orchard of Palms. 1t is
still further maintained in the story of
the Star Of Bethlehem and the Child of
the Manager. related by Baithasar to Ben
Hur IN the bower of Sheik Ilderim, when
Hur is training the Arabs horses for the
chariot race. and by the Grove of Daphne.
Here are the dancers and singers given
up to pleasure for pleasures sake Crowds
of young girls throng the stage, while
children with garlands of flowers weave
in and out among the dancers. An Arab
sheik, on camel, and Roman warrior
behind two horses dash across the stage
at full speed. adding life and color and
variety to q scene of ever changing
beauty.
The audience is then transported to the
land of the lotus eater-the waters of
Egypt, with Cleopatra exercising the al
lurement and witcheries which tempted
but did not encompass the ruin of Ben
Hur.
Then there is the chariot race-eight
horses that run at top speed in full view
OF the audience. They are seen at the
turn. and the spectators witness the skill
OF Ben Hur as he smashes the wheel of
Messala's chariot and wins the race
The last act gives a picture OF the
dreadful Vale OF Hinnam, the refuge of
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16
E. M. Holland as Eben Holden.


Charles Frohman will present the dram
atization OF "EAen Holden" at the Column
bia Theatre this week.
The book from which the play has been
made was written by Irving Batcheller.
The comedy has drawn we'll, not only in
New York, but in Baltimore, Cleveland, St
Louis, and many other cities, and it may
indeed be said that it has triumphed in
much the same way that David Harum."
dramatized from another popular novel
triumphed last year. The fragrance and
charm of the Batcheller book are pre-
served in the play, and as for its fun
well, the declaration has often been made
that the play is quintessence of all Eben
Eoldens radiant humor and delightful
philosophy.
The dramatization is by Edward Z. Rose
who adapted Rupert of Hentzau." "Da
vid Harum,' Alice Of Old vincennes, -
and many other current novels.
At the head of the company presenting
"Eben Holden is E. N. Holland, one of
the finest character comedians of the ma
tive stage. He completely realizes the
quaint and amusing old philosopher, it
is said, depicting him carefully and with
lavish artistic detail, in all his original
and inimitable drolIery
Another big fun maker in the perform
ance is J. H. Bradbury. who plays Tip
Taylor, the hare-lipped would-be choir
singer. Others IN the company are Will
lam Harris, Earle Ryder, John Frederick
Cook, Jay Wilson, Leo Hardman, sydney
Prior, Richard Nesmith, Louis Payne, Luz
ellie FIaven. Kate Denim Wilson, Kenyon
Bishop, Laura Almosnino, and May Lam
bert
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16

TIME past week was notable chiefly
for the production Of Ben Hur.'
L the dramatization of Gen. Lew
Wallace's novel, made by William
Young for Klaw & Erlanger. Ben Hur''
was revealed for the first time locally
at the National Theatre Monday night.
1t fully realized all the coed things that
had been said about it, and even more, in
some instances, notably the excellence of
the work of the dramatist
OF course. the spectacular features, the
scene in tine galley, the rescue of Hur and
the tribune from the raft, the chariot race
"a really remarkable example of the pos
sihilities of modern stagecraft-the mag
nificent Grove of Daphne with its r;ulti-
tude of merrymakers, and the vision of
the Mount of Olives, all appealed with
particular force to these who witness
most of the large theatrical productions.
They quickly realized that Ben Hur" as
a spectacle pure and simple is in class
quite by itself.
The National Theatre was filled at every
performance during the week. and the
prospects are that the second week of the
engagement will be even more successful
financially than the first.
At the Columbia Otis Skinner, assisted
by trio of such capable players as Will
liam Norris. Aubrey BoucicGult, and Mar
ella Van Dresser, gave admirable perform
ances of George Boxers tragedy Fran
cesca da Rimini'' to large and discrimi-
mating gatherings.
The bill of vaudeville at Chase's was of
fair grade. but business during the week
was excellent, perhaps due to the fact
that vaudeville in its polite form will en-
JOY rest during the present week, while
the Daughters OF the American Revolution
will occupy the theatre with their annual
convention.
The Lafayette Square stock players did
we'll, from an artistic and monetary point
of view, with The Lost Paradise" and
the Academy Of Music's offering. The
Night Before Christmas" evidently
pleased the patrons of the Stair house,
as tic audiences were of uniformly large
proportions. The Bijou stock company
and bill of vaudeville helped entertain
big crowds, while at Kernan's the show
provided by the New York Stars" was
better than the average of its kind.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16
than any other writing of the nineteenth

