Evening Star Newspaper, July 5, 1890, Page 9

FUNNY MEN IN COMIC OPERA. One of Them Discourses Concerning the Comeusan’s Art. We FUNNY MAN MUST BE UP WITH THE TIMES— NOTHING TAKES LIK! RPRISES—TWO SORTS OF COMEDIANS—IMPORTANCE OF MAKE UP— RUMOR THAT I8 PURELY CONVENTIONAL HE successful comedian of comic opera must always be up to the latest minute of the day in the way of informa- tion and must know what is going on all over the world, said Louis de Lange, the well-known comedian. to a Srar_ reporter. “His fun must always be of the present and latest hour, his gags must touch upon the very freshest news topics and his topical songs particularly must be novelty itself. Either he must continually keep inventing humor appropriate to the mo- ment for himself. or. if he is unable, he must hire somebody else to doit for him. I write Yery many of my own topical verses, including those which have to be made up at short notice to hit local taste. Francis Wilson used toen- gxge Rosenfeld to sit night after night in oue Of the front orchestra seats while he played and invent new jokes and ‘business’ for what- ever part Wilson might be performing in. In this way the comedian’s work was always given such a freshness that people generally sup- posed his points to be largely impromptu and ‘that made them take immensely. THE UNEXPECTED. “Nothing takes so well with an andience as something impromptu and unpremeditated. For example, one evening last week, just as a young fellow in the opera who had been con= Gemued to die was thrown upon the stage from the flies, some one flung a big bouquet of flowers across the footlights. Instantly I said: ‘Ah! flowers to decorate his grave.’ The au- dieuce saw atonce that the remark was im- prompta aud, trifling though it was, they ap- plauded wildly. In ‘Nanon’ there is an old uncie Who instructs his country nephew in court eti- quette. One night in New York Fitzgerald, who played the nephew, stumbled over the step on his way out of the room after his les- son. Francis Wilson, who was the uncle. called after him: “Take your feet with you!’ ‘The im- Promptu made such a hit that it has been per- Manently inserted in the part. DIFYERENT KINDS OF COMEDIANS. “There are two sorts of comedians in opera— and the same thing may be said of comedians in general—those who play many parts and those who play only one 4 steadily. The latter are always themselves om the stage and never try to be unybody else. Of this class is De Wolf Hopper. He is a very funny man, both off and on the stage, and he finds that people are very ready to go to the theater to see De Wolf Hopper. Whatever part he takes he is always De Wolf Hopper, with the same funny stage voice, the same ges- turesand the same girly » Fun across the boards, wacbaomaee I myself, on the other hand, always try to sink my own personality as far as possible in the part. My voice I try to change to suit the person I represent, and my very gestures and poses with hands, feet and legs I adapt as well as I am able. Most actors, I think, hardly realize the meanings to be conveyed with hands and feet, and yet they will do as much in the Way of characterization as paint and wigs for make up. Take an instance like tbat of the Merquis in the ‘Merry War.’ He is a dainty aud dandified creature; all his movements, as I played the part, were dainty, and he did not make a single decided motion in the whole iece. Even when he pulled the girl toward jim to kiss her he did it so daintily that she did ; not think of objecting. In contrast with the Marquis 1s the miserable oid dried up scheming Alderman in “Amorita,’ which was played here last week. His every action, as I¢endered the part. was nervous and clawing: the voice was rasping and harsh, and every step taken on the stage was senile and crafty. ON AND OFF, “Curiously enough the funny men on the stage are aptto be the serious ones off it, Francis Wilson is an example. On the other hand mauy of the tragedians and ‘leading heavies’ Sre very funny men indeed off the boards, ouls James may be mentioned as an inst... ce. As for female stars, whether funny or serions on the stage, they are not apt to be very jolly from the company’s point of view. Nothing makes one of them so mad as to have eny one else do anything good or get any applause. W. the profession are astonishingly matters, particularly where others of their own Sex are concerned. Sometimes they will help aman. but they are almost invariabiy very eruel to women. Ido not think that any sim- flar remark can be truthfully made about male actors as a class, WHAT SUCCESS DEPENDS ON, “4 comedian’s success often depends upon his knqwiedge cf the art of making up. Some faces seb™ constructed by nature for the actor. ‘The best tort of staxe countenance is broad and square} With regular and prominent fea- tures. You cn make such a face look pretty nearly as you please. You can fatten it up with high light, or, if you like. you can thin it down with darks.\ Least available of faces for make up is one that is round and fat with an | indeterminate noge. Such a face may be fanny in itself, however, aud will perhaps do well gh with({an assortment of wigs. In ff\my face I have often got good suggestions Qs to effects from accidental lines and smooches 8nd have adopted them for | use. More than of, too, after gettmg on my make up I have beam inspired by my reflection | in the glass with a domewhat new conception | of the character and\have gone on and played the part within ten \nmutes in a way very dif- from what I had imtended. A good i » is a wonderfpil help to one's acting. | One sees one’s self in the looking giass asa cer- | tain character well realized as to aspect and is } thereupon able to play it better. If one feels Uneasy on the stage ag to whether hie make up | is good or not he cannvt act his best. THE FUN ANDTHE AUTHOR, “As for making the fm that is to be the Comedian’s contribution 10 8 new comic opera, it is necessary that he should de pond in a very large weasure upon the author, though he can- not often hope for a librettist like Mr. Gilbert, | who writes im all the fun himself, so that all the actor has to do is to)interpret it iutelli- gently. The business of Peing funny on the stage is acquired largely practice, like an; other art, though a first- have the faculty bora in hi ture of opera comedy is the a! Yentional phrases and gestu temporary acceptance as hum ever any comedian makes a hit in a part cer- tam peculiarities of speech or manner that mark his performance m the character are apt tobe picked up and imitated by every other comedian, An instance of that w ixey’s Bannel-mouthed utterance, employed by him some years ayo iu « burlesque called “Horrors,” That way of speaking was subsequently made Use of more or less by ali the other comedians, | and for « long time it was popularly accepted as funny. Not long ago im a successful comic | play the phrase ‘Ob, me and Sullivan’ was re- | peatedly used, much to the amusement of the Budience by the ‘sport,’ who was the principal | character in