The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-11-17

New York, Nov. live are con
stantly reminded by the moraIiStS,
physicians and undertake. in our
midst that death IS an earthly phe-
nomenon which plays no favorites.
The pale horse is always d winner
and no system mas vet been found to
beat the book. These observations
follow the reflection thai some sad
day one Samuel Clemens, otherwise
known as Mark Twain, viii go hence.
Ii is not in a spirit of leVity that
this prophecy is made. There is per-
hapS no man in America today whose
demise would cause greater grief than
would Llat of Mark Twain. To mill
lions of his countrymen. the white
haired old humOTiSt is a friend and a
comrade whose death would be keen
ly felt
If some of us are yet glad that we
are better risks with the life insur-
ance companies than is Nj. Clemens,
the creator of ''Huckleberry Finn has
only himself to blame. He has al
lowed IL to leak out that ne has writ
ten several articles OF a serious ma
ture that will be published only after
his death. Moreover. it is promised
that these expressions of the Tipest
thought of the old humori~t will be
of a nature to make the whole world
sit up and take notice So, while
Americans have only the kindliest
feelings for Mr. Clemens. and hope
that he will not don mis- heavenly
crown for many yearS-well, he is
growing old, and our curiosity is
strong
For many years it has been known
that MI Clemens enteTtainS some
opinions on religious and ethical ques-
tons that are not shared by the world
al large. That he does not make these
opinions public during his life is only
an evidence of the canny Sagacity
that has always marked his actions.
Martyrdom does not appeal TO Mark
Twain. Il am not here 10 do good
at least, not Intentionally" he 1u-
morously remarked in discussing his
plans And he was only half in fun.
1t is reported that s0mS of Mark
Twain's dissertations on serious mat
tiers are already completed and in the
hands of his literary executor in this
city.
Opera Season.
With the season of the Manhattan
Opera House already in full swing
and tne old Metropolitan scheduled to
throw open its doors on Monday, the
metropolis Will soon enter upon what
Rod of operate enthusiasm. Time
was-and it was not so long ago
that one opera house was quite suf-
ficient TO supply the demand for the
nobler forms of musical expression.
The subscriptions of the rival houses
show that during tae coming season
both connexions buildings will be
taxed to the utmost In the near fu-
ture. third home of grand opera
may become d metropolitan necessity.
None can deny that the Inaugural
tion of the Manhattan marked the be-
ginning of a new era in New York
musical circles. IN the old days, OBJ
cure artists We're considered quite
good enough for the American ne
tropOlis, and the quality of the grand
opera served up TO New Workers was
a standing joke in European operate
circles If All artist was not good
enough for the continental capitals.
he hied himself off for Australia Or
South America. If he failed TO arouse
enthusiasm there. New York remained
as a last resort for the vOiceless sing
er.
Occasionally. in the pre-Ham mer-
stein days. a good artist came to New
York but these visits were few and
infreauent. Second-rate singers. for
the most part. rendered third-class
roles in fourth-rare operas And New
York. not knowing any better. was
content 10 be the operate goat OF
the world.
Now all is changed The best
SINGERS of the world give voice 10
matchless melodies from the stages
of the metropolis. and if the warfare
between the rival houses is long
drawn our. the time may come when
Europe viii play second fiddle 70 Am
erica IA the rendition of rrand opera
II Is estimated that a million music
lovers viii attend the 2e6 perform