davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-05-05
Real Estate Transfers.

Mr. NJ. o. Lackey has sold for the
Phillips-Lackey Company a house anu
lot in Union street to Nancy Thorn
ton for $3.50 and house and lot In
Read street TO Lewis Baker FOR
$500.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-05-05
ST. John Episcopal.

Usual services will be conducted in
st. Johns Episcopal church this
morning and this afternoon by the
rector, the Rev. Revcrdy Estill, ID.
. ID.
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

fate Of the approaching seasTu. And,
as the line which divides failure from
success IS finely drawn. those months
are anxious ones
About the 1st OF November at the
Metropolitan and toward the mid-Oc-
tOber at the Manhattan. the stars
those CT them VINO do not happen 20
have passed their summer in this
country-begip 10 arrive in dear
America" and are hungrily inter
viewed. Now is the opportunity Of
tnst general press representative.
For hours each day he is called
upon 20 interpret the elOquence pour
ed out in many languages by the new
celebrities He is excected to disclose
(and on occasion also TO invent their
picturesque and romantic life stories
He must lead them to Bangs or
Sarony 20 have their photographs
taken. lie must serve as a buHer. a
friend and discreet counselor. between
them and their manager He must
look 10 it that no one s,ar Of them
gets more or less than the Ugh, share
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

ago. when Mr. ConrieG like Mr.. Grau.
his immediate predecessor. had things
very much in his own hands Having
no competitors OF Importance TO dread
here. he could 20 about his task in
majestic way. He could ,reat with the
German and Austrian Hol-Intendsnts
or with the directors ot the French
opera houses, in an impressive tone
calculated 90 strike awe into their
hearts. In his travels from capital 10
capital DE could halt. when he so
wished, 70 enjoy a few mud baths ,at
this watering place and 20 take a cure
at that Between baths and drinks he
could listen, atabi,. or less afably. 70
a tenor. sign a contract with a so
prano, and submit to a newspaper in
terview Not till Mr.. Hammerstein.
last year. announced his first season
of grand opera at the Manhattan did
the Herr Direktor of the Metropolitan
find that-in the unfeeling language Of
the people-he would have to hustle
t1 step lively or. I'm other words.
20 get a move on him. or see the
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

ht of all who are curious on the sub
ject that Mr. C0nrled spends 81. .O0O.0
annually on behalf OF the company
over which be presides at the Metro
pOhtan Opera House. Mr.. Hammer
STEMS next season at the Manhattan
win probably cost close upon $4,000
irrespective OF what rental his house
would represent II he leased it 20 an
gther manager instead OF himself maxi
Ing use OF IT, That. too. Is perhaps
the least troublesome part OF the COM
pleX problem which the ,wo rival man
ayers have TO solve. Months before
the curtain goes up on the nrst-per-
formances In the big lyric theaters
EurOpt has been secured for stars
and operas; Paris. London. Berlin.
Vienna. Madrid and dozen other
cities have been visited in search OF
costumes. scenery. and stage prop
critics" scores. ~ not hundreds. OF
aspirants 10 the honor OF an engage
ment IN America have sung TO the
heroic oscar and the tenacious Helm
rich: while. earlier stIu. the theatrical
agents whose business 70 is to round
up" and get options on new artists
have been busy in England and on
the Continent
With Mr Hammerstein in the field.
the difficulties Of The managerial re-
cruitlng officer have increased and
multiplied. Time was. only two years
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

