The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 19, 1904, Page 8

T HE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1904 STUDIEAS \‘ ' and the s 3 for the vocalist perfectéd the mechanical roice to the highest deg: perfection of breath con- 'd an exquisite quality of t this is only the means to is exvressed through his voice. a beautiful voice may be the ture, and as such deserves no a more ext credit than any other beau- iful physical feature. The art of song is the union of poetry and music. There he who would grasp it 1 all its fullness must be as appreciative of the literature which he sings as of the music. Every singer £hould make a study of his language, and of other languages as well, for each anguage reacts upon the other and en- ables him to have a broader scope. He shoul® study carefully the skeleton work the language and know its pos- eibilities for artistic expression. The proper use of consonants, the quality of vowel sounds and the power to join them toget nd a distinct enuncia- tion should his constant care. Most in the study of a language for pur one finds the great f pecially in and it is seldom nglish-speaking singers enunci- arly bring out the nobility of he language YA gk With the old-time singers the chief dea was vocal perfec During the period in the development of music ver a hundred years ago, composers wrote largely to please singers; the words to their songs were a secondary deration and served the singer merely as a peg upon which to hang With the advent of Schu- his immortal songs arose the necessity for singers who could sing them. Vogl, fine singer for his time, close companion of Schubert, once the statement that a new school e production was needed in order in singers to interpret well these s largely because Schu- T expected the singer to interpret the words of the poem as well as the music. The idea of the importance of the words in singing reached its cul- f voi mination in Richard Wagner. .Here the | word is the all-important factor, and music & secondary consideration. Wag- er's influence department of musical life, and espe- ciglly so in the art of singing. It is ertainly true that vocally speaking Wagner does mot give the singer the opportunity to bring into play all his vecal resources, but demands strength, virility and declamatory powers. On the other hand, while the vocal side of singing may not reach its highest pin- nacle with Wagner, he opened up new fields of interpretative methods which have been felt ever since. To-day the singer must have lived himself into the words which he sings, and then be- gides have at his command the perfet- tion of vocal equipment. It will at once be seen how much higher is the plane of the modern singer than that of the singers of the olden time. 1 oo o Of all languages perhaps English is the most abused by singers. It is by no means easy to vocalize beautifully and at the same time sing English in- telligibly. This difficulty, added to the fact that a majority of great songs are in foreign languages, may be some rea- scn for the neglect of English among singers. But for one to sneer at our Janguage as one unfitted for singing is the variest snobbery. It is to be re- gretted that the literature of English songs is mot chosen from among the works of our best poets. In fact, it is decidedly inferior. Surely our grand old language, which served the genius of a Shakespeare, needs no defense as 1 moods and the phases of the human heart. And then, from a purely tech- nical standpoint, it surely has the pos- sibilities for producing pure vowel unds and a pure legato style of sing- ing. As a matter of fact English has a weaith of vowel sounds, and, whiié this presents new difficulties, it also presents the possibility for larger de- velopment. 9 i In the study of songs the singer should first of all study the words and look into the possibilities of expression. A study which presents a never-ceasing source of joy is to take sentence by sentemce the words of a song and con- trast the vowel sounds with one an- other, as one might think of a kaleido- scopic suctession of colors. Then there should be the careful effort on the part of the interpreter to bring into prom- inen.e those words which have especial signilcance or are charaeteristic in any manncr of the poem. Let him devote himself also to bringing out the accent and cmaphasis. In other words, a truly sood interpreter of songs should be a good reader of verses. Medern :music, cspecially, with its complicated harmonies, makes great dvmands apon the broad musical edvca- ti~n of the singer. Mere knowledge of r | linist, who knows how to phrase weil command of all his vocal | just as a magnificently built | ch is capable of