than any other writing of the nineteenth
century.
Two American noyels-'Uncle Toms
Cabin and Ben Hur''-have attained
such a vogue that 1t is impossible to
find any parallel in literary and dra-
matte history. Alexander Dumas. fills.
wrote La Dame aux Camelias," and the
dramatic version. Camille" has been
played about as frequently as most plays
and might be brought into comparison
with the American novels. but in its book
form the story has scarcely penetrated
beyond the boundaries of the authors
own country.
"Trilby." THE Little Minister" and
'"The Christian" approach the record OF
Ben Hur" as a book and play. but this
trio has already fallen into the hands of
the stock companies throughout the
country. This means that by another
year or so they will have been relocated
to oblivon-years before the Wallace
story has finished its career
1t is not hard to find the secret of Ben
Hur's" success. To begin with. it is a
flrst-class play. to say nothing of the
magnificent manner in which it has been
staged and the competent company that
presents 1t. Its appeal to human sym
pathy is very strong. while the religious
element that is so adroitly introduced
cannot fail to attract to the playhouse
persons who never gaze upon the ordinary
theatrical performance.
But one other play appeals to the same
class of people as does Ben Hur" This
is The Old Homestead" which has been
going on its successful way for the past
sixteen years and has not yet showed the
slightest sign of losing its drawing
pOMnrS
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16
Ethel Barrymore Soon Due.

Ethel Barrymore will appear in Cap
tain links at the National Theatre
next week This delightful comedy or
farce whichever one chooses TO call it,
was played two hundred times at the
Garrick Theatre. New York. last season.
and was. in fact. one of the successes OF
the last theatrical year.
The quaint atmosphere OF the hoop
skirt period OF the play carried the odd
timers" back to those years of curious
costumes. while the younger people. even
if their memories could not go back so
far. found the oii-fashioned 'atmos-
phere" of the play very amusing. An
other agreeable feature OF the produc-
tion was the unusual success achieved
hy Miss Barrymore in the leading role,
,hat of Nine Trentoni.
Miss BarrymOre's many theatrical
family connections-she Is grand
daughter Of the famous Mrs Drew. a niece
of John Drew and a daughter of Maurice
Barrymore made it quite certain that
sooner OF later she would appear as a
star.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16
To Revive "Brother Officers"

At the Lafayette Square this week the
Bellows stock company will make one of
the most interesting REVEALS OF the year
In the production OF Brother Officers"
which has the prestige of long runs In
London and New York.
Its presentation by the local organiza-
ton will be the first time the piece has
been done in STOCK" and Manager Bel
lows is said to have paid a large sum in
the form of royalty for the rights to do
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16

the piece. His experience has been, how
ever. that the public desires only the best
Of plays. and in this instance the I'M
usually large expenses will undoubtedly
be made up by the increased business
the play is almost certain to attract.
Brother Officers is a comedy drama
possessing a strong heart interest. One
of the central characters is Lieut.. John
Kinds, young officer who has risen from
the ranks and won the Victoria cross,
but by reason of his obscure parentage
and his ignorance of the little niceties of
smart English people, his brother officers
do not readily accept him as their
equal. This is made the basis of love
story, which at times is amusing, pa
thetic. and intensely dramatic. There is
an interesting military flavor to the play
All the men appear in reglmentals and
gold lace, while the feminine portion of
the cast have chance to wear their best
gowns.
The following is the cast: Lieut.
John Kinds, White Whittlesey: Mr..
Hutton, John T. Sullivan; Capt. Hutchi-
son. Tony Cummings; Colonel Staple
ton, William Redmund; Lieut.. Launcelot
Playfair, Charles Wyngate; Earl of
Hunstanton. Frederic Sullivan; Lieu
tenant Caverly, VIII S. Miller: FoxhaIl.
Harry c. Bradley; mess waiter, Harry
Hereford, Dean of Dorchester. j. F. Dur
gan; Jarvis, Joseph Kaufman; the
Baroness Royden, Lillian Lawrence;
Lady Margaret Pleydell Mrs Thomas
Barry; Mrs. Hammond, Katherine
Clinton; Kate Johnson, Antoinette
Walker.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16
NREMH a-LANp Is EbEN HoLpEN" -

