davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
NEW RUSSIAN OPERA
OPENS IN NEW YORK
''PrinCe Igor" by Alexander Bur-
Odin, Given for First Time
in America.

NEW YORK. Lee. 3i-The irst Of
the new productions promised at tile
Metropolitan Opera House, Alexander
Borodin's Russian opera OF "Princ0
Igor. was given at the MetroDolitevl
Opera House last night before n large
audience
The new work was coo,iy received.
and, indeed, II offers little that is likely
TO rouse the enthusiasm of IN oudicuco
in this latitude. The slight dramatic
significance of the work, the predomin-
ance of the chorus, the great abundance
of music of Russian character often
somber. the length and lack OF variety
OF certain scencs.-all these arc features
that make little contributions To a gen
eral interest
There are scenes of pageantry; and
in the second act there arc ballots of
Wild and barbarous character that stir
the imagination; by these the publ:c
was reused to something Of enthusiasm.
1t was the first that had been plerti-
fully manifested during the perform
ance: after the prologue, and the first
act there had been persevering applause,
far from general.
Pasquale Amato played the role Of
Igor Sviatoslavitch Frances Aida
Sung the role of Jaroslayna: Luca Bot
Ia was cast as Vladimir Igorevitch ::
Adamo Didur played the roles Of
Prince Galitzky and kOntcbak; Flora
Print was KontchakOrnp retro
AudisiO was 0vlour; Andrea de Sogu-
rola was ScOula; Auqelo Bada was
Erochka; Minnie Eugcner was the
Nurse; Raymonde Delaunois was cast
as a young girl, and Georgia Polacco
was conductor.
The success of Boris Godunon' is
naturally and in the due course OF
things responsible for putting prince
igor" into the repertory of the Metro
politan Opera House. They belong to
tho same Russian school, Their COM
poseTs were friends and banded to-
gether in the same effort to create a
purely national opera, rooted in the
soil, drawing much of its character
and quality from the native folk-music.
Like Moussorgsky's opera, now in its
fourth season in New York, Borodin' 8
was in the repertory of that Russian
company which few years ago Gre
ated so much interest in Paris and later
| i'm London and revealed the Russian
| lyric opera as a new thing to the Oc-
| cidental public.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
RECREATION AS A PROBLEM

Of all phases Of modern city life
the problem of recreation is one of
the most interesting, for it lies in
field which has been least explored.
When an Investigator figures that,
in city of Washington's size, each
individual has about five hours in
which he neither eats, sleeps nor
works, and that, in that time each
person spends for recreation at the
rate of 2 cents an hour for the five
hours, the calculation is necessarily
largely guesswork.
But taking the figures to be as
nearly accurate as can be reached,
and applying them to Washington,
they produce the surprising result
that today, tomorrow and every
day, the population of Washington is
going to spend $4,000 for recrea-
ton. The civic expert who made the
computation proves one point, even
if the accuracy of his figures be as
sailed, and that point is that there
is a profound economic effect from
this five hours of spare time you and
your neighbor-have, per day.
Couple with this the recent state
ment of Governor Brumbaugh, of
Pennsylvania, that most crimes are
committed, and that the police is
largely made necessary by the &C.
tivities of city's population during
these five hours, and you add an.
other serious economic problem tc
that Of the initial expenditure.
Ina her words you not only pay q
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
THE ANcoNA SUICIDES

In effect, Austria now occupies
the ground that was so popular with
Germans after the Lusitania muir
der: she would have the world con-
clude that the people on board the
Ancona committed suicide. The
company of the passenger vessel
fell into a great panic, which surely
must be regarded as inexcusable in
view of the well-known and tender
consideration which submarines al
ways extend to women, babies, and
non-combatants. If they hadn't got
scared, it might have been possible
for them all to get away. Also, the
submarine commander suspects that
the crew of the Ancona rescued
themselves and let the passengers go
drown.
The passengers, it would seem,
committed suicide and the crew per-
petrated murder! Under the cir
cumstances, in view of this double
offense against all the decencies Of
strenuous warfare along the humane
lines so highly regarded by Germany
and Austria one wonders that Aus
tria doesn't ask an indemnity from
Italy and America.
The Austrian case recalls that of
the amiable pirate who notified his
prisoners, as he walked them off the
plank, that there was land within
half a mile-straight down.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
TAKES THE JOB THAT
NO ONE ELSE WANTS
J. H. COrnyn Digs Out the Meat
Of Many Addresses for Pop
uIar. PeTuSaI.

