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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 31, 1892)
TlIE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNI/AT , JULY 31 , 1892--SIXTEEN" PAGES. TOLSTOI'S ' LOVING HELPMATE Chat "With the Wlfo of the Great Russian Novelist- HO\V \ TlIE PHILOSOPHIC GENIUS WORKS How " \Vnr nnd I'mcn"tn Written llo I * ll iiii < toil With the "Kroutior Honntn" nnil I.tiokg Upon all III ) Novols.u * Noiunnse. O. Oirpen/tr.l / TULA , July 10. [ Special Correspondence of Tint BKI : . ] " To know nil woman wo must love anil ba lovoj by ono. ' This was the nn- § wor In the words of n Fninch writer which my husband gave In reply to the question as to how ho could describe J ust how a woman would thlnlc , act and foul under any and all circumstances. " It was the Countess Tolstoi who was speak- ' ing. Wo were sitting about the samovar la the dining-room of the count's homoat Yas- nln Polyann , nna were In tno midst of a long chnt about the ( 'ro.it Russian novelist. The count himself wns fur oil In tbo Interior , away from the rallnnds , in company with his daughter , taking care of the sick nndhnlf- atnrving peasants , and his wlfo and the smaller children u ere on ttio citato alono. On a long trip from the lower part of the Volga to Moscow. I had i topped over a train to pay my respects to the count , nnd with Dr. Hubbell , the agent of the Itod Cross , had boon received most kindly by the countess. Wo had walked over a part of the ostnto , to gether , had visited tbo peasants in their homos , had eaten supper around the family tnblo , and now lit answer to tnv questions tbo countess was giving mo bits of atory and fact about her husband's Intellectual life. "Tho count In in self , " suid sbo. "iloos notllUo to talk about his novels or bis writings , and I boc you If you should write to htm not to mention that you luivo been reading bis works. Ho Is nlwavs eiUhusiustlu whllo at work , but when the work Is finished bo Is dlssallMlod with it , and 11003 not , want It to go to tbo publishers. Ho does not Illto to talk about himself , and if any ono persists in malting his writing the subject of the con versation bo will often excuse bimsolf and leave the room. " The Count ) ) * * Tolitol. But before I wrlto further lot mo givn you n fnw words about the countess. Hue Is to my mind qulto as Interesting a character as Tolstoi blmsotf , and did nho keep a diary I Imagine it would run it in Its Interesting atones with that of Jane Welsh , the wlfo of that oilier philosophic genius , Thomas Carlylo. She has , for thirty years , boon the bolter half of Tolstoi's great soul , ana she is today the balance wheel wbich , as far as possible , bolds him in check and which keeps dim and the family from the poverty of tbo peasants. A good wife and a loving mother , ho it was thnt prevented Tolstoi selling nil bo bad and giving his property to tho-poor , and she It islio today manages the estates , attends to the education of the children , takes care of all the details of her husband's affair * and his house , and at tbo same time cheerfully and uncomplainingly softens the bard road which ho would lay out for him self and his family. The counters Impresses you at 11 rat mooting as a woman of remark- oblo strength of chatactcr. Sbo Is tall , well formed and line looking , nnd though sbo has a son 20 years old her cheeks are still rosy , and the gray has hardly oogun to show itself in bor luxuriant dark hair. Her eyes are dark , bright and full of intelligence , and her face is full of kind fcclinc. Stio is a clover conversationalist and speaks English fluently with a slight Russian accent. She is n \\omaulv woman in every sense of tno word , and the ideals of womanhood as embodied in Tolstoi's best characters nro taken from her. .Tolstoi's love for her and her love for hltn during their tbirtv years of married life bavo never been questioned , and bis studies of women bavo been made llko Kubens' paintings , with his wlfo for his model. llcnr Anna Knrmilnaiig Written. During our conversation I nuked the coun tess where Tolstoi got the character Anna Karenlna.und the countess' sister , Countess KouamlnsUi , replied that , it was largely taken from the countess. Madame Tolstoi tbon said : "Yes and no. That is true in part , and again it ia not trno at all. 1 am everywhere - where and nowhere in my husband's novols. Ho takes his characters from real life , but bo changes and localizes tuem until they nro not tbo same , but are entirely now creations. Some pal ts of Anna Karenlna are almost oxaot reproductions of ouroxporloncos. The description of Anna's love for her children and her manner of taking care of them are from me , thu story of Kluio's courtship and marriage , oven to tbo manner In which the pronosal was made , is the story almost line for line , of our courtship and marriage , and " * Anna's Mckness corresponds to an Illness that I once had. The count has boon all bis lifo and is always studying human character nnd bo is always noting down in his mind , thoughts , expressions and Incidents for future - turo uso. Ho bos a good memory and In a llttlo look box in his brain ho seems to store away everything and his material is always at bis command , Ho has for years carried a note book with him , and bo will sometimes slop in conversation and malto a note of any thing that bo thioks may bo of value in tbo luturo. " I asked the countess if she had any of tboso note books at band. She loft tbo room for a moment und then returned with u fat llttlo yellow calfskin-covered note book. It was the size of thu nvorago poolcot diary and was tilled with writing in Russian characters , tbo loiters being very small and the lines vary close together. There were no blots and few corrections , nnd from the data of it I saw that it was made nt about the time that Anna Knronlfm was wiltlan , and it con tained some of the material which made up that story. As I again roforrcd to the novel the count ess told us bow Tolstoi began it. Suld oho : "Anna Knrt'nlna was born through our