Basseesssasa ,-,5 S?;7'iffv TV-r.gpvvpgs 10 THE MUSIC WORLD Brilliant Start Toward Endowing a Scholarship in the Pennsylvania College for Women. HES. HABIE DECCA'S EECITAL. An Indiscretion of Those ITho Had tho Trinted Programme and Adver tising in Charge. ITEMS THAT CAME UXDZS TIH! EEA. a letttr From Milan That Trill Interest LnVri of irt Divine Dereitocti. Mrs. Marie Decca's song recital at Car regie Hall, Allegheny, last Thursday even ing, called ont an audience, winch in num bers and in social standing augured well lor the ultimate success of the effort to en dow a scholarship in the Pennsylvania College for "Women with the proceeds of this and like entertainments to follow. Chancellor "W. J.Holland. Ph. D., of the "Western "University introduced the cllted songstress and the worthy objects of the recital in a few well-chosen remarks. Al together the occasion occupied exceptionally dignified plane, more so than any ordinary recital by even so eminent an artist as Mrs. Decca. Upon "such an occasion it was the acme of bad taste to place in the hands of that audience programmes, on which below the various numbers were bracketed absurd little notes about how the singer had studied this one with the composer, had sung that enc for an enthusiastic Somebody, would now show how her voice conld sound like a "Swedish nightingale," tnd so on. For nil the world like the running fire of puffs and comments made by the "lecturer" at any dime museum. Tiie programme was identical with that given in the advance circular and copied into this department two weeks ago. -"What was then said about the impropriety of usirg such matter even for advertising purposes, applies with tenfold force to its tisc in the house programme. It would be a sorry day ior art if the dig nified simplicity and reserve which artists of assured standing are wont to preserve in ruch matters should cive place to the blat ant sell-trumpeting that now characterizes circus and variety performers only. Mrs. Dccca's manager, who has just become her husband also, is to be presumed to be re rponsible for this sort of thing. It he keeps at it long enough he is certain to "queer the whole show" to adopt an expression quite appropriate in this connection. It should be briefly stated that this pro gramme, while purporting to present songs characteristic of the various nationalities under which they are classified. Jails far short of so doing." Cowen's well known "It Vas a Dream," is not an especially charac teristic sample of English songs. Taubert is not a Frenchman, though the song "A la Fontaine" is rather of the Gallic species. Xckert's well-worn piece is commonly known as the "Sw iss fccho Song," and had no German quality about it, be ing sung in English. Neither of the sonss being classed as "American" can claim richtly to be such. Ilandegeer, who wrote one of them, is an Italian living in London. The other, "Home, Sweet Home," shhouch the words arc of American writing, is a niclodv that was heard in Sir K. E. Bishop's opera, "Clari, or the Maid of uneans, at uovent uaraen, .may e, i3, and is thought bv some to have been a pop tilar.Sicilian air long before that. These improprieties and inaccuracies, which might to readily have been avoided, are most ol all to be legretted because of their strong tendency to give a totally false imnrcsfion as to Mrs. Decca's artistic rank 6ml abilities. Her singing last week ma terially added to the high estimation she had already won ior herself ia this com munity. "While her voice is not one of large voluu.e and, when at all forced, is not of the purest quality, it docs possess a considerable "range and a marked evenness of register and it has been brought to a condition of flexibility that makes ira most admirable vehicle for til the niceties of vocal art. Her use of the mczza voce is the mot notable, perhaps, of the mauy technical points in Mrs. Decca's sinzing that attract the notice of the connoisseur. Hut these technical qualities do not con stitute the chiet charm of Marie Decca's performance. She uses them but as means to the end of artistic and characteristic ex pression. She bravely eschews anything In the line of ''prima donna ballad sing ing." Without aliectaiion or attempt at mere vocal display, she was con tent to sing the old ballads as they should be sung, simply and naturally. Except, lor the overdone Ian "business" in the Spanish song, Mrs. Decca tieatcdall of the simpler airs in this most praiseworthy iashion. She betrayed much versatility in her ready sympathy with the various contrasting styles and modes that came in quick succession. Among them all, Gounod's lovely "Sing, Smile and Slumber" was, perhaps, the most original in concep tion and the most daintily executed. Marie Decca may feel assured that a warm welcome always awaits her in Pittsburg npoa her own merit; meretricious adver tising and programme notices cannot make it w anner. At the opening and dnring the inter mission, City Organist H. P. Ecker played some organ pieces in a manner that showed tha results ot earnest practice he has cvi dentlv been putting in since taking charge of the large and effective instrument in Carnegie HalL . Item I"rom .Across the Sea. Among