the piece. It was taken up at | once and presently appeared in the shape of “Ob, me and Edison’ in another . Hf you | Went tohear the ‘Black Hussar’ two or three | Recks ago you doubtless noticed that the | audience roared every time the burgomaster | suid, ‘Oh, me and apolocn.” Funny gestures | obtain popularity in same way. Just now | the funniest movement the comediancan make | fe to flop his hand over toward his right shoulder at a right angle with the forearm and then revolve the hand horizontally with a quick motion. This is considered very humor- ous indeed. Mr. Robson's squeak, which he Uses In every part I takes most effectively, is another example of this same sort of conven- tlonalized humor. THE TOPIQGL SONG NUISANCE. “The comic opera comedian gets better pay than any other sort of comedian because he is slways the most important man in the com- pany. Without a good comedy man the best comic opera will be » failure, and many a comic opera has been made a success by a comedian of talent. Topical songs, 1 consider, are gutting to bea positive nuance. They are demanded 20 such au extent that the public is not Satisiied nowadays with less than two or three in each opera. ‘Nadjy' is hardly any- thing but topical songs; the soubrette has two, besides those alloted to comecdians. The class of performers most objectionable in comic opers is the tenors. are invariably fb otiois, because, & of thinking of acting, they ane always engaged while on stage how they are going to take this note or that. A tenor, say. will have to utter the phrase ‘Tomorrow you must die!’ Perhaps the whole point of the opera may bang on that one remark, but in it he devotes his attention to the notes at pense of the words, and carols out: “To-mor- row oo muh eye-ce!’ And so the audience fails to understand what he is talking about. [ am down on tenors because they are generally sticks. Baritones with voices high enough to sing tenor parts are usually employed in comic pera.” : ——_o—_—_ THE DANCING PROCESSION. The Quaint Annual Religious Fete at Echsternach. Brussels Correspondence of the New York Tribune. While the Passion Play is going on at Oberammergau there has been going on in the grand duchy of Luxember;; the annual danc- ing procession of Saint Willibrord, It occurred at the small town of Echs‘ernach on the 27th of May, the Tuesday after Whitsuntide. Saint Willibrord, who lived in the seventh century, was to the Netherlands, Flemish and lower countries what St. Patrick was to Ircland. He carried the Christian faith to those regions, civilized them as much as it was possible in those barbarian times and finally sought rest for his last days at Echsternach, where he founded an abbey. ‘The legend suys that when the saint died the marble tomb prepared for receiving his body was found to be too short, but that it was miraculously leagthened so that the saintly corpse could be laid im it, ‘Tradi- a claims that when Saint Willibrord returned at last from his huly pilgrimage to Echsternach the villagers could not restrain their joy and demoustrated it by the sacred dances, which are renewed every yeur. two days after Whit- suntide. Only during the French revolution Was the custom interrupted. It is now more than ever kept up and 20,000 people took part in the latest ceremony. The peasants beneve in the legend, according to which the saint punishes the indifferent and incredulous by atiheting thei cattie with an epidemic, the ef- fects of which are like epilepsy. ‘The pilgrims arrive from al ince within a radius of forty miles. Most of them come on foot, camping wherever they can, in open air or in barns. All among them who possess and ean play upon musical instruments bring them along, such as fifes, drums, cornets, &c., and ay upon them as an accompaniment to the noms In the morning all this crowd forms itvelf on the German territory, beyond the bridge which crosses the Sure, the river fron- tier between the grand duchy and Germuny. A priest, who must have been born at Echster- nach, addesses the crowd, places himself at its head, and the pilgrims begin to tramp on the bridge, in the direction of the old church. The advance guard, preceded by a sexton dressed in red clerical robes, sings the praises or litanies of St. Willibrord in a caim, digni- fied, religious tone, which strangely contrasts with the clamors of the thousand instruments which accompany the extraordinary dances of the people formmg the bulk of the procession, Those dances are nothing but repeated jumps, aud the highest jumps are considered the greatest evidence of devotion. ‘The pilgrims advance slowly in rows, biocking up entirely the streets, women holding children in their arms, old people being supported on both sides by friendly assistants, peasants with satchels on tieir backs, containiug provisions to last during the pilgrimage. All these people never cease for a moment to dance or rather to jum as high as ther can, until they reach the ol church, where the priests bless the many arti- cles they want to place under St, Wilbrord’s invocation, ‘The pilgrims spend the remainder of the day in the streets of Echsternach, where a regular fete, somewhat like a Flemish ker- messe, is held. They then take up again their tramp to their homes. ———_e “Better Than Best What can we say of Hert What can we do for er? Woman the Conqueror! Woman the King! Why should we knesl in submission and sue for er? *Tis of her victory manhood must sing! Equal to man? She has risen superior! Daughter of Pallas Athene confessed! Lifted to triumph who once was inferior, Better than Best! not best in the world when we cried her? Woman, the Mother! who gave us our life! Helpless, and honeless, and teeble we sigh to Was she to her, Helped by maternity out of the strife! Who Pe repay te flerce pangs sue endured for ust Giving herself from her bountiful breast Manhood and muscle, ‘twas Woman secured for us Better than Best! Has she not given us Love for our covering? Love for our shelter, and Love for our star! Love for our comforting, Love that is hovering, Soothing our sorrows at home or afar! What would the world be witnout her who lov- eth us? After our wandering, Woman's the Nest, Ab! the reward she can give wien she prov- eth us Better than Best! Calm in her confidence! Proud of her Purity! Hiow she has soared on her wings to the b.uel Brain for her help rity. What is there le Classis and W: with her, Proudly she stands and submits to the test, Man can but love her the more, and not’ part with her, for a Woman to do’ ngler! deep science and art Better than Best. —Lady’s Pictorial. eee Cholly on Ciass Day. From the Boston Saturday Evening Gazette, And Cholly commenced early in the day to tell his little tale of ardent affection; but it still remains untold, because— “Ob, Miss Rosebud! So glad we've met at last! Couldn't catch your eye this morning in the crowd. The girls had so much foliage on their hats, and your own hat had the most pro- voking droop on just the wroug side—just enough to hide those little eyes. On, certains your