THE COURIER
was nrrostcd by a iiiobI murvclouB Buiir.d
Tho bridgo cxtonda itbovo tho dressing
rooms of both theatres; in tbo dressing
room juBt below mu tho eky light wib
opon, and from it th ro Btroumcd up u
Hood of light and a perfect goyEerof tho
most wonderful notes thut were quite
unm'iBtakablo. It wns Mine. Hroina
practicing tho "High oh" eong of ho
Valkyries. Tho night wub murky and
starless; only tho rod Inmps of tho Hotel
Honry and tho lino of river lightB above
Mount Washington wore vieiblr; on
every fiido ro30 tho tall black buildings
that shut out tho Bounds of tho etrootp.
ThoEO froo, unfettered notos Bcemod to
cut tho blnckncBB and tho eilonco,
Bcemed to pierce tho clouds which lay
over tho city and reach tho BtarB and
tho bluo Bpaccsof heaven behind, nnd to
carry mo up with them.
In tho second act tho curtain roto
upon that "wild and rocky pass" in tlo
mountains of tho godB. "Wotan,"
Horr Anton Van Rooy, who has bo dit
tinguished himself in tho part, appearod
in tho foreground with "Brunnhilde,
Mine. Mario Broma." Ho instructs her
to protect "Siegmund ' and slay "Hun
ding" in tbo coming conllict, and tho
jojoub Valkyrie leaps up tho mountain
sldo singing ber "High oh'' Bong and
Liebre Himmll! how she sang it! Tho
very paste-board mountains Bcemed to
ojho it. as ic tho storm scone in
Childe Harold, where,
"Every mountain now hath found a
tongue,
And Jura answers through her misty
shroud,
Back to the joyous Alps, who call to her
aloud."
Then "Friclui" cu'torfl, tho wrnderful
Sjbumann-lleinck, whoso "Ortrudo" I
had heard only tho niuht before. Sho
came not ia her ram-drawn car in which
eho enters at Bjyrouth tho Holy, but on
foot, liko common mortal?, and she
came in a bad humor. 1 should liko to
Rio this incomparablo Schumann
Heinck in a good-humored part just
once, for I know that sho is capablo of
simulating every sort of bad humor and
BpitofulneBS known to woman or god
desB. Sho come3 of course to lecture
"Wotan" for his countenancing tho
unholy lovo of Siegnmund" and "Sieg
lindo," and to erpreHS herself upon the
Banctity of the marriuge vow. Thtn tho
deeper tmgedy of tho drama unfolds;
the god bound by tho lawB of his own
making, tho btrong man pil'oried by
tho weakness of tho race. It is of this
that Mr. G. Bernard Shaw says in his
clover book, "Tbo Perfect Wugnerite:"
"Governments are, of courBe, estab
lished by tbo few who aro capable of
governing, though, its mechanism once
complete, it ia generally carried on unin
tolligently by people who are incapable
of it, the capablo ptoplo repairing it
from tirao to timo whon it gets too far
behind ttib advance or decay of civiliza
tion. Thoso capablo people aro thus in
tho position of Wotan,' forced to main
tain as sacred, and themselves submit
to laws which they privately know to
bo obsolescent makeshifts, and to affect
tho deepest veneration for ideals and
ureedH which they ridiculo among thorn
boIvob. No individual 'Siegfried' can
rescue thorn from UiIb bondage. In
deed tho individual 'Siegfried htB como
often onough. only to ilnd himself con
fronted with tho alternative of govern
moot or destruction at tho bands of his
fellows who aro not 'Siegfrieds'."
I BuppoBO that it thoro was one mau
in tnat Btrong, well balanced cast who
Btood out head and shoulders abov.i tho
rest, it waB Horr Van Rooy, by reason
of tho vitality, tbo intimatoneES, tbo
flcBh and blood which ho has given to
that woodon part, full of long theo
logical diBCUBsionB and lectures on tho
civil government of Hoiven. Ho does
not always, I think, interpret Wagner
perfectly, but it ia an intorpertation
which commands attontion, reppnet,
admiration. Ho prfflonta a fluro not
to bs forgotlm, with IiIb iron jaw, his
reeoluto month and a single gray lock
drooping ovor tho maimed eyo, which
was tho prico ho had paid for wisdom,
whon, overcome by Iho authority of his
wile's argumentp, by tho insat'ablo law
that bo had himself croated, ho sita
down upon tho rocks and his ehiold falls
from his hand, ho mala h you fool how
much more torriblo it i'b to bo a holpleBB
god than to bo a holpless man, and
something in his attitude) recalled tho
holpless god of tho Grooks, Promothoua
chained to Caucasus. Ho calls back
Brunhilde, tho "wish maiden," sho who
executed hie heart's desire, and rein
etructs her, and bo tho wish is sub
ordinated to tho law, ovon with tho god.
