davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

And to the second remark. why should
musical Omaha be compelled to listen to
such an instrument as was heard at that
concert? l care not what the name is,
which appears in gilt letters on the fall
board, the piano was not satisfactory. In
the middle and upper strings It was very
unresponsive and lacked resonance.
Is not Omaha big enough to make It ad-
Vantageous for any piano-making firm to
present a fine, irst-grade concert grand"
at such affairs for the advertising secured
thereby? Every travelling artist has his
piano shipped by a factory to the towns of
his tour. Should not eastern factories
realize that Omaha is not exactly in the
backwoods?
Lest this be construed into an attack on
the local agents OF the piano in question,
who are enterprising business men Of good
standing. l will add that the piano played
by Mr.. Arthur Hochmann, for which l do
not think there is an agent in Omaha
Though / may be mistakenly was not a sat
isfactory instrument for his recital.
l do not often find fault with the local
piano men. for they are all good fellows,
and personal friends, but here l think, that
for the sake OF concert goers. I have a real
grievance.
Let us have the best in the piano manu-
facturer's art at our large public musical
events in Omaha. Why not?
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

At Trinity Methodist church Miss Marion
Hall. . graduate 0f the New England Con-
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

Mr.. Martin Calm OF Chicago. ormerly a
prominent Omaha pianist has been visiting
here this week.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

Klaw & Erlanger's stupendous Ben Hur"
will be at Boyd's theater the week Of jan
uary 5, the sale OF seats for which opens
Wednesday morning at 3 o'clock. ben Hur"
is a dignihed dramatization OF General Lew
wallace's famous book OF that name. The
opening tableau illustrates the meeting Of
the three wise men IN the desert and the
revelation to them OF the Star OF Bethle-
hem" which signaled the birth of Christ.
From the hrst tsbleau the scene changes
to the roof top Of the palace OF Hur In
Jerusalem: shows the quarrel Of Ben Hur
and Messiah, the accidental knocking from
the terrace OF the tile which strikes Gratus.
and the arrest Of Ben Hur. his mother and
his sister at the instigation OF Messiah.
The play then takes the spectator to the
galley of Arrius. the Roman tribune, on
which Ben HUI is a slave at the oar. The
galley is attacked by pirates and sunk. Hur
saving the life Of Arrius. Ben Hur Is
adopted by Arrius. becomes a Roman and
is next seen in Antioch. In the house Of
simonides. his dead fathers steward. where
he meets Esther, In the grove Of Daphne.
whittier Ben Hur goes to seek Messiah. who
is training for his coming appearance in
the chariot race. Hur saves Balthasar. one
Of the wise men. and his daughter. Iras.
from a tragic death under the wheels Of
Messala's chariot. The intrigue OF Iras.
who seeks to lure Ben Hur's heart from lite
allegiance to Esther. and whose real char
acter is disclosed to him when she appears
at the chariot race in the eolors OF Mes
sala; the chariot race itself, In which the
hero wins by smashing the wheel OF Mes
sala's chariot. the Roman falling beneath
the feet OF his horses and being crippled
for life; the conversion OF Ben Hur through
Balthasar 10 Christianity Ben Hur's visit
to the vale Of the lspsrs (Hinnoml to visit
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

The third point that suggests itself to me
is that of applause between the verses OF a
song. A song, above all things, should not
be ~applauded until the singer evidences the
fact hat It is at an end. Interludes are
connective threads and should not be
drowned out by the clapping OF hands. The
artist can do much to stop this.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28
HOTELS.

Steadily increasing business has necessi
tated an enlargement OF this cafe. doubling
its former capacity.
SHIP Us YOUR
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

his mother and sister; the scene on the
mount Of Olivet, and the miracle Of the
cleansing Of the lepers are other points
In the play which VIII be recognized by all
readers Of the book. Tit seventeen tableaux
In which the drama will be represented re-
quire more massive scenic equipment and
elaborate mechanic essentials than have
ever before been used in a dramstic pro-
duction In this country. The most elab-
crate effect is the race Of the chariots be-
tween Ben Hur and Messiah In the arena
scene. The eight horses appear to be gal
Looping at full speed around the arena.
whereas in reality they are galloping over
moving cradles or treadmllls within the
space Of their own length. The illusion Of
their headlong dash is intensified by a NOV
ing panorama. which makes the horses APP
pear to be going forward, though they are
really always galloping over the same space.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

