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THE OMAHA ILLUSTRATED BEE.'
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Our Biggest Circulating Library Handles Text Books Exclusively
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CUSTODIAN GRIMES AT IHS WORK IX STOREROOM.
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I I troduced In the Omaha public
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ngo, has been found a success,
and has never been abandoned. It
was put In practice pursuant to a state law
giving school districts the option of fur
nishing school books and supplies down to
the last slate pencil and bit of crayon If the
Board of Education so elects. The cost to
the school district of Omaha now amounts
to about )15,000 annually, or about 12 cents
per capita, estimating on a population of
128,000. Very few complaints and no serious
objections have been 'made to ths system
and nothing Is ever heard of changing It.
School officers say that it enables not less
than 10 per cent of the 1,250 students attend
ing the high school to do so. High school
textbooks are much more expensive than
those used In the grades and were It not
for the fact that the volumes are had for
the asking and proper care many a boy or
girl would have difficulty or could not ob
tain the books.
Contents of the Library.
The total number of textbooks In the
thirty-five Omaha public schools is about
110.000. Of this number nearly 90,000 are at
the high school, where they are In the spe
cial charge of a librarian and an assistant.
Two rooms are set aside for the books be
sides a reference room, which Is a study
room, and In charge of the registrar. In
the reference room are about 1,600 volumes
Including . dictionaries, encyclopedias, his
tories, government, state and rrfunlclpal re
ports and working reference books of all
descriptions that are -constantly receiving
accessions. From the reference room no
books go out, but books are Issued from
the textbook library to the students on a
card system, and are retained by the stu
dents until they are no longer needed. H.
A. Benter, head of the chemistry depart
ment, la librarian, receiving $15 additional
salary monthly for the service; Miss Nellie
Faye Is assistant librarian at $50 a month
and Miss Mabel Christie Is registrar and
monitor of tho reference room at the same
wage. The textbook rooms are not fitted
particularly well as to furniture, but the
reference room is large, well arranged and
lighted and is always a busy place.
Custodian ot Supplies.
All of the books and supplies, before they
are delivered to the schools, are in charge
of E. F. Orimes, custodian and inspector
of fuel. Mr. Grimes has his office at 1217
Jackson street In an abandoned school
building, where about 3,500 volumes are
kept on hand and great quantities of sta
tionery. Janitors' and other supplies. About
25,000 textbooks are handled each year, 20.
000 blank exercise books, from twenty to
thirty coses of slates, about twenty rases
of crayon-, 300 reams of foolscap and legal
cap and something like 5,000 packages of
drawing paper, together with a great mass
of smaller supplies and stuff for the jan
itors and sanitary care of the buildings.
Distributing the Books.
'When a principal finds that new , books
or stationery Is wanted In the rooms under
her control, she makes a requisition In
duplicate, one of . the copies addressed to
LOAD OF SUPPLIE3 FO$ CITY BCIIOO . LS LEAvINOTHB STOREROOM ON JACKSON STREET.
the secreetary of the board and the other rles the original order and has the principal Inet in which the books and stationery are
to the custodian, and sends It to the sec- check It In her office before he leaves, re- stored at night. Once delivered to the prln-
retary. If the latter approves It, the requl- turning it finally to the custodian, who re- clpal all the property Is hers In trust and
sltlon la sent to the custodian. The cus- tains It. Formerly deliveries were made she must account for It at the end of a
todlan seleots from his stock, prepares the every week, and by an express company, .year on Invoice blanks showing what was
goods In packages and delivers them twice but this plan was found unsatisfactory and received in the period, what was worn out,
a month on the first and third Mondays, was given up for the one now in vogue. On consumed or destroyed and how much re-
A teamster regularly In the employ of the the requisitions the principals order Jan- mains on hand. The custodian likewise has
board, C. A. Baker, Is the agent through ltora' supplies as well as those for the to mako an annual Invoice and has to sub-
whlch the deliveries are made. He takes school room. Ject his stock accounts to the inspection of
out three wagon loads of stuff every fort- $ n expert employed by the board for the
night and spends two days distributing it Principal's Responsibility. . purpose. The bills for all goods delivered
among; the thirty-five buildings. He car- Every school room Is equipped with a cab- to the custodian are sent to the secretary,
Wind-Wrecked Building o! the Omaha Casket Company
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DELIVERING SUPPLIES AT THE SCHOOL HOUSE.