old ostboy fulling to sleep wbllo readlnir pur great pool , Pu .al.ln. Ills grandmother , wbo was visiting us , loved the boy dearly. She was ill and 1 bail an unfinished poem of 1'ushUln , which I was about to road to her. I gave way to my son , bowovor , tolling him that his grandmother would much ratbor hear blm road it than mo , and bo was reading - ing to bor when ho dropped asleep and the book foil open on the taulo. Wbllo It w&s lying tnora the count cnmo in and picked It up and rend it. As ho road the llm idea of Anna Karenlna came to him und bo loft Pushkin und began to wnto. Ho wrote al most steadily at it until ho had completed tbo llrnt draft , but it was many months before - fore it was finished nnd ready for the press. " Tolntol'8 Literary .Muthoils. "Docs the count wrlto rapidly ! " I oskod. " 1 do not think bo can bo said to produce very rapidly,1' wus tbo icply. "Ho ts very carnful a * to tbo character of his writings , nnd ho believes tbo woild would bo much better oR if many of the writers of tbo pros- unt day would mini their works in manu script. Ho holds on to his own works as lone us possible nnd bo objcc's. as a rule , to having Ih'im published. Ho enjoys bis work UH bo composes , but u great part of the wear and tear tomes in tbo rovislon and correc tion. Ho revises bis wrlttiips again und ngaln , ojid bo never corrects bis own manu script , but ho must bavo n now cony made for him on clebii pupjr. Ho Is not a vary legible writer , as you sea from his note books , and bo writes on all sorts of paper. , > -itu picks up anything that comes to band when u thought strikes him and writes it down upon it. A largo part of tbo txvo novels , . Anna Karoniim' and 'War and Po.ico' were written on the backs of envelopes , half sheets of note paper lorn from short letters , and some of bis best tliouffkta bavo boon pcnuoit on the backs of old olccos of paper * ipon which tbo chlluron bavo boon drawing pictures and bavo thrown uwav. For this reason it is bard to preserve bis manuscripts , mid auoh us wo have are stored nwuvin the museum in Moscow. After my husband baa written III * manuscript It Is copied for him , For years I copied-again end rgaln everything he wrote nnd now my daughter * do it for him , 1 cun'l tell you bow many t lines I oopiod ports of l'io ' novel 'War and Poaco' for revi sion and rcrovlslon , but I know that I copied the completed story seven times ooforo it WHS brought Into the auto In which It wont to the printers. " I hero asked us to bow the copy was prn- parud for Tolstoi for revision , and tbo oouutoss took a shoot ol note papur and doubled over the aide of thoshcot , loavluir a margin of two luoboa at the ends of tbo linos. "Ho likes small sbooU of paper arranged like tbi , " said. sho. "nnd I copy only on one aldo of the pago. Ho corrects on the margin and sometimes on the other side of the pngo. Hcalwnvsusoi n pen in his writing , nnd never has any doubt as to the work until it is completed , when , from being enthusiastic , ho becomes discouraged and dissatisfied. Ono of tbo greatest rogreU of his llfo today is that ho bus wasted , as ho oils It , much of his time In writing novels , and ho refers to his novels as 'that nonsonso. ' " Tha KrotitzcrbnniUn , "Doos ho over speak of the ICreutzcr So- natn , and Is ho , as has been reported , writing n sequel to 111" o"N replied Count Tolstoi's ' wlfo , "bo lm no Intention of writing anything more along these linos. Ho said to mo , spoiling of tin ) 'Krcutzor Sonata , ' not long ago : 'Please don't mention that di gusllng story nanm ; I am sick of hearlnk about It,1 I ilon't think ho will wrlto another novel. Ho Is de voting bimsolf to philosophical essays upon nls peculiar Ideas Of what society and ll'o should DO , and ho retards fiction us nonsense nnd folly. Ho Is now working on a largo treatise against war and In favor of national izing society nnd government. Ho thinks the world is all wrong , and bo is doing what ho ran to hulu sot it right. As for myself , I think it is a great mistake , and 1 toll him so. His forte , it seems to mo , Is in tiovol writing , nnd ho ought to follow It. I bavo urcrcd him to contlnuo In Action and to put forth his Ideas , If he could idvocato thorn , in a great novel that would stir men's souls and make thorn think as ho dee . If ho would do this ho could accomplish moro for his uanso tbun by bis philosophical essays. Ho thinks , bowover , differently , und wo must bo con- tout , The Two Tolstois. "In order to understand my husband and bis works , " the Countess Tolstoi wont on , "you must not looic upon blm : is bo ts today. Ills lifo Is made up of dIJTuroiit periods and bo Is a different man now than bo has been in the past. Until about ton or eleven years ngo ho hud what might oo called an utmost Ideal literary lifo , during wbich bis best novels were wrltU-n , when both himself anil his family were prosperous and happy , and when his lifo was full of cnjovmont , leisure mid hard work. During this time bo wns in terested in everything that any practical man of the world is In 101-03ted in Ho de voted himself to Ins family , , to the management - mont of his estates and found plenty of.Ilnio for writing. Ho slept well mid had Iclsuio for ever > thing. Ho wns inloiostcd in his children's studies and oven mustered tha Greek language that bo might ulu our oldest boy In his study of It. Ho delighted In so- oloU , and our llfo wus full of happiness. Then all nt once ho changed. The things ho liked best became tlugusling to him. Ho reversed the opera glasses und tbo big things of hie former llfo dwindled Into notblncr. Ho begun to study the church , humbled himself and led the lifo of a peasant. From the writing of fiction hu turned to philosophy and ethics , and In short his whole nature DO- came deficient und ho was another man. " "Then I hero nro two Tolstois } " said I , "Twol" lophed the couuloss. "Thoro uio not only two ; there uro a hundred. The count changes every day , and vou can never tell what bo will bo next. Ho is earnest and honest In bis beliefs , and ho is almost forced to do what ho thinks to bo right. Ho l more comfortable now in bis habits of lifo than hu was some years ngo. Then ho wanted to give up everything to the poor and huvo us all llvo as peasants do. Ho does not bellova that ono has any right to moro than another - other , and with him to bollovo Is to do. I would not consent to this , however. 