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About The independent. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1907)
14 JANUARY 31,1907 THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT pers all assemble In the dressing: room awaiting the paymaster, who arrive to nettlo the weekly account. They are puld at the rate of 50 cent for each performance and 25 for each rehearsal J5ut the fact that they are privileged to hear the opera Is what attracts the fin class of men. The dressing room below the stage Is given over entirely for the use of supers. They must be on hand prompt ly at 7:30, for considerable time Is taken up In chanfng costumes. Here the lawyer, who a minute before en tered with his long overcoat and cano. opens his locker, slips on his new gown, and Is quickly metamorphosed Into a courtier with roughed cheeks, a Spanish cavalier, a knight In steel armor, an ICgyptlan slav, a waiter, or a pilgrim returned from Home. The first night Is a scone of hllarlouj laughter. The unpens are not yet ac customed lo their new garb and sur roundings, The thing Is so novel to them that they all crowd around n small mirror and struggle to admire themselves In the gloss. Meanwhile n few mi pcro may be seen sketching uonie of their willing fellow workers until the bell summons them to appear on the etage. What a different appearance the stage presents from that of rehearsal' Now everything present a picture of activity. Managers give directions; stage hands rnovo to and fro, ballet girls group to the left of the stage, the chorus takes lt position. The lights are turned on, and the machinery of the opera is in motion. The supers await their cue and proudly march upon the stage with uh much concern as the linger at $1,000 a night. Each super throws forward his chest aud believes himself to be the cynosure of all eyes, as If he, too, were making his debut. This gives them the opportunity of observing the audience from the stage, From tbia point of vantage, when the lights are on the opera house presents a Ctuzllng and brilliant scene. With the exception, perhaps, of "Lohengrin" and "Tannhauser," Wag ner calls for a few supers In his operas, "Alas!" said a complaining super who took the part of an appren tice in "Die Meisterslnger,", "If War ner had only known how anxious we were to appear In Ihe.ring he certainly would have had compassion and nado place for us." The Italian opera like 'Carmen." "Faust," and "Alda" offer moro opportunity for the super. Thero are many Interesting anec dotes of the opera, which seldom reach the public ear. In the first act of the opera, Loheng dln arrives in a skiff drawn by a magic swan, In response to Elsa's prayer for a champion. Knote, who last season took the part of Lohengrin, on the opening night was much morti fied to find that the machinery of the boat failed to work, lie was left In the middle of the stream with no prospects of landing. Then tho stagehands grew desperate and strenuously tugged at the ropes. The boat would not budge an inch. At last, by a combined effort, a number of stage hands crawled to the boat and actually carried It to the shore. Though ten bars late, Knoto, before he commenced the swan song, found tlmo to whisper In Gorman to tho her ald who stood near, "That was a nar row escape Indeed!" Pol Plancon, who Is taller and more robust than any of the other singers, when walking about tho wings of the stage awaiting his cue, oneo spied a super who was unusually tail, Plancon looked terrible In the rolo of Mcphls tophrles. Two long feathers which stuck out of his small cap made him look perfectly monstrous In size. Walking up to th- super, he meas ured shoulders with him and said: "I thought I was the tallest man here I discover my equal. I congratulate you." With that h sang out a theme from the opera and sauntered over to the other side of the stage" to find whether there were any more his equal. While waiting for their cue the nr. tlsts an restless. One super found satisfaction In watching dalcza walk to and fro twenty-three times on the night when h appeared for the first time In the character of Thengrln. Mmt-s. ttames, Walker, Cadskl and Ihe rest of the prima donnas seldom ap pear on the stage before thlr cues when they come from their dressing rooms. The supers of the Metropolitan opera how form Jarre and Import, nnt body. Without them much of the glamour of the opera would h lout Indeed, In some of the operas, they are as Independable as would be the Ingers