the lepers. and the scene on the Mount of
Olives, with the multitude drawn there by
the presence of the Nazarene. The sacred
and solemn associations of this historic
spot are drawn with exceeding delicacy,
but with a sureness of touch that gives
one the impression of having been an
actual behoider of an incident in the
worlds history such as was never seen
before, and which will never be witnessed
again.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16
"The Old Homestead,

The continued success Of Denman
Thompson's The Old Homestead" is ono
of the wonders 81 the theatrical world. II
has been over sixteen years since THE Old
Homestead" in its present form was first
played. Before that the sketch Josh
Whitcomh." from which Mr.. Thompson'6
play was evolved. had achieved quite
success in the variety theatres. 1t is re-
garded as one of the most valuable dra-
matte properties that the native stage has
ever known, and II is said that the aver
age seasons profits amount to more than
most plays earn during their entire ca
reers.
THE Old Homestead is booked for the
Columbia Theatre next week. and as it
usually attracts a series Of crowded
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16
The BiiOu'S ladies' Matinees-

There will be two special ladies' matinees
in the future at the Bijou every Friday and
Saturday. On these occasions, with smok-
ing eliminated. the entertainment of
vaudeville and burlesque, as given by
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16

this year with an announcement for warm
leather entertainment but he is not pre-
AIRED yet to give any details of his plans.
He does, however, say that the public
will find greater reason than ever to make
Chase's one of the chief resorts during the
dog days.
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16
Ward and VokeS' New Play.

WdI q dIII NUNGS INtW Idy
In the coming production of Ward and
Vokes' new cut-up The Head Walters"
which will be seen at the Academy of
Music next week. it is claimed that all the
music has been especially written for the
new pieces There is said to be enough of
it to stock two or three musical pieces,
and the songs are described as both noval
and catchy. The company includes fifty
FIVE DeTSonS
The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-16
Vaudeville for the Summer.

Chase's will be open this summer, and
polite vaudeville will be the amusement
menu Mr.. Chase is the FIRST In the field
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-18
PAUL KRUGER KEEPS
UP HOPE AND COURAGE.

ergy, as people say. There is in his
serious attitude and look the stamp,
as 1t were, of his pr ofoundly relig-
ious sentiments. You know that he
passes the best part of his days in
reading the Bible. An imposing Bible
lay open. ON the table of the room
where | was working. re-
member his loud voice and outbursts
when discussing with his secretary.
did not understand, but | heard. The
secretary must have dropped remark
or an opinion that did not please the
master One day | asked the secretary
to say to the president on my behalf.
A people like that of the Transvaal,
which has shown such civic virtues,
cannot die. President Kruger replied,
No, it cannot die. A great nation, on
the contrary, will spring from its un-
deserved misfortunea' The president.
l repeat, has at no moment seemed
discouraged. In truth he is ignorant
of the latest events in the Transvaal
and the real conditions of peace. He
knows that the Beers have laid down
their arms, and that is all. To those
around him the English news-the
only news given to Europe-appears
to require confirmation and they are
waiting"
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-18
YOUNG RECTOR ADMIRED
VESTMENTS OF BISHOP