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whs Is able to check an annual report ot
supplies disbursed against the bills. What
remains must be In the store at 1217 Jack
son street. If It Is not, the custodian Is
held responsible. The books and other ma
terial are delivered direct to-the store from
the railway freight depots and never come
within sight of the city hall where the
Board of Education's offices are.
GENERAL APPEARANCE, OF THE "WRECK ON THE MORNING AFTER THE STORM.
Books Well Cared For.
In the grade schools little trouble Is had
with pupils destroying or defacing books.
The warning stamped In each ' one by the
custodian Is usually sufficient to prevent
children from regarding the books with
anything but respect. In cases of mutila
tion, however, the cost of the book is
charged to the pupil. The amount re
ceived from this source Is very small. Books
cannot be taken from the grade schools
without special permit from tha teacher. It
Is different al the high school. Once a stu
dent draws a book he uses It and takes It
where he pleases provided he returns It
safely at the end of the term. Librarian
Benter each year turns over about $200 to
the secretary for loss and damage to books
and the breakage of chemistry and other
apparatus. A close check Is kept on all the
property, and It must be accounted or paid
for.
Changes In textbooks are made upon the
advice of the superintendent of education
and the recommendation of the textbook
committee of the board by the Board of
Education. Of late years the changes are
comparatively rare,' as no less than 150 dif
ferent textbooks are used In the schools.
When changes are made the books replaced
are turned over to the book company mak
ing the deal and a rebatev averaging 25 per
cent Is made volume for volume. Fop shelf
stock, or books which can be used as new,
dollar, for dollar Is paid. The exchange re
bate Is offered as an extra Inducement for
the change of texts. Once a series is In-'
stalled nothing is given In exchange for old
books, which, when they are too badly dis
figured to be of use longer in the Omaha '
schools, are good for nothing but In the
manufacture of new paper.
For the year 1903-4 the free textbook sys
tem expense came in like this: New books,
IG,88; maps, charts, globes, ' etc., $708; sta
tionery,. $4,000; kindergarten supplies, $313;
music supplies, $403; drawing supplies, $389;
cartage, $33S.
Gossip and Stories About Noted People
Chlrmaro Traction Lawyer.
ILAEXNCE D. D ARROW, who has
been appointed special counsel In
traction matters for Chicago, will
be paid by the day for the time
he la employed on the matter,
according to Mr. Tolman, and1 as Mr. Dar
row, by his own statement, expects to de
vote his whole time to the subject, his
alary probably, will be $50 a day, or $15,000
for a year devoted to the work exclusively.
This Is the highest fee that Chicago has
ever paid to a special counsel In traction
matters.
The first work of Mr. Darrow In Chicago,
says the Record-Herald, was in the city law
department. During Mayor Cregier's term
he served for a time as special 'assess
ment attorney; then he was promoted to
.be assistant corporation counsel under Cor
poration Counsel Jonas Hutchinson. Mr.
Darrow resigned the office of assistant
corporation attorney to become one of the
attorneys for the Chicago & Northwestern
Railway company, as an associate of the
late V. C Goudy. After Mr. Goudy's
death Mr. Darrow returned to the city law
department under the senior Harrison's last
term as mayor. .
The practice of Mr. 'Darrow has been
divided between acting as counsel for
both corporations and labor organisations.
His Income from the two sources Is said
to have been large.- He Is the counsel for
the 'Hearst newspapers In Chicago, and
has become well known for his radical ut
terances on labor questions. On the cor
poration side of hi practice he has been
special counsel for the Chicago City Rail
way company, and is said to have been
employed for nearly all the other traction
lines of the city. The large fee demanded
by him as attorney for the anthracite
miners in the arbitration proceedings of
the great strike of 1902 $15,000, . It Is said
caused much criticism of Mr. Darrow.
In a book, "Resist Not Evil," he has ad
vocate Tolatolan Ideas regarding govern
ment and property, and In his labor utter
ances he has shown more sympathy with
anarchism than with socialism. He has
lately published a volume of childhood
reminiscences.
Morgan Lost Good Money.
J. Pierpont Morgan was standing before
a picture In a New York gallery when a
handsomely dressed woman asked him a
question bearing on the painting. Mr.
Morgan, 'delighted to discuss such a sub
ject, chatted freely about art matters and
then bowed himself out. The woman said
to the proprietor: "That man was an
art critic, I guess. He seemed to know all
about pictures. If you - know his address
I wish you would send him this check, for
I'm sure I appreciate his kindness very
much." Tho dealer gasped: "Why,
madam, that was J. Pierpont Morgan."