The Dispatch's London cable grams last night came the following musical paragraphs: Mr. and Mr. ITenscncls' Wagner concert andSlrCliM'cs Halle' Ixth orchestral con cert have been well attended, showing that the panic caused by the widespread preva lence of influenza Is passing away. One curious result of tho epidemio has been that the stalls at the concerts wero not tilled with ladies and pentlemen In conventional evening dress. Tlio fear of contracting tho dfceaso led to tho retaining of ordinary morning garments. On the last day of rebruary tne centenarv of tho birth of Rossini will be celebrated throughout Italy and generally on the Conti nent. A committee of leading musicians. Including Marchetti, Terzianai, Pinelll and Mnldura, has been formed in Rome to carry out the arrangements. Tho Government has decided to mark the occasion by the pub lication of the composer'" correspondence. Toward this end a special commission has been allowed to search the archives of the Paris Opera and tho French Ministry of Fine Arts for any Interesting documents, es pecially if likely to throw any light upon the puzzle and mystery or Rossini's life his 39 years in completing "William Tell." Paris will observe tho centenary by a per formance or "William Tell." tomo disap pointment is felt that no move has so far been made in London to mark the occasion, and it is hoped that something may yert bo done. Even in Italy there are, however, Urns of a decadence of the older Italian chool represented by Rossini Last year tho production of new works was far below the average, and the leading Italian com posers, Verdi, Eolto, Mascagnl and others are slowly following in the lootsteps of the advanced school. The new American tenor, "Wilbur Gunn, made his first appearance here Thursday night at the Eoyal Albert Hall, in a per formance of Mendelssohn's "St. Paul." Critics praise his bright, resonant voice and his refined and intelligent, it somewhat monotonous, style, but objection is taken to a tendency to force his high notes. Sir Augustus Harris has declared hii willingness to send a first-class Italian opera ccjlpany to Australia next autumn, If an adequate guarantee be forthcoming. Manager Musgrove is returning to Mel bourne in the hope of obtaininga guarantee, the minimum of which ie said to be 40,000. Fresh Observations ,rrom Slllan. Through the courtesy of Mr. "W. F. Burns, well-known in t'his city, TilE DlS PATCH has received a letter upon musical study in Italy, from Mr. Frederick J. Stevenson, whose long residence there as well as the high praise he is stated to have won from Italian critics, give his observations more than usual value. As will be seen from the fol lowing portions of the letter, which is too long to be printed in full this morning, Mr. Stevenson has something to say of Italian teachers and managers from a point ot view, not generally taken: Tho majority of students who como to Italy to study singing labor under the hal lucination that it is a very easy matter to bocomo an operatic artist, mid that it is simply a matter of a year or so under the tute,lngo of anv'Italian inactro(the supposi tion being that they are all equally cood and tench ono method) to enable tlieni to appear in grand opera and command enormous sal aries. That, ith very few exceptions, they all return to their iepective homes, poorer in pocket, and with tueir voices in n much worso condition than wuen they nr rived here, it is perhaps needles to state. I, n ho have been in Italy for over cven years, and have passed through nil tho varied phases of a student's lite am perhaps in a better position than inany otbeis to lnrl.n In the first place the old and true Italian school has completely disappeared, as the Italians themselves acknowledge. Ono of the leading critics of the Corriere dclla Scrra said in criticising the opening or the theater La Scala this season that wo no longer havo such artists as Jlalibran or Pasta, and that the stamp was lost. Dming niv time I havo noticed a very marked decline, and the public will tolerate to-day in tho leading theaters in Italy artists that a few years since no impressaiio would venture to engage. This is princi pally owing to the lact that thcro are new- no masters capanie ot uiiuai-iiujj insnuu tions lor the correct imposition of the voice. Evcrjone hero, however incapabbr, teaches siuginz directors of orchestras, Sonng graduates fiom the Conserva tory musicians of all kinds, and especially bad and bioken-down sing crs, who might, at least, one would think, teach their pupils to avoid the errors they themselves made. In tho olden da s, when good artists were as plentiful as bad ones nro to-day, they studied six, oven, even eight years, wheieas to-day they ex pect to quality themselves in as many months. On tho death of Gayarrie the last disciple of tho old school pased away. II U was a case which supports the abovo statement, for after having tried the best of the masteis and making many failures he came to the conclusion to study bv himself, and it was at least six vears before ho attained that fctate orperfectiou which gave him his justly earned reputation. 