The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-20

T, fthe discussion that has been go- ,nor or hare recently over the increas. ed cost of living and its causes tne fact has been brought out that neaItn itself has increased greatly Tn cost along with other necessities of lofe. c,orcerted action on the part Of inc physicians of the city has raised the prevailing charge for the doctors services from three dollars to nve TOT the first visit and from two to three for succeeding calls. The members of the medical profession explain that they have been forced to take this ac- ton because they themselves pay more for everything that they buy. Like wise the cost of attendance and supply ing for invalids is steadily increasing The report of the Flower Hospital inc leading homeopathic institution in the city, shows that the actual ex- uense of caring for patients has ad- yanced more than three percent dur ing the past year and the increase In some other institutions for the sick Is cinsiderably greater. While this additional outlay Is borne by the hos pitals and not by their patients 1t makes necessary increased contribu- tions to support these institutions and is largely attributable to the increased cost of the keep and medicines of in' valids. Added to the heavy advances in the prices of rents, food stuffs, and other items. in the cost of living, Is dtscouraging to the New Yorker to learn that even sickness is a luxury that may soon be beyond his means.
 That American talent in the field of musical composition is not confined en- tirely to musical comedies Is shown by the success of a New York composer. Henry K. Hadley. in winning the prize offered by the National Fedora tIon of Musical Clubs for the best set- ting for a serious work. The other nrize winner in this competition was also an American, Arthur Sheperd. formerly director of the Salt Lake City orchestra. Both these men received their musical education in the United States, being graduates of the New England Conservatory Of Music at Boston. It. is a curious fact that so much attention is devoted to foreign artists and composers of the grand opera school in this country that the work of talented native composers of ten passes practically unnoticed. A group of young Americans is coming forward, however, most of them of New England training, who are winning the recognition of the foremost musical authorities on both sides of the At lautic. It seems possible that in time | it may cease to be necessary to import operas and opera singers from Europe and the millions now devoted to this | purpose every year may be expended on home enterprise in accordance with the principles advocated by Messrs. Aldrich and Payne.
 The Hell Ringer.
 A figure unique in the church his tory of the city and one of the last 1 professional representatives of the rap l idlv passing occupation of bell ringer has inst been lost to New York in the i person of Albert Meislahm, who ever 1 since 1879, that Is for thirty years, has | runR the crimes of the famous old j Trinity Church at every regular ser ! vice and on many special occasions l The last of these special occasions on which he played the chimes was when l Theodore Roosevelt set out on his Af- rican hunt. His selection for that oc, 1 casIon given as the outbound steamer
 was abreast of the church was. Guide Me. Oh Thou Great Jehovah, Pilgrim Id a Foreign Land" He has been as-
 sociated with many other famous hap
 penings, having run the chimes at the
 unveiling of the Statue of Liberty. the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge, which
 was the first to connect Manhatt tan l with Long Island, the celebration here | of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee | and many other events of national and II international importace One duty
 every year which he never missed was
 the ringing out of the old year and
 the ringing in of the new, and for
 nearly third of century he has done
 this to the accompaniment of the toot-
 ing horns of the celebrating crowds iu inc street below. It is far from a
 sentimental reason however. which has
 led to the retirement of Mir. Meislahm
 for his great weight <has made the
 climbing of the eighty-one steps to the
 keyboard of the chimes an almost i'm.
 possible accomplishment. He was born
 in the shadow of Trinity which then
 was the loftiest structure in the city
 Now its height is looked upon as in
 significant.