Later be told the millionaire what had oc
curred. 'Tou nJght have let her send the
check," grunted Mr. Morgan. "It would
have been the first money I ever made out
of my hobby." ,
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Gossip and Stories About Noted People
PLACE WHERE THE RESCUERS FOUND THE BODIES.
Justice Harlan as a Golfer,
LTHOUGH 72, Justice Harlan of
the supreme court plays golf with
spirit. He Is a member of the
Chevy Chase club of Washing
ton. Recently he saved his club
from defeat by Its rival the Columbia. All
the scores had been turned In except that
of Justice Harlan and his opponent, Jus
tice Job Ba.-nard of the district court. All
Interest was centered In this match, for if
Justice Harlan won It the silver cup In the
"Osier tournament," a term playfully ap
plied by Justice Harlan himself, went to
Chevy Chase. Had he lost the match would
have been a tie. At the last hole the su
preme court Justice nerved himself for the
emergency and won In bogle play. The
match took place on the Columbia links
and one of the conditions was that each
player should be over 60 years of age. As a
matter of fact, out of the sixteen players
many of them were well-nigh 70, and some
of them beyond.
"Jones Pays the Freight."
Ex-Lieutenant Governor Edward F. Jones
a few evenings ago visited the New York
senate, over which he used to preside, and
was received with great honor. He is
nearly 77 years old, blind, but still a strong
man, and it is yet true that "Jones pays
the freight" on his machines. He fell In
with General Fltzhugh Lee, who was also
a visitor in Albany, and the federal and
' confederate veterans had a good time to
gether swapping stories. General Jones
was colonel of the Sixth Massachusetts
regiment, that first body of northern troops
to reach Washington, and the first to shed
Union blood, in Baltimore Anrlt 19 icm
the anniversary of Concord and Lexington
fights in 1775. It still remains the pride of i
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The Astor Fortune.
Astor had invested about $2,000,000 in New
York real estate. At his death its value
was $20,000,00. When William B. Astor died,
in 1876, it had increased to $100,000,000. By
1890 competent authorities estimated it at
more than $250,000,000, The total Astor hold
ing now, distributed among several
branches of the family, amount to at least
$450,000,000. Here, evidently, we have a most
notable inntance of the unearned Increment,
When John Jacob died the New York Her
ald, In an editorial article, gravely sug
gested that his property be divided In two
parts, one-half to go to his heirs, the other
to the city of New York. For it was not
Astor's energy or genius, said the Herald,
which had made him so rich; it was the
city's commerce, Its fashion. Its men of
progress and enlightenment, which had
converted his goat farms and swamps Into
the richest rent-bearing soil. The owner of
great railroads or steel corporations must
constantly nurse his fortune, must Join In
the competition for Improved methods and
the Indispensable men. Under these con
ditions a great fortune Is a great burden,
maintained only by constant vigilance. The
whole Astor family, however, could sleep
for 100 years and at the end find that their
riches had grown a hundredfold. All the
economic and social forces which have
made New York the American metropolis
have, entirely without their Instigation,
also made their wealth.
Omaha Amateurs Preparing to Present the Ever-Popular "Pinafore"
HQ PROUD and crusty old sea
dog. Admiral Sir Joseph Porter,
K. C. B., commander of H, M. S.
Pinafore, and his Jovial crew of
musical mlrthmakers, his sisters,
Ms cousins and his aunts, will assemble
on the quarterdeck of the Boyd stage next
Thursday evening for a brief engagement
The mission of ship and crew is peaceful.
If any guns are brought Into port they
will be wreathed with lowers, and no sign
of hostile Intent will mar the pleasure of
the occasion.
The object of the reappearance of Gil
bert A Sullivan's famous naval comedy Is
charity and pleasure charity's kindly help
for the unfortunate; pleasure for those
contributing to a goodly cause. The pro
ceeds are to bo divided equally between
the St. James Orphanage and the Home of
the Good Shepherd.
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Purpose ef the Katentalamcat.