1 cannot too strongly recommend all would-be students thlnkinsr of going to Paris or Milan to seriously consider two very im portant points. First, that they have a good natural voice, and are competent to sing operatic music, and secondly that they have uflicient means to enable them "to pursue their studies at the very leist for three years. Everything in Italy is nearly as ox pensive as in Amciica, except, perhaps, les sons, and mot or thoso wouldbe dear nt any Drico. A student lcqulres at least $60 per month to live comiortaoiv. Many good voices have been received here, which, had they fallen into good hands, might have mado enviable reputations for their on ner. A master capiblo of teaching tlm true method m,ist be a sincer. and in possession of a perfectly placed voico. This must be evident to all. How mapy ai e so qualified! My own case will demonstrate what I say. I havo worked with all the most celebrated and best-known maestri of Italy, and. with all as a basso cantante, but, after having sung eight nights as hass'o in the opera "Jono dl rctrclla" I was compelled to cancel my en gagement, beim: worn out with faticue. At the present time 1 havo studied tbe tenor role of a number of the best-known operas, which I sustain and sing ii ith perfect ease, and expect shortly to make my debut in tho same opera as tenor in which I first ap peared as a bao. ilv present teacher, Madame Bibette Rosen, ha an exceptionally perlcctly placed voice and a wonderful facility lor detecting, through sympathy, all the faults which tako place In the s'tudent's throat while producing tone, consequently she is enabled to imme diately and perfectly correct them. Sho is the only teacher with w horn I have stndiod that ha? any tangiblo method. Everyono f.iy. that tho voico should be placed in the head but can't explain how that very dificult operation is to be done. She dwells es pecially on tha impoitanco of eas,o and naturalness and perfect enunciation. How disagreeable it is to heara inaiked break in the voice and difference In color and quality when the sintrcr passes from the so-called chest to middle and then to head register. This is radically wrong, as this distlnctioa should not be made. Kather let the student strive even when working alone to place all or the vice, from the lowest notes to the highest, as much forward in the head and in the lips as it is possible, and he will very soon perceive the Increased facility and re sonance which liis voico will acqnire. A word with respect to the difficulty on countered here With very few exceptions all debutantes are obliged to pay for tne SrivileiC of first making their appearance efore an Italian public. Even after having paid they are very fortunate if they Ruccocd in singing, as in tho majority of cases tho impressario, who generally depends on what money ho receives from the debu tantes to enable him to procure and pay for tho orchestral music, fails or runs off before the opera is placed on tho stage, leaving the nrtists to shift for themselves as best they can. Strange as it may appear to Americans, In this country there does not appear to be any redress. I know of cases whno the manasrer has engaged two or three prime-donne, all paying, to sing the samo opera, and then cancel the engage ments beforo the production of the opera for inability or some such excuse, which is readily formulated by the director of tho orchestra or committee of the theater, tbe money of course being retained, the singers having been engaged solely on account of the money they would pay. One American girl paid $40 to sing at a theater in Florence and upon telegraphing she found that the man liau never applied for the theater. She never recovered a cent. A yonng and too confiding tenor of my acquaintance paid 120 and was engaged by an established agency of Milan. Up6n arriving at tho town he found the theater closed. I could men tion many more sucli caes. I think it is time that the true state of affairs here in Italy, as regard singing, were known more generally in America, as it may perhaps bo tho means of saving aspir ing students both time and money, and what is even worso, tho mining of health and voice. In a number of cases these re sults have been the least harmful. In no case should any young girl come abroad un protected, especially If it is with the inten tion of making her career in Italy. . Two Great Treats for Pittsburg. Pittsburgers will be glad to learn that two of the foremost musical artists of the world will probably be heard here next month. Adeline Patti is the first in point of time (it were ungallant to say, also, of age, and reputation. It is almost a certainty that 1a Diva will appear Saturday, March 5, at the Auditorium, Pcnn avenue. Negotia tions have been going on for some time between Manager Schoeffel and Mr. G. E. Kepple, who has been local manager for several important musical engagements in the past. While these negotiations have not yet been completed, enough has trans pired to make it reasonably sure that Patti will be here on the date named. The other artist referred to is Eugene D'Albert, whom many critics consider the greatest pianist of the day. He comes soon for an American tour nnder the management of Mr. C A. Ellis, of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. After