1 must have my children educated nnd I said thai our life must bo a civilised ono. Ho then re fused to bnvo anything to do with his prop- arty nnd estates , and for a time hoxvonlon in his way und wo In ours , accommodating our selves us host wo could to him. Ho was at first irritable , and would ask why I nersisted In teaching the children French und having thorn covnrnosses for English uud German. Ho looked upon our talk una our llfo us aiti- ilcial nonsnnso , and his irritation front this of course affected bis writing. For a time the cbildro-i feared to talkumong themselves in bis presence lest tbo subjects of their con- vorsaliun would offend him , and then for they all love und admlro htm wo were very unhappy. Of la n yoais. however , bo has boon more t9lorant. Ho thinks wo are vrong , but ho permits us to load our lifo , nnd ho leads bis , conforming as much as ha can to ours. There uro manv things [ would change if I could , but I must do what Is boat for him and for us. " These words were not uttered in a com plaining tone , but merely as a matter of fact about u condition that muut bo made tbo best of. As tbo countess said thpra , I thought that , there were fuw Amoilean wives who wara Iruor and kinder to their husbands than she was , and this fact becametbo moro ap parent an sbo wont on to describe some cuilous features of the count's present llfo. Every ono has hoard of his thousand idiosyn- cracies. How ho believes every man should work enough with his bands .ovory day to supply his necessities ; bow ho makes'nis own boots , and how ho would-if bis wife would lot him , make his own clothes ! You have read bow bo lives on the simplest of vegetable food ; how ho wears tbo garb of a peasant and gives without stint to all wbo ask alms 1 You have beard bow ho objects to man using force ncainst man under any conditions , nnd bow bo could not conscien tiously resist if himself or bis family were assaulted. Ha pays no attention whatever to his estates , and tbo management of thum and the odun.itlon and training of bis children are entirely loft to his wlfo. Sbo has hundreds of peasants on tbo estate to look after , and with her family of nlao children she has , I Judge , nil sbo can do to make both ends moot. Tnnt she docs mnko them meet is only duo tea a romnrkablo executive ability and not to the lltortry worlt ot the count. A rt'iit Author Who Wrltos for > othlii ( ; . I asked the couutoss to toll mo if it was really so that Tolstoi would accept nothing for ills works. Sbo replied that it wus true , and that ho hud accepted nothing from his publishers for years. "Ho does not thinlc an author has any right to accent monov for the products of his bralu , " said sbo , "nnd the only monov wo have had for a long time from His writings came from n comcdv en titled 'The Fruits of Civilization , ' .vblch had quite n run In tbo theaters of Russia last season. Ho had relinquished bis royalties to this to tha government , and tbeso amounted during that time to 0,000 rubles , or about fJ.OUO. During the present famine it seemed to inn to bo a sLnmo that our peasants should bo starving and that this money which wo could use so well should bo kept by tbo government , bo I wrote to the gov ernment ofllccrs in charge of it asking thorn to lot mo bavo it for the famine. TLoy re plied that I could have it if 1 would promise that every hit of It should oo used for tbo famine , nnd thus Igot it. " "Has Count Tolstoi over gotten any money from bis American antes ) " 1 asked. "Hundreds of thousands of his books have been sold thoro. " "Yos , " replied the countess , "thoro was once sent to us from America a check for $100 , and this Is tbo only money wo have over received for any of the count's books outsiaa of Russia. I did not think best to so.nd bud : the ? IOO and I cave it to the poor among my peasants. I do not agrco with my husband about tha receipts from his books , and if ho thought dillornntly concerning thorn wo would bavo enough money and to sparo. If wo received u slnglo kopeck ( about ono-half a cent ) from ouch copv of bis books that huvo been sold wo would bo very rich. As it is , wo are poor. Not poor , of course , like our peasants , but poor for our condition in llfo. Aly sons bavo to work on their estates , nnd in Moicow wo uro not rich enough to keep u carriage. Wo could do much good with the money among our poor if wo bad It , but tbo count thinks it Is not right. Ho would not tool tiapnv If wo took It , und anything Is better than dlscontont und trouble m onu's' family. " TnlHtol'H Now OhrUtinu * Coinmly. "Ploaso toll mo something of the oomudy you upoko of , " said I , "U was written. " replied tbo countess , "to please our oldest daughter. It was at Christ mas tlinu , two voars ago. and wo hud u num. Dor of guests In tbo hnu o. Tbo children wanted to huvo some private theatricals as u part of their amusements , but I urged thorn not to do so , sajlnir that they know how tbulr futhor looked upon such things av fool ish and that it would make blm uuhnppy. My ( laughters , bowovor , said they would porauada him to coiuontto It , and they found u comedy tha' . bo had begun some ynirs ago uud tno oldest daughter , for whom the count would do anything , persuaded blm to finish It and lot them play It , Ho look up tbo com. ody und beo.iuio Interested in it. Ho finished It und corroded and rewrote much of it dur ing our rehearsals hero , and ua had qulto a number of friends in when wo pUyod It. It bus twcuty-dix parts in It , so you see it was no smalt nlTalr. Thou It was brought out at Tula for the Douotit ot the prisoners there , and was such u success that It wus taken up by the theaters In Moscow , Bt , Petersburg and eUowhcro