The job that nobody wants, is the
way Assistant General secretary Noel,
OF the Pan-American Scientific Con-
greas, describes the work of the man
who goes over all the papers presented
in the forty-hve or more daily meet
ings of sections and sub-sections OF
the congress and picks out from them
the things that are of popular interest.
The man who fills this Job is j. Ii.
Cornyn, of New York and Mexico, a
newspaper man, short-story writer, art
critic, and teacher.
To dig out the especially interesting
features from the mass of documents
containing the addresses of the distIn-
guished scientists before delivery is
the task before Mr.. Cornyn.
MIR. Cornyn, though native of the
United States. has spent much of his
life in Mexico. He is a graduate OF
the National University OF Mexico,
former principal of the Mexico city
Grammar and High School, and is a
member of the Mexican National Geo.
graphic Society and the lndianist So
ciety OF Mexico.
, AS a newspaper man, he was con-
nected with several of the daily papers
OF Mexico CicS for many years, and
was correspondent for one of the big
American newspapers. He also con-
tributed to the magazines both fiction
and historical matter.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
KEEPING THE TRADE WE GET

Great energy is being expended,
just now, in getting business for
America in the markets of the
world. That has been going on, for
a year or more. The time is rlpe
to sit down and plan u careful cam
paign for keeping that business.
Men who have studied conditions
of international trade realize that
as soon as this war is over, we'll
trained representatives from FOR
eign nations, products If special
schools, will be busy in the four
corners of the earth trying to get
back the trade the war has cost
their countries. If America must
cope with this situation prepared
ness must begin now.
These facts furnish the basis for
the Conference on Education for the
Foreign Service which begins its ses-
sions today at the Pan-American
Union. Definite courses of study
designed to fit men for work in
various branches of the foreign SER
vice are to be planned at this con-
ference. These courses will touch
both the consular and commercial
fields.
One notable fact about the con-
ference is that representatives OF
nearly every governmental depart
ment and bureau concerned as well
as private business leaders are in
attendance at the conference. Called
by Commissioner of Education P
P. Claxton, the doors have beer
thrown wide open to everyone con
cerned, and there is no attempt
made to gather the credit for ChC
work by any one group of men. The
Bureaus Of Education, and Foreign
and Domestic Commerce, and the
Consular Service are exhibiting {
notable lesson in cooperation, ant
they have called in business men o.
high caliber to assist them. The con
ference, conducted on such princi
pies, should be fruitful of mucl
benefit.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
BEssARABIA ON THE FLANK

Bessarabia is beginning to spoil
the Teuton dream of holiday con-
quest of the east.
1t was so easy for Austro- German
and Turco-Bulgarian hordes to roll
over and plumber little Serbia mat
the road to Egypt and India seemed
straight and smooth. But just as
after the sack of neutral Belgium
there was the staggering blow of the
battle of the Marine and the bloody
welter of Flanders, and as after the
pillage of Poland there was the
stone wall of Russia, so now, after
the rape of helpless Serbia, there is
the check of Saloniki with Bes-
sarabia's fangs striking into the
flank of the conquerors who, every
time they burn village of novels,
4. want to dictate terms of peace to
Europe.
The truth is that after seventeen
months of such warfare the Ger
mans and Austrians, no less than
the Turks and Bulgars, have proved
that they are invincible when with
out warning they hurl themselves
against peoples unprepared and off
their guard. When they meet armies
that are expecting them or that have
been hastily gathered and licked into
shape to set out against them, they
dig themselves into defensive posi-
tions and play no more magnificent
roles of irresistible conquest. When
they find fleets ready to give them
battle if only they will engage they
turn tail and hide their navies be-
hind coast fortresses, as if they
were wheelbarrows to stick to the
land instead of ships to sail the
seas.
Bessarabia, once province of the
Gar, may not, indeed will not, turn
the tide of the war. Far flung over
all Europe, with millions battle,
locked on every line, the war is toe
vast to be settled in any one state
or even empire. But Bessarabia
bringing fresh defiance in this ire
pressible conflict against the Prus
sian military machine, tells agar
the story-the glorious story-ot
how this war will never end unit
the outlaws of Europe are put down
and held down by the civilized world
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31

any country ever knew, II
possibly Germany's experience in
that same time be excepted. There
was something in the disciplinary
effect Of their war experience that
made better men, in thousand
walks Of life, out of the soldier
boys. Four years Of soldering gave
the nation forty years of citizen
ship service Of a better quality than
would have been possible without
the training, the discipline, the ca
pacity for both subordination and
for command, that were gained in
the army.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
Thinks Venus Rather.
Than Mars Is PeopIed