several appearances with the orchestra in Eastern cities, D'Albert's first pianoforte recital of the tour will be given in Pitts burg, at Old City Hall, March 21 or 22. This is promised for a cer tainty, and every effort will be put forth to make this first recital an event of special importance. D'Albert will also be here, it is expected, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the Mozart Club's May concerts. The recital should serve to whet our appetites for further hearing with orchestral support. "What a 1'roinliiont Drag Firm Sari. Krause's Headache Capsules are the best sellers and give the most entire satisfaction of any article we ever kept in our stores. "We have sold gross after gross of them in the past two years, and in not a single case have they failed to cure any and all kinds of headache' in the most satisfactory man ner. H. D. Kbaiter & Co., Duquesnc Heights and McKee's Hocks, Pa. February 3, 1832. . -KTS3U Extbaobdixaby bargains in ladies and gents' hosiery. Special tale this week at Bosenbatun & Co, 'a. THE AN OLD STONE HOUSE To Which Memories' of . Great Men Cling Like the Ivy on Its Walls. HOMESTEAD OP THE JOHNSTONS, An Air of Antique Splendor About It and Its Aged Occupant TDK IABT OP A MOST X0TED FAMILY rCOJlBKSPOJfDIXCE OP TOE niTATCB.l Ligoniek, Pa., Feb. 13. Exactly seven miles Jrom here, at Kingston, Pa., on the east bank of the Jjoyalhanna creek, the late Governor "William Freame Johnston, father of the late Dick Johnston, so favorably known in Pittsburg, was born on November 29, 1808. The place at that time was a thrifty little manufacturing hamlet. There were at least a dozen houses, a forge and an iron mill. The Governor's father, Alex ander Johnston, a sturdy Irishman, owned the entire place. All the houses were rudely constructed of logs, just one story high. The Johnston home was like all the rest, except that it was a trifle larger. In it the Governor, seven brothers and two sis ters were born. The old forge, the .iron mill and all the log houses have disappeared, -and the place is now marked only by a stone honse and a milestone. The stone house is the Johnston homestead, and has been since it was built 82 years ago. The milestone has outlived its mission. It formerly told some story to J-EOM A PHOTOGRAPH OF the travelers on the Pittsburg and Stoyes town pike, the overland route from Pitts burg to Philadelphia and the East, but lor years it has been dumb. The dust of time has blurred and blotted out its letter ing, but the good it has done protects it. By it ono cannot tell whether he is going east or west and it gives no encour agement or information to the traveler. If is a mile stone though, and leans back from the pike exposing its smooth, plain front reminding one of a hand board turned the wrong way or a politician who has just been deceived by his friends. It is making a pompous, magnificent bluff. A Itare Old-Faiihioncd Mansion. But there is no blufi about the old Johns ton homestead. It is a rare old-fashioned mansion. In it the late Governor Johns ton was raised. From it he went to school. "Under its great broad, generous roof presidents and mep of great affairs have gathered to eat and drink and from it grew np a family of giants, intellectually and physically. Governor Johnston was a big man in every sense. He was six feet three inches tall. In appearance he resembled his son, the late Dick Johnston. Two of his brothers measured six icet four -inches while five others were six feet two inches. His two sisters were tall and handsome. One of them, Mrs. Barclay, tbe mother of the late Thomas Barclay, a former "West morland county banker.is now dead. The bther, Ann Elrzabeth, is still living at Kingston. With her, is her brother, Cpl onel J. "W. Johnston. He is the last of the eight great Johnston boys. He is 73 years old. His hair is white as slackened lime, but his cheeks glow with health and his tall, dignified form stands erect as a sturdy oak. He was a Mexican soldier, as were all his brothers, and he, with all the others, served in the late war. He rather enjoys telling how he was re duced instead of promoted during the re bellion. Fooled by Ills Chaplain. ,rWhen I entered the army," the Colonel began, "I was made Colonel of a regiment and Bev. Mr. McCarter was my Chaplain. He was a fighter and he wanted a command. He proposed to me that I go home and raise another regiment and then have mysell made brigade commander and allow him to CWoneZ J. W- Johnston. take my regiment. I did so, but when I returned I did not get the brigade. He got my regiment, however. I was made Lieu tenant Colonel under my old chaplain. God save me from ever going to war again with a preacher," the Colonel concluded. The military records of all the Johnstons are good. The Governor was a fighter when he went to school, and it is said that on ac count of his disposition to riot occasionally he was taken from the country school and .was sent to Greensburg, where, with such men as Henry D. Foster.TJnited States Sen ator Cowan and E. J. Keenan, all dead, he finished his education. He read law with Colonel John B. Alexander, and shortly after his admission to the bar he went to