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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1894)
THE COURIER 13 SOCIAL HYPOCRISY. USTOM makes hypocrites of us all. It Wo say a hundred things every day, prompted by custom, that wo do not mean, and wo aro constantly doing things by rote that wo huvo no heart in and would not do save that a prece dent has been established, and we must, liko so many cattle, follow in tho beaten track. How solicitously do we inquiro after tho health of peoplo whom wo do not caro a rap for, and whoso rheumatics and various aches wo would liko to avoid! We Ho in theso idle questionings with tho most brazen facility. And tho amusing part of it is-that the other party usually knows our hypocrisy. What a devastation there would bo in our kitchens, and what sur priso and chagrin and anger would we experience if half of tho peo ple wo invito to dinner would take us seriously and accept! Wo invite people to our houses whom, if they were foolish enough to present themselves at our doors, would certainly find them locked and double barred. When wo go out in tho social world we are frequently filled with disgust and enmity and dislike, but there are smiles on our lips and we greet our foes and those wo despise in much tho same manner that wo grcot our dearest friends. And after an utterly stupid evening we say wo have had such a nico time. Wo call on peoplo wo detest and Jabber away with them as though thoy were dear friends. Wo go to church and appear devout while tho preacher talks of God and heaven our thoughts being down town among boxes and bales and books and money drawers, and wo sing of praiso sometimes with anything but gladness in our hearts. In conversation wo appear interested in our friends" tiresome stories, when we aro in reality bored to death, and waiting anxiously to tell our own which aro much bettor. We praise when wo should condemn, and make promises we do not intend to keep, and feign happiness or distress at a moment's notice. It is easier and maybe, pleasantcr to do these thingB than to be forever telling the truth, and hurting people's feelings, and making ourselves generally disagreeable. Social hypocrisy puts a sugar coating on a great many bitter things. MR. ZEHRUNG AS A MANAGER. The Courier's announcement that Frank C. Zehrung would manage the new Funke opera house next season, which was eagerly seized and enlarged upon by our daily contemporaries, was some thing of a surprise, as but few peoplo knew that such a deal was contemplated. Mr. Zehrung's new venture has provoked much comment, and the opinion prevails that a turning point in the des tiny of tho Funke has been reached. If the good will of the citi zen i of Lincoln will bring success Mr. Zehrung will soon be using gold eagles for suspender buttons. Frank has unusual elements of popularity, and this fact ought to have an important bearing on the success of his managerial enterprise. Personality has a great deal to do with the success or failure of such an undertaking as that in which Mr. Zehrung is about to engage, and here will bo one of his strongest points. But there are many reasons why the new man agement of the Funke should be profitable for all concerned. In the first place The Cocrier believes that no man in Lincoln is a better judge of the drawing qualities of a play than Mr. Zehrung. He has been a devotee of the theatre for years, and he has acquired an experience and judgment in matters theatrical that ought to be very valuable to him, and he has also a large acquaintances among leading professionals that will stand him in hand when it comes to booking attractions. Then Mr. Zehrung has certain well defined fin do siecle ideas that will do much toward giving the new house a tone and reputation throughout the country. Before he signed the lease he had a clear understanding with Mrs. Funke as to the nature and extent of the improvements to be made, and those persons who aro aware of his fastidious taste will need no assurance that the opera house will be fitted up and maintained in the most approved manner. It will be a first-class and well conducted house as long as it is under his management. It is believed that the improvements and decorations will make the Funke one of the prettiest houses in tho country. Mr. Zehrung has been singularly successful in build ing up his own business, anil it is but reasonable to supposo that tho samo qualities and talent that have told so effectively hero will bring equally favorable results in tho new departure. In his now location ho can combine his two businesses very conveniently, and each will, to somo extent help tho other. Lincoln is to bo congratu lated on tho prospect in store. With the Lansing and tho Funko both maintained as first-class theatres, the amusement going public in this city will have unusual privileges. TENNIS. During the winter there has been an unusual amount of interest aroused in the needs of tho physical man by tho now and abb man agement of tho Y, M. C. A. in Lincoln. Scores of young men have realized by practical oxperienco how much better men thoy arc by reason of spending an hour ovcry day in physical exorcise. Tho sea son is approaching when tho exercise in tho gymnasium will bo a task rather than a plcasuro the time for out of door sports. There is nothing so perfect in itself for exercise as tho game of tennis. In its play almost every muscle of the body comes into activo and energetic use, and what is of more importance, the excrciso is steady and not spasmodic, as is that of base ball. Tennis is a game to play rather than to watch, and tho fascina tion of it is marvelous. This season promises to be a pleasant one in Lincoln for those that enjoy tennis. Tho Lincoln Tennis club has already organized and now has on its list alMHit ten or fifteen members, This number will Le doubled before the season fairly opcnB. Tho club grounds and house at Sixteenth and G have been put in good condition, and there will bo tennis every evening the weather will permit. It is desired to have two tournaments in Lincoln this season. Tho first will be a local tournament to bo held in the latter part of May, if arrangements can be made, so that tho players in tho state uni versity and colleges near at hand may swell the lists, and provoke some strifo for supremacy. The state tournament in single, or double, will be held probably in July in this city and it is hoped that then the Lincoln tennis players and th city will return with good grace tho courtesies and kindness of the Hastings and Omaha clubs, which were so well be stowed last year. The Lincoln club authorizes The Courier to extend a cordial in vitation to any who may desire to become members, to make the de sire known, to Mr. Hardy, to Mr. Geisthardt, to Mr. Haggard or to any other member of tho club whom the person may know. This will be the tennis season in Lincoln. Begin to play early and go into the local tournament. LACROSSE. The lacrosse club will be rc-organized sometime this month, prob ably next week. This sport has a steadily growing hold on Lincoln, and it is expected that the coming season will be markedly successful. CYCLING CLUB RUN. Last Sunday twenty-five members of tho Capital City Cycling club made a fifty mile run to Valparaiso and return, starting at 10 a. m. and returning at half past four. Tomorrow afternoon there will be a club run to Waverly. THE AUTHOR OF "THE HEAVENLY TWINS" ON MAN. Mrs. Sarah Grand says of man: "He cramped our minds so that there was no room for reason in them and then made merry at our want of logic. He did his best to damage our divine institution by sneering at it as an inferior method of arriving at conclusions, and finally, having lost his wag and lost his head entirely lie set himself up as a sort of god. and required us to worship him, and, to our eternal shame be it said, we did so."