iu Kussla. It bad n ercut run Iu St. Petersburg , where the uuiporor uud all of tha court anil olllclal so- clotv wont to sco it , nnil It crontcd a nurstof laughter and nnplausafrdtn beginning to.ond. Tbonirperor lltod it. Ho said It olnvatod tbn ponsitnU nbovo the nobility and that it showed the dllToroncoi in tbo two civilian * lions. " Thu 0/irnnitTnUtiit , "How does the emperor recant Count Tol- Htnll" 1 nskcd. "Ho considers blm honoit nnd earnest in his beliefs and in his llfo. Ho dee < not lonlt upon nlm as a revolutionist , and bo bn told the government. nfllcliU that the count is itn bonent man mid they must not disturb bun. Many of the ofllcl.iU' not llko my husoaml , nnd they think ho Is entirety too liberal in his actions nnd In his books. U Is n mistake to suppose Im dlscus < os political questions with the peasants. Ho ndvtsos thorn as to their lifo and the llttlo troubles in thotr families , lut ho devote ? hit pen to the setting ting forth of bis ideas.Vtiolhor many of tnom uro right or not ts a mutter of some difference of opinion between us. In ono wuv. however , I think bo has done much good , nnd that li in the stirring tin tbo pub lic mind to thinking of these questions. " I'nlstiil's I'axorltn Duulc * . The conversation here took a bookish turn and I askrut the countess us to tha fnvorlto rending of the novelist. She said : "Ho was rondluil Montaigne's Essays when ho loft homo n few dnys ago , unu I saw the book Ivlr.g open on hit table where ho had laid it down. Ho will take It up In nil probability when ho rotnrns , for ho has no time to road whcro ho is. As to his general loudmtr the count reads ovorythinc. Ho rends much phllosopny und ho used to rend many novnls. Ho saiil novel reading rested his brain , and at the same time it was an intellectual re freshment for It. Ho read 'Robert Elsmcro' when it iipp" . rcd ntid also the 'Hlstorv of David Gtlovo,1 but ho did not llko the latter novel so well 'as the other. Ho considers Zola in miny respects n great novelist , nnd lit likes Thni'karuy und Dickons. Ho ad mires Victor Hugo's works , and among American writers bo Is especially fond of Tnoroau nnd Emerson. Ho also admires Henry George us n thinker upon laud ques tions along somewhat tno same lines ns his own , nnd ho has of lute years load much of Husldn. " "How about poetry ! " said I. "Count Tel stoi is fond of poetry , nnd ho is of course familiar with all the crcnt pouts. Ho espec ially likes our famous Russian poet , Pushkin , a-id whllo ho was reading It ono day I hoard him oxclalm that Pushkin wns n most bcuu- tiful writer , und that bo considered him his master. " "Is bo a blblo reader ? " I nskcd. "Yoa , " WHS the roplv. "Ho knows every line of the gospels bv heart , rnd ho rends tbo bible vary often. Ho believes ia Christ and tries to follow his teachings as ho under stands thorn. " The IMiU'iitlon of the Kimliin 1'oiisants. It is Impossible for anyone wbo has not been iu Russia to appreciate tbo Ignorance of tbo Russian peasants. With Intellects naturally strong , tboy have never been rouecd to ambition or study , and n great ma jority of them cannot road nor write. Few newspapers are taken by thorn , und the fam ily that has any reading matter in its house is tno great exception. Some years 111:0 Tolstoi organized a cheap library connected with u colporteur scheme wbich should dis seminate the bust reading among tbo pcas- unts at the lowest possible cost. A great many books were published at from 1 coot to 3 cants a volume , and tbcso were good stories , religious tracts , sound essays , and tboy included tbo best thoughts of the best mon In literature. They woio especially adapted to the peasant and were doing gioat good. Tboy were selhnc at the lalo of from four to llvo millions uyoar , and their sains were rapidly gaining up to n short time ngo , \vbsi : , us Countess Tolstoi tolls mo , the gov ern meat stopped their circulation. Sbo does' not think tbo government is anxious to educate - cato tbo peasants , and she says that tbo peasants' school which had boon established on the estate and whlah was taught by bor dauchtor has been closed by the order of the police. " t A VUlt til Ono of Tolstot'K Village * . At the invitation of tbo countess we nc- cotnpanicd her on a wulk to one of bor vil lages. It lies within a shoit distance of the nouso end consists of two long rows of thatched one-story houses , tno most of which are made of logs , though ono or two of the now ones uro of brick. Wo entered some of tbo bouses , und I saw that tbo peasants al most worshiped tbo countoss. Homo of the young girls among thorn caught her by tbo hand und walked along with her , nnd ono young woman leaned out tno window of her but uud kissed bor. ' 'That woman , " nays Mine. Tolstoi , "is agrcatfriond of mlno. She was sick a long tirao and I cured her , and now though she has been moro tbau six years married she nas her Ilrst child , it is u boy. Sbo was telling mo of it and was so happy sbi kissed mo. " As wo walked In I noticed that tbo bouses of the peasants were far better tnnn tboso of other villages I had soon and I asked if the peasants bad not uccomo mete civilized aud moro ambitious under Count Tolstoi's teach ing and example. "No , I think not , " wns the roply. "iney take advantage of bis good uuturb and 1 can do nothing with them. They onooso tbo best places for the grazing of their own stock. Tboy do as llttlo as they plcaso and lake what they please from us. I may object , but they say , 'Ob , thocount will not do anything to us , ' and thu result is tbo estate U very bard to manage. It has been deeded over to our youngest son ( a boy of about 4) ) , as is tbo custom as to tbo family estate or homestead iu Russia , and I am hU guardian. The Count Tolstoi was the youncost son of bis father , und in this way the otnto came to him. As to our peasants , 1 think tboy are , If anythtntr. not as good as they were ton years ago. I suppose in the far future they may Improve , but it rooms to mo that the outlook is dark. " Chatting in this way wo walked over the