Kittanning, Pa., to practice. From Arm strong county he was first sent to the Legis lature. He was then a Democrat. He was afterward sent to the Senate and was chosen Speaker of that body. "While at the head of the State Senate lie quarreled with is party aud joined the "Whigs. About that time Governor Shunk, a Democrat, resigned and Johnston, under the Constitution of 1838, assumed the Gubernatorial chair. A year later he was the candidate d"f the "Whig party and was electe'd, defeating "William Bigler, Democrat, by 300 votes. Three years later Bigler defeated Johnston, by nearly 8,000 votes. iaurt Him to Vote for His Brother. "I was a Democrat when my brother waa Governor," Colonel Johnston said the other day. "Ot course I voted for him, bat it wa's a mighty bitter pilL" The Johnstons are born Democrats, but' . ' -"- " - J&llt- s w II - - IS PITTSBURG DISPATCH, '. most of them died Kepublicans. Colonel J. "W., tfie last son of the original family, is now a staunch Republican, and while it mav have pained him some to vote for his "Wfiig brother, he now votes regularly for some less deserving fellow in his own party. But Colonel Johnston, after all, is not a politician. He watches events' closely, but he rarely, if ever, takes any part in the pol itical conflicts. He spends nearly all of his time at home, and when the weather is fit he can be found in the large yard always ready to welcomeanyonewho comes. There is something like old-fashioned hospitality about the "Colonel, and that air and evi dence of hospitality is especially conspicu ous about the house. Standing at the base of two ridges by which it is protected on three sides with theJ'ront facing the Loyalhanna and ex posed to a beautiful valley, the great old iashioned house stands to-day just as it was built. Its walls are nearly three feet thick. There are no hallways in it. The rooms are large with fairly high ceilings and a wood fireplace take up a liberal share of each apartment. An Interior of Antique Splendor. Eiterything in the place is antique bnt elegant. Mahogany and glass are conspicu ous in the iurnishments and without an effort to appear grand there is a touch of oriental splendor on every piece that gives to the whole a royal tinge. Scsttered over the tables, on the broad mantel pieces aud deep window frames, without any effort at ar rangement, are relics of rare" value. Many of them are lrom Mexico while many others are from ioreign lands. Among those of which the Colonel is most proud is an old, faded Spanish flag, said to have been carried ju the conquest of Mexico. He secured the quaint old banner irom a priest in the city of Mexico, who told him it had been brought into that country with a band of Hernando Cortcs' men during the invasion of the territories of Montezuma. The flag is faded some La -..- V fc 7V-T 5g7.v THE OH HOMESTEAD. with age, but the Spanish coat of arms, worked bv hand in the lour corners of the yellow silk, still shows plainly. Two bars of red running diagonally across the center are also worked by hand. The whole is a beautiful affair, and on account of its his toricalt:onncctions is of great value. An Old-iTnshJoned Toby Lighter. Another relic of other days and one that most amused me was an old steel tohy lighter. When I called on the Colonel tho other day, and after I had chatted with him a time, lie asked.me to smoke a toby. He produced from a convenient table a well filled box. "These are probably a little strong for you," the Colonel said, "but you can tty them." They were like corn husk cigarettes as compared with the Marsh toby I had thrown away just before entering the house, but they were strong enough ior the Colonel. He then produced the toby lighter. It was a piece of long, thin, flat steel. It was stuck into the fire until it became red-hot. Then it was ap plied to the end of the toby. It is a sure lighter but requires some patience. One has to stand and look pleasant while the steel heats. "Tobies consume a great many matches," the Colonel said while discussing- the lighter. "Its the old-fashioned way and I rather like it." Harrison Never Etopped There. Memories of former greatness cling like creeping ivy about the place. The late General Taylor while he was President, there frequently found refuge from the Fed eral place hunters. Other Democratic Presi dents of that time lingered there for rest and comfort while on their way from the "West to the National Capital before there were railroads but General Harrison, Colonel Johnston tells me, would never stop at the place. While traveling over the Pike in 1839 General Harrison was asked by an acquaint ance to spend a day at Kingston. "That place is too Democratic forme," Old Tippecanoe snswered, and he didn't stop. It is Republican enough for Presi dent Harrison now, however. Herbebx, I0 TOO EATT Eednctlont Itednctiont Reduction ! Owing to the rush made on our flour pile and the satisfaction it gave customers who had an opportunity to take advantage of our generous low priced offer, it will be contin ued one week longer on request of our out-of-down customers. I will give with all regular 510 orders and upward the benefit of the following prices: 4 sacks good family flour 54 95 i sacks best Minnesota flour 5 49 Ask for the best grade flour in the city. It is Minnesota. Think of it S 49 48 lbs dried peas (new) 1 00 24 lbs codfish (whole) 1 00 25 lbs granulated sugar. 