12
TITE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 1904.
ABOUT PLAYS PLAYERS AND PLAYHOUSES
"Dolljr Varden" may come to Omaha
again this season; she will surely be wel
com often she caret to repeat the
visit, for In all the lint to whom Omtht
people have recently been Introduced there
la none that stands alongside her. She la
lone In evary respect. Moat welcome waa
he for the relief aha brought, a break In
train of productions that, no matter what
their Intrinsic merlin, were becoming Juat
trifle boreaome because of their monoto
nous resemblance. No one will claim that
Mr. Stance and Mr. Edwarda have achieved
masterpiece In thla pretty conceit of
thelrai It doean't evince at any point signs
of durability., but the avidity with which
It la followed by the public ahowa juat how
starved the popular taate la for something
of the eort. It may not b safe to asaume
that thla la ait Indication of the recession
of the wave that has awept "musical
comedy" to auch a high point
or pecuniary profit and managerial munlfl
- cence In the matter of equipment of com
panies In the way of costumes and scenery;
that Is hardly a Consummation to be
wished, for If the light and slry trifles that
have been decked In gowns of splendor and
magnificence do partake of the evanescent
nature of their prismatic arrangements of
color, they are still delightful for the mo
ment, and as such are enjoyed and In their
passing lesve no "strange desire and name
less ache." Each has had Its fitful mo
ment on the stage, and has given way to
Its successor, but, truth to tell, the proces
sion has come so swift, the eagerness
of the promoters to entertain and be
profited thereby, that It almost aeemed
If the golden egg producer might soon be
In "extremis; at any rate, public taate waa
becoming a bit Jnded, and the advent bf
something different, even though It be not
of the highest type, waa a relief. "Dolly
Varden" afforded this relief, and the
crowds that attended the Boyd during Its
production showed more than anything
else the attitude of the publlo on the ques
tion. More than fourteen years have gone since
. ' DeKoven and Smith gave "Robin Hood" to
the world, with Its wealth of lyrics, Its
happy, choruses and rollicking marchss.
During these Intervening years no similar
piece haa been composed. "Princess Chic,"
whoae music la by Julian Edwards, as la
that of "Dolly Varden," Is the nearest ap
proach. Twenty-five years sgo Gilbert and
. Sullivan gave us "Pinafore," and followed
If with .t., (.. i.... . t ..
--.-. live, i iibivi ut jrenaarice,
"Iolanthe," and then capped their efforts
with "The Mikado." It isn't likely that
. the race of librettists died with Gilbert, for
we have men who can conceive and de
liver skits as delicious as anything the
great English humorist ever did, and while
Sir Arthur Sullivan's music won him the
honors of knighthood, and to a certain de
gree stands alone, It Is not heresy to say
that there are others. But the combina
tion, unhappily, has not been made. The
composer and librettist are still wander
ing In, paths apart. Nothing among the
more recent output can be compared to
the forgotten works of Gilbert and Sulli
van, unless It be George Ada's "Sultan of
Bulu," and both Mr. Ada and Mr. Alfred
Walthall, who furnished the music, are
unfortunate In having seised on a theme
that Is already forgotten In tha rush of
events. The delicate satire of the piece Is
worthy a place alongside that of "Pina
fore" or "Patience,1 but Its embodiment
has not the lasting qualtlea of either.; Peo
ple will be singing of "The Magnet and the
Churn," . of "Little Buttercup," of Archi
bald Groavenor, of Sir Joseph Porter, and
all the host of others long after Kt-Ram and
his troubles have' faded Into historical ob
scurity. In point of real merit. , "The
Mikado" probably overtops them all, but
"Robin Hood" must have a place very near to
the top. Freed from the unpleasant charges
of plagiarism, the American composition Is
worthy of a seat on the front bench. And
II the rest are of the Ephemerae.
It Isn't a particularly Inspiring reflection
that a quarter of a century of effort of the
great English-speaking race has brought
fonh but two compositions that are likely
to be referred to by posterity, but s cur
sory glance over the record does not r
ve4 more than these. In other directions
the age Is building for the future, but
neither musical nor dramatic composition
asms to have other than the Immediate
present In view, and that present appears
to present but the one faot entertainment
for the moment and of a most frivolous
sort. It may be that the onward sweep
of the raoe In a material way has carried
the devotees of the muses oft their feet,
nd that In their efforts to keep up with
the procession they have lost the poise nec
essary to sincere effort. Profundity Is not
asked, nor Is It expected. But If one wants
to know how another "Mikado" or "Robin
Hood" woujd be received, let him note
the aeclalfff'wtth whluh even a "Dolly Var
den" Is hujjed, commute the gap that di
vides them In merit, and try If possible to
stretch his Imagination across the space.