village , tbon visited tba gardens where tbo countess raises all sorts of fruit and vegeta bles , for her family und utter walking through , a magnificent forest along paths shaded by tall birch trees whoso beauty reminded mo of tbo famous cryptomcrla trees wbioh line the road to the shrines of Nlkko , Japan , wo found our way back to tbo house. Tha Tolstoi estate contains about 2,500 acres ot arable land nnd forest and its \\oods are wild , romantic and beautiful. It was given to Tolstoi's grand father bv Catherine II ns a reward for his mllllarv services , nnd though not a largo estate for Russia It is u vary line piece of property. As it is today Tolstoi re sides upon it ratbor as tbo guest of bis family than as its owner. Ho would sell it today if bis wife would consent and give the proceeds to tbo poor , and as the wise wlfo und good mother that sbo Is i of uses to do this ho has wusboa his bands , as it were , of all responsibility concerning it and its care devolves entirely upon her. His action in wishing to give up his property wus un- douutodly duo to a sense of duty. Hers In In inslstlm ; upon keeping him , hnr family and herself from dirt , poverty and starva tion was also from tbo action of the same aouso , and as wo drove hi a rude droscbky through tbo moonlit forest to the train last night I could not but think that of the two she has chosen tbo nobler end tbo better part. Her life as It can hurdly bo ono of rest and roses and her sacilllcoscheerfully mudo , though tboy do uot include the wearing of sackcloth and ashes , uro to my mind greater than bis. Tolstoi is giving up much for bis own ideas. His wlfo is giving up nil for him. FIIANK O. o.v , ia. , April l,135l. Dr. J. D. Moore Dour Sir : Huvo boon troubled with catatrb Iu my head und face for three years at tlmos AasuniiblQ to hear had a constant ringing in my oars nnd lor two years wis almost deaf. Have tried several oral so-called remedies and boon treated by regular physicians and noted specialists , but failed to got any relief. I tried ono bottle of Moorn's Tree of Llfo Catarrh Curo. It gave immediate relief and effected a permanent euro. I heartily rocoinmond It.to nil suffer ers of this disease uud will cboorf ully give any further Information on being addressed at my homo , No. "i ! Swoonoy nvo. , Uurllag- on , la. For sale by ull druggists. Rospoctfulllv , It. L& RUID. For sale by all druggists. > o Metaphor. Ill tllO PI'OlllOlludo , " \Vo keep atop norfoolly,1 * murmured V/uusluljjh t'V.u ' with a sigh. "Woll , durllnjr may I call ynu BQ ? I want to uslc you to walic with mo through Ufa" "Thank you , but I'vo already accepted an invitation to ride. " Tbo "No. 0" Wheeler & Wilson Is the onlv lock-stitch machine made that will maintain nn oven and perfect stitch nt different speeds , Sold by Uco. Lancaster & Co. , Oil B , 10th at. LAUMIllWUYS IN OMAHA * _ Two CornpaniesrjReiiaarjinir Now Produc tions nt tho'Local Tho&tars. ON "CUPID'S ' CHARIOT" AT THE BOYD lttlo'Ilpitott Vi'iirlslitn ' SIICPOM , nt the I'liriinin A ( thn. Stage Dur ing Iti'lio.irsul N < nv8 of the " , /Tli - ' ( I'mrossfou. The dramatic profession recognizes Omaha na ouo of tiiu best theatrical cities In tha country , and this is mudo apparent iu vail- ous wujs besides tlio most obvious ono of long engagements. Many managers have found thclr most profitable territory in the extreme west , and it has bccotno a common thing for them to Inaugurate their tours in this city. Indeed , it Is no uhusunl thing to hoar professional people talk of beginning their coast tours In Omaha , ns though this citv were iv thousand miles , moro or loss , on the other side of ttio Uocklos , To stny-at- ' lionios tlio easy as.suranco with wtilch vet eran travelers Ilka thealrlcHl people Ignore great distances is bewildering , but in this case it is only an in/icatlon that Omubn is ono of the pivotal points noout wbich re volves a great business. It has now become n not Infrequent thing for managers to launch their ventures in Omaha , and some of them regard n favorable reception here ns n good omen. George Tbntchur , for Instance1 , has received such gonurou&lrentmont at the hands of Omnhims tbat ho is said to be superstitious about It and vorltnbly considers this city a mascot for him. Last year ho launched "Tuxedo" at Omaha , and ns It was n unique nort of entertainment , n mixture of minstrelsy nnd farce variety , its Initial performances were nwuitod .with considerable tiepldallon. It went in high favor here nnd has beou a suc cessful attraction over slnco. At present there uro two companies in Omana rehearsing new plays and preparing to open tboir seasons iu this city. Thutuhor is Interested with Henry J. Savors In n new -species of farce variety , and their company , consisting of talented and well Known pee ple. jumped from Now York , u distance of 1.5IM miles , to whip their now play Into shape and got a hearty western send off. It has the c.Uchy uaino of "Cupid's Chariot , " nnd it ! ) flavor Is strongly athletic , uicvcle riding oy exports being a'promlni-nt feature. This company bus been hero nearly three weeks rehearsing at the Bovd , nnd if the uninitiated , filled with the glamour nnd tbo glory of the profession , would like to have that nonsense knocked out of thorn they snould attend some of these rehearsals with the thermometer at 100 = and running over at the top. Three times a duy , morning , afternoon and evening , these mm and women , whom the learned critic will talk of us this or that kind of "artist" and whom the delighted audiences will on- coiu a dozen times with wild catcalls nnd on- thusiastia thumping , bavo to moot ou tbo stngu and go through ; their parts over and over again. There is a st.igo manager , too , who takes n fiendish delight In finding fault a tvraut and a murtvr for thn public weal. It is "Do this1' or "Don't do that" and "Try it again" until the purformers' tempers , limbs and lungs are weary , while thu director has become appreciably Colder through clutch ing at bis locks iabls tits of frenzy. The stage , denuded of its