Herr Van Rooy's last scono ia scarcely
bo satisfactory. His denunciation of
Brunhildo is too furioup, too much
washed by angor and reBontmont.
Surely Wagner never meant that.
"WotanV heart never changed un in
stant toward his daugutcr, ho hated hor
no more than ono hatea his own doBiro
that iB impossible of fultlllmont. He
waB too big a god to bear malico. Ko
was driven against hie will, by tho in
exorable law that tires out even tho
heats of tho gods, thai binds and f ot
ters in Wullmlla just as it doeB in Pitts
burg or in Lincoln. In his parting
from "Brunhildo," Van Rooy ia moio
impassioned than Emilo Fischer, but
not bo tender. Ho !b tho irate god
rather than tho father.
That night, when tho singers boarded
their special street car to tako the long
run out to the Hotel Schonley, where
they were stopping, I got on tho samo
car with several local musicians who
woro going out to a Buppor party.
When tho car was bowling oil across
tho hill topp, I noticoJ a man in tho
further end, fust asleep. His coat col
lar was turned up, his linen crumpled,
tho make-up still discolored his oyee,
his faco was damp with inspiration,
and ho looked gray and drawn and
.tired. It was Herr Anton Van Rooy,
lato of Walhalla, tired as a laborer from
tho iron mills. It is hard work ap
parently, this being a god.
Tho funny, dumpy little Fiau Schu-mann-Heinck
had ber most recent baby
hero with ber. It is tho ninth and was
only three months old, having been born
in New York la6t winter. Whero she
ever geta timo to attend to her profes
sional duties iB the myBtery. I asked
Mine. Nordica if the lady eang Wag
nerian lullabies to all tho little Schu
mann Heincks, and sho replied: "No
indeed, it's few enough lullabies they
get; mamma baa to aave ber voice to
buy Mellin's food for them' Nordica
told mo that all tho little Schumann
HoinckB have boon named after tho
hotels in various part9 of tho world in
which they were born, Thero ia a
(Jeci! Schumann Heinck born in Lon
don, and a St. Denis Schumann
Hoinck, and so on. Last winter, boforo
the arrival of the ninth, Frau Schu-mann-Heinck
throw tho company into a
stato of consternation by packing up her
trapB and nurses and children and
changing her hotol in tho middlo of tho
season, because sho Raid eho could not
inflict upon any child tho namo of
Waldorf Astoria.
Tbo Rock Island playing cards are
tho slickest you ovor handled. One
pack will bo sent by mail on receipt of
15 cents in stamps, A money order or
draft for CO ceuts or samo in stamps will
securo 4 packs. They will bo Bent by
express, charges prepaid. AddiHBB,
John Skiiabtian, G. P. A.,
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R'y,
Chicgao.
r
I ebiiBS-
i LOUISA U KIOKKTTH.
CMMOIOt
Tho following aro tho oflicers of tho
General Federation of Womon's clubB:
Proaidcnt Mra. Rebecca D. Lowo
Atlanta, Ga.
Vice PreBidont Mrs. Sarah S. Piatt,
Denver, Colo.
Recording Socrotary Mre. Emma A.
Fox, Dotroit, Mich.
Corresponding Socrotary Mrs.Goorge
W. Kendrick, Philadelphia, Pa.
Treasurer, Mre. Phillip N. Mooro, St.
Lou in, Mo.
Auditor Mrs. C. P. Barnes, Louis
vlllo, Ky.
Stato Chairman Mrs. Louisa L. Rick
etts, Lincoln, Nebr.
Oflicora of tho Stato Federation of
Womon's clubs;
President Mrs. S. 0. Langworthy,
Soward.
Vico President Mrs. Anna L. Apper
Eon, TecumBoh.
' Recording Socrotary Mrs F. II. Sack
ott, Weoping Wator.
Corresponding Socrotary Mrs D. G.
McKillip, Soward.
Treasurer Mrs. II. F. Doane, Crote,
Librarian Mrs. G. M. Lambertson,
Lincoln.
Mrs. A. B. Fuller, Auditor, Ashland.
Tho Iowa Federation of Women's
Clubs, which is tho oldest organization
of tbia kind in the West, recently held
its third biennial at Burlington, and the
large gathering of earnest cultured
women was ono of influence and signifi
cance. Women areiapidly learning bow
to conduct such gatherings with smooth
ness and efliciency, and it can be truly
said of thiB convention that things were
done decently and in order. Tho pro
gram was not crowded and thi re was
plenty of time for everything. Mrs. G.