r onding to istic demand awaits the Pa- ¢ who able to use its re- sources for artistic expression. There- fore s in the highest sense, 10, ssessed of all vocal re-| nts, has beyond that a wealth insight and recreative power has been felt in every | its capabilities of expressing the | | veice will not suffice for the interpreta- tion of the best modern songs, for the voice has become more and more recog- | nized as a musical instrument and as! |such is so intertwined with the ac- companiments that it is impossible for | the singer to do justice to his part of the song without a knowledge of the in- strumental score. Besides this a knowl- edge of tomposition and the laws of musical form will give the singér the power to build up consistently and log- | jcally his climaxes. And it is along this very line that many singers with well-trained voices are deficient. H | | There is no better influence for a | | singer than to hear performances of 1 al dramas, where the language rd in its beauty and purity; the characters must be inter- reted and where he may obtain cor- | 1s of phrasing in speech. Aside | from this, the emotional development | which comes from listening to plays is lof lasting value to the®singer. Take | i the combination of a really artistic vio- | ere and whose tone is rich, as a model for vocal beauty, and tHe great art of an actress like Mme. Bernhardt, who | perfect command of her language, |and from these two the singer may derive an inspiration for artistic in- terpretation which few teachers are | capable of giving. | An example of the potency of the lan- guage when reinforced by music is to be found in Richard Strauss’ setting of Tennyson’s poem, “Enocn Arden,” and in many of the same composer’s songs | the subtle use of the declamatory sty where the language is all-important, in contrast with lyric phrases, where the voice is given a show, is a study that should interest all singers. " % | The singer of to-day, aside from be- | ing equipped with voice, musicianship and a knowledge of the languages, must have at his corzmand a wealth of mental and emotiCnal sympathies. He must be able to portray all phases of emotional life, from the most som- ber and tragic all through the gamut | to the light, the fantastic and the hu- morous. He must be able clearly to produce the mood of the composer and poet. In this respect the singer of songs has a niche all by himself. He must be able, without the use of stage | effects, scenery or other illusion, to | carry his audience with him through | all climes, seasons, moods and phases of artistic expression. The time has gone by forever when a singer by shouting a high C or sing- ing a sentimental ballad can lay claim to being an artist. The interpreter of | to-day who can stand before a large | audience and reveal to them one by | |one the exquisite beauties of the | “Dichterliebe” cycle of Schumann does | | not represent merely a vocalist, but | |an artist with a noble mission of re- | | vealing the inner ideals of the human | | heart, and thus elevating his hearers. | How much nobler the aim of such an | artist than to be merely idolized for | | the gifts which nature has bestowed | | upon him! The very fact that the aim | | of the singer should be the recreating | and vitalizing of the wonderful works | of song literature is.the best reason for' the perfection of all his vocal re- | sources. In the act of interpretation | he should be unhampered by restric- | tions of a bad method, improper | breath control or ignorance of the laws of vocal production. Of course it is not possible to lay | down laws and rules for all voices |and varieties of faults, but there are | |certain fundamental principles ol‘ voice production that hold good at all times. Among these the breath and | its control are undoubtedly the most | important. The throat, the relaxation of all the muscles around it, including | the jaw and the tongue, and the con- ducting of tone to the proper reson- ance cavities, are matters which are | universally necessary. and recognized. | In thus separating these two portions | of the voice for analytical purposes, we must realize that in the actual pro- | duction of a tone they cannot be taken | apart. Each one depends on the other ! 