This is not written In despair; It Is Simply
anticipatory.
- Right In Una with thla Is the following
from the pen of Mr. Leander Richardson
of New Tork:
It Is a fact signifying a sudden snd
sweeping change In the tastes of the metro
poiltan publlo that the advance aale of
eeata for the current engagement of Ada
Kenan and Otis Skinner at the Iyrlc thea
ter in brief aeaeon of classic plays, was
quite the largest of the year alung Broad
way. On the day the box office waa opened
no less than 12 600 floated Into the cash
drawer snd there was an unbrc.n line of
applicants at the window from o'clock
In tfca morning until darkness set In at
iilshi Thla and other Incident of the
pLfa erye to show that the great maa
of people have been overdosed with Incon
sequential musical farces having no sertous
nta of purpose and little value in book
or score.' It la hot meant by thla declara
tion that if a really meritorious piece aet
to a clever composition and presented in a
rralaeworthy manner were to come along,
tie publlo would fall to endorse it. But
we've had too much muaio of the tinkle,
tinkle order, too many llhrettoa culled from
the Joe Miller joke book, too many slap
stick comedians, too many prima donnas
who can't alng and too much meretricious
boosting and "plugging" of shows not
worth a moments consideration, and thea
ter patrons hava finally revolted. The best
evidence of this condition la that 'fine
Girl from Kay's" la at thla writing the
only musical piece on Hroadway that haa
bean there for any length of tlina, the
others having succumbed in rapid sucoes-
Wire
Mother's Friend, bv its renetratincr and srvitrti nor nrnTjrtiAo
. j t
allays nausea, nervousness, and
so prepares tne system tor tne
ordeal that she passes through
the event safely and with but
little suffering, as numbers
have testified and said, "it is
worth its weight in gold." $1.00 pe
bottle of druggists. Book containing
valuable information mailed
TU ClALfiOD CLCilAIOB CO AtUaU. C
slon to the stony Inattention of the buyers
ui vuvBiCT iicsais.
To John Drew, Est., Actor and Gentle
man, Greeting: We of the wild and woolly
west know you can act, and that your
claim to your high standing In your chosen
profession does not rest on favor, but on
real and proven merit. We have In times
past greatly enjoyed your coming, both In
anticipation and realisation, for we knew
that you would bring us the best and
freshest the world of art In which you
live could afford In your particular line.
It would be tedious redundancy to recount
the many, many occasions you have af
loruea us ror genuine rejoicing at your
presence amongst Ms, and by your clever
simulation of the emotions that move a
many man to action or withhold him under
atreaa. Tou have many a time and oft
given us an example from the stage which
we could with much profit follow In our
dally walks, and none of us who have
moved with you through the brief life of
me pan you nave played has ever re
gretted the time nor suffered from the ex
perience. Tou, sir, within your provlnse.
nave been "philosopher, guide and friend
From you we have learned many things
of value that we could not acquire on our
own and native heath, circumscribed as we
are by those natural difficulties Incident to
existence In a region remote from that at
mospnere or refinement and culture to
which all gentle souls aspire, and sur
rounded by all the external evidences of
crude and elemental emotions. In this
and In many other ways have you ren
dered us a genuine service. In return we
nave poured out to you our dollar without
sunt, that you might enjoy In reality the
comrorta and luxuries of your mlmlo life.
nor have we at any time begrudged you
your reward; it has been a fair exchange
ana witnout regret on our Dart. Havlnr
been thua open with you In saying what
we noneetly feel toward you, candor moves
us to a further exposition of our attitude.
and we may be pardoned if our expression
should now take on something of the rude
ness of the conditions under which we
have our existence. It Is more in sorrow
than In anger that this Is set down for
your perusal, sir, but In order that we
may cieariy understand eaoh other. It Is
simple justice to you that you be Informed
that your last appearance In Omaha. .tt
us in mucn the same condition as that
In
wrucn you apparently purposely portrayed
the character thsf f.n ...... ... .
Tou may not care the proverbial tinker's
uara ior our affections; we can stand that.
II right, all right, but you do need our
aoiiars in your business, and If It ever
happens that you find your way back to
Omaha, please give us a Kit Sinks who
uoesn w i appear as if he had walked home
from South Africa to Colchester. Barracks
before the play opens. That will be about
41 ior mis time.
Coming? Eveata. .
A .. ..
"pecia,! mannee this afternoon at
ins coya "Eight Bells" will be rn...,i
The Byrnes have given their revival of this
popular melange of music, comedy and
acrobatlce a thoroughly new dress and It
is up-io-aate in every regard.
At the Boyd this evening the Royal LUI!
