Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-26

portant particulars. Some OF the most
thoughtful and accomplished navy men,
who have studied the matter from a pa
triotio and utilitarian standpoint as well
as that of physical ability to produce, are
OF the opinion that the adoption Of a COM
prehensive naval building program extend
ing over a long period Of years, would
be a mistake. They hold that Improvements
are being constantly made in war vessels
on account of experience with those al
ready constructed and that it would be a
grave error to undertake to build a great
number of ships on plans prepared now,
when the probability is that before they
are completed naval architecture would
progress to such an extent that new types
for naval craft would be required to keep
pace with fleets OF other powers
There are seven private ship-building
plants now able to build armor-clads; six
Of them have such vessels on the stocks
under contract for the Navy department.
Then there are four government navy yards
which can build ships, one Of them being
already fully equipped for the construc-
tion of the giant Connecticut and the other
three need only some extra apparatus to
enable them to do the work. This makes
q total Of eleven plants and while some
OF them would be pushed to their utmost
capacity to construct two battleships
each, and others are overcrowded with gov
eminent work, there is a feeling among
q number Of naval officers that they woulG
rise to the occasion and II the building
program suggested by Mr.. Joy were
spread over eight or even six years it
would be completed to the satisfaction Of
the naval authorities.
Believe We Must Fight.
There is a strong feeling among naval
men, and 1t is very general, that the time
is approaching when the United States
must be prepared to fight for its trade
rights and the maintenance Of the Monroe
doctrine. Certainly all the preparations
for war that is being made by the army
and navy has ethat expectation in view,
although the more conservative officers OF
the government refuse to tolerate the idea
that there is danger Of a hostile conflict
with any European power. Mr.. Joy, in
explaining the reason for his radical meas
ure, said that it's only purpose was to
provide a feet sufficient to insure respect
for the consistent American policy of pre-
venting the acquisition OF territory in this
hemisphere by non-American natiors. II
Mr.. Joy would talk, as he has presumably
done, with army and navy officers, he
would find there is a growing opinion
throughout both services rapidly crystalliz-
ing into conviction that something must
be done by this government to keep pace
with the wonderful strides toward the
perfection OF a powerful feet that are
being made by European states. whose
every move is watched by military ex-
perts in America with eyes Of suspicion.
Curiously enough, 1t is almost generally
believed in military and naval circles that
this augmentation is directed mainly
toward the United States. Whether there
is Just cause for this feeling is a matter
Of opinion, but some OF the foremost au-
thorities on sea power maintain that the
only safe policy to pursue is TO begin now
to make rapid advances toward the forma-
ton OF a powerful fleet. In that, 1t is held,
lies the best assurance of peace.
Spells a Tragic Scene.
Judge Daniel H.. Mcmillan of the SUI
preme court of New Mexico has been in
the city for several days. Judge Mcmillan,
before he went to the southwest, was for
many years a resident of Buffalo, N. Y.
He sat In the lobby OF the New Willard
among a number of old friends, when
"reminiscences Of Buffalo came UP. II
noticed recently" he said, that John H.
Mech OF the old Buffalo Academy of Music
passed over. His death recalled to my
mind a very funny incident which occurred
in the old theater which he managed away
back in the '70s.
I'm those days 1t was the custom for
the students Of the medical department
of the University OF Buffalo to go to the
theater in a body every Friday night. They
always bought admissions for the gallery
and 1t was very unhealthy for one of their
colleagues to be seen in the body of the
house. One OF the students at the college,
on the occasion to which l refer, was a
little wry-necked fellow named Pomeroy,
from the territory OF Dakota. He had
never attended a theaterical performance
before, but he demonstrated very dearly
that night that he had a keen sense Of
the dramatic possibilities Of a shakespear-
can play.
THE play was Romeo and Juliet and
the star part was assigned to that great &C
tress. Modjeska, whose portrayal of Juliet
has seldom been excelled. In the potion
scene Juliet appears with a small phial
containing a deadly poison in her hands.
After reciting her lines the actress draws
the cork from the phial and swallows the
contents. On the occasion, Just as Mod
jeska seized the cork with her thumb and
forefnger, Pomeroy stuck the forehnger of
his right hand in his cheek. AS the cork
left the phial he let that forefnger slip out.
II made a sound like a pistol shot. The
audience, dared for a second. caught on
almost instantly. and forgetting the actress
and the play, they turned-every one of
them-and looking up into the gallery, let
on a storm Of applause.
The Countess Bozenta was furious. She
threw the phial across the stage and
stalked on. The curtain was instantly
dropped and inside hve minute the Mech
brothers, three or four detectives and all
the ushers were frantically rushing up
stairs. Approaching the doorkeeper OF the
gallery Mr.. Mech shouted, Where is he?
Who're is he? Where's who2' asked the
doorkeeper. Where's the fellow who
popped the cork? angrily asked Mech.
"'oh, him. said the ungrammaticaI door
keeper. s~tolidly. pointing dow to the front
rows. There he is. There's sixty Of him.
1T was ten minut before Madame Mod
Jeska could be induced to Teappear. She
began the scene all over again. and you
could hear the heartbeats Of your next