1 and the study of the vocalist is to get the perfected adjustment of each to | the other. This is a life study and a never ending source of interest, work | and gratification. St. Leuis Notes. | | One of the largest and most valuable | collections of Indian relics in the United States, the property of General John T. Wilder of Knoxville, will be exhibited at the St. Louis Exposition by the State of Tennessee. An elephant .made entirely from al- monds will stand in the Palace of Agri- culture at the World’s Fair. P. D. Bane, the owner of a large almond orchard near Orland, Cal., contributed the nuts for the construction of the unique ex- hibit. The almond elephant will occupy space in the big California exhibit. J. B. Whitehawk, a nephew of Sit- | ting Bull, the famous Sioux chieftan, has been assigned by the Columbus, | Ohio, police department during the | World’s Fair. Whitehawk lives at 263 Davis street, Columbus, and has made a good record in the secret service de- partment. A rare collection of orchids, many be- ing new to this country, from the Phil- ippine Islands, was recently received in St. Louis, where they will be kept in hothouses until next spring, when they will be transferred to the conservatories in the Palace of Horticulture. Yankee Enterprise. The American commercial invasion of England is fertile of stories of Yankee M shrewdness. An especially good one re- counts that an enterprising Yankee came over to England fand decided to open a shop in Birmingham. He ob- tained premises next door to a man who also kept a shop of the same de- scription, but was not very pushing in his business methods. The methods of the Yankee, however, caused the older trader to wake up, and with the spirit of originality strong upon him, he af- fixed a notice over his shop with the words, “Established fifty vears,” paint- ed in large letters. Next day the Yankee to this with a notice over his_store to this effect: “Kstab- lished yesterday; no old stock.” 4 ——ITHE SAN BRANCISCO CALL JOHN D. SPRECKELS, Proprietor . .« + . .. ... Address All Communications to JOHN McNAUGHT, Manager Publication Office vesesnan Third and Market Streets, S. F. FRIDAY .. 5.55: MR. CLEVELAND’'S CALL. R. CLEVELAND has issued 2 call to the Democ- racy, which is a reiteration of his former state- ments of his position. It is partly on the lines of Mr. Olney’s speech at the New York dinner, and aside from proposing to reopen the closed chapter of ex- pansion presents little that is new. Its only adroit fea- ture is the subjunctive statement about the Panama mat- ter, which leaves open the way to indorse what has been done, provided that we have no part in the changes of sovereignty on the isthmus. The statement has features in éommon with the opin- | ions of the leaders of the Whig party, after it was mori- bund and its membership had scattered to the Free Soil- ers and the Knownothings. As late as 1860 it was supposed to be possible to call Whiggery out of its grave by the candidacy of Bell and Everett, but this proved impossible, though no one lacked in respect for the personal motives of those gentlemen, and none ques- tioned their patriotism. But there was other patriotism and there were other patriots, and the times had so changed "that the Whig party had become a part of the political paleontology of the country, and its remains " were among the fossils of history. Mammoth fossils. they may have been, but they were evidence of former and not existing life. The Democratic party is measurably in the same con- dition. No one pretends that the Republican party is without flaw. But in its strength and its flaws it is now representative of the average genius and aspirations of the country. The people realize the need of having things done, and the Republican party is the existing in- strument of action. Nations. never set up and approve a reactionary poli- cy. H they did, we might expect the United States to | return to reliance on the Virginia and Kentucky resolu- tions of 1708 and 1799, and to clamor for the restoration of slavery and the interpretation of the constitution as a rope of sand. Parties are not obsoleted for action, but for the lack of it. The Democratic party had its oppor- tunity in the early weeks of 1861, when action would have averted the Civil War. But it failed to act, and let time pass in which the Confederacy equipped itself for war and the Union slept, not upon its arms, for it had none. For that lack of action it was condemned and did not regain public confidence until its fortunes were rep- resented by the dominating personality of Mr. Cleve- land. But then the promised action an the tariff, which secured his second election, failed so miserably that he was compelled to denounce the failure as “a record of perfidy and dishonor.” Again the opportunity for action was offered to it when the pinch of hard times left its deep mark on the flesh of business, and the public credit was about to be sucked into the vortex. In that crisis the party not only failed, but it deserted him and left him to tread the wine press alone and attacked and repudiated him. The Re- publican party, emerging from defeat, acted, and the re- sults are all around