davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
LEHAR'S NEW OPERA SUCCESS
Expert Says "The Man with Three
Wives" Is Adapted to Stage.
Composer of "The Merry Widow
Produces n Piece of COsmOpOli-
tan Character.

Vienna. Feb 6-EIerr Franz Lehar COM
poser Of The Merry Widow" says that in
his new operetta, "The Man with Three
Wives" produced at the Theater an der
Wien this week, his idea is 10 give the
piece a cosmopolitan character. The three
acts are laid in Vienna, Paris, and Lon
don, and the music is composed with a
view to suiting the character of each capi-
tai It's whole tone is extremely modern
by comparison with his earlier work.
In an Interview recently George Ed
wardes, who has bought the English
rights. said that the piece will be a sue
cess I'm London. The story appeals TO
him; but he misses songs likely 10 catch
on" There IS room for extensive changes.
but the principal elements Of success are
already in it. 1t could be very we'll adapt
ed for the English stage,
The piece as whole is not likely to
have the same success as "The Merry
Widow" The orchestrated music did not
seem always tO match the songs. There
are two excellent waltzes and several
good melodies bat in the libretto the story
was hardly made to develop naturally. At
times the music seemed too high class
for it's surroundings.
The hero, Hans Zipser. is a cicerone OF
personally conducted tours, whose lead
ing characteristic is a love of home life.
He has. indeed, a wife in each capital
The Vienna wife, as played by Frau Guen-
ther, scores a great success in her ''Slum-
Der Song in the first act. The comic ele-
ment is supplied by an Englishman with
four daughters Of remarkable beauty, and
a young man who loses his wife on their
honeymoon tour, the wife cOnsOling her
self with a Chinese mandarin.
The second act passes in a school for
department in Paris. where a Rose
Waltz" an entire novelty. is danced by
schoolgirls and cadets Madame Kar-
tousch, who plays the Paris wife, scores
great success. In the third act in
London is Telephone Song, where all
sorts of private matters are settled,
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
ASw My al kNzal0s A~saf
WOULD-BE CARUS0s IN TEST.
Out Of 156 Candidates Not More
Than -Four Are SuccessfuI.

Paris, Feb, S-Out of f56 would-be
Carusos from all ranks of life tried at the
Theatre des Nouveautes, the jury of dis
tinguished artistes and musicians have
selected two or three, or perhaps four
tenors, whose names. the president says,
will soon be a worldwide reputation"
The trial went on yesterday from Q
a. m. 10 10 p. m. before an audience Of
100 The competitors included medical
students. a doctor of medicine, an ac-
cOuntant, soldiers, butchers, stone masons,
carpenters, postmen, several landed pro-
pTietOrs walters. ErOcers and a woman
ironer IN a laundry named Nine. Verdier,
whose attempts TO reach a top "C'
aroused great enthusiasm, and who is
anxious to go on the stage as a tenor
vocalist
The youngest competitor was only six
teen, but weighed 3JS pounds. His sue
cess wGs tremendous. one competitor.
after suffering from stage-fright In the
morning. came back in the afternoon.
My mother and sisters say have a
very fine tenor voice, he explained, "Un-
fortunately, ! was somewhat nervous this
morning. However. I have had a good
dinner and a good bottle of wine so here
goes" Then he began 10 sing. only to
arouse the amusement of the audience.
'Go home to your mamma" they shouted,
Similar competitions organized by the
theatrical journals, 'Nusica" and Co
media, took place at Toulouse, Bordeaux,
Nice. and Dion. there being in all 275 can
didates.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09