In this day and age. when new terms OF
nomenclature are being employed, it is
hoped that the word "knocker" will be
abolished. The musical department OF The
Bee has long since discarded the term. be-
cause of its inartistic and ambiguous APP
piication. And so said department, having
in view the proprieties," will hencefOrth.
when necessary. beginning January 1, 1903,
at midday, describe all honest and. earnest
artistic directors as "Knoekulists' or
"Noculists." meaning persons who try to
restore the mental eyesight Of those who
are suffering from musical or critical as
tigmatism.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

At All Saints church today the music will
be reflective OF the Christmastide. In the
morning the choir will sing Bucks Festival
TIE Deum In e nat, stanford's Jubilate in B
nat and stainer's anthem. The Hallowed
Day" with a carol by West, In the Fields
with Their Floeks."
In the evening service the Magniheat BY
Somervell. the Nunc Dimitis by Stanford
male voicesl and anthems by stainer and
by Vincent. together with solos and duets,
will be presented. Mr.. Simms has pre-
pared most interesting programs.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

THE Burgomaster'' will be seen at the
Boyd for three performances starting Fri
day night. The old f~avorite is promised,
with complete new scenery and costumes
and with many Of the old favorites In their
accustomed roles. Ruth White will be seen
in the prima donna role and Gus Weinburg.
the creator OF the part In that of the Burg
omaster. Doodle Won Kull will be enacted
by F. r. Runnells and Oscar Figman. who
was the funny floor walker In The Female
Drummer will be seen as e. Booth Tark-
ington. the old actor. George Broderick, Of
comic opera fame, will be the Harlem
Spider. In the last act Of the piece 1t has
been materially changed. 1t is now in
three scenes. The first shows the seashore,
the second Wall street. New York. and
the play closes in a beautiful garden on
the Hudson river. New York. A great many
new songs and humorous situations have
been added also.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

The New Years attraction at the Boyd
will be AT Cozy Corners" with Adelaide
Thurston in the leading role. The en-
gagement will include the special matinee
New Years day and the evening perform
ance. Miss, Thurston will be remem-
bered here for her work in the dainty COM
edy, Sweet Clover last season. In her
present play Miss Thurston is said to have
the best vehicle for the display of her
talents she ever had. She enacts the role
OF a beautiful young v~loiinist who seeks
rest after an arduous concert tour in the
sleepy old town of Cory Corners, Mass.
She is subjected to the petty jealousies
Of the gossipy spinsters OF the little VIA
lage, while the male population lose their
hearts TO her. including the young clergy
man OF the village church. The episodes OF
the play center about the courtship OF the
young woman and the clergyman. The
usual quaint characters found in a small
country town are introduced and furnish
its comedy. Pretty and effective scenery
is employed with unique light effects.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

The musical critic OF The Bee wishes all
Of his friends and foes, knockers and
K~nOekulists. a happy and prosperous and
successful New Year. and many OF them.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

Christmas week found the people ready
TO be amused, and for once at least the
managers had something at the theaters to
amuse them. "Florodora," with the big
sest ana best company that ever sang the
words and music IN Omaha, did record bus
mess at the BOYD, and well deserved the
patronage It received. At the Orpheum the
bill was not notable for any especial feature,
but vas OF a generally good sort, so that
all bad a chance to see something. and It,
too, had splendid patronage. At both
houses the spirit Of Christmas prevailed.
and all hands enjoyed the holiday to the
utmost.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-16
PROTECTION SENTIMENT IN ENGLAND