who take the principal role In the first act of "Irfdjanf rln" the stage l peopled with super who for one night are eneasod In real armor Wo, too, the glorious seeoml act of "Alda" would ! all Its pomp wire It net for the retinue of mi per fiurh then, are the et jirrlcnoeii of Tferr (VnrekTa force of Ktttlimeri supers They tmv never tn known to go on strike, but there Is mm talk of nrgnnUIng tmdrr the nam of Th flntlmih'a Rurwr Asportation." nnl ef electing Ilerr corirM an honorary .iuembr. OUESTION BOX In a Journal article lately it was said that one state provides the death penalty for eight crimes. What Is It? Virginia. Pleaso give tho origin of the use of stamps on letters. I have heard the story, but have forgotten tho details. This story I.s the one commonly told In this connection: About sixty-five years ago, Rowland 1 1 1 1 1 was traveling through ono of the northern districts of England, and for a time was so Journlng at an Inn whero tho postman came with a letter for a young daugh ter of the Innkeeper, Tho young mb'S turned the letter over and over in her hand, and niter examining the enve lope minutely Inquired the price of the postage, which was a shilling. She Hghed nadly and returned tho letter to I he postman, saying It was from hot brother, but that she had no money Mr. 1IIII was an onlooker and was touched with pity. He paid the postage and his action seemed to embarrass the girl. When the postman had gone, she stated to Mr. I11I1 that some signs marked on the envelope -conveyed to her all she wanted to know, and that, as a fact, thero was no writing In closed, Jn extenuation, she said that fcho and her brother had contrived a code system of communicating, tm neither of them was able to pay post charges. Mr, 1 1 1 1 J thought of tho re sults of a system which made such frauds possible. Before another day ho hud planned a postal system upon tho present basis. When does Senator Dollvcr's present term expire? On the fourth of next March. Which way does tho compass point In the southern hemisphere? North. Who are the oldest members of tho senate in point of service? These have served twenty years or more: Allison, Morgan, Halo, Frye. A Id rich, Cullom, Teller, Berry, Daniel. Morgan, Frye and Cullom have been elected for full terms beginning next March. What is tho corn stalk disease, Us symptoms and its appearance In ani mals affected after their death? The Kansas Farmer Is authority for this: Corn stalk disease Is the name given to a peculiar affection of cattle which they contract while feeding In corn stalk fields In tho late fall and early winter. The disease is peculiar In that many animals may have died beforo tho owner ever susplcloned Its presence. As Moore states, cattle that act perfectly well at night are dead on the following morning. Tho definite cause of this dlseaso has not been de termined, The rapid course of the dlseaso us ually results in tho death of the ani mal beforo one Is able to detoct ita presence. However In some cases the sick have been observed very carefully. Moore states that ono owner found a steer down and unable to rise. Its head was extended, resting on the ground and moving continually from side to side; this was kept up for several hours, when he died. In &omo Instances the animal will get down on the knees, lay his head on the ground, froth at tho mouth, groan and die within two or three hours. Other ani mals will simply appear dull, show great weakness, walk with a peculiar jerky movement of the hind legs, and In a short tlmo fall and seem to bo in great distress. Largo numbers of veterinarians re port that the organs of cattlo dying of corn stalk disease are normal In ap. pearance(Moore). However hemorrages of the heart have been observed bo neath the p'eura and under the capsuld of the liver. As to medicinal treatment very little can bo done us the animals are usually so short lived after con tracting tho affection that they die before any medicine could be of bene fit. How much gold and silver U In cir culation In the principal eountrien ot (he world? The last reports to which we have oeew.1 give the following figure: Countries, ciold, Btlver. United Mtatea ....ll.SUCtu.tiu) fitf&.ioo.tttt Auatrla-HuiuMry , 3Jfc.wio.iia tv.TVu.im) MHftum Cw.ww.wn) 7.7i,UUO Itrillxh Empire: ... AuiruUU la.&N.Oai MOO.Owl CttiuuU , rcumueo ow.ooo United Kingdom. fcu.awi.uM Mi,),) India ti iMi.tma 0i 3, nil. ad t'otith Africa .... .,wu,m ao.ono.Ou) Htr's HeUh'iiirnM , JUl.uiM ItMlK.irUt ..,,,..,,. i,!Mt,tW) I,.tUU CUt ?VOM,Ut ItVO.tVO heh!iirk ,, l?,ivi Kirvpt h.m.wm i&,tn,ia Kilt Id 11 it iW'.ml iV.UUtt bttuictf ,,,, 91. .! 