chaperone. So glad to see you. Mrs, E ret (confound her!) -Suspending your own con- quests today, I suppose, to watcli those of your fair charges. (1 guess that sop will do for a starter—if I can only her off in that alcove now, with plenty of feed and some down-town fool of a man, she'll _kecp quiet). I was just going to propose to Miss Rosebud to make up alittle cozy group in that alcove over tere, and get something solid, tor ‘Tom will want us to be perfectly at home here, you know, and | there will be “a perfect jam everywhere else. Good! Ithought you'd like it. Oh, yes,I’ll collect the rest of the girls and bring them to you. You just sit in behind this little 5 o'clock and sort of preside. There. now you won't have to move for an hour and I'm going to bring John Jay Tandem over here, if you don’t mind. He has begged me so many times for au introduc- tion to the irresistible Mrs. Ferret. Ob, you need not shake your fan ct me; you know it’s so; and, Miss Rosebud, if you'll just step out here one moment with me and pomt out the straying lambkins from Mra. Ferret's flock I'll help you bring them in. (Believe I've done it.) For Heewertteute, Qliss Rosebud, let me get You jast one moment by myseM al Here, ip-this window. You must know that-—con- found that waiter; no, I don't want anything. nor the lady. neither—You do, you feel « little faint? Oh, do forgive me; here, waiter, a cup of bouillon, quick. I must be erazy to think you can fly round as you have been ‘lying round with only the ‘Gym.” spread to sustain you heavens! I'm a brute; but oh, Miss Rosebud. I have no thought but for one thing—one wish ever in my heart, and that is—How-de-do, Smiles. With pleasure (confound his impu- dence!) Miss Shallow, may I introduce Mr. Smiles? certainly. — Excuse us, Smiles, but Miss Shallow has lost the buckle off her shoe and we are in search of it. See you again (not this year, Ihope.) Ob, Rosebud, you are an angel to think of that. We should never have sbaken bim in the world, and. your dear little ruse to keep him off leads me to hope that you do love—Why, Mrs. Ferret! after I placed you so nicely behind the lit Rosebud and I are hunting frantically for those frisky lambs of yours?—incautious of me. Mausn't take Miss Hosebud off again? But my dear Mrs, Ferret. I didn’t take her off. We haven't been out of the room. Going! and be- fore Miss Rosebud has had anything to eat. You must let her have a little salad, because— Heavens, Rosebud, my heart wili break if I don'thave another word with you. Teil me, wick, where are you going?’ ‘I am going to ck and Agassiz, and ike i Eta’s and over to Weld & Matthews, and up on Garden street, and down to the Port; and how I am ever to see You again for a moment, heaven only knows." “But while that horrible woman is talking to that other horrible woman let me have but one blessed little word from you. Give me your hand just one instant, to-iet me feel—Too bad. Mrs. Ferret; Miss Rosebud got some salad oii on her glove, I was trying to rub it off, but I can'tseem to. Ifyou would kindly let me have = handkerchief. Now, Rosebad, quick! Buncombe's next.’ ‘Oh, thank you dear- est; I'll be thei five minutes,’ ” —————-eee——_—__— A Pretty Conceit in Decoration. From the Evening World. Fiat brandy flasks are fastened to the wall back of pictures and filled with water, in which vines that live upon water are placed. ‘This Keeps them green and fresh and their sprays draped across the f picture frames or run eatirely sround them, Prhis is an admirable t = cover for an old picture frame or 5 o'clock, and Miss | MEALS SERVED AL FRESCO. Lunch on Tall Stools for Busy Men at Noontime. FOREIGN-LOOKING PERSON in a white apron and snowy linen cap was capering up and down behind a big plate glass window on a W: 2 street at noontime yesterday distribut- ing with wonderful dexterity,and rapidity » series of round splotches of a mysterious yel- low liquid upon a gas-heated iron slab. In one hand he held a small dipper with a long handle and in the other a little shovel with a thin fiat blade, With the dipper he scooped portions of the liquid referred to out of a large silver- plated pot, while the shovel was employed to turn the splotches bot- tom side up as quickly as they had got brown beneath. The operator did not seem to be at all embarrassed by the absorbed attention to his movements of a hungry-looking crowd outside the window, the front line of which was mostly composed of small boys with their noses flattened against the pane. A stop-watch es- tablished a record of seventy cakes finished and delivered on plates in lots of three in a fraction inside of two minutes and eleven seconds, INSIDE THE SHOP, in front, were counters heaped with pies and buns and cakes and ail such things. Beyond were other counters, very long and high, at which men sat in rows and gobbled, with a concentrate d ifftentness upon the food before them, which showed they regarded its con- sumption as a matter of business rather than of pleasure. When people eat for business, as they are apt to do in the middle of the day, they prefer to sit on tail stools; the taller the stools the more expedi- f tiously they can get away with the viands. On the other hand the more attention people devote to eating as a luxury the nearer they want to get to the floor at meals. The ancient Romans, who developed gastronomic science to a point not approached m these days, reclined upon low couches while dining. This is a problem which no philoso- pher hitherto has ever thrown light upon. A SAMPLE LUNCH, A very tall and thin young man ina flannel shirt and giglamps mounted the only stool that chanced to be vacant and goggled hungrily at the colored waiter, who produced a napkin, knife and fork and a glass of ice water in one time wud three motions and awaited the ex- pected order with an expansive smile re- sembling that of Brudder ones in the minstrel troupe. “How much is your regular lunch?" asked the customer, “It depends on wot you eat, sah.” replied the waiter, “You kin ‘git a good meal fer twenty e areg'lar gorge will cost you fo'ty cents, may be.” on give nfe the bill of fare.” “De bill ob fare today, sah, am mutton hash, consummated soup, beef stew, pork chops, liver an’ bacon, mashed potatoes, tried eggs, salad, baked beans, corn cakes, tea and coffee, milk, broad and butter, pie, mustard, vinegar, pepper and salt.” “Well, let me have some hash and mashed potatoes, with-er-pumpkin pie afterward, if you aac Whercupon the waiter lifted up his veice and howled: “One mysterious stranger, with a mash on the side and a punk to come!” ‘Then he turned immediately to a new- comer, who had taken the stool next to the tall young man, and said, in tones scarcely above a whisper: «What can I serve you with, sah?” “I think you may give me some corn cak responded the fresh arrival, who was a fat man in a profuse perspiration. ‘orn fritters front!” yelled the waiter, and the foreign-looking person in the white apron was observed to respousively accelerate his ecapering before the heatedgjron slab