appeared in the sky, followed hy Tie ap-
pearance Of wheels working as If IL were
a wheel IN the middle of wheel.
Extraordinary Phenomenon.
DIT. Grlfth said. I've had just pitched
camp on the banks Of the Khabur trib-
utary Of the Euphrates-the same river
as Is mentioned by Ezekiel as Cnebar-
when We witnessed q wonderful display
as we were watching the setting sue.
During the aftergiow the sky was lit up
by rays OF varied hues, projecting like
the spokes Of a wheel from the settiHS
sun
From either side Of the sun there ap-
peared to issue wings. and the whole APP
pearauce gave just the idea Of the winged
wheels within wheels described by the
prophet The period of the year was the
same as that referred 20 IN Ezekiel
after the phenomenon had lasted for
some minutes the sun disappeared from
the sky, which had the deep violet hue Of
the eastern heavens. I cannot account
for the phenomenon. but after / had wit
messed il recalled that had some time
previously received a letter from England
suggesting that / should look out for such
a display
Dr. Griffith states that the region be-
tween the Tigris and the Euphrates only
awaits the employment of capital TO be-
come one OF untold wealth.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
FOUR PRISONERS ESCAPE.
Their Two CeIImates Surprised 10
Find Them Gone One Morning.

Milan, Feb, S.-A remarkably daring es-
cape has been made from the prison at
Busto-Arsizio. The prison is situated in
the municipal buildings, which include
also the law courts. in "a large room
were six prisoners two Of whom, on
awaking yesterday morning, We're sur
prised not to see their companions, one
Of whom was the chief Of noted band
of robbers. The daring malefactOrs had
taken away from q folding bedstead,
which was placed in a corner of the
room, a bar of iron, by means of which
they had. with infinite precautions, re-
moved pieces Of the flooring from under
meath the bed Then they made hole In
the wall communicating with the garden
which surrounds the building.
This work must have been carried on
with the greatest patience for at least
two or three weeks. Every morning be-
fore the regular visit OF the w3rders The
four prisoners put everything in its place.
so as not TO arouse any suspicion Their
flight would seem 10 have been effected
between midnight and 4 O'Clock in the
morning.
Underneath the bed the escaped pris-
oners had left the following letter: Sig
nor Director of the Prisons Of BustO-
ArsiziO-Finding the tribunal OF Bust0-
ArsiZio too hard upon US, we have taken
advantage OF a hole casually found IN
the wall of the garden, and Of the pro-
found sleep of our two cell companions
TO effect our escape. With respectful sai-
utaIiOns."
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
BEGGARS HAVE BANK ACCOUNT
Deaf Mute SWindIeFs i'm Berlin Cap
tured by Their own Error.

Berlin. Feb S-A clever gang Of Turk
izh. Greek, and Russian professional beg
sars. who have been working Berlin
since the middle of December, after a
series Of successful operations in other
continental capitals, was captured by the
police to-day. Their profits had amassed
at such q rate that they We're compelled
To open bank account for the storage
OF their ii-gotten gains.
Their scheme was 10 send out four Of
the youngest members of the gang. who
made a house-to-house canvass of va
rIOus ne.ghborhO0ds i'm the guise of deaf
and dumb persons. A printed appeal
which the ''mutcs' presented told a har-
rowing tale of how. during the last Turk
sh-Bulgarian hostIlities, their parental
homes had been pllaged, and the tongues
OF all the children of the household cut
out by bloOd-thirsty soldiers. Subsequent
attacks of typhoid had then robbed them
Of their hearing.
Help me, merciful Christian" -" conclud-
cd the plaintiye prayer. and God will
recOmpense you a thousand times" The
"heggars' often came home at night with
pockets clinlIing with gold and silver.
The swindle came to light last week, m
consequence Of "a piece Of bad manage
ment at the headquarters of the gang,
which resulted in one of the beggars ap-
plying by mistake at a house which a
colleague had successfully worked" q
couple of days before.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
VILLAGES RAIDED BY WOLVES.
One Attacks Man on High Road and
Another "a Girl Near Her Home.