us in the superior prosperity of the country since 1807. Mr: Cleveland does not seem to understand that it is not him but his party that is dis- trusted, that has been repeatedly weighed and found wanting. As it failed twice to respond to and follow his leadership, neither he nor all the priests and prophets can guarantee that another trial would find in it a proper instrument of the country’s progress and protection. The only effect of Mr. Cleveland’s latest appeal will be to act as a corkscrew to open the vials of Mr. Bryan’s wrath, and that 6f the Democratic members of Congress who esteem it a pleasure to repudiate Mr. Cleveland, his advice and all of his works and ways. The country is a different country from that of 1892, and the Democ- | racy is a different Democracy from that which was led by Jackson and Polk. It embodies all of the reaction- ary elements and its spirit is destructive and not con- structive. Parties are not controlled by the sentiment of their minority, but by that of their majbrity. and the majority and all of the active and organized forces of the party are against Mr. Cleveland and will make no rapprochement, even though he go far, as he does, to invite it. The Republican party is induced to sobriety of mind by the appearance he presents, for to parties in this country he has become a legend that reads, “Remember Death.” The party in power has in its ears the voice of conscience, summoning to care~and patience in its policy and courses, and is urged forward by the demands of the country that our position in the world shall not be re- ceded from. nor our domestic progress Slackened by doubtful experiments. When the Republican party is ousted from power, it will not be because of prompt ac- tion in national emergencies, but for lack of it. As far as human wisdom can discern causes now oper- ative, the strength of President Roosevelt lies in his promptness and wisdom of action, and while that is the case the voice of the reactionary will be unheeded, no matter what measure of personal confidence is given to the individual who utters it A suit for maintenance instituted by the wife of a jockey has revealed the interesting fact that the diminy- tive and recalcitrant husband has an income of $1500 a month. Who would be a college president when under the American notion of values a strong arm, a pigmy body and a convenient morality can earn such a monthly wage? A break of a war, in the East, which may suddenly take a turn no man dares to prophesy, has come as the last blow to the nerves of overwrought English statesmen from Thames side to Tasmania. For down in the newly pacified colony of Transvaal there are stir- rings and mutterings which seem to have set a-tingle national consciences of almost every dependency of Ed- ward’s crown. The importation of Chinese coolie labor to work the mines of the Rand has stirred up such a storm that talk of an imperial federation to oppose it on the part of the colonies is in the air. In fact, Mr. Seddon, Premier of New Zealand, has invited all of the self-governing de- pendencies to join with him in creating a general boy- cott upon coolie labor anywhere in the domains of the British crown. Despite the fact that Sir Wilfrid Lau- rier, Premier of Canada, has given Seddon’s invitation a somewhat brusque refusal, the underlying.sentiment which is embodied in the New Zealand Premier’s propa- ganda is a significant one and calculated to win the sup- port of colonies more nearly interested. ; The state of affairs against which Premier Seddon would have all of Greater Britain protest is this: Upon the reconstruction following the close of the Boer war PAN-BRITISH FEDERATION. LL is not serene in Greater Britain. The out- the necessities of reviving agriculture and placing the | country once more upon a self-supporting basis drew la- i borers to the fields, leaving the mines of the little ring of capitalists short of labor. It seems that Lord Milner offered very weak resistance to the importation of the coolies to carry on the work of the Rand mines, so that at present white labor is almost excluded. Premier Seddon’s plan for an imperial federation to resist this is nothing more nor less than an assumption that what is to the interest of one colony is for the welfare of all. Further than that it has been construed to be an ex- pression of interdependence on the part of British de- pendencies in matters concerning the zoold of any one of them. This is a new and to the conservative home people a somewhat startling doctrine. It implies that “home rule,” somewhat grudgingly bestowed upon the most impor- tant dependencies, has come to mean federation against the rule of the mother country in crown provinces. This