in th window, orders for cakes H@ving got a trifle ahead of hina, “Any dessert, sah?” third customer, who hi stew. “Rhubarb pie, if you have it,” was the an- swe eried the waiter of a just finished a plate of ot any rhubarb pie?” called out the waiter, addressing the front part of the restaurant, where the cakes and pastry were kept. But before there was time for a reply the head waiter, who looked asif he might be a Donacer in case of extremity, marched up to the waiter and said sternly: “We don’t ask questions in this establish- And then, himself apostrophizing the pastry department: “Rhuberb pre—FRONT!” ‘The waiter subsided into meekness at this rebuke and gave his next order in a compara- tively gentle tone, ses. FASHIONS FOR MEN, Tarn-Down Collars—Revival of the Cra: vat—Canes and Umbrellas—Black. From the Clothier and Furrishor, All of the leading men’s furnisbers will, from this time forth, keep upon their shelves from three toa half dozen of the new turn down styles of collars as part of the staple stock of the line, The new styles are not—as is the mistaken idea of some—in any measure within the pale of the freak collar influence that struck the realm of fixings like a humorous cyclone last year. They are sensible, comfort- able, unobtrasive and becoming. The judg- ment of the world of fashion will sanction them. A good fingermark of the turn down ten- dency is the fact that a number of the custom- made shirts, with collars attached, have been recently ordered with turn-down collars, and these, concurrently, were cut especially high in the neck, This is @ detail thut should be noted in the purchase of a negligee shirt, A skimpy collar on a negligee shirt, one that is not cut so as to show well above the outing coat, will produce avery sorry and inadequate effect, ‘The revival of the cravat is one of the sur- prises of the season. With the colored shirts @ quict solid color is most effective. But there isa great muitiplicity of patterns and color- ings to choose from. ‘They are not to be worn with the negligee shirt, ‘The unexpected acceptation of the cravat is but another indication of the growing de- mand for tieable goods. The cravats have in- decd quite superseded the buckle made-up goods, The reigning widths are from 1\ to Ly inches. The catch-and-buckle made-up goods, by the way, cannot, in the nature of their construction, be worn with the turn-over collar, and when adjusted to the standing collar the band has a tendency to slip up behind’and show the buckle. ‘This exposare is, of course, untidy and much to be deplored. The Windsor tie has not yet experienced the boom that was predicted for it. When the out- ing season, however, is fairly at its height, the Windsor tie will have its swa: ‘There seems to be another change in the pen- chant for canes, the heavy, decorative handles being once more the vogue. The ornamenta- tion is more elaborate than ever—the silver chasing continuing a greater distance down the tick. Professional men may carry their canes at all’ “urs of the day. During the early days of Juno, when the sun Was so wart and strong, some kind of protec- tion was absolutely necessary against the rays, if a headache was to be averted, there was quite a brisk sale among well-dressed men of light mmer umbrellas, The genius that will put forth some design in sun umbrellas, suitable to the season and its purpose, without being too conspicuous in ensemble, will confer a favor upon perspiring humanity and do himself a good paying turn at the same time. furnishings The craze for black in mei svems to continue. The effort to introduce the wide black silk and satin cravaty with evening dress goes wrongfully and abortively on. The advocates of gloom have even gone to far as to bring about an importation of black lawn to be made into full dress bows. The black straw hat has many devotees and now the black bath- ing suit is the latest of the somber- minded coterie. A rough straw hat of fine quality, both in — and black, is the latest novelty in tile- abet ‘The high silk hat was worn as carly as 1589, as pictures by the famous artist, Albert Durer, ow. There are a ni sashes bidding for iene ade ero cig tein ver! to bo avoided. ‘The Beaaley sash is” conceived effcet, avoiding “Sleeping suits for gentlemen” is tho nomenclature by which modermzed pajamas are described in London, The black straw hat has undergone the penalty that often occurs to thorongh- ured in the race. It made the running too strong at the start, with the result of being 800n done for. inanimate CONTENTMENT. t Prince Bismarck Says it Cannot and Shouid Not Be. A letter from Hamburg to the London Tele graph, June 8, says: As ata leisurely pace wy were strolling down hill by another tortuovs woodland path, the labor question cropped np, apropos of the recent miners’ congress in Hel- gium. After frankly recognizing and praising the moderation of Mr. Burns’ address to the delegates, Prince Bismarck abruptly broke out with: “Tell me, did you ever know a banker with a million who was contented, or # scien- tist, politician, artist, lawyer, satisfied with his gainsand position? Iwill go further and ask you, have you ever kuown acontented man? I mean among the rich, the successfal, the highly born, or highly placed. How, then, shall the workingman be contented, whose life is necessarily one of few pleasures and many troubles, of frequent privation and rare indul gence? ‘Suppose you give him a pound a da in a fortnight’s time his wife will want an extra shilling or two per diem for her children’s adornment or her own dress and will persever- ingly inoculate the husband with her own dis- satisfaction. You know how enormously, how amazingly their life conditions have been ameliorated during the past fifty years. Have they ever achieved contentment for one single t what real grievances they still have right themselves by natural processes, as they will gradually and in due time. Above all, let them continue to improve their position’ without state interference, which can only do them more harm than good, besides inflicting irre- trievable injury upon numbers of other people quite as worthy of consideration as artivans T call it intrusive and tate toa laborer how many shall not work, and to usurp his rightful au- thority over his children in respect to bread- earning occupations, To make workmen con- tented by legal regulations is a mere exng- geration of the fancy—a phantom, evading the grasp whenever approached. If human con- tentment could be attained it would be a mis- fortune. What could be more disastrous than a dead level, « millennium of universal satis- faction, blighting ambition, paralyzing pro- gress and leading to moral stagnation? es ‘20°. ia AMERICA AND ENGLAND. A Writer Contragts the Two People Gencrousiy, impertinent to dic- y hours he shall or From the Fortnightly Review. _ The unadulterated strain of English blood in America and certain other small sections of charming and cultivated people not English still possess this steadiness and poise which I have elsewhere