A story which has been going the
rounds of social and church circles in
Rochester, N. r., according to a dis
patch in the New York Tribune, has
aroused great deal of amusement at
the expense of a widely known and
well liked young clergyman. whose po-
sition as rector of one of the richest
and most fashionable parishes in this
part of the state has brought him into
prominence in the affairs of the Prot
estant Episcopal diocese of western
New York.
The tale is told as follows: A well
known bishop of the Episcopal church
was present at a ceremonial in this
young rector's church one day several
weeks ago, and, upon going away for
a short business trip to suburban
village, left his episcopal robes in the
care of the young clergyman, as had
been his habit in other churches under
similar circumstances. A friend of
the young rector called to see him the
next afternoon, and was told by the
yerger that the Rev MIR. Blank was in
the vestry room. The visitor, who was
on familiar terms with the rector. has
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-18

In spite of the fact that at this sea-
son Of the year the major portion OF
the country is undergoing what seems
to the residents like tropical heat,
there are many localities where the
nights are sufficiently cold to warrant
the building of fire in the CRATE in
rooms which are provided with them.
AS these CRATES and fire places are not
as common as one might wish for,
recourse may be had to the heat gen.
eIator, shown in the accompanying
drawing, which is the idea of George
S. Chase of Springfield, Mass. The in
vention is practically a radiator.
which gathers up the rising heat rays
from the fame of the lamp and dis
tributes them about the room instead
of allowing them to rise vertically to
the ceiling. The circulation of this
heated air also produces a current
which draws the air from the room
and brings it in contact with the hot
surface of the generator, thus further
increasing the generation of warIn
air. The generator is built up of .
series of thin metal plates, with an
opening at the bottom for the inser
ton of the lamp chimney. 1t is sup
ported by vertical post and project
inv arm, the latter being hinged to
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-18
Adjustable Book Holder
Adjustable Book Holder.

The book holder shown in the pic
lure is capable of attachment to the
wall, tree, gas fixture or a piece of
furniture, and in all cases the book
Is held perfectly quiet, and when once
properly adjusted under the light
there is no variation. and the arms
and body of the reader are free to find
the most comfortable position posi-
BILE. There is a shelf of sufficient size
to support an ordinary book, with
clamp sliding on the vertical rod to
hold the book open at the proper
place. The upper part of the fixture
consists of a telescoping rod which
can be adjusted to any desired length
and has a hook between the support
and the crimped horizontal portion of
the rod below. This crimp permits
the adjustment of the book or paper
at any desired angle, the sliding
clamp holding the reading matter in
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-18

A Paris Temps reporter has had an
interview with the sculptor Carries.
who returned from Utrecht, whittier
ne had been sent by the French pro
Boer commit to execute bust or
Mr. Kruger. 1t being the eve of the
sculptor's marriage. the conversation
was naturally brief. but as be is tho
first foreigner who had seen Mr.. Kru-
ger since the conclusion of peace, we
quote his words:
Il had two sittings day of about
half an hour each. At the Irst | told
the president that he might in my
presence do whatever he liked, for,
unlike a photographer, did not re-
qulre him to remain motionless.
left him to eat, smoke and talk Pres
ident Kruger profited by this to work
with his secretary. AS | do not I'M
derstand Dutch, was not Ia the way
or indiscreet AS far as the
mind Is reflected on the countenance
| noticed in the president signs of
caimness. strength and confidence.
There was not the slightest appear
ance of sadness or detection. In those
around him | thought sometimes
surprised an expression of passing
encouragement, but in the president
never, His whole frame breathes en-
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-18
WHY RICH MEN BUILD
HOMES IN NEW YORK.

1t is becoming one of the fixed ira
ditions of American social life that the
American millionaire, after accumulat-
ing his fortune, should take himself to
a permanent residence in a costly man.
sion in New York. The custom is not
peculiar to any city, state or section.
From the Huntingtons and Clarks of
the western coast to the Schwabs and
Carnegies of Pittsburg, all, after a pro
stationary existence in.their respective
neighborhoods, meet in Fifth avenue.
This traasmigration of the million
aire to the New York stage of social
incarnation is becoming too marked
feature of the social body to be ig-
nored, but it is not so easily to be ac-
counted for. Not all the millionaires
go to New York for business reasons,
though some of them do The advan-
tage of being in the financial storm
center at Wall street is doubtless CON
siderable The man whose money is
in stocks can find nearly everybody
whom he need deal with somewhere
between Central Park and the Bat
terry. But the offsetting advantages
of such commercial center as Chi
cago, or of such a manufacturing cen
ter as Pittsburg. are no less pro-
nouaned, and serve to refIte the the.
DRY that New York is sought after for
it's bushes advantages alone.
1t is equally evident that the men
who make their residence in the sea-
board metropolis are not attracted
thither by any supposed social advan-
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-18
Texas visited bv Noisy Meteor.