Paris. Feb S-A great wolf hunt is
being conducted by the people of the little
villages round Dijon, situated on the out
skirts of the forest lands
Every night at sunset the inhabitants
turn out with torches, lanterns, and picks
for a battle. During the last few days
the starving wolves have been leaving the
forest and attacking the villages. Three
days ago a man was attacked at night
on the high road by what at first he took
to be a dog, He had no light. but shout
ed at the beast and kicked him with his
heavy hob-nailed boots. driving him Off
The same night the farmyards were
Taided
Yesterday a little girl very nearly fell
victim. She was attacked by a great
wolf within a hundred yards of her
fathers house. The father heard her call
for help, and dashed a lantern. which he
carried. full in the face Of the brute.
which bOlted.
The authorities have sent criers round
the villages warning the inhabitants nor
to go out without lights after dark So
bold have the animals become, that even
in Dion itself-a town of 6S0O0 inhabi-
tants and some distance from the forest
lands-there is considerable anxiety.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09

The King Of Italy has recently been In
teresting himself in a very remarkable
project-the scheme of the well-kn0wn
Italian engineer, Petro Caminada, who
has devised a stupendous plan for join
ing by Canal Genoa TO Basle and the
North Sea. This is no vain Utopia, but q
scientific and feasible plan cleverly con-
ceived by a man Of great abilities. The
Continental newspapers have taken up
the matter seriously, and Signor Colombo.
the famous italian statesman, has taken
considerable interest ia the scheme and
it is strongly believed in Italy that the
government win adopt the plan and that
the wonderful canal will be constructed
and become a reality in a very near fu-
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09

The recent opening OF Parliament en-
phasized the extent OF the woman's suf-
frage movement in England. as did also
the election IN Mid-peYon When the royal
procession al the opening OF Parliament
was returning TO Buckingham Palace.
Three weH-dressed women suffragists
broke through the military Gordon and
made their way 10 within few yards Or
the Kings coach. They We're waving
strips of paper bearing the words Vote
for Women" These papers were imma-
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
STOLEN Van DYCK IN A Van
Picture Valued at from 100000 to
100000 Recovered by Accident.
Was Cut from Frame and CarEied
on in an Old Covered
Wagon.

Brussels. Feb. s.-Van DyCks famous
painting. the Raising of the Cross. d"
which was stolen two months ago from
Tie Church Of Notre Dame at C0urtrai
was found quite Unexpectedly this week
A commandant OF gendarmerie was rid
ing on the highway between ThieI and
the village of ArdOye, close to BTuges, at
an early hour when he noticed a carrier
driving an old covered van, whose ap-
peaTanCe aroused his suspicion. He stopped
the man and asked him what he had in
his van. The driver equivocated, where
upon the officer dismounted and searched
the vehicle Under a heap OF rubbish he
found the precious canvas, which has been
sought throughout Europe since the day
it was stolen
While the officer was in the van the
carrier made off and escaped in the dark
ness. The picture was taken TO a neigh
boring house and a telephone message
sent 10 the Bruges authorities, who dis
patched mounted police TO scour the coun-
try for the missing carrier.
on the night Of December : the picture
was cut clean from its frame in the
Church Of Notre Dame at Courtrai by ex-
pert hands. A motor car was heard near
the church that night. and The only fur
ther clew was that a stranger, locally de
scribed as an English commercial trav-
eler. had visited the church some days
before ana was exceptionally inquisitive
not only as to the relics, but the exits
from the church. a reward Of 500 was
offered for information leading to the re-
coveTy Of the picture. which is valued at
from Sl00000 to S200,000 Ardoye is only a
dozen miles north of COurtrai. on the
road to Ostend
The picture, one of the most beautiful
of Van Dyck's religious paintings, fol-
lows closely the "CTucifiXIOn, by Rubens.
at Antwerp. The Saviour who is repre-
sented as being nailed TO the cross in the
midst of a hostile crowd, wears an ex-
preston Of intense grief rather than one
Of agony II is most dramatic, the tragic
aspect being enhanced by the gloomy
background
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
WORSHIP The DEVIL
Doctor Finds Strange Sect
in the Mountains.
SPENDS WEEK WITH TRIBE
Investigations Among People of
AIesopOtamia Reveal Peculiar Re
IigiOR-Priests All Clad in White.
Vision of Ezekiel Recalled by Oc-
currenee in the Desert.