called moral inertia and are quite free from the vulgar “bounce” and boastfulness, But these are no longer the dominant classes in American life. Democratic institutions have tended to their disfranchise- ment. The remuant, possessing a refined tradition of manners and of culture and en- dowed horeditarily with the love of what- soever things are noble and of good report, comparatively speaking, is very small, Not unlike the class of the Faubourg St. Germain in Paris, it lives in ag unobtrusive an alion- ation as possible in the midst vast number of good natured and com monplace vulgarians. ‘Its function the tending of the vestal fires, It is an aristocracy beyond question more exclu- sive than the aristocracy of England. Levites of the arena of the best in American life, their own self-preservation almost demands’ their isolation. Their condition is pathetic, were it not so enviable, in the distinctions attaching to their sacred obligation of preserving the na- tional records and keeping the fires ali At times they half believe they prefer the “stink- ing breath” and the “sweaty nightcap” of the rampant democracy fast developing in England to the exasperating habit of gaucherie mani- fested in every gesture by people given only to pennies, psalms or platitudes. For. though the gap between the higher and the lower in England is yearly narrowing, still there is a pleasant deference and that habit of respect which leads to ease of living there. In America the presumptuous familiarity of manner, born usually of the very kindest and most unselfish feelings. is extremely odious, and none the less so for the merit of its origin. American bonhomme seems to be an endeavor to be one thing to all men. This is not at all the same thing as being all things to all men, ‘The Pauline diplomacy is an ideal that neither England nor America ‘hay reached. ‘The self- centered indifference of Englisnmen is as unfavorable to this ideal as the hearty abandon of indiscriminate intimacy that marks the American type. The Christian conception of the fellowship of mankind and love of oue's EXERCISE FOR WOMEN. The Benefits of Walking and the Proper Way to Walk. ‘From Harper's Bazar. ‘An old Swiss guide conducting @ small party to one of the heights near Chamonix, from which the view of the grand, silent Mont Blane is superb, gave one of the truest and soundest lessons in the simple matter of waik- ing Lever heard. It was early morning when we setforth, the dew was on the grass, the sun shone brightly but gently, a herd of goats with tinkling bells, followed by an idle, loitering boy, kept us company for some distance along the brawling littie stream that separates the village from the heights. We were fresh and eager, and with the strength of the night's rest sped along far in advance of old Jacques, who came he said at last, as he quickened step and came up with a smile and a droll twin- kle in his eye, “you make me much surprise! I thought in America the ledies ride the time im carriage; mais voila! you are great walkers; so quick, so actif, It may be you are long time in Sw-tzerland; you have climbed the Matterhorn, and the few miles to La Flegere et La Brereute is small matter; une petite promenade, n’est-ce pas?” His manner was so respectfui, 80 courteous, that for a moment we were embarrassed with tho compliments to our pedestrian powers, but soon we caught the naive and delicate sarcasm of his words and humbly confessed it was our first climb or even lengthy walk in Switzerland. We had been advised to do it, in preference to the jogging mule ride, by » young Scotch woman at our hotel, who had much experience among the mountains. “But, madame,” continued old Jacques, “Mademoiselle Cockle comes to Switzerland these three summers; and at home in Scotland she keeps herself in ‘the practice to walk. Et | maintenant, you begin today. You go at full speed; your strength will fail the first half of the journey; you will wish to be dead before | you come to the end. You talk with your friend all the time; you keep the mouth’ open; you will rasp the throat with the breath. For the steps, you go first short, then long, and from the side to the side, voila! Steady, even step, comme ca; deep, quiet breath through the nos- trils, the lips closed. Eh bien! vous etes en haut de bonne heure sans fatigue!” We did not, of course, follow this good advice more than Sfteen minutes, and then relapsed to our careless, wilful way. As predicted, the exhaustion of the day was such that it was the first and only experiment in serious walking and climbing during ourstay. But old Jacques was right; bis years of experiepce had given him the science of walking in a nutshell, METHOD AND PRINCIPLE. It is no new thing to say that method and principle are the secret springs of success, Every practical worker knows that from a sew- ing machine to a steam engine the foundation of skill in its management lies first in brain work—a comprehension of what is to be done and how to do it—rather than in an immediate and blind use of muscle and machine. The artist sees his picture, lays it ont before his mind’s eye, masses the light and shade before he touches charcoal or color to canvas, The athlete, the swimmer, the rower knows first the effect of each various stroke, with its length of curve and direction. Unconsciousness, in- voluntary action comes Jater, bringing deftness, abandon, grace and strength. This analysis of technique—regard of first principles—miay, in the matter of recreation, have a touch of the Englishman’s habit of tuking one’s pleasure seriously, but it means life, as a whole, taken strongly and always at its best. NEED OF EXERCISE. Exercise, with both men and women, is a question of intelligence—a consideration of kind and quality rather than of dogree. The subject has for women peculiar embarrassments and limitations, particularly in the close, house-bound life of the city, In the countr; there are the natural morning duties, wit! open windows and flooding sunlight; the walk to the depot or for the mail, quict and calming; the long piazzas. In the city nine women out of ten are victims to morning gown and slip- pers. A man’s hat, coat and gioves hang in the allway, always in readiness. What would he say if boots, trousers and coat were to be changed, after an hour, before he could get out fora breath of air? While many women still @llow the traditions of delicacy and help- lessness that have for so many years enshrined and enteebled their sex, yet they have come, all the same, to understand, through the ef- forts of many of their sisters who must per- force be strong, that a poor physique pute a woman at odds and at. the mercy of others when the stress of life comes. In the mn creed to whick women are giving allegiance it will come to be an article in time that weak- neighbor has become far riper in America than | in England, and it is usually more genuine when it exists, But there is very little of the actual spirit of Christianity in either country. ‘There, as here, Jesus, whom haters of the