PROTECTION SENTIMENT IN
There is unquestionably a growing
sentiment in England against the free
trade policy. A member OF Parliament
recently expressed the belief that a Sc
cret ballot in the House of Commons
would result in a large majority in favor
of duties and London correspondents say
that arguments are now constantly
heard that free trade has been too long
a mere fetch, that the day of pure Cob
denism is past and that II Golden were
alive now he would favor certain re-
stricted tariff measures for revenue
Articles have appeared in leading Brit
ish magazines and commanded much at
tentlon urging that England, with its
present economic policy, could not
compete with the United States and Ger
many, and that she must have a pro-
tective tariff to save her manufactures,
with which Americans and Germans
now successfully compete even in her
home market.
The avenue requirements of the Brit
ish government, created by the costly
war in South Africa, have forced 1t
TO impose duties on some Of the neces-
saries of life, as sugar. flour, meal and
grain. Notwithstanding the declaration
of the chancellor of the exchequer that
I these duties do not violate the prin-
| ciples of free trade, it certainly can
not reasonably be contended that they
are in accord with that policy. Nor is II
by any means certain that they will not
have the effect, as he asserted, of in-
creasing the cost of food. But the inn
portant thing is that these duties, with
the exception of that on sugar. are
likely to be permanent, for not only
must England have large revenues after
peace, II her proposed plans respecting
South Africa are carried out. but her az.
r~icultural interest is demanding protec-
ton. 1t is urged in support of this de-
mand that the security Of England is
involved in the question OF improving
agricultural conditions, that more wheat
must be grown and the nation made, IL
possible, less dependent upon foreign
supplies.
Political as well as economic reasons
will therefore be urged in favor OF
maintaining the duties, which will OF
course have the support OF the agri
cultural producers. This breach in the
free trade policy having been made, II
appears highly probable that the manu-
f~acturers will sooner or later insist tina
they be given some measure OF prOtec
ton against the competition that is no
only taking trade from them in foreign
markets. but is steadily reducing theil
business In the home market. Their
are already many British manufacturer
who want this and II the demanS
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-16
IN THE FUSION FOLD.

Custer County Beacon: The Beacon sug-
gests Judge H. NJ. Sullivan as a candidate
for congress. II populists want a vigorous
campaigner, he's the man for the place.
Saline County Democrat: W.. v. Allen
gives 1t out that he is not a candidate for
governor. He should be taken at his word
and 1t should be seen that he sticks to 1t.
Howells Journal: The fusion press OF
this district is almost a unit in favor Of
the denomination Of Congressman Robinson.
His four years of faithful service have
shown him to be the right man for the
place.
Columbus Telegram: Several democratic
newspapers are advocating the nomination
Of Editor Adams Of the Grand Island Demo-
crat for lieutenant governor. Why not for
governor? The signs read that in the
fusion mixup this year the nominee for
governor will be a democrat. Adams Is
worthy the place.
Madison Mail: Congressman Robinson's
position of ranking opposition mem
Der of the committee on the revision OF
laws is vitality important. 1t is not often
that a young member of the house reaches
this place. But Mr.. Robinson's experience
on the bench and his standing at the bar
no doubt convinced Speaker Henderson that
his appointment would be a wise one to
make.
North Platte Tribune: While some Of
the North Platte friends OF Congressman
Neville claim that he will not be a candi-
date to succeed himself, yet there is evil
dence galore that pins for his denomination
are now being set. During the sickness Of
Mr.. Neville. he naturally felt pretty blue
and he thought that II he recovered his
| strength again he would refrain from the
! arduous work incident to a campaign In
| the big Sixth district. But now that he
has fully recovered and is reported to be
| feeling better than for many years, his
hankerinE to continue in the harness as a
| lawmaker is strong and he evidently de-
| slres to be reelected. 1t will be well, how
ever, for Mr.. Neville to keep out Of the
campaign 1t may endanger his health and
his defeat is certain.
Columbus Telegram: Hon. John c.
| Sprecher of Schuyler was in the city last
| Saturday. He did not come on a political
mission. 1t is true that he is prominently
mentioned as a probable fusion nominee for
governor. but he Is not seeking the place.
1t would do him no good to seek. He could
not be nominated. The corporations would
not permit such a man as SprecheF to be-
come governor OF this state. He stands
too tast by MS honest conNlodiohs' SUN
men as Sprecher are nominated for high
offices only when there is a slip in the po-
litieal machinery, and the corporations
temporarily lose control of the wires.
Some day the people of Nebraska. demo-
Gratis, populists and republicans. will break
away from the corporation leading strings
and nominate men Of the sprecher stripe.
But / fear that day will not come during
the present year.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-16
Personal NOTES.