Each generation FOR the past two or
three have gradually wandered away
frcm the simpler lives. noble ambi-
tiOns. and wise examples OF their am
cestOrs
Extravasancc has taken tho place OF
economy. Incidence the place OF i'm
dustry Ignorant aud Indifferent scr,
ants have taken the place OF mothers
with the precious children born 10 tsc
present generation Mothers. daugA-
;ers. sisters. ana wives are no longer
me preferred companions 81 a major
ity OF men. i'm most cases because
their demands for money tc satisfy
their luXuries are too great and be-
come irksome AMI irritating In their
Indulgence I'm the follies they should
eschew and condemn. they have gen
Grated into burdens TO those whom
they should help TO bear the pro-
digious responsibilities Of the present
age
Consuming selhshness and love of
excitement are rapidly doing their
work of destruction OF feminine re-
pose and vigorous mental and physical
health and strength. Automobiles have
fAANA i'iiftA NAosdAlfts uihdRlliN AAltA alt
working havoc with the nerves and
shortening the days OF all too many
men and wouten-neuritis, meningitis,
and the various forms of heart and
nerve diseases have overta<en hun
dreds of autoists. Americans were
reckless and impatient enough before
the Introduction Of tne machine"
what they will become with the au-
tomobile craze that has seized the
whole nation no one can sasely pre-
dict.
II may be denied, but cannot be
disproven. tnat the hab!tual autoists
are irritable. restless. and so nervous
when not on the road that they are
not agreeable companions. Many seem
unconscious Of the fact that they are
really wasting their lives, or their real
condition They resort to drugs and
stimulants as panace1s for their dis
comforts and supposed ailments,
which only add to their iudisposition
and unhappiness
They have no ambition 10 be helpful
to their families. but indulge them
selves in self-pity on account Of their
imaginary troubles and cares. Tney
know nothing OF the joy that comes
from serving others and forgetting
self as did their grandmotherS. ana
though more bounlfuily blessed win
this worlds goods tlan were their an
tecedents, their hNss Sre Joyless III
comparison.
The Washington times., 1907-12-22
Preparation for Season.

on the return Of the Great Ssan
whether he be Mr.. Conried or NJ
Hammerstein) the stage carpenters.
who have been building new scenery;
the costumers. waO have been fashion
ing new dresses from the designs OF
foreign artists: the corps &c ballet the
chorus. and the mechanics 20 to work
as IF their lives depended on their ef-
forts. When the season is in full
swing an Institution like the Metro-
politan employs close upon 100 persons.
At the Manhattan the roll-cau may be
a trine shorter or these. three
f0urths. maybe. are occupied between
September and November by whica
date everything that has been pro-
iected by the manager must be al
least roughly shaped. while some OF it
must be polished. fully rehearsed. and
ready for the opening. on the super
vision Of the manager and his trusted
henohmen during the months OF Sep
tember and October depends the arts
tic, and perhaps also the financial.
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

A RICH ran was dying. He had
~ been miser who had boarded
n hts money an his life until
he had amassed a gigantic
fortune. When anyone asked him to
assist in some charitable act he al-
ways said: u cannot do that. my
friend. 1 must De saving my money.
for money is everything in this world
When he was about to die he
thought: 1 must be saving my money.
must be worth something n the other
world, TOO. and I must see TO it that
DO not go there with empty hands"
He called together his children and
ordered them to place bag Of gold
In the coffin with him.
DO not be stingy." he said. make
Il big bas and fll q ~ with gold"
Tile very same night he gave up
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

the ghost. His children carried out his
wishes and placed a bag with 600
pieces in the coffin.
As soon as he had arrived inside the
gates Of heaven nc had to so through
the usual formalties. lie was asked
wkere he came from. what he had
done. snd so on. and he was very
much tired and terribly hungry and
thirsty before the whole thing was
over. He was just about ready to
think that he must die a second time
from starvation when he saw a count
er Tiled with eatables and beverages OF
all kinds.
This seems TO be just like the wait
ing-roUm I'm q large railroad station
he said 90 himself. You may have
everything hero. and / even think
smell q roast somewhere. How for
tunate that thought OF taking along
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

history. The hour which sees the cur
tain rise or some rev work with
which fame has in advance been busy
is a great one for the manager Of an
opera house. Even should he himself
have done little. by direct effort, 20
assure the smoothness Of the perform
ance. the beauty Of the singing and
tie excellence OF the orchestra, his IS
the mind which has gathered to-
gether all the materials used in the
attainment Of the results shown at
the dress rehearsal. and he IL is who
will bear the shame or wear the lsu-
rels after the public performance OF
each opera.
And when. some evening in Novem-
Der, that grand opening night does
come. is il strange II Il is a very
proud, though very weary, manager
who looks at the huge gathering IN
the auditorium and perhaps watches
the lights 20 wrong IN the most care
fully rehcarsed episodes OF the opera
knowing. as he does. that every sin
OF omission or commission will be
visited on his head in the press. next
morning but knowing. too. that, IL
All should go well, he viii earn great
glory.
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