A dispatch from Navasota, Texas,
says: Last night about 10:90 o'clock
a meteor passed over this city, going
from the south to the north. Quite
a number of people who had just re-
turned from church witnessed the dis
play, which was grand. The approach
first attracted attention by a deep
rumbling sound. resembling the ap-
proech of freight train, and then
suddenly the heavens were lighted by
a large ball of fire which shot across
the heavens from horizon to horizon.
A fiery trail of sparks was left behind
which made it appear as large
comet. A few seconds after the dis
appearance of the meteor a loud ex.
plosion, followed by a deep rumbling,
was heard in the direction of the fly
ing ball of fire. which is thought to
have been caused by the meteor strik-
ing the earth"
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-18
Pressure of Light

The pressure of light impinging on
bodies, first predicted by Maxwell, has
lately been actually measured. The
consequent repulsion between the
sun and the earth, for example,
is very great and amounts to about
100000, 900, 100000 dynes. The gravi-
rational attraction between the two
bodies is, of course, very much
greater; it is, in fact, about 100000.
000,000.000, times as great.
Prof. Woodward concludes his ad-
dress with the remark that it is q
curious and a puzzling. though per-
fectly obvious, fact, that mankind as
a whole, lives far less in the thought
of the present than in the thought
of the past, and that as race we
have more respect for the myths Of
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-18
Money Frozen in Ice.

Leon Wallace of 215 oliver street,
Baltimore, carried home $45 in green
backs, which were imbedded in 4
twelve-pound cake of ice that he got
from q free ice distributing bureau.
H. was dirty chunk of ice, but those
who get their supply free don't stop
to insist that their allowance shall
first be washed with hose; so Leou
took his gift home. When the ice
was washed the money could be seen,
but it looked like a lump of dirt or
stone, and the boy decided to cut it,
out. He chopped the frozen cake into
pieces and the roll of bills fell out.
Icons mother saw that the boy
had made a find She tried to sep
arate the bills but they were frozen
tightly together. The lump was
placed over a steaming teakettle and
the VS. and Ks were soon counted out.
until $45 lay before the astonished
woman, with an extra dollar bill for
good measure. Leon had pie, ice
cream and watermelon for supper.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-18

tened through the darkened church to
the apartment indicated. The door
was closed, and, without giving its
occupant time to answer his knock in
person, he opened the door and en-
tered
His establishment and entertain
ment may be imagined when one
reads that he discovered the young
rector arrayed in the complete vest.
ments of the absent bishop, stepping
sideways and back before the long
pier glass, with the aid of which the
clergymen were accustomed to as
sumo their robes. The vestments
We're somewhat too long, the visitor
said, but they became the young wear.
er admirably, What conversation
passed between the two, or whether
the bishop noticed any change in the
manner in which he had done up the
vestments, has never been divulged,
but the story, as it appears above, has
been told as too good to consign to
oblivion.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-11-18
Captive Balloon Observatory

height 1t was anchored; the higher up
1t was the greater would be the temp
tation to ascend and view the scenery.
The intention of the inventor is to
provide car of sufficient buoyancy to
carry cables of great length, with
means for drawing the balloon down
to anchor it close to the ground when
not in use. The gas reservoir is di-
vided into sections, with an equal
amount of gas in each, and in case Of
puncture in one of the sections the
remaining pockets would have suffi-
cient buoyancy to support the car un-
til repairs could be made.
1t is already common practice to at
tach a balloon to a single cable
wound on a drum and allow a few per-
sons to ascend at a time, but the
amount of power required is much
greater than that necessary to raise
the elevator in this case. There is a
central opening in the observation
platform, through which the car rises
to discharge and take on passengers.
with single cable to operate the car.
Joseph Greth of New York is the in
ventor.