Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1907-08-31
MUNICH ALUNACY.
BY JOHN KENDRICK BANGS.

Has anybody yet thought of the de-
STABILITY of municipal ownership of
the barber shops? If not 1t IS respect
fully suggested that the matter be look
ed into, for under private control it is
undcnlablc that many abuses have
grown up. No misplaced respect for
alleged private rights should be per
mitted to take the lathcr out of the
mouths of the public.
The Brooklyn Eagle says that you
tics" All, but you can. Misaliances
are always possible. The real trouble
Will come when you try to divorce
them, even for cause.
Only a fool would suggest managing gas
companies, street car companies and SO
on regardless of cost.-Hearst's New York
Evening Journal.
Now, William, stop calling yourself
names. Leave that to your enemies.
One thing is very certain. If capital
lists refuse to take the municipal bonds
that are being offered on the markets,
1t won't take more than fifteen minutes
for an alert common council to pass an
ordinance requiring them to take
them. Better be warned in time ye
money sharks. When that ordinance
IS passed, who knows but that one Of
its provisions will set the price of a
hundred dollar bond at $l25?
Too much credit has ruined many a
man. Wherefore the city thatcannot sell
its mortgages for over S3l2 is just that
much further from ruin as S3l, is from
par. Q. +. ID.
There seems to be q general sus
picion in New York city that the
more flourishing Of It's pool rooms and
other gambling institutions are con-
trolled by a committee of municipal
officials acting eX ofiiCiO This Is one
of the few varieties of municipal con
troll which can be said to realize enor-
nous profits.
Mortified. Vt, before starting in up
on municipal ownership owed $2,0S2
At the close of the experiment it owed
$47,319, nice little profit of $45,237.
Opera Note of the Futurc.-Now that
New York city has assumed charge Of
the Metropolitan Opera House and op-
era has been thoroughly municipalized
the music lovers of the city are look
ing forward with much curiosity to
what promises to be an interesting sea-
son. The appointment of Mr. FaSsctt,
the we'll known plumber, to its man
agcment by the common council will
infuse new spirit into the institution,
though there are still timid souls who
doubt whether the artists he has en-
gagged, notably Mr. O'Brien, the livery
stable keeper, and Miss Maggie Dugan
of Luccy's ribbon counter, to sing Romeo
and Juliet are vocally equal to the roles
assigned them. Those who have heard
Miss Dugan summon cash boy are
perfectly familiar with the wonderful
quality of her voice, especially in its
higher attitudes, and her cnunclation
of the word cash" is bell-like in the
clarity of its tone. Mr.. O'Brien, how
ever, is more Of an experiment; but
while we must confess we have only
heard him address his horses in the
past, there is no denying that there is
a superb quality to the notes of his
middle register. Signor Cospetto di
Napoli, the popular dealer in confetti
in Mulberry street, who will lead the
orchestra on Italian nights, comes of
a musical family, his parents having
toured the country with a barrel organ
for many prosperous seasons.