fu (Which Their meant easily singabIc
and meloJiousl operas. with decent
but not necessarily sumptu0us or ac-
curate settings were all tEev expected
IN the stage rs to the boxes. why.
though our forerunners were properly
critical as 10 the standing. character.
and artecedents OF their occupants.
they cared little for the way IN which
they were upholstered. or how many
millions Trey might shelter
Opera was comparatively cheap
Colonel Mapleson and Mr. Strakosch.
we may be sure. spent scarcely one
third OF what Il now costs Mr. Conried
and Mr.. Hammerstein to give grand
opera. Mr.. Abbey aad Mr.. Grau had
not, by their calculated extravaganza,
yet sent the terms OF the great singers
skyward. Nor did the patrons OF the
academy take the impresarios 90 task
unfeellngly II backgrounds which had
done duty in Norma" or "Semiramide"
appeared a week after as accessories
or I'll EJauto Magico."
Roughly. It may be said for the bene-
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

irg al the mulu-milli0naire box
holders aud revelins generally IN
your surroundings. havo you ever
asked yourself what II costs-W hat
thought and work. what time and
money must be spent-fcr your en-
jOymentr You have. perhaps. grown
so used 20 having arr, ease. ana
pleasure provided for YOU season after
season that you have come 20 take
them all for granted Yet IT might be
only grateful II you stopped for mo-
ment some night. say, during an
entr' acte or before the overture has
begun, TO ask how things waich. 20
rejecting minds. seem almost miracles.
have been accomplished and who has
accomplished them
In Oldeu lays. when your fathers
and your grandfathers went to the
Academy Of Music 100 their opera
everythirg was simpler, Theatergocrs
wee less exacting as 10 their COM
fort. and as 20 such matters as stage
scenery aud costumes, than they have
slEce become. Great singing. h-auti-
The Washington times., 1907-12-22
Are Women of Today Happy
WITH LIFE OF LUXURY AS
Compared With GrandmotberS
By MRS JOHN A. LOGAN.

- URROUNDED by all the luxurles
and convenientes OF modern
times, It Is difficult fo- the
women OF today to imagifss the
perfect happiness OF the grand danes
az '.ys olden times" notwithstanding
nat they we're hampered by the in
conveniences and discomforts OF
earlier days. History and tradition
have told them how their grandmoth-
ers carded the cotton and wool and
broke the flax, spun the thread and
wove ell the cloth from which the
table and bed linen. blankets. and
clothes for all the family were made.
In addition. with their own deft fing-
era, they Gus and made all the gar
ments worn by the men. women. and
children. as well as being their own
millIners. They knew nothing about
cooks and buffers except in excep-
tional cases outside the slave states.
Trained nurses were unknown. con-
snQuenly they nursed their children
and personally attended TO their sick
or injured, and not infrequeuuy per
formed the office o. physiciaa and sur
Eeon IL the cases were not too serious.
They gave much time 10 their churches
and to charity To discharge these
multiple duties. they had % be dill
gent and systematic, and they were
70 such an extent that they had plenty
OF time for pleasure and social life.
Their virtues and loyalty won for
the women OF America the reverence
which all good American men stiU pay
to women. though their degenerate de-
scendants have sometimes deserved TO
lose the homage Of their countrymen.
With such wives and mothers tnv
man could not practice the deceptions
or be guilty Of the disloyalty that is
10 common now. Men knew they
could depend upon the women In ad-
Verslty as well as in prosperity.
Young men ware not afraid TO get
married on account Of limited incomes
They were sure that the economies IN
which the young women we're trained
would make them veritable helpmates
es wives. hence there We're few uE-
happy marriages.
Unfortunately, the twentieth cen
tury, with all OF its progress in civil
Ization, advancement in science anu
higher education abundant wealth
sud luxury, hsS brought manifold
evils. TaS women OF the nation. In
for too great numbers. are victims OF
these evils because Of their Indulgence
In the foIlies and luxuries of the age.
The Washington times., 1907-12-22
By Count
TOLStOy..

bag Of gold and replaced It with a
sas filed with kopeks
When the rich man had received
these he rushed to the counter. and
said to tho girl: Now I have ko-
Deks. 50 please hurry up and give me
something to eat. for I am terribly
hungry"
Although the money was there, tbs
girl smiled. shook her head. and sasd:
I see that you have not learned very
much during your life. Here we 30
not accept the kopeks which you hold
in your hand, but only those that you
have put into the hands OF others
Think hack and see II you cannot re-
member that you have ever helped a
poor man or encouraged a sick one
The rich man bowed down his head
and thought But never had he as
sisted anyone. never had he done
anything for the sick or for the ooor.
The two strong men appeared gain
ana carried him of below
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