pan-British spirit would evidently draw togeth‘er the self- ruling dependencies into a bund which should have a care for the crown col6nies very much as we of the United States tend to the interests of our Territories. That this spirit is growing among the colonies there is no doubt; that it is not yet strong enough to be gener- ally accepted is attested by Laurier’s curt refusal. The home papers cover their alarm at the progress of this pan-British feeling by belittling the import of Pre- mier Seddon’s efforts. The London Globe, after making a cursory review of the situation, remarks that “the rest of Great Britain is not affected in the slightest degree, except sentimentally. The needs of each British colony and dependency being individually special and particu- lar, it would be monstrous to measure all with the same rule. It is left for the Transvaal to decide whether it can struggle out of its growing financial difficulties without resorting to the only method (Chinese labor) by which an adequate supply of labor can be secured for the full and ‘rapid development of its intrinsic resources:” | That hideous monstrosity of modern crime—the train wrecker—has made his appearance again, this time on the road to Santa Cruz. Only the most exacting vigi- lance prevented a harvest of death, and the fiends | have disappeared into the unknown. The capture and punishment of these enemies of society should be made matters of vital concern to everybody. A personal interest should inspire capture, and punishment should urge the machinery of the law to immediate purpose. OUR GUNS IN SANTO DOMINGO. | HAT they call national politics in Santo Do- mingo is merely an exaggeration of ward poli- V ~ tics in the tenderloin of New York. That unquiet | country plunges from one revolution into another, each without any higher purpose than getting power to use it for robbery. In the present disturbance a service man in our navy has been murdered, and the property of | Americans looted by both sides. It is a repetition of the Greytown affair in' the fifties. On that occasion a| Democratic administration sent a man-of-war to Grey- town, and bombarded the place until it howled for mercy. A Republican administration has now given the unquiet and predatory Santo Domingans a smell of American powder, and it is probable that a larger dose would benefit them. It is sad but true that nothing else will infuse many of those Latin-American nations with respect for inter- national law and rights. They despoil our nationals, recklessly, and, even when their spoliations are arbi- | trated, refuse to abide by the decision when it is against‘ them. The proper thing for this Government to do is | to enforce arbitral results with a man-of-war, and when this has been” done once there will be less occasion for arbitration, because there will be less spoliation of our | people and of the nationals of other countries. The | | administration is working for the peace, prosperity and progress in good government of the hemisphere when | it burns powder down there under proper and prolonged | provocation. It is evident that a little saltpeter will be adminis- tered to cure the disease of interfiational bad faith on | the Pacific side of the Americas. We speak of those countries as “our sister republics,” when they are neither. That they may become both is the wish of | their best people, who are unfortunately in the minority, and require our assistance to bring the others around to their way of thinking. Santo Domingo has kept the West Indies in a turmoil for years. Her revolutions for predatory purposes have made her coasts and waters unsafe for commerce and have restrained her domestic prosperity. ~ This Govern- ment does not want that country and would not like it, but we do want public order there and an observance of international obligations, and if the only way to get them is under our guns the Santo Domingans are to blame. The situation in this hemispheré under the Monroe doctrine causes Europe to regard us, and properly, as the policeman of the nations which we will not permit the rest of the world to discipline or punish. If we are to be the policeman we must evidently carry a club on our beat, and use it effectively if the occasion demand. It has just thwacked Santo Domingo, and other heads may be sure to get it if several of those countries do not mend their manners. While the Japanese have proved themselves doughty fighters and worthy of any foemen’s steel, have they not forgotten in their boasting the instinctive modesty that is much of the charm and not a little of the strength of deeds well done? In their prediction that the war will end in July let them remember the foolish boast of the British