London, Feb. S.-Dr. A. Hume Griffith,
who with his wife, has been conducting
a medical mission among the people OF
MesOpotamia, gives a remarkable account
Of his adventures.
During two years minisiration he and
his wife came in touch with Sls towns and
villages, received over $500 out-pateuts,
and performed over GO operations.
The doctor spent a week with the
sheikh Of the Yezidis, or devil worshlpers.
who inhabit the mountains round Mosul.
He says; This curious tribe numbers
about 10000. They 1--we among the noun
tain Businesses. and owe allegiance TO the
shelkh. They are very hostile 20 the
Turks, who are unable TO subdue them.
owing TO the inaccesslbnity Of their
homes.
\ Mysterious Religion.
There is a great deal of mystery about
their religion, and they will not admit
that they worship the devil. although
there Is ample evidence TO that effect.
Their priests are all clad in white and
carry with them a wand Of office sur
mounted by a brass peacock.
These are regarded as most sacred.
and it is the boast Of the Yezidls that
none has ever been lost.
AT the entrance to their chief temple
is the figure Of a serpent. This is looked
upon with great veneration. and is kept
black by means Of charcoal Each WOr-
shipper kisses this serpent before entering
the temple, Their religious rites. which
include the use of hypnottsm. are kept
very secret and are only practced be-
tween sunset and sunrise
Some time ago the Turks captured
their shrine, but were quite unable TO
make any progress with AIoslem teach
ing. and lately handed Il back to the
Yezidis. The devil worshipers are afraid
TO venture into the towns. although num-
bers used to come down to me from the
mountains for medical treatment"
The doctor describes, says Reuter-. how
he saw a phenomenon which was pTac-
tcally the vision Of the prophet Ezekiel
When "by the river of Chebar" Ezekiel
saw the heavens opened and saw visions
OF Cod" The prophet describes the
whirlwind and the bright colors which
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
DRINKS TYPHOID GERMS.
English Physician Says Healthy
Persons Are Immune

London, Feb. S-A man in sound health
need fear nothing from typhoid germs.
according to evidence brought out at a
London hearing this week from a damage
claim by the proprietor Of a malvern
"hydo" against the local council for con-
Eliminating his establishments water sup,
ply.
Dr. Thresh. one Of the greatest English
experts on typhoid, was a witness. The
bacillus, he said, is 50 minute that a drop
OF water may contain a population equal
ing that of the entire world.
I've swallowed millions" he remarked
eheerfully.
How did you like them?" inquired th~
judge, Immediately curious.
Il enjoyed the pleasures of anticipation
for three weeks said the doctor, but
after that I felt happy.
1T was an attack, however. I was test
ing water said to contain typhoid bacilli.
The weather was hot, and one day I
swallowed a glass of water at a gulp.
Too late I discovered that it was a glass
into which ] had put the typhoid germs.
Had my health been such as to have
made me a good subject l should have
suffered. As It was, felt no III effects
whatever"
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09

serve three purposes: II will raise or
lower the barges; it viii produce, at the
fall, millions of hoTsepOwer-an important
source OF revenue. Thirdly. ii will serve
as a means of irrigation. The enterprise
should, in consequence, partly pay for
itself The cost of construction is esti-
mated at $500 COO, 000 The traffic which
will feed this international waterway
should be enormous. Supp0sing the barges
TO be of only 800 tons and that only one
passes every forty minutes-that is thirty
six a day in each direction. This would
mean an annual tonnage Of nearly 1900. o.
Co., or three times as much as the rail-
ways leaving Genoa can transport. at a
rate of 1.500 fully loaded wagons per day
The sketch is designed mainly TO show
the connections OF locks and pipes.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09