.ui..n. win open a short engagement In
uuiuvers Travels," a musical extrava
ganaa. It Is said to be brimful of fun of
me sort made by th little people, who are
weu remem De red In Omaha. Frang Ebert,
lunmesi nine man alive, heads the
cast, ana is supported by Selma Goerm.r
James E. Bosen, Queen Mab, Louise Mer
kel, Herbert BJce, Martha Wels, Elsie Lau
and At Rice. Back of these Is a chorus of
twenty pretty girls, ordinary mortals who
have been speolally trained for their work
in support or the diminutive comedians
Costumes, scenery and atage effects are of
ine Kind required by modern first-class pro
ductions. The engagement Is for Sunday
uu jnonaay nignts only,
' . . , . . . .
Tuesday night and Wednesday matinee
vrcuiua au ijynne will be pre-
semea at ine Boyd by a company headed
uy maa ines Gorman. John Dillon, the
veteran comedian, is a member of the com
pany. On Friday night at the Boyd. Howard
Kyle and a company that haa been
ciany ...ected to7b'. uppon win "pr
Rosemary" for a single performance. Mr.
Ayie is said to give a most satisfying
presentation or the part of Sir Jasper
inornayge in this pretty little romantic
comedy. His support Is also spoken of as
good.
On Baturday matinee and night the ever
green Hoyt farce. "A Trip to Chinatown,"
w... u. mi in uoya. -mis piece Is
standard In Its line and has always been
popular ln Omaha.
a meioarama to be aeert at the Krus tha I
first half of tha week, bealnnln. with ,h
matinee today, Is "A Montana Outlaw." a
Play dealing with life ln the west. Her
bert Hall WInslow and Fred 8. O.bba are
the authors of this play. Its story deals
with the efforts of unscrupulous men to
acquire the fine ranching property of Wes
ley ,urana., The ranchman Is made to
appear the murderer of one Jude Stacy
and Is forced to flee for his Ufa. "Jack tbe
Buster" succeeds In saving La Grand, and
at the same time wins the love of the
ranchman's daughter, Irene. The play Is
under the direction of Warner A Altman.
Five trained bronchos are carried for uss
In different scenes during tbe nlav. A
stagecoach that has seen actual service is
used In the hold-up scene. A oarload of
stage settings and effects la carried.
'York State Folks" comes to the Krug
next Thursday. Friday and Saturday, with
the great original caat complete. Including
James Lackaye, Ray L. Royce, Arthur
Gregory. Harry Jackson, Eleanor Sldman,
Kate Jackson, the three clever children
and all the others. The same elaborate
scenic production used in the Boston run
will be shown here. Including the famoua
"Maple Lane" scene, the grest shop scene,
nd the unique dream scene of the finals.
In which a vested boy choir appears.
tieaamg tns vaudeville bill that opens
for a week at the Orpheum with a matinee
today -comes the Eight Vassar Girls, young
oraeai mrouga wnicn the ex
pectant mother must pass usually is
so full of suffering, dinger and fear
that she looks forward to the critical
hour with apprehension and dread.
p v UW,
all unpleasant feelings, ana
" Men
tree.
mnu attractive women witn pretty or
tumea and special scenery to add to the
worth of their act. Each of them la' ac
complished on several Instruments, which
include baasoon, oboe, saxophone, trom
bone and clarinet. A trombone octette an
a saxophone sextette are among the rarely
neara musical combinations they present.
Singing and dancing are also parts of their
work, an electrical ballet with a special
setting la described as being one of the
moat effective of their "stunts." RapoU,
European juggler, whose balancing of
heavy wagon wheel, billiard cues and Jug.
giing of seven balls at one time and
varied lot of other feats will be easily re
railed by those who raw him at hla las
visit, win be another of the prominent
numbers. Christina's monkeys In different
kinds of tricks of cunning will be a num
ber calculated to delight the children as
well as entertain the older ones. Comedy
and acrobatlce will be the offering of Mor-
ria and Bowen. Harry Thomson, styled
"Mayor of the Bowery." will contribute to
the fun-making with stories, parodies and
unique makeup. Greene and Werner are I
pair of coon singers who will be remem
bered In their Jungle setting and the native
dress. Alice Lyndon Doll, the juvenile
prima donna, will be among the new com
ers, while the klnodrome pictures will lllus
trate different scenes of Interest and show
general view of a modern bee farm.
Mme. Lillian Blauvelt, America's famous
singer, will give a song recital Monday
evening, February 1, at the Kountse Me
morial church. This no doubt will be the
musical event of the season. Blauvelt
has not been heard In Omaha since 1S9S.
The sale of seats opens Wednesday morn
ing at o clock at the music house of
Schmoller & Mueller, 131J Farnam street.