The rich man took from his bag a
sold com and said: please"
The saleslady turned the coin be-
tween her fingers. looked at IT from
ell sides. then handed it back: mo
this Is not the kind Of kopeks that we
use here.
Immediately afterwards two strong
men came and carried off the rich
man between them. He was very
downhearted, and also very much Of
Tended.
1t is very annoying that they only
accept kopeks here. How strange, L
must see that I get some change"
he thought. During the next night
ne ran back 70 mis- sons and whis-
pered to them in a dream Take
back your gold. cant use Il here.
ard instead OF il lav down n bag
filled with kopeks on my grave. II
YOU do not want me 20 starve."
Terrified. the sons ran to the ceme-
terry the next morning, dug up the
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

money" He opened his bag OF gold.
looked az It's contents with loving
eyes. went over to the counter, and
pointed to plate with sardines in
oil
How much does that cOst?"
One kopek." was the reply.
THAT is very cheap" the rich man
thought. and again he asked: And
how much do those hot paddles cost?'
Also one kopek,' the saleslady re-
piled with a smile
IF that is So" the rich man said.
please give me ter sardines and
FIVE FISH paddles, and Tier
As his eyes wandered over the
empting dishes he seemed at q loss
10 select anything
The girl behind the counter looked
at him patiently FOR q while and then
said slowly; 1T is customary to pay
in advance here"
Pay With the greatest pleasure.
The Washington times., 1907-12-22
sCOutinued nrom Fourth Pagel

eCoutinued from Fourth Page.)
ksr crossed the watchmAn's button in
room iolG ef sAIs building. And no
concluded. -osn you conceive a safe
being eraoAsd or blasted and the CON
tents removed, with a system like that
In operatienr'
ElEford, smiling. kept clear OF the
dangerous topic.
Ths outer door closed softly. and tho
two men passed down She deserted
street.
At the corner the electric sign Of the
Hotel Grande was visible down the in
tersecting avenue.
well. tomorrow's a business day,
and we both need an hour or two. Of
rest, I imagine I'll leave you here,
Jim. and I'm thoroughly glad TO have
seen you again"
And 1 shan't see you in the morn
inST'
Good gracious, man"' cried the
other. I'm not up nowadays when
the slx-ffteen passes through town.
Goodnight and good-by. and when
next you intend to come this way send
word ahead and make a stay of it at
the house
Elsford shook his hand and tgrned
down toward the hotel. Grafton paused
for q minute or two upon tine corner.
watching for the glare on the rails
which should have heraldej the com
ing Of an electric car.
We'll. they hardly worked
around To an all-night schedule as
yet" he mutterei. I'm walk"
Hs struck out briskly for his home
at the other end Of the town, and as
ne walked The loneliness OF the strets
set him to thinking aloud.
How Internally nasty ElsfOrd vas
tonight, As if He slowed down
and then walked ahead a. a more
rapid gait. ''Pshaw. There isn't one
chance in a million OF anything hap
pening to those c. lson papers"
And still-weH his mind seemed
bent upon working in queer channels
What If anyone should try TO enter the
office? Bosh,
a little later a new ph..-. confronted
his ever-active imagination: what II
some one had en,ervd the office that
evening" What had given birth to the
idea he could hardly have said. and
there was little enough to support it
get the notion began 10 take grip on
Grafton.
Small things which had been cast
aside at the time took to looming up
before him in a grotesquely threaten
ing way.
There was that odor Of Turkish to-
bacco, mentioned by Elsford when
they had entered the office. Grafton
was suffering from slight cold; had
the odor really existed. he could hard
ly have detected IT, And if it did ex-
list, whence had it come? Parker did
not smoke
Then, TOO. there was the compare
lively low temperature of his private
den.
As he turned this last fact over and
over. 1t was borne in upon him more
and more strongly than even his
vaunted ventilating system could
hardly have been responsible for that
access of fresh. cool air. But II some
one has had the windc- 6pcn2
For the moment it seemed unden.ablc
The Washington times., 1907-12-22
Interesting Chapter.