Jews, with perverse thoughtlessness, still pre- fer to call Christ, ix the most discussed but the least understood person in history. In America people are often wooed to churches where they are told nine times what Paul said to ouce what Jesns said, aud their attendance is won by theatrical devices which in England would be thought very bad taste indeed, ected ee A Boastful Boy’s Downfall. From the Cliristian Advocate, A little boy who had won a prize for learning Scripture verses and was greatly elated there- by was asked by a minister if it took him a long time to commit them. “Oh, no,” said the boy learn “Ci boastfally, can any verse in the Bible in five minutes.” n you, indeed? And will you learn one for me?” “Yes, sir. “Then in five minutes from now I would like very 1nuch to hear you repeat this verse,” said the minister, handing him the book and point- aoe the ninth verse of the eighth chapter of Esther: time in the third month, that is, the moath Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mor- decai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing there- of, and unto every people after their language and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language.” Master Conceit entered upon his task with confidence, but at the end of one hour, to his mortification, could not repeat it without slip. a ea Written for Tux Evenixe STaR.; Look Upward. Look upward, O, comrades, whate'ér is life seem- ing, Let Hope soar on high as you toil in the race; ‘The top of the mountain refulgent is gleaming While dark are the shadows that sleep at its base, Look upward, 0, brave hearts, to conquer be willing; On high plant your colors, and ne'er let them trail; The sweet-sounding strains of the skylark are triling While mute is the robin far down in the vale. Look upward, O, tollers, in ways dark and dreary, For firm is the rock tho’ unstable the sand; Dim glowworms bewilder the wanderers weary, But lights on the ciiffs guide the sailors to land. High hung in the ether thestars shine divinely When sinks the bright sun in the golden-hued w Beyond earthly shadows fair Hope smiles be- nignly, And beckons us on to the land of the blest. —Francis C. Lona, 9 A Notable Fact Explained. From the Somerville Journal. Seaside flirtations do not generally last, possi- bly because, like the house mentioned in the parable, they are genorally builded on the sand. ‘Taking a Practical View of It. From the Quincy (11!.) Whig. ‘ W. H. Hinriebsen of the Herald haga thir- teen-year-old boy, Eddie, who is not only a lad ac T'm afraid not; the bone is ereanea ava Yul pa apt be it at the Srrndel nid the 1d, “theres Pe ‘hen were the King’s scribes called at that { ness, uniess mherited, is sin, The young wo- man of vhe future will fulfil the poet's ideal: “she guve him her hand; it was not a helpless one,” WALKING AS AN EX=RCISE. Walking brings into play a greater number of muscles than any of the simpler modes of exercise. but to walk correctly and easily is as imuch a matter of study and practice as to exe- cute @ brilliant piano-forte sonata—the one a training of arm, hand and fingers, the other of limb and foot. There comes first the poise of the body; next, the manner of breathing; then the swing of the limb from the hip—movement as to direction and length of step; lastly, the carriage of arms and hands. This is the detail of walking. To insure a good walk and car- riage each must be considered and practiced in turn, Standing firmly on both feet, the poise is given by elevating the chest, and ap- parcntly leaning forward until it is on a line | with the toes. Apparently only, because this isthe true balance of the human figure. It gives a sense of firmness at the waist line in the back, contracts the muscles across the shoulders, lifts the head and places its weight upon the neck, where it belongs; throws the arms to the front instead of against the sid adding to the width of the body, which is awkward, “Try this position, and # sense of power, of command. of freedom is instantly feit, It is like au inspiration. The Greeks weil understood this law of balance, and it 1s that kiowledge which gave the impress of nobility, of strength and of grace as well to their statues. The games, the festivals, the lite in the open air, gave them, too, no lack of models, THE BREATHING. The position secured, breathing with the muscles below the diaphragm—the lips closed, except for an occasional respiration to free the lungs, never an inspiration—is a matter of practice which in time becomes habit, It will cep one erect and give strength when nothing else will, The movement is straight forward, with a slight turn of each foot to the right and left, the weight of the body balanced on the bail or spring of the foot. If the touch is too far forward it gives a “skippy” walk: if too far back there is a constant thud of the heel,wbhich jars the walker with every step. The swing of the limb is from the hip, not from the knee, which is but slightly bent. ‘Ube arms are to be carried as necessary appendages in walking, swinging from the shoulder, the elbows oblit- erated, with no more motion in the hand than toa ball on the end of a length of cord—easy, not stiff. The principles well in mind, with the daily R ‘actice comes unconsciousuers, pleasure, de- tata long stretch of by-path or roadway. One learns just one’ muscle and ner strength; how far to test without strain or injury. ‘The enthusiasm is contagious; three, four, half a dozen friends begin to practice together, and the walking club soon becomes a popular thing in city and village. The stronger members have consideration for the weaker, and before a great while they are all pretty evenly graded. The weight of clothing must be reduced to the minimum, A plain round skirt of dark color, blouse waist, easy shoes with broad sole and low wide heel, a light hat to shade the face, a tennis cap, a narrow leather strap across shoulder and chest, holding a compact roll in which area jacket and a few light toilet arti- les—this is the outfit for a short walking tour. cle The costume may be as natty and becoming as the tennis suit of a fashionable belle, IX EUROPE, Many women in Europe belong to the cele- brated Alpine Club and take as much delight in the exploits among peaks and glaciers as their husbands and brothers, This is more heroic than wise, according to our American ideas, and the Appalachian Clab of this coun- try seems to show no such ambition and emula- tion, yet anything which makes fashion foliow 4 i; i Ha fi i F i 3! i joyment of the by-paths valleys under the shadow of the dark, restful Welsh mountains; the night at the country inn—no hurry, no ure and but emali i option of the railway when- ever the trip w tedious, Are not these pleasures worthy of importation to this side of the water? RY eS Sa PROGRESS IN CHINA. The Celestial Emperor’s New Depart- ure—Setting Aside Old Customs. Tokio Correspondence New York Tribune, May 26. The Emperor of China has just made his an- nual pious pilgrimage to the eastern tombs of his ancestors, an