scenery , looks rather like a baru ! for u pastoral play , nnd thuro in an unconventional variety about tbo attire of tbo players , who lounge about In the most aimless .Of attitudes when not actually nt worl ; . < that would rudely shock the imaginations. ' of tboso simple souls wbo think of the stage only as a region of beatific beings Inibeliuiniz raiment. Hero ts an actor who flings a dqti ut tbo ambi tious ifteruury Oy > Uoing n violent dance rigged out iu nll.pf thotoggory of street wear , oven to a tujavy" hut. Yonder is a pretty soii brolto In b'onnct , standing collar , starched waist nnd impossible denit-traln try ing at a high kick with a lofty aim. Elsewhere - where are un actor stripped to trousers and undershirt , and n sylph in. a gauzy gown that is scant in bodice and briefer in skirt but cool ana1 comfortable. The rehear < nl U u bewildering perform ance to the untutored. It is now u dance , then a song , and ugiiln a specialty. There is no apparent connection between thorn , and a layman may bo excused for doubting that they were over intended to bo welded Into one harmonious whom. Tboso dollclencicd will disappear when the dross rehearsal is reached , nnd tbo finished performance of the lirst night may bo ono of the very bostof the whole season ; certainly It has au inter est of its own that moKcs it the morsel most desired bv a largo class of dramatic epicures. There is a leva's young dream running' through "Cupid's Chariot , " but its central feature is n great bicycle race , Just ns In "A County Fair , " nnd other simitar works , there is a strong piece of mechanical realism like u horse race , etc. The wheel contest will have a scone representing a grandstand full of spectators , and'barring on experimenter or two in that direction it promises to bo the lirst successful employment of the bicycle In an important dramatic role. It will no doubt be worth seeing as u novelty if for no other mason. Prof. Barber , bno of tbo 11 nest bvkors in the country , and the Powers brothers , also exports , will furnish the bicy cle flavor and Introduce some wonderful work on tbo wheel. Messrs. Thatcher and Sayors bnvo called together a company of very clover people , and tbo rehearsals indicate a production of considerable variety and excellent amusing quality. Miss Alice Evnns , tbo soubrette , Is polite and sprlcbtlv and has an unaffected manner that is genuinely engaging. She promises to make a hit in her singing and dancing , and Omahans will have n clmnco to sea u brand now thing In the shape of the * "Wulrlwind Dance , " In which she wears an intricate akirt With forty-nine yards of airy .stuff In its folds. Tbo four widows , a turn that has made a great hit In "Miss Holyott" nnd in "A Trip to Chinatown , " will bo introduced with an original song. Mr. Savors claims to have originated this bit of ousincss for "Tuxedo , " from which It wns appropriated by' tbo others. There will bo plenty of pretty now musio , and C. B. Wurd , a ballad singer with n sympathetic voice , and George A. Smith , a basso profundo who has been under engage ment with Frederick Archer , ought to bo strong features. J. C. Stlno promises to bo a vary funny comedian , and James Powers , as a tramp ; , will be a bizarre character. This company is virtually hard at work from lO.ln tbo morning until late at ulht , and will not roach its first , ldrosa rehearsal until Wednesday. Oinatid's llrst-nlghtors may have n look ut tbo nd play Friday ovonlng. The company will nety visit Lincoln , Fre mont und Sioux Clby and then wont oast. At Dotrolt it will niooti "Tuxedo , " and George Thatcher will toke u'hljilil off to see ills now proporty. The tour is'bo ' arranged that in a number of the big ojis ern cities "Tuxedo" will play the tlrst three nichts of the week and "Cupid's Cbarldt1' ' the last throo. Duncan B.Hardi'o'iiHvno has droppad John L.Sulllvan nnd embarked In a moro ambitious style of ontnrtalnnjiAnl , is Another manager with u kindly feeling" for Omaha. Ho also brought u com pan /'from Now York direct to this city , und ttio players have been rehears ing twice a day ut'tbp ' Furnam Street thea ter , concluding ye.stUrday with two dross re hearsals. This altpnioon they wilt clvo tliolr Iln.t performance Qf "tittle Tlppott. " From Omaha tbo compauy'\vlll ' work its way out to San Francisco dmltbon go back to Now York for uu unllmltiic ? ruu. "Little Tippott" was written byAioxnndro Blsjoit , ono of tno most successful of Froucb dramatists. It bus bad a very successful career for two seasons in PurU , and the French version has coon adapted by Harry and Edward Paulton , to make it suitable for English Ideas ol propriety. The play is u farcical comedy nnd Is con cerned with complications produced in the households of Austin Tippott und Oliver Newton , law partner * . They have boon suc cessive husband * of an adventuress , from whom tboy are both recently divorced. She sends word to Nowtta that hu has become n father. Newton is married , and bis tocond wlfo does not know that ho was previously woddod. Ho alters tbo lottorx so as to make it appear that It u written to Tippott , wbo Is also remarried , but temporarily separated from his wlfo. The latlor , accompanied by her own child , whoso uirth U unknown to Tippolt. arrives upon the soono at this Junc ture. Very amusing complications follow. Tlppott think ) that the child is that of his FILLED WITHOUT PAIN. * At Last We Have ft. The Most Sensitive Tooth Filled , Without Pain , by a NEW PROCESS. No necessity now of losing nny iloonycd tooth , All can bo snvod by this wonderful | iroco < i of fllllncr which works lllco mnglc , is jilenstuit for the pntiont nnil siinplo nml Imrmlos't its wntor. Uy this PAINLESS PKDOKSS wo mount bountiful Po'-colain Krmmol Crowns on roots of front tooth , By this NEW PllOOKSS wo tittnuh pure jjold crowns on the bicuspid nnd mnlnrrooti limit imln. Hy this wonderful process wo rostoio by contour gold HUIiitf tlm original ahsxpo of a broltnn or do- cjiyod tooth. DO NOT Dl'LAV these importnnt organs. Hnvo ovary tooth preserved. THIN 