Venus. not Mars, is most likely to be
the center of some form Of life-if any
of the planets are inhabited-is the opin-
ion of DR.. John A. Brashears, director
of the Astronomical observatory Of
Pittsburgh. and one OF the most noted
inventors and makers of astronomical
instruments in the world.
DR.. BrasheRrs Is not sure any of the
planets are inhabited but in cOntrovert-
ing the theory Of life on Mars that has
been put forward by Prof. Lowell, he
declares It is more likely Venus has in
habitants than that Mars has them. He
gives as his reason the fact that the
density of the atmosphere about Venus
is such that II is highly possible the
planet is teeming with life. On the
other hand, astronomers have found the
atmosphere of Mars to be but one-sev-
enth the density Of that Of the earth.
Or. Brasears is one of he best known
of the astronomers of the world, and
is an official delegate of the United
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
MILITARY SERVICE

There is no doubt that continent
and understanding are together
veering, in this country, toward the
idea of universal military service.
Sentiment, indeed, depends on I'M
Outstanding in this matter. For
want of understanding there has
been opposition to universal service.
Now it is coming to be recognized
as the truly democratic system that
will lift the army instantly into
recognition as a really national in
stitution. 1t has done that in every
country that has universal service;
and it is the one method under which
a democracy can'be assured of max
ing it's army represent all its people.
1t is not very apparent, however,
why there should be a growing inn
precision that if Great Britain is
compelled to adopt universal service
in its present crisis, the United
States must follow suit. The pres
ent crisis of the United States is not
parallel to the present crisis of
Great Britain. Universal service
if adopted here would have to be
justified by something more con-
elusive that imminent or even pros
peetive military necessity.
That justification may be found
in the argument first that a democ,
racy's army must be a democratic
army; and second, that a proper
measure of military training is a
good thing for the young men who
acquire it. 1t ought not to be for
gotten that the boys who fought the
civil war became the men who in the
succeeding half century led this
country in the most wonderful err
! of development and expansion thaI
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
CLOCK PRESENTATION
. AT THE PRESS CLUB
Given BY Wives and Mothers of
Members of the Organ
ization.

The presentation of a Westminster
Cathedral chime clock by the wives and
mothers OF members of the organization
was the principal feature on the pro-
gram furnished at the ladies night
entertainment given last night at the
National Press Club.
Mrs. r. NJ. MacLennan made the pre-
sentation. other members of the COM
mittee that arranged the purchase of
the clock as token of appreciation OF
the courtesies extended to women dur
ing the year were Mrs. Frank b. Lord.
Mrs Theodore H. Tiller. Mrs. f. NJ.
Hood. and Mrs. II. Q. Hallam. John
b, Sniallwood. treasurer OF the club. re-
Ceived the clock,
Among those who contributed to the
entC rtainment We're Miss Gretchen Hood
Miss NAV Flock. Miss Florence Cal
lagheT. Newton Hammer. Avcrv Marks
Leroy Glider. James Hicks. and Arthur
Pierce
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
Church to Observe
Feast of Holy Name

At Holy Name Church. Eleventh and
X streets northeast will be observed. on
Sunday. the Feast OF the Holy Name,
with special devotions. The senior choir.
under direction Of Miss Anna Doyle.
and accompanied by Mrs. Charles
Hughes will repeat the musical pro-
gram given on Christmas. the "Missa
PRO Pace" LaHRche. with GLORIA s
Sanctus and Benedictus.l and "Jesu Re-
demptor Omnium," at the offeFtory.
Tho soloists at this mass will be Misses
Colliere. Myers. Mrs. Arbello, and
Messrs. Duncan. Irving Berries. Howell,
and Cunningham.
Al the o'clock mass the junior choir
will he accompanied by Miss Marie
Melting and directed by Miss Doyle. I'm
tho evening at 1880 the male choir. d.
rected bV James Duncan. will render
Stems vespers. with Holders 20 Salu-
tAris" and Herdussen's "rantum ErEo.i
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31