F. Van Vochten, tho retiring president,
is an ideal presiding oflicer. She intro
duced a new feature which was received
with much satisfaction, viz.: Each of
her associated otllcors wore invited to
preside over one session of the conven
tion. Tho convention proper was pro
ceded by an informal council of workers,
in which there were, brief discussions of
questions pertaining to the good of the
work as, University Extension, City
Federation, Parliamentary Drill, Lim
ited Clubs, etc. The president in her
annual address referred to the fact that
there are only two larger State Federa
tions than the Iowa Federation. Those
of New York and Illinois. She recom
mended that the officers be elected at
dilTeront times, and that some of the
meinborB on all standing committees be
retained at each re-election lot these
committees. She further recommended
that different women be sent to rocuri ing
convontione that all may have a chanco
to go, Bee, and learn. As usual tlio
question of reports from cluba came up,
and it waRdocidod, for want of time, to
omit them. As usual many regretted
this necessity, but this is ono of tho
problems which it scorns impossible to
eolvo satisfactorily, and which confronts
each Btato federation in turn. Tho Re
ciprocity Bureau reported this depart
ment us of special value to the smaller
clubs. The program proper was one of
great practical value; the addresses and
discuEsions were conspicuous by tho
absence of theorizing, and at the con.
vontion they carried a conviction that
tho women knew from experience
whereof thoy(spoke.
The great literary event of this con
vention was the address by Octave
Thanet (Mies Alice French) who spoke
on "Toe Perils and Opportunities of
Club Women" with special reference to
the social evolution or revolution which
she predicted tho futuro hold, Iho
choice of such a subject by a woman
known for hor litorary attainments was
a surprise to nearly every one who
heard her, nnd her treatment of it was
still moro surprising, but when it is
known that hIio belongs to a family of
'ron manufacturers nnd has been
brought up in the atmotphoro of eco
nomlc problemp, hearing bueinoss dia
cusBcd all hor life, it is easy to under
stand and alto, it explains why the
stories abound in labor situations. She
ib n sincere boliovor in tho power of or
ganized women as a cousorvativo force
in tho dangers which aro threatening
tho social situations today.
Mrs. Adeline M. Payne, of Nevada,
made a decided hit in hor sketch of
"Tho Modern Martha," and Mrs. B. M.
Stoutenborough, of Nebraska, paid a
glowing tributo to "A Mothers Influ
ence." Tho now officers of this Federation
aro Mrs. Mabol Dixon-Hutcbison, of
Otfimwa, president; Mre. J. T. Illick,
vico president; MIbb Grace Harsh, of
Creston, recording secretary; Mrs. Alice
C. Baily, of Db Moines, corresponding
secretary; Mias Dodge, of Council
Bluffs, treasurer; Mrs. Warren Gorst,
auditor.
DTho new oflicers had nearly all served
in some capacity, as oflicers or on stand
ing committees, and began their duties
at once by holding a board mooting be
fore leaving for borne.
The Courier is under obligations to
Mrs. H. M. Towner, state chairman for
Iowa, for an Iowa paper containing ac
counts of the convention, and to Mrs.
S'.outenborough, of Plattsmoutb, for an
account of Octave Thaoet's address,
some extracts from which follow:
"The Federation of Women's clubs is
much In tha position of Aladdin after he
had first polished his lamp frightened
at their own buccces; they don't as yet
quite know what to do with their tre
mendous power. Womoo of wealth and
position, intellect, and trained ability to
uso their wits to the very maximum o
value, constitute this new and untried
dynamic force. Tbo significant feature
of it is an organized force. The differ
enco between organized and unorganized
force is the difference between powder
and shot scattered on the ground and
the same material properly loaded in the
cartridge. Thoro is a grat and terrible
problem before up; their is impending
either an industtiul revolution or an (ia.
dustrial evolution. For a long time
those who dread and those who welcome
this change have seen the shadow on the
dial. The working man tag ago dis
covered thatfeatras helpless in his in
dividual capacity, and he organized and
in his unions be knows bis strength.
Now tho employer has learned the same
lesson and has ceased fighting his com
petitor in relentless trade warfare, when
hiB motto wavaeDavtid Harum's 'Do
the other a awould do you, and
do him flrsiy v .
"Cut-throat compslllon has had its
natural consequence ao inevitable re
action, lust year it was trusts and this
yew H ilrombines. Newspaper and
the purilje do not dUtlnguieh between
them, but their is a vital difference. A
trust is made' up ola, number of distinct
Jii:
aaVaaaW. AAA
w,
:
Restaurant
Unique I
The Most Popular Dining
Hall in the City J j For
Ladies and Gentlemen J
We mnko a cpoclnlty of rmnntipt.
I Special Family Tables f
Sinco Juno 12, 1899, wo liaro adopted X
tnoroal homo cooking plan, which
is giving- universal uMlsfactlou.
OlVK US A 7KIAL.
W. B. HOWARD, Mgr.
1221 O Str., Lincoln, Nebk.
MMIMMlilMM