Mrs. Martha Glelow of Alabama, who
comes to the Boyd on Monday at 2:30
o'clock Is a woman who has made an en
viable reputation for herself, both as a
writer and a story teller throughout Eng
land and in the eastern and southern por
tions of the United States. While In
London Mrs. Glelow received en ovation
when she recited at the king's coronation
dinner for the blind. She was an honored
guest at a luncheon given by the Society
of American Women; was asked to recite
at the women's writers' dinner before 200
of the most celebrated woman writers of
ths world, and spoke twice before the
International Congress of Women, besides
which she gave entertainments under the
patronage of H. R. H., the Princess Chris
tian, Mrs. Choate, Mrs. Chamberlain. Lady
Hehry Somerset and others equally well
knowti. Mrs. Glelow's voice and accent has
that subtle charm peculiar to the gentle
woman of our southland and both home
JTl P7" noUce" "rM that ln tne
special field of story telling of old planta
tion days and In crooning those old lulla-
bys, Mrs. Glelow has no equal. Tickets will
be sold to school children 9t Boyd's theater
after 1 o'clock Monday at half price for any
seat vacant In the house.
Gossip From atagreland.
E. H. Bothern baa hurt In
cancel some
severe sore
of his dates because of a
throat.
Henry Irving went ska tin
lurprised the natives hv .
ig at Buffalo and
doing a number
of fancy stunts on runners.
Dear old Mrs Whiff.n whn h., .A
friends ln Omaha. Is'verv low with nni.il.
monia at Los Angeles, Cal.
Sara' Bernhardt la to publish her memoirs
some time during the coming autumn.
She Can make a mlshtv interesting hnnlr
and not tell all ehe knows, either.
Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman," has
celebrated lta 100th performance at the
Princess theater. New York, and public
Interest In It Is not entirely diminished.
Nat Wills auelled a riot at tha nramt In
Kansas City by his vole. This in a new
role for Nat, for he usually starts some-
ming wnen ne bellows ln an opera house.
Mrs. Leslie Carter ln "Dn T4urrv" h.j a
$13,800 week In Cincinnati recently enor
mous business for that city or any other
st the present time. Mrs. Carter's tour
will not be concluded until next June,
Mary Mannerlm la aolnar to mult. ntnii
dash for the coast with "'Harriett's Honey-.
moon, which is now doing a very nice
business on Broadway. She will s-iva
Omaha a chance to see It tn the way.
Ethel Barrymore la ona of tha stars nf
the eeaaon who will show an .enormous
profit at the end of her tour. With a auo-
porting company of only five persona she
ar"wln" great crowds wherever she goes.
mr. jonn ae rienviua Moore, press agent
&nu Dusiness manager ior tne tsoya theater,
i recovering slowly from a very severe
aitacK oi pneumonia,
HlA nhvaintnn nrnm
Isea that on hla return to hla dutlea Mr.
Moore Will have a voles Ilka an nnm
Binge..
D. W. Haynes manaa-ed to snatch a llttla
time away from his manarerlal concerna
fenyh,
I rlends, of whom he has a host
juoiiy varden"
er witn old
her fafh
being glad that "Doc" has fallen Into such
a pleasant way of life.
with all the requirements of the old bulirt-
nlv
:he lioid reatrln-
tlons that have been placed on playhouses
or me new city law- out of It all comes
the (promise
of much rebuilding ln the
Windy
ly City during the next few months,
The nronlclvn Tl,
i Rapid Transit company Is
regally equipped palace cars
tha New York entrance to
punning torty re
to pty Between the New York entrance to
the Brooklyn brldae and Luna nark Pnn..
Island. This task Is undertaken ln anticipa
tion of tha laraa numher nf httnr .1...
excursionists wno, aa aemonatrated last sea.
w!'i.D? ,,rct,w ,0 .tn Prk when Its
sates are thrown onen lata in tha month
of May.
Leander Richardson writes of tha 1st.
of sword playa in New York In thla strain!
"'By right of Sword.' at the
theater, with RalDh Stuart aa tha foramnut
figure of the cast, Is a turbulent melodrama
proaucuve oi venement expressions of
approbation ln the upper sections of the
house. There's enough gore in It to make
an abbatolr look by comparison like a
creamery, and enough thunder to reduce
a Rocky mountain electrical atorm in a
debate In a deaf mute lyceum."
Lewis Morrtasnn la an annarentlir nn-
flrmed vlotlm of the "last appearance"
habit. He is justified in a measure by ad
vancing yeara, and yet we would like
him better If he did not come to ua vesr
after year, assuring us that he would never
ne wun us spam. Mr. Morrtsson will be
welcome in Omaha aa often aa he hares
to come and play his devil part In "Fauat,"
and he will be ainoerely regretted when the
ume la arnvea mat ne can no longer ap
pear on the ataa-e. But we dn h na ha
will drop hla prima donna promise.