Then comes an interesting chapter
in the preliminary history OF each sea
son with the dress Tehearsals Of the
new works, 10 some OF which not only
the directors Of the opera house (when,
as IN the instance OF the Metro
pOlitan. they exist are invited. tc-
gether with the critics and their wives
and a hundred or more other specially
privileged persons. Some OF these re-
hearsals-notably those OF "Parsifal'
and "SaIOme'-wiH go down in local
The Washington times., 1907-12-22
4 WHITE STREAK
OFDLSASTER

that some one had done just that. and
II so. who was It. and why had he
been there2
Light and Darkness.
surely Parker had not beer the man.
for the watchmanrs instructions 70
disturb absolutely nothing in the room
were most strict.
And supposlng that the place had
been entered in his absence. what OF
the Colson papers-the notes AID bonds
which represented the splendid fruit
of his ten years hard work.
Was It not very possible that the
sale manufacturers might have overes-
timated the burglar -withstanding quail
ities Of their product-that a safe
cracker. sufficiently expert might
break through even that bail of solid
steel. with its intricate door, and re
move all
Beads Of cold perspiration started TO
Grafton's brow; once more he came
nearly TO a standstill Then, with
muttered word Of annoyance, he took
up his way again.
Confound Elsford, anyway! This
nervous, irresolute mood was the
direct work of his silly croaking. In
his heart Grafton felt never a doubt
of that fact
Had Elsford but behaved I'm a sane
normal manner. Grafton would nave
been hurrying along at mis- usual quick.
steady stride-whistling probably. in
the solitude, and as cheerful as any
man in the State.
And now
Grafton stood stock-suu in the cen
ter of the sidewalk Deny it as ener-
setically as he might, fight or the feel
ing as hard as ne would. il was tie
dismal fact that Grafton was exceeG-
ingly nervous about the safety Of
those Colson papers
An impulse that gathered force with
every passing second urged him to
turn squarely about and return to the
Grafton building.
Should he yield- lie ssood and
scowled angriiy at the trolley pole be-
fore him. Premonitions and vague i'm
pulses were not at all in Grafton 5 line.
He felt oddly ashamed at having al
lowed this absurd notion to grip him
~ SIpiSiS. Out LIg as ne might, II
refused to be shaken of.
He had not gone more than four or
five blocks. To return would be no
very great matter, and when he had
examined the safe once more and
made certain that all was as il should
be. perhaps this extremely foolish
sensation would take a delayed de-
parture
II was a concession the making of
which gained him in-the extreme. He
turned half about for a thoughtful
glance at the solid blackness which rep
resented the side OF his building. tow
er.ng high above everything else in
town.
And then he whirled squareIy and
quickly about. and stared with the ut
most intensity, for an extremely odd
phenomenon had caught his eye.
Right at the rear corner OF the ninth
story. Enthusiastically I'm the two win
dows which gave into the north side Of
his own private office. a very brilliant
hsht had been burning.
And the merest fraction Of a second
after his eyes had comprehended the
sight. the light had disappeared!
(TO Be Continued Next Sundsv1
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

Of screeching notorists in the newe-
Lapers. And he has other things to
worry nim. Soon the manager and
the general business ma~ager are even
more ,N@orrled, as the Slsceptibilities,
the temDeraments. and at times the
tempers, OF the stars are gradually
made plain to them.
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

YOU sit at ease in your
armchairs At the Mctropol
itan or the Manhattan. lis
tcnius 20 the strains oI
Faust. Carmen or
Tristan uud Isolde" star
The Washington times., 1907-12-22
1907 Worries
Burden LIe
Hundreds of Thou
sandSin Real Money
Are Risked by In
trepid Managers 10
Give Public the Best
Grand Opera.
By CHARLES MENRY MELTzER.

Mr.. Meltzer Is one OK the best play Wrights
and dramatic critics. HIS position assist
ant 10 Mr.. Conried at the Metropolitan Opera
House during the past Two seasons makes the
following article authoritative All the illus
tratiOns except that of MI HammcrStcin are
from cartoons made by Carusu. the famous
tenor of the Metropolitan OPcrs House. as
printed ln CarAsC's ok. published AT $50
aud copyrighted b. Robert Grier Cooke, Inc.
4 y. 100
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

great singers ana the masterwOrks
he needed whisked away from him be
fore his very nose. Now. alas. Mr..
Conried has 10 strain every nerve 10
protect himself against the activities
Of his Irrovercnt competitor.
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

(TO Be Continued Next sundsy)
The Washington times., 1907-12-22

that some one had done just that. and
IL So who was It. and why had he
been there2
The Washington times., 1907-12-22
&SJ DIG hlng TO De an lmDTeSdTlO 80 Making Toys
%&A Rlf ,Iucf Think Of tbn EYDnnSn For the WOr
NI ;. ~ of ChidhO
y ~ ~ oi9u'o - 0''u'0o conductor A @=s:ss==gs@@:@s.
Making Toys
For the World
of Childhood

GREAT many Of the toys that
san Claus gives 70 children
at Christmas time he gets IN