The German emperor Owns 359 carriages
for the use OF himself and his court.
Mavroyeni Bey, who was Turkish minister
to Washington a few years ago, has been
appointed by the sultan prince Of the Island
Of Samos.
Ex-secretary John w. Foster has accepted
an invitation to deliver the Grafton at the
dedication OF the soldiers and sailors mon
ument in Indianapolis, Ind, in May.
George Gray Ward, who is in San Fran
cisco arranging for the Great Pacific ocean
cable, says that by next Thanksgiving day
the United States will be doing business
with Honolulu by wire.
The late DR.. Thomas Dunn English was a
close student Of natural sciences, as we'll
as an accomplished mineralogist, and could
go through a cabinet collection and give an
expert opinion OF every specimen.
Allen Welsh Dalles, the s-year-old grand
son of ex-Secretary John w. Foster, has
written a book entitled "The Boer War"
1t was printed March Is, for private circu-
lation, Mr.. Foster acting as publisher.
Every afternoon at 2 o'clock Senator
Cockrell OF Missouri eats two apples. He
is an expert regarding this fruit. and never
eats II unless 1t shows just the proper de-
gree OF redness and has all external evil
dences Of being perfect.
The Patriotic League OF the Revolution
has petitioned congress to secure a pension
for Theodore r. Timby, who, It is alleged,
is the true inventor Of the revolving turret
used on Monitor in its battle with Merri-
mac. He is a native Of Duchess county,
New York.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-16
THE RUSSIAN ASSASSINATION.

The assassination OF the Russian
pointed illustration of the bitter feel
ing among Russian students toward the
government. Recently the students have
been vigorously a~gltating for political
and social reforms and a large number
Of the more radical ones have been sent
to prison. In their prosecution the min
lister of the interior was especially ac-
tive and consequently incurred the re-
lentless hatred Of the student class, or
that portion of them who are agitating
for reforms. His assassination by one
Of them is therefore a deed Of revenge.
The student class In Russia is a force
which the government has constantly to
reckon with. Intelligent, with ideas OF
political and social progress, they exert
a very considerable influence upon pub
lie thought and are almost continually
engaged in agitation. The government
consequently finds 1t necessary to main
tain a most careful and thorough sur
veillance over them and their move
ments are watched with the utmost
vigilance. Their agitation. however, has
not peer altogether fruitless, but as
%sassination will certainly not improve
affairs or promote the realization of the
reforms which the student class desire.
On the contrary, it is likely to result
in the government adopting severer
measures for the repression of agita-
ton and more harshly Furnishing those
who engage in melting popular senti-
ment against the existing order of
things.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-16
PURSUING THE COMBINATIONS.

The administration is pursuing the
policy promised by President Roosevelt
in his annual message and repeated in
his Charleston address, of enforcing the
law against the combinations. The
United States district attorneys at Kan
sas City and Chicago have been in
structed to prosecute a thorough investi-
cation as to the alleged beef combine,
with n view to ascertaining whether the
antitrust law has been violated. In a
letter to the chairman of the judiciary
committee Of the house of representa-
tives Attorney General Knox states that
he has no evidence which can be classed
as legal of the existence of such a COM
bination, but he has directed that a
thorough investigation be made. Until
this is done Of course the Department
of Justice cannot determine whether
steps shall be taken toward a prosecu-
ton.
The public will heartily commend the
action thus taken, from which some
good results may reasonably be ex-
DtNlths L hlug uOl We DObslDlt W SHOW
that there is actually a beef trust"
but the common impression that there
is an arrangement between the leading
packers to maintain and advance prices
is probably well founded and IL this
shall be proved to be the ease there is
no question that they can be prosecuted
under the Sherman antitrust law. on
the ground that such arrangement is a
conspiracy to monopolize trade and also
in restraint of trade. The law is very
clear and explicit in, regard to this.
Everywhere there is an earnest public
protest against what is believed to be
the unwarranted advance in the price of
meats and in taking notice of this and
~endeavoring to ascertain whether the
advance is due to an unlawful COM
bination among packers, the admins
tration is doing a service to the public
which will be universally appreciated
and which there is reason to expect will
have a salutary effect.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-16
t
Too Much "HOrse Play" Causes
TrOubIe I'm the Camp.