Oond for Mrs. Gilbert! She aava siha
won't retire from the atau-a until Ina
Jefferson does, and we wouldn't, If we were
In her place, either. It has long been said
thst stage women wear out oefore the
men: that whereas tha women iret tat u r,A
wheesy at JO, the men are spry and chipper
ai s. Mra. uunert mtenda to Rive em
phatic denial to thla piece of fiction. She
Is now S3 years old not only 82, aa some
mallcinua onea have said and hasn't yet
even atarted her farewell tours. To .para
phrase aome familiar lines:
God bleaa you. Mra. Gilbert, may you lTVe
a tnousana yeara.
To sort of keen things lively In this human
vale of tears;
And may I live a thousand, too a thou
sand leaa a da v.
For I shouldn't like to be around when tou
have passed away.
SCANT RESPECT FOR THE KING
Hew Raler of Bervla Has a Hnaall-
latlaar Experience Wkta
They Attend Ball.
(Copyright. by Preaa Publishing Co.)
BELGRADE. Servla, Jan. a (New York
World Cablegram Special Telegram.)
King Peter's subjects are not Inclined to
show him that respect which Is due a
sovereign. The other day he went with
hut daughter, Prlnceea Helena, to charity
ball In Kolarats hall, which was attended
only by junior subaltern offlcera. The royal
vialtors were not received by the managers
of ths ball and the king was a pathetlo
figure as he stood alone, apart and unno
ticed. No refreshments were offered to the
king nor to the princess. Driven by hun
ger they took lunch In the smoky beer sa
loon of the hall. All the hot food had been
eaten and the king and the princess had
to be content with cold ham and mouldy
cheeee, which they ate at a beer stained
tablet without evea labia cloth.
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS
Are we to have a May Festival this yearT
This question has been asked repeatedly
of late and there seems to be a sphinx-like
silence for answer.
The fsct that those who put their shoul
ders to the wheel last year and worked
strenuously through the entire season, do
not feel equal to the strain this year also.
should not deter others from taking a lead
in tne matter.
There is ample time yet In which to or
ganise and carry to a successful Issue
may iestivai which will be a credit to
Omaha, and will stir up musical enthusi
asm once more.
unaer an enthusiast lo mnnaarement.
which would undertake to see that the ad
vertising was attended to and that the
sale of tickets was pushed. Omaha eou!B
De once more In the musical papers, and
while I know well that many men consider
such a thing a species of useless advertis
ing, they may find later that such Is not
tne case.
Any movement toward putting Omaha
upon a plane with other cities In ths line
or culture, refinement and education will
oenent and not retard the city's progress.
iuo existence or an art atmosphere Is
-uuicimiia; wnicn many, many wise mm
heresbouts simply laugh at, and commerce,
in any ana every form, Is the only thing
to do tnought of.
Omaha Is not developing along the lines
of education and culture, which are the
marks of any really successful city. The
things that endure are being slighted, and
rt is receiving but little encouragement.
Ana yet. Art is greater than man's opin
ion and will live though neglected.
It Is not asking much to ask that once a
year Omaha should have a musical festival.
Omaha has been sadly declining. It used
to have an Apollo club which WAS wall
upported by the citizens, and which gave
several concerts yearly, concerts which
were ofttimes a delight and always Inter
esting. These concerts were a vehicle for
Introducing to 'us many singers and Dlav-
ers to hear whom was an inspiration.
Why cannot Omaha do so now?
Where are the men or their successors
who assumed the business end of tha old
Apollo club?
Are there no gentlemen ln Omaha who
could attack the subject and put Mother
A pono club into motion? 'v
The musical forces are stronger than
ever, as anyone can see by going to sev
eral churches and hearing the choral muplo
mat is being given Sunday after Sunday.
comparing It with the choral resources ln
the churches at the time of the demise of
tne Apollo club.
The trouble seems to be ln the bustnesa
side.
When a few business men who reallzejhe
advisability of fostering musio and art ai
well as other more "practical" things so
called, can get together In the right and
true spirit and promote the cause of good
music .(not necessarily band concerts)
umana win again be in line with other
citirs or Its size.
But that is general.
The present point Is a May festival.
Becauss there Is no regular May Festl
vai cnoir. organized this year, as there
was last year, is no good and sufficient
reason why a festival could not be given
j in a. uown town meater, with a
nig orchestra and soloists of well known
standing.
The larger orchestras are on tour about
that time and the chorl work Is not a
necessity.
Lot us have something.