important state and religious function which no son of heaven ever ventures to neglect. The present occasion is especially worthy of notice for the fact that, for the first time in the history of the empire, the emperor allowed himself to be seen by the people and even conversed with some of them. Indeed, he traveled on his return trip very much like any European sovereign might do. People thronged the highway by thousands as he passed, and gazed with wonder and awe upon the first Chinese emperor eyer seen by public eyes, Afew bolder spirits actually ventured to come forward and present petitions to him. stonishment of others, if not of them- , they were not killed on the ot, nor dragged away in chains to have splinters driven under their nails and their fingors twisted from their sockets with hot pincers. A few years ago such would surely have been their fates. But on this occasion they were not even repulsed. They were actually welcomed. The emperor stopped. He spoke to them. He received their petitions graciously, And they ll live! There are those mandarins who look upon this new departure with horror. as presaging rain, But in this liberal policy the emperor is understood to have the cordial sup- port of all his chief ministers of state. THE DIPERIAL PARTY TRAVELING, The imperial party consisted of the empress dowager, the emperor and empress and four ladies of the court. They left the palace be- fore sunrise on April 4, the empress dowager being about a mile in advance of the emperor and his wife. bree special “traveling pal- aces” or resting places were erected at equal distances along the route. The emperor hada chair, or palanquin, a cart and a horse to vary his mode of travel. He is described as a hand- some youug man, with «pale and very intel- ligent’ faze, while the empress dowager's features are said to betoken great force of character. Everything was irreprouchably fresh; a somewhat unusual feature of oriental processions, The chairs, carts, accoutrements and uniforms of the troops were all new. The number of persous in the cortege was more than 10,000. On the fourth day the tombs were ached, aud the imperial party stopped at a lama temple, Next day sacrifices were offered to the imperial ancestors and the cere- mony of repairing the grave by formally plac- ing a handful of earth in each tumulus’ was performed. The return journey began on the followiag day. On her return the young em- press performed her first state function. Ac- companied by some ladies of the court she re- vived the old custom of worshiping at the temple of the goddess of sericulture. Oue feature of the ceremouy is the picking of mul- berry leaves, trees being planted for the pur- pose in the temple grounds. AN EXTRAORDINARY INNOVATION, How extraordinary an innovation in imperial etiquette is that made by the emperor in thus traveling openly and freely mingling with his subjects may be appreciated only when one re- members that in no other country in the world have so much pains been taken to convert the respect and loyalty shown toa sovereign into the national worship of an office identified with the sway of the king of heaven on earth, acting through his vicegerent at Pekin. These efforts have not been made in any recent time and the originator of the whole pageantry of Chinese royalty, including both the intricate court cere- monial and the numerous forms of obedience expressing the humiliation of the subject be- fore the imperial office, is forgotten in antiquity that cannot be fathomed. Such changes as have been made in 2,000 years have been in- troduced imperceptibly and the court officials can always, and as a mutter of fact do. quote precedents of centuries ago to decide trifling points of procedure, and for the proper cele- bration of important events. Woe unto them if the precedent is not applicable, and some lynx-eyed censor is sure to discover the mistake {if sip there be. A case happened only last | Year mm connectioa with the marriage of the youag emperor. The board of ceremonies fixed the second day before the marriage tor the worship of heaven and earth, whereas it should have been the first day, or that imme- diately before the August ceremony. The biun- der was discovered, aud by the ex-empress re- gent herself, and the delinquents, including two senior secretaries, were deprived of steps of rank! One was still more unfortuna Li-Hung-Tsao, although a near reiative of the great Li-Hung-Chang, was cashiered, SOVEREIGN AND PEOPLE, So vast, indeed, has been the gulf of sepa- ration between the sovereign and his people that many articles bave been exclusively asso- ciated with the former and therefore forbid- den to the latter, as, for instance, the color ively the imperial em- The kotow, or form of worship, is ren- dered not merely'to the person of the sov- ereign in Pekin but in every form in which he delegates his authority to others. It is well known that the imperial edict is always re- ceived with the nine prostrations aud the burning of incense. But it is not so gener- ally understood that aa official of even su- perior rank has to perform the kotow on meet- ing another official who has recently quitted the imperial presence. Similar obersaiices are paid duriug the week contuining his birthday to the emperor in the imperial temple, to be found an every provincial capital, ‘Ihe fact that the emperor's proper name is uever mentioned and that to pronounce it is a criminal offense shows how exclusive the dynasty policy of the Chinese has always been. On ascending the throne the ruler takes what is called a “kwon hao,” and vy that name he becomes known to his people and to history. The present en- peror, however, seems inclined to sweep away | much of this fabric of tradition and establish between himself and the people the common- sense relations that exist in other lands. He means, in other words, to be an emperor, but nota god. eee Among the Mystics. From the London Faition of the Herald. Ata time when mysticism, the occult sciences and necromancy generally are so much in vogue itis curious that nobody has thought of re- issuing the Rev. Alfred Vaughn's remarkable gether the best history of ancient and modern mysticism ever written. It gives a clear in- sight into the various revivals, 80 to speak, of mysticism which have characterized past cen- turies. Thus we find that in the thirtecuth cen- tury people were going wild over palmistry, in the sixteenth century there was a rage for card fortunes, whereas in the last century the fash- ion for magnetism existed very much as it existe today. At this period flourished the soi- disant Count Cagliostro, with his Seraphina, his Egytian Lodge; his elixirs and red powders, his,wagical caraffes and his phosphorous glor- ies; Father Gassner, with his miraculous cures; Mesmer, attracting Paris aud Vienua to his darkened rooms and hidden music; the Count St. Germain, declaring himself three hundred years cld and professing the occult science of ond manufacturing; Brahmins, and finall, St. Maurice, ing to converse