general who said he would take his Christmas dinner in Pretoria. He narrowly escaped doing so as a prisoner of war. A prominent Japanese resident in this country, and needlessly voluble, predicts that we must soon be afight- ing factor in the Far Eastern war. Whatever sentiment of sympathy we may entertain for Japan in the present crisis in her affairs does not blind us to the demands of our tefreshing policy to mind our own business and to insist upon others minding theirs. Washington has not yet commissioned Tokio to dictate its course for peace or war. ' - Fire and Satan. ‘During the lifetime of the late Chief Dave Scannell of the Fire De- partment he was known to become so excited during the extinguishing of a fire that he used to indulge in a liberal supply of profanity. This being one of the traits of his character, no doubt acquired from his earlier New York training, his men paid no attention to the language used, but went right along as if his words were those of praise and endearment. On one occasion the Chief was ap- proached by a certain minister, who remonstrated with him in well chosen words. “Chief,- while we all admire your executive ability and pluck in the per- formance of your arduous duties, yet we regret exceedingly that your use of profanity is such as to shock the bets ter element of society.” “A-hem,” responded the Chief, looking at the meddlesome preacher with scorn. ‘“You see, my men are used to me and they know that I do not mean one word of what I say to them when I swear. Just like the members of your congregation when you rant and pose; they know you are insincere and do not mean one word of what you say. Now you go along and fight the devil in your way and leave me to battle with fire in mine and maybe both of us will find it warm work when we get through, as both the devil and the fire give us two a good living.” The Capable W harfinger. He had just received an appoint- ment as State wharfinger. He looked almost nautical in the blue and gold of a new uniform, but the tan which darkened face and neck had been ac- quired in an inland valley and owed none of its rich depth of tone to the salt laden ocean breezes which give the colorado maduro tinge to the sail- orman’s hide. It was his first day on the water front. Salt water he was acquainted with in the form of brine. Ships he had never seen. A friend of the friend of a Harbor Commision- er was a friend of his and a manip- ulation of this chain of friendship had landed the job and placed this ex- pert plow pilot in charge of one of San Francisco's busiest wharves, and responsible for the safe berthing of a never ending succession of valuable floating properties. A steam collier lay alongside the wharf. ladder hung invitingly over the rail. “May I come up on the roof,” the new wharfinger asked of a deck hand. As he climbed he commented on the precarious “stairway” and arrived on deck to burst into admiring criticism of the huge “stove pipe” which was | vomiting clouds of black coal smoke. He walked to an open hatch and gazing into the depths remarked with the air of a Columbus: “Wall, I swan, the gol-derned thing’s hollow.” Hayward's Answer. The death of Alvinza Hayward makes timely the telling of an in ! dent which occurred when the beauti- ful Hayward building on Montgomeryl and California streets was being con- structed. The owner stood admiring the splendid pile gradually nearing completion, when he was suddenly touched on the elbow by an impecu- nious relative. 1 see you are admiring your new bailding, Mr. Hayward " “Yes,” was the cuiet answer. “It is very beautiful,” said the rel- ative, “but it's a pity you cannot live long to enjoy it.” The mining .man paused a moment before replying and then said dryly: “No, but I shall be compensated somewhat by leaving it to a person | who can!” It is safe to say,the tactless man’s name will not appear in the will as legatee of the building. My Wild Bird. I know where de cabin On de mount’in stan’s, An’ I look, as I pass, For de wave of han's; An' 1 sing real low, “Oh say, do you know, ‘Whedder high or low, My wild bird go?” An’ ef nobody come To de door or gate, An’ ef nobody look, When 1 wait an’ wait; Den I sing real sof’, “Oh say, do you know, ‘Whedder dis de house My wild bird grow?” An’ my po’ heart beat, An’ my po’ han's shake, An’ I sing real low, Else de birds will wake, “Oh say, do you know,” Andis I sing, “Whedder my wild bird Has taken wing?” “Oh say. do you know?” Ef de birds should wake, An’ my heart it beat, An' my voice it shake, “Oh, say, do you know?" But it soun’ so loud, An' my face grow strange, At de moon an’ cloud. | An' I wait an’ wait, An' I hears a step, An’ I sing real low, “Am dis de For my wild bird Has fold