I have no doubt that a chorus of a hun
dred voices could very easily be organized
ior tne production of some short works,
or even or miscellaneous choruses. The
conductor of last year Is out of the way,
having , absolutely declined the kind In
vitation of last year's choir to continue in
the work, so that others need not feel that
they are entering a field In which there Is
already an organization. As stated nlalnlv
at tne time, the last year organization was
brought together "for one year only," and
the neld Is now empty and open to all
comer.
I see good available material, each with
a choral nucleus at command, for the con
duotorshlp. Mr. Blmms of All Saints'
church would be able to organize and
conduct a choral festival In fine shape.
Mr. Keck of Kountse Memorial church
could do the same, and Mr. Ben Stanley of
the First Methodist could do the same. '
But .these men caanot do the musical and
financial side both.
Is there any possibility of action on the
part of the "Tuesday Morning Musicals"
people, ln conjunction with the managers
of the "Lenten MuBlcalea."
I understand that the Lenten mualcalee
have been abandoned, and It seems to me
that here would be a glorious opportunity
on the part of the fair women of Omaha
to got together 1n a most worthy project.
They could not fall.
I wish most heartily thst they would at
least consider this.
Mr. Robert Cuscaden will give his first
concert of this season at the First Con
gregational church on Tuesday evening of
this week. Mr. Cuscaden will play the
"Introduction" "Adagio Cantablle" and
"Dance In Scherso form" of the Scotch
fantasia of Max Bruch, and also two move
ments of the D-mlnor concerto of Wlen
lawakl; "Romance" of d'Ambroslo, and
"Perpetual Motion" by Novacek.
Mrs. Ben Stanley, who will assist, will
sing an aria from Ambroise Thomas' "Mlg
non" and a "Lullaby" by her husband.
The "Quintette club," a new organiza
tion, will play "Dream Music" from
"Hansel and Gretel," by Humperdlnck.
This little ,array of talent consists of
Madame Muenteferlng. pianist; Mr. Cusca
den, first violinist! Miss Cleve, second;
Miss Shadduck. violinist, and Mr. Frans,
cellist.
The fact that Omaha musical people are
hungry for some good singing Is being evi
denced by the unusual amount of inter
est which Is being taken in the Lillian
Blauvelt aong recital, which will take place
on Monday evening, February 1.
Mme. Blauvelt la meeting with great suc
cess and her program will be of especial
tntereat, becaase it contains some thinga
which are new to Omaha audiences, and
some of which are fairly well known, but
which will bear many rehearlnga. It will
appear In this column next Sunday.
On tha following Monday, February .
we will hava the pleasure of listening to
the Bohemian pianist, Ottokar Malek, In
fins program, of whleh I have just received
a copy. THOMAS J. KELLY,
WILL FIGHT TYPHOID FEVER
Illlaets Teww "Takes Str'oac Measares
to gtaaa Ont Epldeaale ef
Disease.
PEORIA, 111., Jan. U -At a special meet
ing of the Canton board of health stringent
regulations hsve been adopted to stamp
out tha epldamlo on typhoid fever, which
has rsged for several weeks. Surface wells
have been ordered closed, publlo funerals
and openjng of caskets prohibited where
Jeaths result from typhoid, and Instruc
tions of Bute oard of Health ordered pub
lished. Medical examiners and fumigatora
have bee employed to assist the beard of
fceaJUk - . . - . .
E3 fc
4 Omaha Proof 1
E. M. Schnellbacker of the Omaha Truck company, 607 South Tenth
atreet says: "When young man I strslned my back lifting, and ever
since any extra work, too much stooping or a cold settling In ths loins
sffectsd the kidneys and brought on backache. An advertisement
about Doan's Kidney Pills led me to procure a box at Kuhn A Co 'a
drug store, corner Fifteenth and Douglas streets. Tha treatment cured
me."
mmwmtmmmwmmmmmmmtmmmS
AMI SK,MKNTS.
NIGHTS
15 c, 25c
50c, 75c,
Tnr.fi V MATINEE AT 2:30
lUUttlii EVENING AT 8:15
Also Monday and Tuesday Nights
And Wednesday Matinee and Night
WARNER & ALTMAN'S
Massive Production of
The Most Sensational Successful Western
Drama Ever Produced.
HEADED BY
Tins STERLING YOUNQ ACTOR
Mr. HOMER R. BARTON,
SUPPORTED BY
A COMPANY OF SELECTED PLAYERS.
CpP The O.reat Stage Conch Hold-Up. -PicturesQua
Kootennai Vallov
WAS POET BURNS A CHRISTIAN?
Religloas Convictions of the Scottish
Bard Indicated by His
Writings. v
NORTH PLATTE, Neb.. Jan. 20. To the
Editor of The Bee:. Every year, on the
25th of January. Scotchmen all over the
world meet for social Intercourse and to
celebrate the natal day of their Illustrious
countryman, the immortal poet. Burns.