4U.lvXi.tXW ;. runny M-i,7 v.oiO JlO.ftW tlrwH'w &.ttii,iM iwj.uwi UU tlMl.HM 3,0U) Italy tti.t .' Si&w.wo jAp'll CS',t!W tl.U.O.t) MeiU. , .'.'.UM brv.gw Noth-rUttd , ..mia i4.MU.wa NvtvMiy ,, l,e,tfO lQUD,dut Houiuan.a, R'.tW.UU 0 itussiu 7b2.',00,tOO Hl.uW.lUJ Bervia , 3,300,000 1,000,000 Hiam 1,000,000 22,300,000 South Am States.. 85,600,000 13,400,000 Bpaln 72,100,000 173,700,000 Bweden 20,200,000 7,600,000 Hwltrerland 5:9,600,000 10,700,000 Turkey 600,0(0,000 40,000,000 Cent Am. States.. 2,000,000 6,C00,0O0 China 340,000,000 i PATENTS that PROTECT- i uur 3 !( lor mreaiofi BiaitM neviptol bcu. 1 R-5.4 A. o.LACti, Washington, D.C. Estab CT . Htm fit I . 1889. I Total JP,a87,lO0,000 ,1 30, 400,000 "If I should die tonight, my friends would look upon my quiet face," and so forth. Will you kindly print the rest of tho poem? If I should die tonight. My friends would look upon my quiet face Before they laid It in its resting place, And deem that death hud left it almost fair; And, laying snow-white flowers against iny hair, Would smooth It down with tearful tend erness, Ami fold my hands with lingering caress, Poor bands, so empty and bo cold, to night. If I should die tonight, My friends would call to mind with lov ing thought Some kindly deed the icy hand had wrought, Some gentle word the frozen lips have said; Errands on which the willing feet had tped, The memory of my selfishness and pride, My hatity words, would all be put aside, And so I should be loved and mourned tonight. If I should die tonight. Even hearts estranged would turn once more to me, Recalling other days remorsefully, The eyes that chill mo with averted glance Would look upon me as of yore- per chance, And soften In the old, familiar way. For who could war with dumb, uncon scious clay? So I might rest, forgiven of all, tonight. Oh, friends, I pray tonight, Keep not your kisses for my dead, cold brow. The way is lonely, let me feel them now. Think gently of me; I am travel-worn; My faltering feet arc pierced with many a thorn, Forgive, oh, hearts estranged, forgive, I plead I When dreamless rest Is mine I shall not need The tenderness for which I long tonight. Who were the barn burners? The "barn burners," (so called In reforenco to the story of the Dutch farmer who was said to have burned his barn In order to get rid of the rats that Infested It) constituted the more progressive of the two factions which once splt up the New York democrats, say about 1845. Later (In 1848) they Joined tho free soil party. In their alleged energies for radical measures they were opposed by the hunkers (people who stuck to their "bonks" or posts). Whence, in a gen eral way, a "hunker" Is a conserva tive man, one opposed to Innovation or change. Although this name was not heard until tho Folk election campaign, the New York faction to which It was ap plied, existed as early as 1835. They dis appeared about I860. What are the rulings of the bureau of chemistry In the matter of color ing foods under the federal law? The food standards committee has decided o gainst all artificial colors ex cept certain vegetable colors and som coal tar dyes. How was Alaska acquired by the United States? In March, 1867, the territory was ceded to tho United States by Kussia In return for a payment of $7,200,000 in gold, and possession was taken the same year. What are our national holidays? Also, what states celebrate Jefferson pavls' birthday as a holiday? There Is no national holiday, not even the Fourth of July. Congress has at various times appointed special holt days. In the socond session of the fifty thtd congress it passed an act making labor day a public holiday In the Pis trlet of Columbia, and It ha reeog. iUih1 the existence of certain days oa holiday a for commercial purjiosea, but, with the etceptlon named, there Is no general statut on the aubJoH. The prwlamatlim of the president desig nating a dy of thank.HgtvIng only makfs It a legal holiday in the lLtrlct of t'olurnbU and the territories and In thowe states whivh provide by law for It. June 3, Jefferson IVivU' birth day, is eotebruted la FlorhU, (btorgla. Alabama, Trnrnwcw, Tents and Houth Carolina. In lomUiana the day la known o,i 'Yonfmli-rate memorial diy." In VlrxlnU It U edpbrld t public Hi-hoot. Can you tell me h U proprietor of th Providence Tribune? td.nl Colt, a leading candidal for the adnata and