1 00 20-lb box London layer raisins 1 25 18 lbs good cooking raisins 1 00 17 lbs boneless codfish 1 00 7 lbs roasted coffee (fresh ground) 1 00 CO bars family soap "... 1 00 Weigh your goods family scales 1 95 30 bars soap (5 cents size) 1 00 6 lbs tea (m all , varieties) l" 00 3 lbs 40c tea (all varieties) 1 00 35 lbs rolled oats 1 00 Gibs dried Lima beans .". 25 G cans concentrated lye .". 25 1 gallon New Orleans molasses 29 5 lbs currants 25 8 lbs white clover honey (pressed) 1 00 Will ship this honey to any station or landing within 300 miles of Pittsburg, freight prepaid, on receipt of. 51 25 6-foot stcpladder, complete 98 1 clothes horse (4 wings, 6 feet) 85 2-lb. can best baking powder in United States for 7 20 1 box mold tobies 69 1 lb. good smoking tobacco 17 1 lb choice chewing tobacco 18 Apples, per can 5 Send for the most complete price list ever offered to the public. Free, free to all. Make known your name and correct address, and we will do the rest. AH' goods mnst he first-class or your money will be cheerfully refunded. Jas. J. Weldon, No. 201 Market street, corner Second ave nue, Pittsburg. , Many Chinese Out on "Worthless Bonds. Sax Fkaxcisco, Feb. 13. District Judge Morrow, on January 28, fixed to-day lor the appearance in court of 140 Chinese who were given liberty on bonds, but who were to have been remanded to-day to the custody of the United States Marshal and be returned to China. Neither principals nor sureties appeared in court to-day, and Judge Morrow ordered all cases to be de faulted and the bonds forfeited. Assistant United States Attorney Witter said that under the ruling of Attorney General Mil ler no suits were authorized by the Govern ment against sureties where recovery was not probable. It is understood that only a few ot the bonds .are supposed to be collectible. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 ffl THE MUSIC HALLS, Jerome K. Jerome Tells of His First , and Second Visits to Them. THE FIBST WORKED' A, EEF0EM. A Battle at Billingsgate Between a Per former and an Auditor. MADE FAMOUS BT A TONGUE-LASMXG rwBiTTEif ron toe mspATcn.i My first appearance at at a music hall was in the year of grace one thousand eight hundred and i well, I would rather not mention the exact date. I was 14 at the time. It was during the Christmas holi days and my aunt had given mo 5 shillings to go and 6ee Phelps I think it wasPhelps in "Coriolanus" I think it was "Corio lanus." Anyhow, it wa3 to see a high-class and improving entertainmsnt, I know. I suggested that I should get young Skeg son, who lived in our road, to go with mc. Skegson is a barrister now, and could not tell you the difference between a knave of clubs and a club of knaves. A. Ier years hence he will, if he works hard, be innocent enough for a judge. But at the peroid of which I speak he was !a red-haired boy of worldly tastes, notwithstanding which I loved him as a brother. My dear mother wished to see him before con senting to the arrangement, so as to be able to form her own opinion as to whether he was a fit and proper compan ion forme; and, accordingly, he was invited to tea. He came, and made a most favora ble impression upon both my mother and my aunt. He had a way of talking about the advantages of application to study in early life, and the duties of youth toward thoseplaced in authority over it, that won for him much esteem in grown-up circles. The spirit of the bar had descended upon Skegson at a very early period of his career. Satan in Juvenile Shape. My aunt,-indeed, was so much pleased with him that she gave him 2 shillings toward his own expenses ("sprung halt a dollar" was how he put it when we got out side), and commended me to his especial care. Skegson was very silent during the journey. An idea was evidently maturing in his mind. When we reached the Angel he stopped and said: "Look here, I'll tell you what we'll do. Doa't let's go and see that rot Let's go to a music hall." I gasped for breath. L had heard ' of music halls. A stout lady had denounced them across our dinner table on one occa sion, fixing the while a steely eye upon her husband, who sat opposite and" seemed uncomfortable, as low, horrid places, where people smoked and drank, and Mvore short skirts and had added an opinion J that they ought to be put down by the po nce, x aiso recollected tnat our charwoman, whose son had lately left London for a pro tracted stay in Devonshire, had, in conver sation with my mother, dated his downfall from the day when he first visited one of these places; and likewise that Mrs. Phil cox's nursemaid, upon her confessing that she had spent an evening at one with her young man, had been called a shameless nussy and summarily dismissed as being no longer a fit associate for the baby. But the spirit of lawlessness was strong within me in those days, so that Iharkenedto the voice of Skegson, the tempter, and he lured my feet from the paths that led to virtue and Sadlers AVeHs,and we wandered into the broad and crowded ways that branch off