wit ! a fi i i F e f H i book “Hours with the Mystics” (1856), alto- | ARRESTED FOR KISSING, | An Engaged Couple Fined and Insulted fa Montreal Asspecial to the Philadelphia Press from Montreal, Quebec, July 3, says: The Euglish- speaking citizeus of Montreal are excited to night over the cross and unjust treatment that Mr. Gordon, a wealthy young Englishman, and his affianced bride received today at the hands of Kecorder Demoatigny. Some weeks ago Miss L, the beautiful daughter of an aristocratic English family, came to Montreal to meet her intended hus | band, who for the past two years has been #o- journing in South America. The lady stopped with friends in @ fashionoble Union avenue residence. Monday Mr. Gordon arrived and put up at @ leading hotel Of course he has since been im constant attendance on the young lady and last evening took supper with the family with whom she "s After suppers party was made ap © Walk tw the Mountain Park, but on the btw 4 the lovers, as lovers will, became separal ¥ and not knowing from the rest of the they were doing any harm they sat down on a park seat, A lover's kiss had just been exc! whee suddenly two men appeared before the aston- ished pair and attempted to arrest them for disorderly conduct im the park. As neither carried any insignia of office Mr. Gordon thought the men were rouchs, and calling om his fiancee to flee he promptly began thrashing the intruders. As he i a strapping young fellow both bore many marks of his scientific ‘ore he was finally overpowered, being overtake tation and Ic Later in the night friends succeeded in fiading them and bailed them out, inly was too ill to leave her bed, rdon Was giveu a private trial by Judge mitigny. The kissing being ad mitt ize would hear of no excnse, He sai lish people must live up to their own standard of morality, of which they brag- ged 0 loudly. They were fond of reprosching the French with laxity of morals while they pretended to be very rigid. A park at night was no place for kissing he said, and he then fined Gordon $15 and the lady €10, though she said in broken French: ’ » marry dat girl L advise you watch her closely, and if you marry her watch her closer, her morals be bad.” This was too much for the Englishman and he sprang forward to floor the judge, but Col, Hughes, chief of police. iuterfered and got the justly euraged Mr. Gordon out of court, A suit for heavy damages is threatened against the city, LORD WOLS! Sir Redvers Buller to Become Adjutant General of the British Army, In the house of commons Thursday night Mr, Stanhope. secretary of state for war, said the government was still cousidering the advisa- bility of abolishing the post of commander-in- chief of the forces, He announced that Sit Redvers Buller would succeed Lord Wolseley as adjutant general of the army. Lord Wolse- jey's retirement, be said, was not due to any difference with himself, The war secretary further announced that Gen, Sir Frederick Roberts had consented to serve two years longer as commander-in-chicf in India. Respecting the report of the army commission Mr, Stanhope said the govern- ment thought thet the council on defenses pro- posed by the commission might be tound within the cabinet. Other recommendations of the commission would also be adopted, GROUP OF TINTYPE GIRLS. They Have Lots of Fun, But They Worry the Poor Photographer, From the Boston Globe. They come in lave in the afternoon, all tall ing at once, “We want our tintypes taken.” “Yes, all together.” “In a group.” “Auy particular style you'd hike?” “Oh, we want something picturesque. Yes, we want it artistic, an outdoors scene, you know.” The photogrepher quickly wheels up « mountain view for background, waltzes @ wooden-looking “rock” into the foreground, Props up 4 rustic fence at one side and throws down a shaggy grass-suggesting mat before it, While he is composing this medley from the inexhaustible beauties of nature the girls dis- course on the subject in hand, “Belle, you sit on the rock and I will stand beside you; Grace can lean on the fence and May. you sit on the floor. We out to havea book to be looking at. Ah, here's an album; that wilido. Dora, which side of my face would be the best to have take: “Tho outside,’, said Dora promptly. “+I wish we had « parasol,” says Grace, “Be quick as you can, rrapts the pho tograpler, realizing how precious is every mo- ment of the fast fading light. Dora bestows upon him a look which plainly says “with in- tent to annihilate.” “We pay you by the job not by the hour, De not presume to hurry us.” At last they locate themselves according to the dictates of their own sweet and wayward fancies, ‘Ah, my,” exclaims Belle from the rock, “‘whgt an awfully uncomfortable thing this isto sit on.” «Put your hand on my shoulder, Grace.” Finally all seems in readiness, when just as the photographer 18 about to remove the cap to expose the plate May suddenly exclaims from the floor: “Hold on a minute, Grace, you ought not to be standing; you are too tail, Change places | with me.” Then ensues a generai scrambling and te arranging, Belle improviug the opportunity te try for a softer spot on the rock. “Am I looking at the right place?” May anxiously asks of the photographer, as if the sun would certainly fail to do its desired work if her head was not turned at just the most | becoming angle. replies the much-harrassed age addressed heroically choaing back unholy | utterances, “Sit perfectly still no} He removes the cap and a brief and blessed silence ensues. When he replaces the cap for @ moment ihe chorus breaks out: “Oh, my goodness—dear me—I mever—why, Iwas just— “Keep just as you are,” says the grapher, cuthoritatively, unexpectedly remove ing the cap again and thus effectively shutting off the threatened deluge of remarks. | The poor light necessarily made the ex- | posure unusually long, and when at last it is over a volley of deep and reveugeful groans comes from the girls as the photographer dis ppears with his plate, ‘hen their tongues are loosed. ly, I feel all tied up in a bo oodness, but I'm tired standing so long.” «I never knew any one to be so long takinge tintype.” “Ob, I feel as if I had just hada tooth pulled) | so thankfal it is over. “Oh, see this picture of some girls in & boat, Why didn’t he say he had « boat?” | “I don’t think he is very agreeable, any way. Ali he thinks of is to get it over with.” | “Oh, bere he comes with the pictures,” Now they gather around the man with the pictures, all talking excitedly. “Ob, oh, just look at me.” “Just see the way my eyes look.” “My head is beld too high and I asked “Oh, see how my dress looks,” &c., till at last they relinquish the artistic treasures long enough to have them put in enve! Then they pay for them and go out, leaving the long-suffering photographer tree to relieve | bis overwrought nerves in any form of be thinks will be most soothing to his and expressive of his sentiments. ohare!" shouted the Ntle pink Clore ‘To’ or afoss eet Sreretere. The has increased ite duty upon agin bensiee and ou,