Good cheer, song, story, toast and senti
ment characterise these gatherings to such
a degree that the date might be fitly chron
icled aa that of a Scottish festival.
Every scrap of the poet's writing and
every memory of him obtainable, have been
carefully collected, treasured and extolled.
Of writing articles on the ploughman poet
there Is no end, and it Is doubtful If highly
gifted author with special-(justifications for
the task could say anything new about
any feature of the great poet's character.
His religious convictions, however, have
been, tenderly alluded to by his many
biographers and admirers In fact, wilfully
disregarded or overlooked. With a view to
olearing up this somewhat obscure part
of the character of Scotland's bard, I take
pen Jn hand; but nothing is farther from
my Intention than ruffling the feelings or
giving offense to his orthodox admirers.
Robert Burns- was either a Christian or
he was not; and no good can come of dodg
ing or blinking the inquiry.- It Is clear,
Burns at on' time held atheistical views.
In a communication to Dr. Moor he states
that he was once an atheist, and that
after "giving up atheism" he was skeptlcsl
In most things. This statement affords am
ple evidence that he had drifted away from
the crumbling creeds of Christianity and
further proof Is had In ths fact that he
was passionately fond of Voltaire, and
found Hume's essays a perpetual fount of
Vhllosophical wisdom. Intimate acquaint
ance with the poetry and pross of Burns
has convinced me be was a deist, with a
creed similar to that of Thomas Paine,
whoae "Age of Reason" he owned and ad
mired. My pious Scotch friends will look upon
this comparison aa decidedly odloua, but I
maintain that such an opinion can only
be due to the want of a thorough knowl
edge of Burna literature.
It Is alleged by the Rev. Dr. Peebles that
"the reputed heretical and heterodox were
the favorites of Burns" and tha poet de
clares himself In one of his letters to Dr.
Moore: "That, polemical divinity about
this time (his early days) waa aettlng the
country half mad, and I used to attack
Calvinism with so much heat and In
discretion that I raised a hue and cry of
heresy against me which has not ceased
to this hour." Through ths seal of a
friend. Bums went to Edinburgh, where
It was whispered very loudly, "This won
derful plowman la an Infidel." Ir one of
bis numerous letters he speaks of stories
about "divlls, witches, ghosts, etc.." as
Idls talea" and asserts that nobody could
be mors skeptical than himself about such.
Surely this is a denial of paaaagea In the
Bible which teach that wltchea, demons
and apparitions are realities. Burns seems
to have had no fixed opinion on ths ques
tion of a future Ufa and while I am free
to admit that there are many passages In
his works In favor of a post mortem ex
istence, I maintain that these by no meana
ttle the question of the poet's belief ln
future state. The following passage may
be cited aa proving bla skeptlcian regard
ing another world. In a letter to Mrs.
Dunlop, he says: "Ye venerable sages
and holy flamena, Is there probability la
Genuine A A Carload
Bronchos 4 of Scenery
HTM
A Danger Spot
In the small of the back, just above the hips, is the
danger spot a dangerous spot for pain and most aches
of the back start there. There Is a reason for this, and
it lies in the kidneys, which are located near the small of
the back. Such pains should bs called kidney pains
backache should be called kldnev aeh. Tk- (.i
why Doan s Kidney Pills cure backache quickly is that
they reach the cause the kidneys. Neglect the earlier SatT
symptoms of kidney ills and serious compHcatidns follow g
urinary disorders, rheumatic pains, diabetes, dropsy,
bright's diseases.
A TRIAL FREE r
To Omaha Be Readers.
AMISEMEXTS.
fl "Fr
MATINEES
Beat Seats
25 Cents
3 Z Thurs. Jan, 28
rirst Time at Popular Prices.
FRED E, WRIGHT'S
Elaborate and Picturesque
Rural Production
Presented by the Great Original Cast '
Ray U Royee, JaS. Lackaye.
Harry Croaby, Eleanor IMaiaa, -Kate
Jackaon. auad BO Othera,
SEATS NOW ON SALE.
We teach people how td Bowl
a AT '
Gate City Bowling Alleys
c, u. BKlDcRBEtKER, Prspr.
Tel. 2J76 1312 Farnam St
WESTERN BOWLING
ALLEYS
Everything new and Up-to-date.
Special attention to private parties.
TEL. L262. J510 HOWARD STREET.
