The National tribune., 1908-10-01

And now it is rumored that even the
Short passage across the Atlantic viii
be permitted to remain no longer g
season of rest and brief escape from
the feverish demands of civilization
for Mr.. Frohman, the weIl-known dra.
matte manager, is going to put theatri,
cal companies on the liners and give
nightly performances. 1t does not seem
possible that there can be any demand
for this sort of thing, and certain it is
that the best class of our Europe-going
people would always avoid these ships
should the plan mature as is expected
Still, Mr.. Frohman is a shrewd buSi-
ness man, and would not entertain such
a purpose unless he saw money in 1t
OF course, the ships would be obliged
to change their interiors to provide the
proper place in which the plays would
be given, but it is understood that they
: have agreed to do this. One cannot
help wondering what would happen II
the weather were rought and the snip
rolled and pitched to any extent I'M
aSine Romeo lurching around as II
half seas over" trying to keep his
footing in the moonlit garden, or Juliet
suddenly seized with an attack of sea-
sickness when about to drink the fatal
potion. Nay, nay, Pauline The nat
ural drama of ocean and sky are all
one wants at sea; the play of the waves
E is the only play necessary. To sit
quietly on deck and watch that vast,
bcundless expanse of water with a good
book or pleasant companion, is enter
tainment enough. Modern so-caIed
civilization will not let US live the sim
pie life oven if we would. She hounds
us and follows us wherever we go, even
when we try to escape her for few
days on an ocean voyage; at least, that
will be the case if Mr.. Frohman sue
ceeds in putting his theatrical compa-
nies on our transatlantic liners.
Personal recklessness is rapidly be-
coming one of our National character
istics. That discretion which we are
told is the better part of Valor forms
a very small part of the American
makeup. We see this on all sides of
us, in the little children who are found
in all manner of perilous positions, in
the grown-ups who take all sorts of
chances, even in the elderly people.
rushing hither and yon, trying to keep
up with the procession, and who do not
seem to consider the question of per-
sonal safety at all. The number OF
PATHS from carelessnesS- in one form
or another is appalling. No other coun-
try in the world can equal it, and one
of the most potent factors in this NOR
tality is the automobile. During the
past two months the papers have been
full of fatal automobile accidents, which
have taken off a surprising number of
people prominent in the social world.
Now il is Boston's young millionaire,
Montgomery Sears, whose car, driven
at The rate of 80 miles an hour, came
unexpectedly upon turn in the road,
could not make it, and plunged down
Sc . t1Ax
owner Mr.. Sears was only 33 years of
age, a graduate of Harvard, and much
property in the fashionable Back Bay
district belonged to him. Three years
ago he came into possession of his es-
tate thru the death of his father, and
since then, instead of giving himself up
to life of pleasure, like so many of his
class, he has interested himself in civic
matters. and had announced himself as
a candidate for the Massachusetts Sem
ate He was very fond of outdoor
sports, which is always a saving grace
in a rich young man, and particularly
enthusiastic over automobiling. He was
the largest individual taxpayer in Bos-
ton last year. His life showed promise,
and his sudden taking off, so perfectly
unnecessary, should act as a warning
to other reckless automobilists, which,
however, it won't Mr.. Sears was un-
married.
DIR. Mary Harriss, an American ply
sician, who has finally drifted to Flor
ence, Italy, and who is permanently
settled there, does not approve of Amer
lean girls going abroad alone to study
unless they have money enough to live
comfortably and in surroundings where
they can have healthful diversion. The
idea which prevailed years ago and
which was correct at the time, that
one could live cheaper in Europe than
in America, is now entirely exploded;
that is, as iar as the large cities are
concerned Prices of all kinds have
gone up, particularly in Italy. In Ger
many one can still live comparatively
cheaply, but not so much so as many
of these girls believe They hear of
the cheapness abroad, and go over ex-
peeting to live on money which would
spell starvation for them at home. One
girl went over with only $500 to last
her five years, expecting to exc out her
slender means by teaching. Europe is
full of Americans who are only too
willing to give lessons in English for a
Z few cents an hour. In Italy the usual
price for English lessons is 20 cents an
hour In Paris these girls have the
hardest time Paris is very expensive
city, and when a girl with little or no
money attempts to live there serious
InlnSS ReUeTdlly result. s1fIt TAXES al
attic room in TIE Latin Quarter, and
starves herself to pay for her lessons.
Lack of means deprives her of all inno-
cent enjoyment, and her lonely life and
the propinquity of some man too fire.
qaently lead to the forming of undesir-
able acquaintances and relations. DR..
Harriss thinks all such girls should stay
at home, and content themselves with
the art advantages of their own coun-
try. and that any mother should think
twice before she consents to allow her
young daughter to go abroad to study
when the family pocketbook is inclined
to fiatness.
A curious fact connected with most
near-sighted persons is that while they
generally remove their glasses to read,
holding the printed matter very close
to the eyes, they put their glasses on
when they begin to talk or listen. Some
how, even If their hearing be perfect,
they cannot seem to understand clearly
what is said TO them unless they can
see distinctly the person who is talk
ing But il they are sitting in room
where there is no light, such near-sight-
ed persons can hear perfectly withoui
their glasses, which seems as If hearing
We're not entirely a matter of sound
certainly.
AT school Whitcomb Riley didn'i
shine. and was usually at the foot oil
his classes. One thing, however, he
could do better than the other girls
and boys, and that was read. When
the reading class was called up then