had of th ruhor WOOD, J. C, & CO., successor! to Soukup & Wood. Expert cleaners and dyers, 1320 N St., Lincoln, Neb., Phones: Auto 1292. Bell 147. Mail order work carefully attended to. trust, is proprietor of the Providence. Rhode Island, Tribune; at least .hat paper Is counted as his personal organ. Please tell me the dato of tho elec tion to decide upon the removal of the state capitol from Omaha to Lincoln? There was none. The legislature de cided the matter. LAST WEEK OVERNOIt SWETTENHAM of Ja maica was the central figure of the week. Following the disastrous earthquake and firo at Kingston Amer ican vessels hastened with aid to the scene of suffering. The American de stroyer Whipple, the supply fdilp Celtic and two warships, the Missouri and the Indiana hastened to Kingston Irom Guantanamo and gave valuable as sistance with supplies and surgical old for the wounded. When tho inmates of a prison threatened revolt one of tho warships fired two blank cartridges In the direction of the prison na a warn ing to the Inmates. On Monday morn ing the dispatches contained the news that the American ships had left the harbor on Saturday, being practically ordered out by Governor Swcttenhani in an extraordinarily offensive letter. Tho city council of Kingston requested the Americans to remain and assist in tho emergency despite tho conduct of the governor, as the withdrawal of the surgeons and medical supplies threat ened much suffering, but the Ameri cans did not feel at liberty to stay. Tho Hrltlsh government immediately offered apologies to the American gov ernment, and Governor Swettenham was severely criticised by the English press. After receiving the full corre spondence between Admiral Davis in command of the American fleet, and i Governor Swettenham, Secretary of the Navy Metcalfe made the following' statement of the matter: "From this correspondence It appears that Admiral Davis landed a party of six to guard and secure the archives of tho Ameri can consulate and another party of ten I men for the purpose of clearing away the wreckage. Later, on tho earnest , entreaty of the colonial secretary and 1 the Inspector of police, who spoke for the governor (the governor being ab- 1 sent from the city and at Kings house, some three miles distant) fifty men were landed under arms from the In diana to overawe an alleged mutiny at the penitentiary containing 500 or 600 prisoners. Admiral Davis then pro ceeded by carriage to visit the governor at Kings house and found him living with his family In tents and was ac companied to the city by the governor. That same afternoon on the request of the governor the men were withdrawn from shore and returned to their ships." SICVKIf THOUSAND OX STIUKH. BAKU, Trans-Caucasia. Jan. 29. Seven thousand employes of four nap tha works here struck today. Their demands include a bonus for 1508. varying from 20 to 80 per cent of their wages for the year. A general strike Is being planned In support of the movement. SEPARATOR M 4 TTSWCr FMA U l tf TWO MONTMfi'TRIil gBB - - - - mm www mmr w mwm WE WILL GLADLY SEND V I YOU A CREAM SEP. fj rA I RAlUK ; you can uf It Ai Mty 4my, md It yon art V J not ture you liate rww ve4 - im (mm wiMrntur l ' vortd. Urn trial won't cost you on wnt. Write for our nr w Onn tPrUir fntaloint and IrarneMlllsOkLAl Oi 1 1 H. IQ 7R b" oi" wonder dltftlW fuf 1407 moJ.I lu4 Cream Separator, th equal of any hiitrtiW n.UI by auyou (M up lo nu mi. uur limirovru l.roitnmy i:rm Mil i I I II N I'M t rnv tt. and UT w a twparaW, aihtlj httfli'T la pnrfp insn our I Hin du, lasuasaiitent th bl a. l araior mail. rrattU'aiit nam ur prlr. ami m ftild at a mall rt ot tho irlr otlirraaaa tr hiU ki. arpatat.ini; and iiur anw our .ut,m.r to ffatrr ratttritr. rvMi ri!k, run raairv and not art t .!.. ar kiMt 1 fhttva la umriii-t wiMir I Jr in(t It . cai 4 It Ir li ru triutt tt "H r tr rM" ) ar nJ4 r4 to mm, rm 4 t M4wa. PRICES NOW GREATLY REDUCED. OI K iKIUlt M IMHUOH 4IMtt ar iir l iwi L nut wwMdwful t)t liaily lMn-4 moArM. HkM tf thaa, I II U hav w) Uomi kim r. iwt u k-iur or a ikxul and aar, 'tVud n pi hw 1 1, t'u M' i f a ti. mm aivj all ynuf tmw wffi ra," and out iiatt lu'f nrmu a)aw rii.tuiat II Kt t.t u ht rrturn mall, trm and tiiaHt. Wa ha t V rr ' l iihM and ran fit u ir. i.n a.-nUuf ttrm UlaL on uianu(Mtrini . . m r la th dla an.) aMw lr (! I i.ho )4 imk m r ir. i rniiw t kwwnMMi and atrlwMi! I- )'r t h.. of at tt trHa than jit-a 1 titoil t .-j!1v II y4uy rru m irtm ir SEARS ROEBUCK & CO., UIHUAUU