Table d'Hote Dinner Today
AT THE
Calumet Coffee House
1411-U Douglas St. TOLF HANSEN. Prop.
your aonjectures, ' truth ln your stories
of another world beyond death; or are
they all alike, jjaae visions and fabricated
fables? If there is another life. It must
only be for the Just, the benevolent, the
amiable, and the humane. What a flat
tering Idea, then, Is the world to cornel
Would to God I firmly believed It, aa I
ardently wish it." -
Burns expresses ths same doubt about a
future life ln his beautiful epitaph on his
friend, William Muir:
If there's another life, he lives In bliss;
If there Is none, he made the best of this.
It fc doubtful if the poet ever entertained
such a primitive idea of the origin of evil
as that Involved ln the doctrine of a per
sonal devil. The Christian devil Is cer
tainly a sneaking. Insidious, contemptible
vagabond; every way Inferior to the noble
conception of Milton, so much admired by
the poet. In a letter to William Nlcol,
head master of the high school of Edin
burgh, he says: "I have bought a pocket
Milton, which I carry perpetually about
with me. In order to study the scntimente.
the dauntless magnanimity, the intrenld.
unyieMIng Independence, the desperate dar
ing and noble defiance of hardship in that
grest personsge, Satan."
The Calvlnlstlo Idea of hell and a per
sonal devil, la well defined In his "Address
to the Dell." In that poem, also, he has
cleverly embodied numerous superstitions
regarding that personage, that are to this
day firmly believed In many rural districts
of Scotland.
The feer o' hell 's a hangman's whip
To keep the wretch In order.
Or, In other words, to deter people from
doing wrong, but that he believed ln the
place of torment Is doubtful.
I hall from the district where Burna anent
Vita VAll.l. mwtA mant.nn4 m A .... . I
with every place made claaslc by his resi
dence and muse, and am firmly convinced
that were he alive today he would be found
ln the ranka of socialism and secularism.
He accepted utilitarianism. Here are his
own words:
'Whatever mitigates woes, or Increases
the happiness of others, this Is my criterion
of goodness; and whatever Injures society
at large, or eny Individual In It, this Is my
messure of Iniquity."
This Is so much skin to the sentiments of
Thomss Paine thst all honor must be given
to hla greatness of heart and mind.
WCTnAl.n R. ADAMSON.
Wabash Rallread.
Coinmenciug Sunday, January 24th,
St.
will
Louis Fast Mall, via tbe Wabash,
leave Omaha Union statlea W p. m.
mm
mm '
'"--ssssaeasssasssas-sssasesaaaaaaaasasaaasaa.
'Doan's
TtiMM f mmn
MASK.
s. 0
rfw Wtl kM, Mfl tkl. Mm .
PattaMKIbani Oo., Buffalo, K Y Iftb
m iMtOotMi vim aits, An
rmt dtp,
AMlfiEMKJiT.t.
BOYD'S
Woodward
& Burgess,
Managers.
ThU afternoon EIQHT BELLS
MATINEE, JSc.
Tonight and Monday Night
The RoyaJ
LillipuiiaLivs
Tatstny wnd Wednday flat, and Night
"Eai.st Lynne"
MATINEE, 260.
Friday Night Only
Howard Kyle
In a Revival of Loula Parker's
. . Romantic Comedy
II
J
for Remembrance.)
Greatest Success In the history
of tha Empire Theater, New York
uty.
Week Commencing
Sun Mat, Jan 24
Today 2: J 5. Tonight 8: J 5
Modern
Vaudeville
Eight Vassar Girls.
Big Novelty In Instrumental and Vocai
Muaio and Terpatchore.
Rapoli
Europe's Foremost Juggler.
Christina's Monkeys .
An Animal Parody.
Morris & BoVen
Comedy Gymnasts.
Harry Thompson
Mayor of the Bowery.
Greene & Werner
Coon Singers.
Alice Lyndon Doll
Juvenile Prima Donna.
Kinodrome
New Moving Scenes.
PRICES lOo, 26o and (Oo.
BOYD'S THEATRE.
flonday Afternoon' January 2S
Martha L. Glelow
PLANTATION FOLK LORE
ENTERTAINMENT.
Under ths Auspteea of the
Woman's Club
General admission with reserved seat, 60c
boxea, 75c. Tickets ou aale at Mewl 4
Dillon, Harden Bros.' Must a Dept., A.
Hoepe, Sherman A McConnell, H. J. pen
fold. 5
M
A
S
Trie SCIENCE AND ART
1 ; op siisaiNa -.-
Special Breathing
J.
K
E
STUDIO-DAVIDGE BLK..
I SO J FARNAM STREET
KOUNTZE MEMORIAL CHURCH
Meaday Bveetag, February 1.
MME. LIIJLIAN
BLAUVELT
Prloas I5c and $1 00.
Pale of seats at Schmoller A Muellnr'a.
lilt Farnam, beginning Wednesday at
e clock a. at.
4.
I
(That's
t