States to the Pan.American Scientific
Congress. His statement regarding
Venus and Mars was made during the
course of an informal interview at the
congress headquarters yesterday after
noon. III there are inhabitants on Mars,
DIR. Brashears thinks they must be a
pretty wealthy lot of people.
"If II Is true that the sO-called canals
of Mars are 275, 100 miles long, they must
be ten miles wide and twelve miles
deep" said DIR. Brashears. Since our
little ditch at Panama cost some 1925, 0OO,-
900, what a bank account those Martians
must have, according to this theory.
at is the rarity of the atmosphere
that makes the higher altitude of the
earth virtually uninhabitable. Inas-
much as the atmosphere Of Mars is one
seventh as dense ne that of the earth, l
do not believe that life is possible on
that planet Venus, however. has an
atmosphere, as determined by our In
vestigations, as dense now as was that
OF the earth in prehistoric times, when
life in all forms was richest. II any
of the other planets is inhabited today,
II is Venus, and not Mars
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
Col. Britt on Duty at
Interior Department

Col. Lloyd NJ. Brett. First United
States Cavalry. superintendent of yell
lowstone Park. has arrived in Wash
ington, and will be on duty at the In
terror Department I'm connection with
the work of his office in the park.
Colonel Brett will supply Secretary
Lane with facts relating to the park
management and to clear up the bust
ness of the park and make plans for
next wear.
Colonel Brett has a host of friends in
Washington as he served here several
wears as adiutant general of the Ma
tional Guard, and before that was in
command of one of the crack troops OF
Second Cavalry at Fort Myer.s He will
also be remembered by veterans OF the
District regiment OF volunteers in the
war with Spain. as he was In command
of his troop during the Santiago cam
paign and served in Cuba with the Dis
trict contingent.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
ascent GAS FOR BALTIMORE

Baltimore's Consolidated Gas,
Electric Light and Power Company
announces that beginning with the
new year the price of gas will be re-
duced from 80 cents, which has pre-
vailed for three years, to rs cents
per thousand.
An especial interest attaches to
the announcement because Baltimore
was the first American city to in
stall Illuminating gas, and that was
done just 100 years ago. On the CEN
tenary of that occasion, the Monu-
mental City once more takes the
lead among American municipalities
by reducing its gas price to lower
figure than is charged in any other
large city on the Eastern seaboard.
The gross price of gas in Balti-
more was 81 as recently as ts41. 1t
was slowly pulled down, every reduc-
ton Being followed by an increase
in production that presently justified
the reduction through increasing
the actual profits of the business. In
1900 it was reduced from $1.25 to
$1.10; then in 1906, 1910, 1918, and
now for 1916, came successive re-
auctions to rs. cents net.
The rapid series of these modern
reductions must be attributed largely
to the credit of the public utilities
commission law in Maryland, under
which pressure has been constantly
exerted upon the service corpora
tons in the public interest. Mary
lands is not altogether an ideal law;
but known by it's fruits it testifies
that any real earnest of public pur-
pose will produce results in such 1
field.
Washington's Public Utilities
Commission has proceeded about the
business of getting benefits for the
people, with a elaboration that
would be superlatively commendable
if deliberation were the sole desider'
alum in such administration. Moth
ing could be more impressive thar
the paucity of results from oul
Wanted public service statute thus
far. The utilities commission shal
been determined, apparently, not tt
start efforts that would land in tho
courts, until it's valuation should b,
completed and everything ready II
insure victory in whatever legal pro
ceeding might ensue. We suspec
that there has been unnecessary tim
idity about the rough-and-tumble O.
fighting that must be done sooner O.
later. There is nothing in the recor,
of Washington utilities to buttres
hope for substantial concession
when they are shown to be fair
There will be legal proceedings
world without end, no matter whel
the commission starts. The soone
the start is made, the sooner som
real pressure will be exerted in di
rections calculated to move the cor
operations, as the constant pressur
has moved those of Baltimore.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
THRoTTLINo FREEDOM