1C A M1NUTK. The beauty of the mouth nnd fnco. The sweetness of the breath. The comfort in masticating food , nnd i our Health demands that you euro for your mouth nnd tooth. To those who have lost their natural tooth , Or pat t of them , wo call attention to onr method of making TKETII WITHOUT PLATF.S. Fixed and Re movable Bridge Work. Call and see the Morris Thin Elastic Dental Plato , as thin as napor , elastic1 as whalebone , totttrh as leather. With thin kind of a pinto wo citn successfully lit mouths that have failed to got a lit from any other method. Those plates tire pleasant to wear , fooling soft and agreeable to gums nnd tongue. Cost no more than other kinds. A FULL SET of Tooth on Hnrd Kubbor , PERFECT FIT GUARANTEED. Tooth extracted without pain by moans of our wonderful local atuuathotic. Nltro oxldo or laughing giTs a.ntl vital- i/.ud air Itopt constantly on hand , and administered without danger. Homombor name and location. DR. R. W. BAILEY , - - DENTIST , Office , Third Floor Paxton Block , 16tli and Parnani Streets. Entrance on Sixteenth street , Elevator or Stairway. Telephone 10S5. Cut this out for a guide. i VI divorced wife. To further mix up the skolns the child of Mrs. Tippott's nursa bccomoj confounded with Llttlo Tlppott and IB kid- imppod by Newton In tnlstako for the ono ho hollovos to bo las own. The bovvildormunt reaches its climax in the third act , but all ends happily , the letter of tbo adventuress having been proved a blackmailing affair. The cost h in ado up of such well known uctora na Messrs. I2dwurd M Doll , Charles Uowsor , Hnrry Allen , Harry Morgan , Henry J. Bradley and Charles Harris , Misses Mabel Bert and Marie Lowes and Mrs. Hnrry Blooduood. The two baoits are ac- comp'aniod by their mothers and were selected by ManaRor Harrison from an assortment of forty offered by a Now VTork dramatic agency. Bottle-bred Infants were de sired , and Mr. Harrison's ef forts nt solcction must have boon araustnp. Ho pissed up and down the line of fortv babes offering n bottle of milk , and these who did uot molso a grab for it were ruled out. In this connection a brief sketch of Bis- son , the author of "Litllo Tippott , " will have a timely interest. Horn in Paris In tbo year 13Til of extremely poor parents , his father a commiss'lonairo , or , as wo would call Ulm in this coun try , a mosseiiBor or porter , younf ? Blasoii had more kicks and culls than luxu ries , and up to the outbreak of the Franco- Prussian warlod the lifo of n ventablo street ginun. ; It was at the solpo of Paris , or rather nt its conclusion , that the turning point ot bis career presented itself. Purln ? the scigo ho in common with the youth of Paris had enrolled himself in ono of the many batalllons of.dofonso , and whllo In this service ho won the love nnd admiration of tils comrades and attracted the attention of his ofllcors by the exhibition of his qualities and tompormout. Ho was uittad witu mar velous powers of mimicry , quick lit repartee , with a iccon sense of humor , and of a satiri cal yet UlnUly disposition , buoyant and Jovial to a'doRroo and possessed of bravery and darlnc In tno oxtruuio. Among these who were attracted DV his personality was Colonel Garvauo. After tbo capitulation of Paris Colonel Gorvalso sent for Bissau and proffered him a term's tuition at the Acadamlo Corvlt , which Rcnorous oiler was protnply accepted. Dud UK his term at the aoadtimlo young ISIsson wrote a number of satirical songs , largely dwell ing on tho' Gorman occupation of Paris and the political phases of France. These songs bocatno Intensely pop ular and were sutip In every concert saloon and cafe chantant throughout Franco. Tliov served their purpose and made Blsson the subject of discussion and ttio hoio of the hour , and resulted in innumerable otters for hU appearnncu in public. To all of these proffers hu turned n deaf oar , but tlnally ac cepted tbrt post of satirical commentator on the slalt of L.O Potlt Journal , then and now the most popular newspaper in Paris. Shortly following this advent * and still aurinp the occupauoy of Paris by the Ger mans. Blsson wrote and prouucod his first farce entitled. "L3.DIablo Allflinand,1' or in KnulUli , "Tha German Devil. " Tnii play , watt produced at Los Vadotos and acorod an instantaneous BUCOOIS , but was nupproaiod by the French authorities after its llfth per formance on account of its keen satire ) on the Gormaus nnd the Intense feeling U engen dered. It resulted in no leas than sixteen challenges to duel * being annt to BUioii by various Gorman ofllcors , throe of wlncti hu fought. Ho was the victor In two , but In the third was severely woundoa ana Inou- | paclatod foru number of month1) ) . After conviloauliiR , Blisoa turned his on- Uro attention to the writing of plays , of which ho has written over ninety. The proportion ot successes achieved by his work * ha been truly marvelous. At no time have any of his plays been pronounced failures. Ills most successful plav is now itu Its third voarin Pun under the tltloof "Lei * Jolos do Ia Patornlto , " tbo Kopllah adapta tion of which is called "Little Tippott , " now in Its second year in London. The American rights bavo boon purchased by Harrison & Boll. Boll.Buson is better known in America br his "WilKlnson's Widows , " "Tbo Lottery of Lovo" and "Tho Nomlnoo. " Two years ngo ho was decorated by President Carnet with tbo cross of the Legion of Honor , as an ex emplification of the manner in whluh BIs- son's works are sought. It , is but necessary to state that all of his prospective plays for the next live years are purchased or con tracted for , and in many instances tbo con tract prlco already paid. Such is the case with the now play for Charles Frohman in whlctt John Drew will bo starred , and the now play for Duncan B. Harrison , which cannot bo delivered before 1801. This is n most cnviaolo record for a man scarcely US yours of ago. ( ! < ) S4ll | 01 till ) - > tllO. ! Genrglo Uayvun is doing Japan. A Mow York authority says farce variety companies are decreasing. Nnt Goodwin will