The projoct of aiding theae Institutions
by' means of a publio performance was
bruited during the winter, but ways and
means for a satisfactory one did not ap
pear until local talent showed Its fine caliber-
in the production of the opera "Pina
fore" In Cielghton University hall lajt
February. The exhibition of musical and
dramatic skill on that occasion was a de
lightful surprise to a large audience and
caused a very general request for a repetl-
tlon of the opera. Members of the com-
pany, however, did not seriously encourage
the idea, preferring to rest on the honors
won and take up other studies. With, this
In view the principals organized the Omaha
Opera company. Then the Knights of Co
lumbus renewed their efforts fer a charity
benefit. An Intimation of their readiness
to take charge of a performance downtown
brought a hearty acceptance from the com
pany and the arrangements for the. per
formance sine have been carried forward
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W7W MAW VTTO?f -AS JOPBPHTNH
IN "PIN A FOR aV'
with, energy and enthusiasm by both the
company and the managing knights.
Principals In the Performance. .
The principals will bo the same as in the
first performance. The chorus has been
largely Increased to meet the necessities of
a larger auditorium and a 'larger stage.
Principals and chorus are undergoing
steady, systematic drilling, under the direc
tion of Edward Norman Kent, to whose
skill and enthusiasm much of the Arsf suc
cess was due. Mr. Kent possesses the
training and experience that go to make
a masterful director. He secured his
musical education in London, studying for
four years under the elder Rublnl. To this
training he has added wide experience as
pianist, . tenor soloist and supervisor of
musical organisations in the east, has
made a professional tour as tenor solulst
with SouHa's band and played leading parti
In the "Prince of Pilen".and "Sultan of
Sulu" companies. His success In directing
the Omaha Opera' company Is a tribute to
his talents and he may be pardoned for
esteeming his associates as the best ever.
Mr. Kent has a capable and sturdy ally
In Thomas F Guthrie, who performs the
duties of stage director. Mr.i Guthrie has
had varied experience in. amateur theatri
cals and la said to have hit the road with
a professional troupe. He Is' not only fa
miliar with stage trappings, but can aet
and sing a part most acceptably. In "Pina
fore" he appears as Dick Deadeye, and his
makeup In that character la enough to
frighten the gallery gods.
rarrjrlusT Minor Holes.
All members of the popular Elks quartet
take parts In the opera. Practically all
members of the company and chorus belong
to different church choirs. Will H. Brown,
who takes the part of Sir Joseph. Is a
Dubuque boy transferred to Omaha. Pos
sessing a well trained barytone voice, an
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Lou Traynor.
W. 1L Brown.
C. P. Morlarty.
CAPTAIN CORPORA!. SIR JOSEPH PORTER AND RALPH RACK STRAW OF
H. M. S. PINAFORE. ...
imposing stage presence and natural talent
for comedy, he makes an excellent Sir
Joseph.
Miss Mae O'Brien as Josephine will un
doubtedly repeat her success in the first
performance. "She possesses a sweet and
sympathetic voice." sajd one critic, "that is
both strong and flexible, with a range and
purity of tone that Is sejdom granted an
amateur."
Miss Grace Lowe, one of the leading sing
ers In St. John's choir. Is a charming Hebe.
Miss Carolyn Purvis, one of the principals
of St. Cecelia's choir, possesses a delightful
mexio-soprano voice which will be heard in
the pleasing role of Buttercup.
Lou Traynor brings to the role of Captain
Corcoran a robust voice, as befits a com
mander, and the lyrlo tenor, C. P.- Morl
arty, a sailor bold, will render the part of
Ralph Rackstraw.
During the Intermission Miss Mazle
Stapenhurst will sing "Bluebell" to the ac
companiment of a bayonet drill by a squad
of the Omaha Guards.
Cast of Characters.
The sale of-tickets and the reservations
which begun last Monday Indicate a
crowded house. All the lower boxes are
taken, and most of the second tier are
spoken for. The cast:
Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, K. C. B.,
first lord of the Admiralty
William H. Brown
Captain Corcoran, commanding H. M. 8.
Pinafore Lou Traynor
Ralph Rackstraw, able seaman
C. P. Morlarty
Dirk Deadeye, able seaman. ..T. F. Guthrie
Bill Bohstay, boatswHlu Mark Martin
Tom Tucker, boatswain's mate
Thomas Bwlft
John Sparr, able seaman C. F. Williams
Hub Meckel, able seaman C. R. Miller ,
fiergeant of marines. .Lieutenant Guy Kuray
Josephine, Captain Corooran'a daughter.
Mine Mae O'Brien
Hebe, Sir Joseph's first cousin
Mine Grace Low
Little Buttercup Miss Carolyn Purvis
Sailors, marines, the admiral's sisters,
cousins and aunts.
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