TrOubIe I'm the Camp.
Brooklyn Eagle.
Another case Of over-initiation comes to
notice in Michigan, where a dying man
brought suit against the order of Modern
Woodmen for $4,000 for injuries received
in the process Of making him a member Of
the company. 1t cost him a leg. So It
would seem that the sports OF the Woodmen
may be expensive to them. And they should
be. Rough and tumble sport is not neces-
sary to the Joining of any order. Initis-
tions OF any sort are not necessary, II It
comes to that. No person Is better for
having been made to stand on his head
in a corner, to make laughter for a crowd
Of his fellows, or is wiser for having been
forced to slide down a CREASED board into
a tub OF Ice water.
These things belong to the hobble-de-hoy
age. and are sometimes forgiven to col
lege students, but not so easily to adults.
Secret societies have nothing to tell or
confer on humanity that makes any form
desirable. There may be forms that are
impressive, and there are some which are
symbolical, but three times in four the
doings OF the lodge and society room are
the veriest antics, and the member Is Sc
cretly ashamed Of them. Indeed, one Of the
best reasons Tor secrecy ts the rear or
ridicule If the public finds out how super
fuous, how childish these performances
are.
So long as the purpose of an initiation
is to have a laugh at the initiates ex-
pense, to exhibit him naked, dripping with
water, to toss him in a blanket, to prod
him and scare him, to lower him into holes
by ropes. to chase him with FIRE, to threaten
him with swords, and to do any other Of the
silly things that grown men sometimes
descend to, the public has no right to inter-
fere. The initiate will be mortified, but he
will take his revenge by initiating other
people. When the performance is so savage.
however, as to imperil life and limb, the
law has a right to stop 1t. 1t did so a
number of years ago when the Sons of
Malta had injured and crippled a number
of persons in proceedings Of the most
savage character.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-16

should become general there is no doubt
that It would be supported by British
workingmen, who could hardly fail to
see that they would be benefited by
protection to the home market.
Sir Robert Giffen pointed out in a re-
ent address the need of new taxation
and the possibility that it would be in
direct taxation, which may fairly be ac-
cepted as Indicating the trend of senti-
ment. The innovation made by the gov
eminent can hardly fail to give an i'm
pulse to the anti-free trade feeling and it
not remote future the economic policy
Of England will undergo a pretty COM
plete change.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-16
COURTS AS ASSESSORS.
Functions Assumed by the Federal
Courts In Chicago.
ChicaEo Reoord-Herald

Chicago Record-Herald.
Without attempting a review Of the de-
cision OF Judges Grosscup and Humphrey
In reducing the reassessment OF the fran
chises OF public service corporations In
Chicago, there is one point about the
basis which they adopted which should
not be permitted to pass without pro-
test. The rule fixed by the decision read
as follows:
THE basis shall be the true net earn
ings OF the several compliments for the
year. covering April /, 1900. proper allow
ance being made for depreciation and re-
placement, but not for extensions. and re-
duced further by the amount OF additional
taxes that the enforcement OF this rule pro-
duces. Upon this basis the value Of com
plainants' capital stock, including fran
chises and tangible property. shall be cap
italized on a ratio Of 6 per cent: this
equalized by reduction OF 30 per cent. and
then divided by Ave-"
It may be questioned whether the court
has not adopted an excessively high ratio
&c per cent? in capitalizing the capital
stock, franchises, etc, on net earnings,
when private property is capitalized on q
ratio OF between 4 and 5 per cent and taxed
on such capitalization. But the chief OBJ
lection to the courts rule is the 80 Der
cent reduction.
In the lsyman's view there is no war
rant in law or justice for any such re-
duction. While there was a great amount
OF real and personal property In Cook
county assessed at less than 80 per cent
below it's full value. It was Illegally and
inadequately so assessed.
But II the 6 per cent ratio Of the earn
ing capacity OF property in Chicago were
adopted to Ak its assessed value 1t would
be found that more than half OF all T.
assessments in the business section OF Tx
city were made at more than their full
value. The full value, without any reduc-
tion OF 80 per cent or any other variable
percentage, must be the aim and practice
OF courts as we'll as assessors II we are
ever to arrive at a just and equitable assess.
ment OF all taxable property in Cool
county.
II judges, when assessments come be-
fore them for revision, may read 20 or 81
or 80 per cent reductions into the basis
OF assessment there can be no protection
OF appeal against assessors doing th'
same.
The law says that the assessors shall
determine and m the fair cash value.
which shall be set down in the column
headed full value" Any departure from
this basis is fraught with Injustice ana
danger OF inequality. favOritsm and cor
Eruption.