open the season In Sep tember with "A Gilded Fool. " Manager Burgess returned Wednesday from a pleasure trip to New York. Daniel Frohman has oookcd the Kendalls for another farewell tour of America next year. Dixoy , xvho Is playing in "Mascot , " makes Lorenzo u gentlouiauly old fop Instead of a buffoon. Emma Ilanloy , formerly of "A Straight Tip , " will take the place of.tho late Kate Castlotoa in "Tbo Dazzler. " D'Albert Is putting the finishing touches to his opera. "Dor Hubln" ( "Tho Uuby" ) , the text of which bo wrote. David Blauuloy is iu Europe negotiating with tbo Koolner Mnounurchor for u lour of this country during tSo vVorld's fulr. And now it is given out that Fay Tornplo- tyu will bo in n traveling company to put "A Trip to Chinatown" on tbo roud. Mascagni is writing a hymn to bo sung early In August at Lowborn on the. occasion of ttio unveiling of thu atutuo of Victor Em manuel , Tbsro baa boon recently discovered in tlio library ol a St. . Polorsburg lady an auto graphic arrangement of Weber's ' " .Dor Frolschutz" ' DoWolf Hopper will resume with "Wnng" August lli. He will huvo a now elephant only four foot nigh that will introduce a now line of specialties , The American dramatist is catching on. Of thu now attractions heard In Now York lust soiuoti fifty-four were by native writers and thirty-six by foreigners. Duiing thu recent opera season at Vienna , lasting oioven months and ten dayn , no fewer than sixty operas by thirty-night composers , und fourteen ballets , were mounted. It is stated that nn enterprising English manager proposes to take into thu provinces a company which shall enact nothing bur. dramatizations of the works of Dickons. Payne Clark , tbo loadingtenorof Hlnrlch'a American Opera company of Philadelphia , has decided to remain in thli country the coining season uud slag Iu concerts uud era torios. Joseph Holland has a part In the now play , "Settled Oat of Court , " that covers li)5 ) typewritten page * . Ills suldto huvo moro Hues than any other role in tbo modern drama. "Llttlo Tlppott , " which opens IU season at the Farnam btroot theater tonight , was ro- tioarsed for two weeks at Ilormuun's theater in New Vork and Jumped direct from that city to tbia. Verdi , tbo great Italian composer , li ut present In Milan und has ulosud with ttio management for the first production of his latest opera , "Falstaff , " this coming sea son. son.A now Irtoa is to bo operated by Ethel Norton , nn English Actress , who has bought of Uudyard Kipling the exclusive right to sing bis poems as oallads in London musio halla. Tbo production of Sir Arthur Sullivan's "Ivnnhoo" at Berlin , which was first an nounced to talto place during the past winter - tor , is at present ilxed for the end of Sep tember. Ida Mullo. the tiny , plump actress whom wo used to know as Cupid In various bur lesques , has boon the wife of Benjamin Tut- hlli for several years , ana now In Chicago she is suing for a divorce from him. It fell to the unhappy lot of L.ouis James lately to play Uncle Tom , in "Uncle Totn's Cabin , " with the Minneapolis summer com pany of which ho is a member , Julio Ar thurs was the Eliza and George K. Edoson tbo Marks. , At the t'.iml concert of the season recently given by tha pupils of Mmo. Marches ! nt the S.illo-Er.mi , Paris , the successes were made by two Amorlciii girls-Miss Ulaiicho Tay lor of Now York and Miss Susanna Adams of Boston. Professional visitors to AdoIIna Pattl at her Welch place nro uncommonly numcrom this season , and that fact seems to bo ex plained by another ono that nho gives weekly entertainments at. her cnstlo , these 4 guests appearing therein us nionologoo per \ formers. "A Trip to Chinatown" is said to stand fifth nmnng the plavs having had long runs In Now York. It has reached 27S perform ances. "Adonis" hud fXJO. followed by "Hutnptv Duuipty , " "Hazel Klrko" nnd "Two Orphans. " Tennyson's "Tho Foresters" is to DO sent out for a long American Vjmir and under u riuw method of business mnnagoniout. An agent is to go ahead nnd try to sociiro suu > acrlptlous , falling In which no performance ) will bo given in the nlty thus declining to respond spend with n uuarantco of profit. Frank L. Porloy , press atrent for Barnum & Bailey , is in the city. Ho will ho advance agent for Mmo. Mndjcska next season , nnd announces a sumptuous revival of Hoiirr VIII. , which will visit Omaha nflor the holi days. Two carloads of scenery are now bolni : naintod/or this work , and the- strong est company over supporting this fitur Is being engaged , Tbo Carteton club , nn nmiUcur theatrical organization in Chicago , offer * n prl/u nf STiOO for the best three or four-act couiodv. 'tha merits of tha plays In compittltlon will liojuilu'oil by a committee , of which Mana ger MoVloker is chairman. The rirlzo plav will becomn the property of tha club , but will bo returned to the author to bo sold for the professional staa upon the rotnrn of thor $ r > nO. In nix years the Carleton has given jlftV'Ulno public performances , Miss Alice Evans , tbo sprlelillv llttlo souiirotto with "Cupid's Chariot , " tolls with great enjoyment thu story of her Ilrst chunco of n speaking part. Sbo mid bor hist or were working at Ubrig'H CAVO , St. Louis , vho In the uborui , but Agues , bor sUtor , had ono pretty llttlo HCCIIO In ttio piny , Ono day Agneu fell ill and wns unable to appear , und Alice wns to play her part. All day long she rohoamod tbo scene before her minor , telling herself thnt having once aeon bor in t. tbo part , the management vould not consent to Agnus returning to Iu In the evening she lav down undoryi tree at the cave , still . thinking bow ulio would play that wonder ful bit , itm wand that was to open to her the door to future und grantor speaking parts , any finally inaka ot her a star of the first magnitude and hotdreams ; of tuturo great ness merged Into real dreams--and when finally ho awoke , it was to learn that tno ncmioon which she had built her hopes was over. No ono would waken the bleeping child. Tbo uoxt night Agues returned to the purt.