her wings! —Boston Transeript. The Naval Scribe. Over at the naval training school the young sailors pubiish a monthly, Naval : ollo An effort has been made to attach some significance to | the fact that the next leading prize-fight in this city will : be fought on the eve of All Fools' day. Let those that | seek to analyze passing events cease to concern them- | selves. There is absolutely nothing unusual® in the af- fair. Every day is All Fools’ day for the people of San Francisco as far as their patronage of plug-uglies is a - 23 5 { station ‘a A Jacob’'s| | i | | | | | | misery, but no doubt the cause of it is the stories told them by boys wha have been on a cruise and failed to pass their examination at the end of it. When a training ship returns there are always a few boys who, through neg- lect and inattention te their drills and studies, fail to pass the required ex- amination and are sent back to this station to make another cruise. No doubt these boys tell of the terrible hardships that they endured and give it as an excuse for having failed to pass their examination. There is nothing to dread in making a training cruise and especially a cruise along the south- ern coast of California; on the con- trary, there is a great many things to look forward to with pleasure. There are new places to see and boys are | given more liberty and money provided they remain first class. There are hunting and fishing parties and ball games and sports of all kinds. And best of all there is a change of scene, and one is always going some place or guing to see something that he prob- ably never saw before. Don't believe the man or boy who tells you it i& hard. He is not telling you the truth, and if you could investigate his career you would probably find out that when he was on a cruise he was a shirk or took nc interest in his work or duties, and consequently when the time came for his examination he failed to pass. He probably tells you these stories to lead you to believe that he (if you are foolish enough to do so) is a hard fel- lew or that so and so was down on him. You will enjoy your training eruise if you do your duty and act right and the months will pass ere you know they have gone, and you will be surprised when the time comes for you to return to your home on furlcugh. Don’t be- lieve the tales they tell. See for your- selt.” Qur Prize Offer. For those gifted ones to whom mathematics is as sparkling fountains to the panting heart the following is respectfully offered: . Five men were allowed to share a box of oranges among them. John took 10, Robert 20, George 30, Richard 40 and Willlam 350. “What an unfair division!” said the donor, as the men carried the oranges away. > “Not at all,” they replied. “The num- bers make no difference. We shall sell at the same rate, and if we sell out shall have exactly the same money each.” They sold out, and each took exactly the same sum. How did it happen? A nice second-hand work on “Differ- ential Calculus” is offered as a prize to the ome flying widest from the an- swer. Answers to Queries. ST. PATRICK'S DAY—Reader, City. The 17th of March, 1861, fell on a Sun- day. RIO DE JANEIRO—F. B.,, Alameda, Cal. For such information as you de- sire relative to the cost of living and house rents in the city of Rio de Ja- neiro, Brazil, address a communication to Eugene Seegar, Consul General from the United States at Rio de Janeiro. EXPORTS—Subscriber, City. The total value of the exports of the United States during 1903, including products of agriculture, mining, forest, fisheries and miscellaneous was $984,044,430, and the value of domestic manufactures was sz;«l)a‘;’al'lm making a total of $1,392- CHRISTIAN SCIENCE—Idora, Oak- land, Cal. Christian Science is a sys- tem of religion based upon the Bible. The religion is fully set forth in “Science and Health, With Key to the Secriptures,” the textbook written by Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, discoverer and founder of the science. VERMONT DIVORCE LAW-—Sub- scriber, City. In Vermont a party de- siring to commence an action for di- vorce must have resided in the State at least one year. The-grounds for divorce are: Violation of marriage vow; willful desertion for three years: felony with confinement for three years or more; cruelty; failure to provide, and absence without being heard from for seven consecutive years. THE PRETENDERS—S., City. The descendants of the house of Bourbon, the house of Orleans and the house of Bonaparte are the pretenders to. the throne of France. For the names of the members of these houses now | the secret of process has never been Anosoff, a Rus- sian officer and . by made in Damascus tin- guishable from it in foreia street i ol