were found. also full Of bones. It is cal
cuiated that, altogether. at least 400
skeletons were thus brought to light.
A tremendous sensation has been caused
by these discoveries. and naturally the
widest cOnjectUres are made with regard
10 the origin Of these ossuaries. Accord
ing. however, 10 the oldest inhabitant Of
Carlentini, the sacts are as follows:
When monks inhabited the monastery
certain sum was paid them for the
privilege Of sepulture in the church. The
Church. however, was small, and when
there was no room for any mOre cOrpses,
the monks, rather than lose an important
source Of income, continued 10 receive
bodies for burial. but instead of deposit
ing them beneath the floor of the church,
east them into the rooms behind the
sacristy, or into the payilions close by,
where they have been found to-day.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09

ture. In the spaces between the locks
viii be inclined tubular canals. There are
two parallel tubes; the water descends
them both. but crosses each line alter
nately, so that while the vessel descends
with the sinking water in a section of one
line. another vessel is rising with the
rising water in a lower section of the
other. The tubular canals will be con-
structed Of masonry closed with iron
gates. AS the water will be in constant
motion, the canal viii not be easily
frozen. There viii be about 100 miles of
open canals. only twenty-six of tubes, and
eighteen miles of galleries. The diameter
of the tubes need not be very great
eighteen yards would be sufficient to all
low the passage Of a T00-tOn barge The
enormous amount Of water used will
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
BERLINS ELITE COMPLAIN;
Do Not Like to Attend Opera with
WOf poIIOi

Berlin, Feb. S-The first so-Called so
clety evening at the Royal Opera. which
was TO have been held on February 13.
has been abandoned on account Of the
Lisbon assassination.
Those evenings We're the Kaiser's own
idea, and were designed 10 satisfy the
complaints of many society folk diplo-
mats. officers. bankers. &c, that they
could not get tickets at any time IN the
season owing to the huge popular de-
mand. They refuse 10 take their place
with patient burghers. So the Kaiser
ordered that such days in every season
be reserved for society's special benefit
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
LONDON TRAFFIC FALLS OFF.
Tube Railroads Cannot Explain De-
crense in Husiness

London. Feb. S-The directors Of the
London underground and tube railroads
are baffied In an endeavor 70 find an ex-
planation Of the falling of in traffic. AS
the surface systems, trans, and buses
make the same complaint, competition
does not seem a sufficient explanation.
During the past six months the 2-penny
tube has carried over S5G,000 workmen
less, though workingmen are carried six
miles for penny.
During the same six months the total
decrease In the passengers within London
was lS,Q00000.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09

diately taken from their hands by the
police. One of the women tainted and the
other two were removed by force While
the Cabinet Council was sitting at 10
Downing street the suffragettes tried 20
force their way into the prime minister 3
house. Two Of them, Miss New and Miss
Smith. chained themselves 20 the railings
of 10 Downing street in order TO make il
mort difficult for the police 10 remove
them. With very little trouble, however.
the officers snapped the chains, and
five of the ladies. one OF whom had
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
Novelty at "A Bali.

Sheffield. Feb. Sat the lord mayor
Of Shemeld's BAN letters were placed In
conspicuous places around the walls. and
"a rendezvous column was included in
the programme, When booking a dance
partners agreed near which letter they
would meet and entered the letter on the
card
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09

actually forced her way into the hall Of
the first lord 5 house, were arrested. Be
fore the Magistrate they refused 10 be
bound over 10 be of good behavior for six
months, and We're accordingly sent TO
prison. Mrs. Pankhurst and her daughter,
Christabel. leaders Of the physical-foTce
party in the vOtes-for- women campaign.
are both strong believers in the value OF
physical force in the suffrage campaign
and each Of them had the opportunity OF
testing the effect Of physical force on
themselves last week
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
Seventy Years in a workhouse.

