THE COURIER
Thoro aro buslness.men in this city, heavy tax payers, who think
thn city is a littlo too precipitate in the expenditure of public mon
ey and the sale or bonds, etc When bonds of the city arc to bo sold
or refunded the most favorable proposition is the ono that
should be accepted, and every bidder should have a fair chance,
whether ho resides in Lincoln or not.
Tho wholesale dumping of supplies into Nebraska for the relief of
the drouth sufferers is almost unprecedented in this country. Omaha
and Lincoln and the smaller cities of tho state, if tho truth must ue
told, have not done scarcely anything in the way of contributions
for the sufferers, and although the session of tho legislature is nearly
one third over, no law has yet been passed making an appropriation
for this purjKJse. Governor Crounse appointed a relief commission
er, whom Governor Holcomb has not disturbed. And this consti
tutes about all that has been done in this state. To bo sure Mr.
Ludden is kept very busy forwarding money and food and fuel and
clothing to the stricken districts; but tho money and supplies that
he is handling come, not from Nebraska, but from all over the
United States, nearly every state contributing something. Nebraska
is certainly open to criticism for its inaction whilo communities all
over tho country have been actively engaged in collecting and for
warding contributions to this state. This state moves slowly in
matters in which jwlitics is not involved. Tho enthusiasm displayed
by tho people in ail parts of tho country in affording relief to the
Nebraska sufferers is really remarkable. In fact this sending of
supplies to Nebraska has almost become a fad a fad that is pro
ductive of much good to tho inhabitants tf tho drouth stricken dis
tricts; but the advertisement Nebraska is receiving through the
trains of supplies from tho east and west and south is not calculated
to help the state's credit.
COMING ATTRACTIONS.
Ono of the best plays that has been 6een in New York City is to
bo presented here this afternoon and evening at tho Lansing theatre
in tho "Girl I Lclt Behind Me.' It has had an extraordinary run
at tho Empire then t re in New York and at the Columbia theatre in
Chicago and is to bo acted shortly in London. Its authors are
David Belasco, whose name figured in connection with "The Wife"
and "The Charity Ball," and Franklin Fyles, the dramatic editor of
the New York Sun. It is the first play to invade the domain suc
cessfully occupied in light literature by Charles King's novels. Its
scenes are tho surroundings of tho military posts in tho northwest.
There is an uprising of the Indians, which brings the hero and the
villain, rival lieutenants, into full play. The second act represents
the post Kennion stockade at day-break, The Post is surrounded
by Indians whose torn toms and weird chant aro heard in tho dis
tance, and who will attack tho little garrison at sunrise, Scenes of
the most intense and exciting kind are evolved in this connection.
Saturday evening's performance will be the 1500th and in honor of
the occasion an elegant souvenir program will be distributed.
The story of "Charley's Aunt" will be told at the Lansing". theatre
next Friday evening by Frohman's No. 1 company. This cmedy, an
adaptation, has had an immense run, and it is probably the greatest
success in tho recent long list of Fronman attractions. It is a rapid
play, and there is not a dull moment in the performance from first
to last. "Charley's Aunt" was seen here earlier in the season; and
those who enjoyed the play on thi, occasion will doubtless find
much more pleasure in tho work of a greatly superior company.
This company contains 6omo well known people, and a first class
performance is promised. This will probably bo the last opportun
ity to see "Charley's Aunt,' as It is understood it will be taken off
the 6tage at the close of the present season.
The latest achievement of Mrs. Jennie Kimball will be seen at the
Lansing theater Thursday evening. It is a most opportune time
for an entertainment of this 6tlo to visit Lincoln, as theater goers
have had a surfeit of melodrama, tragedy and alleged farce comedy
The company this season is said to be much stronger vocally than
when last Feen here. All the scenery and costumes are new; some
novel electrical effects are promised. "Hendrick Hudson" embraces
evervthing that will tend to pass an enjoyable evening; it contains
bright features or opera, comedy, burlesque and spectacle.
It is probably not the coldest weather you ever knew in your life;
but that is how you feel just now, because past sufferings are soon
forgotten, and because your blood needs the enriching, invigorating
infiuenco of Ayer's Sarsaparilla the Superior Medicine.
The Omaha Excelsior saya of a gentleman well known in this city:
Mr. Ed Bauin, of the Baum Iron company, is the happy owner of a
pair of goats, or perhaps it would be better to say that ho is owner
of a pair of boys and the latter own the goats. At any rate a wag
gish friend of his surprised him very much the other night by say
ing, "I heard down town that the assessor had taxed your goats
pretty heavily this year." "Is that so," said Mr. Baum, "I hadn't
expected that." "Yes, someone saiu eight dollars a goat." "Eight
dollars a goat!' exclaimed tho owner, "Why" "Yes," continued
his friend, "that is at the regular rate of two dollars a foot for all
property abutting on the street." And there was a deep and porten
tious silence.
Will Johhson says there isn't the slightest degree of truth in it.
Some of tho boys aro deriving considerable amusement from the
manner in which a Piattsmouth paper referred to Mr. Johnson on
the occasion of tho Iatter's recent visit to the old Missouri river town.
The next Pleasant Hour party will bo given Februrary 8.
It is said there will be a lull in fashionable weddings after the
two for which invitations are already issued have been celebrated.
Miss Berenice Wheeler, who took the part of Agnes in "Men and
Women" at the Lansing theatre Monday night, is a Kansas City
girl.
C. G. Dawes, with others, has purchased a gas plant at Evanston
111.
The next Empire club dance will be given February 2.
Dr. J. H. Tyndale, specialist, (office in the Lansing theatre block),
and dramatic and musical critic and general literary adviser of the
Xcics, known in his critical capacity as "Toby Rex," following the
example of other distinguished critics, has embodied his ideas of
what a first-class drama ought to be in a play which he has written
alone, all by himself with the exception of the assistance rendered
by Sol Oppenheimer. whose slight service consisted in originating
the plot, or as "Toby Rex"' would say, the scheme of the play, and in
writing the first and third acts, and the major portion of the second
there are only three acts. This forthcoming work that is to shake
the theatrical firmament has been christened "The City Council,"
and we were led to believe at first that it would be, as the doctor
critic would say, "made known," at the Funke opera house in the
immediate future. But now comes a distressing rumor, which we
sincerely hope may prove to be unfounded, to the effect that tho
play is to be rewritten, (Mr. Oppenheimer having run across some
new ideas since Toby wrote the drama), and that it will not be pro
duced until some time in the spring. If there is really to be a
postponement it will be a sad blow to a large number of people.
The public is anxious, decidedly anxious. For a couple of years
now "Toby Rex ' has, in the columns of the News, discoursed so
often and so learnedly on the weakness and general defects of things
theatrical, and spoken to us so earnestly of what a good play ought
to be, th3t there ie a very keen desire to witness "The City Council,'
and see perfection in dramatic art. It will be hard, indeed, to wait
till spring, and on behalf of an interested public we must insist,
with all due respect, that Mr. Oppenheimer make haste in rewriting
Dr. Tyndale's great and only play.
Rheumatic Twinges
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