If Mr.. Secretary Lansing, as re-
ported, has really made a proposal
that the nations of the Americas
unite in prohibiting shipment of war
munitions to revolutionaries, there is
brought to an instant crisis dis
cussiop that heretofore has seemed
rather harmless and silly. Shipment
of munitions has always been
mere matter of municipal law. Every
country treated it as it saw fit,
handling the specific case on its
specific merits as we'll as they could
be determined.
Some of the consequences Of
general ban of shipments of NUM-
tons to revolutionaries are readily
enough noted. There would be no
United States of America if it had
not been possible for the rebel con-
gress at Philadelphia and the rebel
leader Washington to get munitions
outside the territory which they had
seized from the British sovereignty.
1t may be doubted, indeed, whether
any one of the American republics
now represented in the historic
gathering in this Capital could have
achieved independence if that rule
had been universally enforced. Texas
would still be a state of Mexico.
But this is not all. A prohibition
against selling arms to revolution
aries would mean that an usurper
like Huerta would have everything
his own way. Cipriano Castro
would still be tyrant of Brazil. The
revolutionary outfit, in the ordinary
revolution, is not the one that needs
munitions. 1t is commonly headed
by a military chieftain, who begins
operations with the army, arsenals,
and munitions of the country care
fully gathered into his possession.
Having seized power and become the
de facto government, those who OPP
pose him become rebels. They may
represent, as they have done in a
score of American uprisings, the
real constitutionalist sentiment and
force of the country; but if denied
the privilege of getting the neces-
saries of war from outside, they
are absolutely powerless.
1t has been necessary many times
for the United States Government to
interfere in actual force in troubled
countries, in order, to help the ele-
ment which seemed to represent &he
true interest of the community. That
is far more drastic step than mere
" to sell munitions to the factor
which must have them in order t.
make It's protest effective. To pro
hibit the sale of munitions to 6
revolutionary" would be to grant
the most effective possible guarantee
to tyranny wherever it might be abl'
to seize control. 1t would be t
strangle the first cry of infant free
dom. That silly sentimentalism will
mislead the American peoples int
such policy is not to be believed fol
an instant. That such proposition
has been seriously advanced by Mr.
Secretary Lansing cannot be believed
without better testimony than is a
hand.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-31
WHAT'S ON PROGRAM
IN CAPITAL TODAY

Meeting, Anti-Wsr League OF the District
McKendree NJ. E. Church. p. IN.
Annual meeting. American Society of Inter
national law New Willard, 10 a. m.
Convention, American Civic Association.
New Willard 10 a. m.
Convention. international Congress OF Amer
Convention. American Association of His
torians, New willard. 10 a. IN.
Missionary Union, Public Library, : p. m.
Address on China" Mrs. Wilbur f.
Address, Air and Yentilau ton, Or. John B..
Nichols, before National Society of Keep
Wells, parish hall of st. Johns Church.
Ladies night, Richard j. Harden Camp. No.
. Department OF the Potomac. United
Spanish War Veterans in headquarters.
Dance and cabaret, Washington Lodge. No.
Il. b. p o. T.. in club house, p. IN.
Address Gen. George Washington and Ills
Ancestral Homes in America and Abroad;
meeting. q. A. r. Hall 10 p. m.
Dance Potomac Boat Club. IN club house.
Meeting e. National Democratic Women OF
America. New Ebbitt, p. m.
Scientific Congress. District Branch of the
University OF Michigan Alumni Associa-
ton. English Room. Raleigh, p. m.
Church. New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church. Union NJ f. Church, Trinity Al.
InmsnuaI Baptist Church. Fifth Baptist
Church Second baptist Church. Centennial
,Ins sp.,S 7 ebanon. No Z social session.
| odd Fellows-Central. No. /; Metropolis Ne.
Is, Phoenix. No. 2S. election.
knights OF Pythias-Rathbone Iemple' NO .
Episbts of Coiumbus-New Year dance by
Carroll Council Dancing Assembly,
| 49, ccrnal order OF Eagles-New Year dance
improved order OF Red Men-sensca lrioe'
| No. IL. $3.50, .,.h. nsr,i.s ly
IIone Council, No. 1; Unity Council, No
.: John G. Daley Council No, D. and '-"p'
| toI-Harmony Council, NO. o; A,,, n,
| watch night services. SalNauon ARMY o.
| HEADQUARTERS, evening.