London. Feb. S-An old woman who
died at the Mansfield workhouse yester-
day had been in that institution over sew
enty years, being admitted when she was
quite an infant
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
Dance Causes Bridge 10 Collapse.

Belfast. Feb. S.-A bridge connecting
Cruit Island County Donegal, with the
mainland, collapsed while a dance was
being held on ii, and many persons were
thrown into the sea.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09

T.ondop. Feb S-A woman has heen
starvine herself in - small stable in a
back street of Lambeth To feed the dogs
which enabled her to earn living for
years. The food which kindly neighbors
gave her every day has been used 10 keep
her pets IN good condition.
The woman is Mime. sanyeah. the mu-
sic-han star who. twenty years ago.
was earning 500 a week. Since August
she has rented the loft Of "a stable, and
she has lived there with her eleven dogs
and a cat.
Her chief apviotv has baaD lest her
NETS Should DO -, rr.r, her ,rbara is
-, l,.,s.- - - -. 49,. 49,,
''''"'''7 ~ 1''1 ''uS '''' ''' an
''u Cart is Drawn up against lhe wan
ana she mas scrambled up ana down thls
every day when she went out for the
dogs food A friendly nshmonger saved
all the odd pieres of fish for her and a
bsIsar sa,.. Is- .+..i. F,r.,5 ,,,a her daily
f4 - -, -
"'eNS S''' vi Cd 10 -
ol p'e3a ana Httle water
For three days she went without any
food. and ut last in "a state of semi
starvation. she crept to the animals hos
pital of our Dumb Friends League. and
,sl-sd for. b.ln
3" H"Sp''"i'
The dogs are now housed in the hospi-
tal Win the exception OF Tex terrier
ll,'i'eo fiseoH' 'Ne champion soiiiersa UT
"os' "Hoh heI Hiistiess begged peIIiis-
sioH 20 Aeep'
ii7e'i mao 10 80 "'lh lHe olleis'
-'iii',' 9"HS can saIu' H'o maze up my
''i'''' ~ ''Ne "'' ii' my arms ana jump
over Westminster oIlose. She would
nave ifetted herself 10 death without
'',,-, r.,.. ne,
IA 80
Il was born IN circus life" she told q
rsnorrar YESTERDAY nv, fatba, was Wi
liam Frost the famous barebacl, rider
NV motber was one of tho FIRST woman
tfcbtropa walkers She crossed n narr oF
the Thames with me in her arms when
7 was only three months old.
when I was eighteen months old ]
used 10 eppear in the circus nav father
holding me i'm his arms as he went
through his most dif7cuIf nerfornapce
AT sixteen was known as tbe com
uress of the air mas the frst 4,,or7,.1
70 atreu,nt the hanging -by-fbe-taatb turn
frorr the +rar,azs
II used m drf-a nv, cugn faur-ip- hand
around Ion6on and a drew o eaIar., ~
s--o q vyaal,
N"'"' f"'fOhs'
u performed before King Edward
when he was Prince of Wales. the kings
and queens Of Spain. Holland. and Italy.
fbe Car of Pussia the German t,r,paror
s,d .to a1,b - t5a-z., A. -,
'''''' 60 -'l q -'''
'l'' y ,'.1'i1e 'eioIe ''i''e Eu"aiu V'
sake =" eiiiiaI' al portsmouth / IeH from
The uapeze and injured myself severely.
The prince was the first 10 come 10 my
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
Paris aRd Motor Omnibuses.

Paris, Feb, S,-Motor omnibus traffic
is becoming as serious problem n
Paris as il is in Londen, and the police
authorities are inquiring into the ques-
ton
The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
STARYES TO AID DOGS
Destitute Music Hall Star
Loves Her Canine Pets.
ONCE EARNED $3.50 A WEEK

Nine. Sanyeah Supported by Char
liable NefghbOrs, but She Saves
the Circus All Her Life, and at One
Time Performed Before Royalty,