from the Angel toward merry Islington. A Very Satisfactory Smoke. Skegson insisted that we should do the thing in style, so we stODDed at a shon near the Agricultural Hall and purchased some big cigars. A huge card in the window claimed for these that they were "the most Jerome K. Jerome. satisfactory twopenny smoke in London." I smoked two of them during the evening, and never felt more satisfied using the word in its true sense, as implying that a person has had enough of a thing, and does not desire any more of it, not just then in all my life. Where we went and what we saw when we got there, my memory is not very clear about: it never was. We sat at a little marble table. I know it was marble because it was so hard and cool to the head. From out the smoky mist a- ponderous creature1 of strange,. undefined shape, floated heavily toward us, and deposited a squat tumbler in front of me containing a pale yellowish liquor, which subsequent investigation-has led me to believe must have been Scotch whisky. It seemed to me then the most nauseous stuff rhad ever swallowed. It is curious to look back and notice how one's tastes change. I reached hom i very late and very sick; That was my first dissipation, and, as a les son, it has been of more practical nse to me than all the good books and sermons in the world could have been. I can remember to this day standing in the middle ot the room in my nightshirt trying to catch the bed as it came round. Next morning I confessed everything to my mother, and, for several months afterward, was a reformed charac ter. Indeed, the pendulum of my con science swung too far the other way, and I grew exaggerately remorseful and unhealth ily moral! A Good Flace to Cement Friendship. It was aot until I was nearly 17 that the idea occurred to me to visit a music hall again. Then the first person I ran against was my uncle. He laid a heavy hand upon my shoulder, and asked me, in severe tones, what I was doing there. I felt this to be an awkward question, for it would have been useless trying to make him understand my real motives (one's own relations are never sympathetic), and I was somewhat non p'luBsed for an answer until the reflection occurred to me: "What was he doing there?" This I, in my turn, propounded to him, with the result that we entered into treaty by the terms of which it was agreed that no future reference should be made to the meeting by either of us at least, not in the presence of any member of the family and the compact was ratified according to the usual 'custom, my uncie paying the necessary expenses. In those days we sat, some four or six of ns, round a little table, on which were placed our drinks. Now we have to balance them upon a narrow ledge; and ladies, as they pass, dip the ends of their cloaks into them, and gentlemen stir them up for us with the ferrules of their umbrellas, or else sweep them off into our laps with their coat tails, saying as they do so, "Oh, I beg your pardon. Also in those days there were "chairmen" affable gentlemen, who would have any thing at anybody's expense, and drink any quantity of it and never seem to get any fuller. It was the chairman's duty to in troduce the artists. "Ladies and gentle men," he would shout.in a vpice that united the musical characteristics ot a fog horn and a steam saw, "Miss 'Enerietta Montres or, the popular serio-comic, will now hap pear." These announcements were invaria bly received with' great applause by the 3892. ' chairman himself, and generally with chill ing indifference by the rest of the audience. It was also the privilege ot the chairman to Lmaintain order and reprimand evil-doers. This he usually did very effectively, em ploying for the purpose language both fit and forcible. Story of a Hapless Chairman. One chairman that I remember seemed, however, to be curiously deficient in the necessary qualities for thfs part of his duty. He was a mild aud sleepy little man, and, unfortunately, he had to preside over an ex ceptionally rowdy andieucc at a small hall in the Southeast district. On the night that I was prevent there occurred a great dis turbance. "Joss Jessop, the Monarch of Mirth," a gentleman evidently high in local request, was, for some reason or other, not forthcoming, and, in his place, the man agement proposed to offer a female per former on the zither, one Signora Balla tino. Thelittle chairman made the announce ment in a nervous, deprecatory tone, as if lie. were rather ashamed of " it himself. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began. (The poor are staunch sticklers for etiquette. I overheard a small child explaining to her mother one night in Three Colts street, Limehouse, that she could not get into the house because there was a "ladv" on the doorstep drunk.) "Signora Ballatino, the world-renowned" Here a voice from the gallery requested to know what had become of "Old Joss," and was greeted by loud cries of "'Ere, 'ere." The chairman, ignoring the inter ruption, continued: " , the world-renowned performer on the zither, " "On the whater?" eame Intones of plaint iff inquiry from the back of the hall. "Hon the zither," retorted the chairman, waxing mildly indignant; he meant zithern, bnt he called it a zither. "A hinstrumtnt well known to anybody as 'as 'ad any learn ing." Pandemonium In the HalL This sally was received with much favor, and cheered by this breath of popularity, our litter President endeavored to-complete his introduction of the signora. He ad dressed himself personally to the ringleader of the rioters, the man who had first cham pioned the cause of the absent Joss. This Jierson was a brawny individual, who, judg ing from appearance, followed in his busi ness hours the calling of coal heaver. "Yes, sir," said the chairman, pointing a finger toward him, where he sat in the iront row of the gallery; "you, sir, in the flannel shirt. I can see you. Will you allow this lady to eive her entertainment?" "No," answered he of the coalheaving profession in stentorian tones. "Then, sir,"' said the little Chairman, working himself up into a state suggestive of Jove about to launch a thunderbolt; "then, sir, all that I can say is that you are no gentleman." This was a little too much, or rather a good deal too little, for the Signora Balla tino. She had hitherto been standing in a meek attitude of pathetic appeal, wearing a fixed smile of ineffable sweetness; bu she evidently felt that she could go a bit farther than that herself, even if she were a lady. Calling the Chairman "an old messer,"and telling him for tbe land's sake to shut Tip if that was all he could do for his living, she came down to the front and took the case intoTier own hands. A Battle Worthy of tho Gods. She did not waste time on the rest of the audience. She went direct for that coal heaver, and thereupon ensued a slanging match, the memory of which sends a thrill of admiration through me even to this day. It was a battle worthy of the gods. He was a heaver of coals, quick and ready beyond his kind. During many years' sojourn East and South; in the courseof many wander ings from Billingsgate to Limehonse Hole, from Petticoat lane to Whitechapel road; out of eel-pie shop and penny gaff; out of tavern and street, and court and doss-house he had gathered together slang words and terms and phrases, and they came back to him now, and he stood up against her man fully. But as well micht the lamb stand nn against the eagle, when the shadow of its wings falls across the green pastures, and the wind flies before its dark oncoming. At the end of two minutes he Jay gasping, dazed and speechless. Then she began. She announced her intention of "wiping down the bloomin' 'all" with him, and making it respectable; and, metaphorically speaking, that is what she did. Her tongue hit him between the eyes, -and knocked him down and trampled on him. It curled round and round him like a whip, and then it nncurled aud wound the other way. It seized him by the scruff bf his neck, and tossed him up into the air, and caught him as he descended, and flung him to the ground, and rolled him on it. It played around him like forked lightning, and blinded him. It danced and shrieked about him like a host ot whirling fiends, and he tried to remem ber a prayer, and could not. It touched him lightly on the sole of his foot and the crown ot his head, and his hair stood up straight, and his limbs grew stiff. The people sitting near him drew away, not feeling it safe to be near, and left him alone, surrounded by space and language. A Torrent Not to Be Beslsted. It was the most artistio- piece of work of its kind that I have ever heard. Every phrase she flung at him seemed to have been woven on purpose to entangle him and to embrace in its choking folds his people and his gods, to strangle with its threads. his every hope, ambition and belief. Each term she put upon him clun" to him like a garment, and fitted him without a crease. The last name that she called him one felt to be, until one heard the next, the one name that he ought to have been chris tened by. For five and three-quarter minutes by the clock she spoke, and never for one instant did she pause or falter, and in the whole ot 'that onslaught there was only one weak spot. -That was when she offered to make a bet ter man than he was out of a Guy Fawkes and a lump of coal. Ton felt that one lump ot coal would not have been sufficient. At the end, she gathered herself together for one supreme effort, and hurled at him an insult so bitter with scorn, so sharp with insight into his career and character, so heavy with prophetio curse, that strong men drew and held their breath while it passed over tbem, and women hid their 'faces and shivered. Then she folded her arms, andstoodsilent; and the house, from floor to ceiling, rose and cheered her until there was no more breath left in its lungs. In that one night she' stepped from ob livion into success. She is now a famous "artiste." But she does not call herself Signora Bal latino, and she does not play upon the zithern. Her name has a homelier sound, vand her specialty is the delineation f eoster character. Jerome K. Jebome. CHOICE PKOPEKTTE3. Squirrel Hill Property. Nine acres between Fifth ay. and Forbes st. $30,000. On proposed electrio road to Homewood Cemetery. Adjoining property, held at $4,500 per acre. This is a bargain for a few days only. J. H. COLEMAN & CO., C213 PENN AVENUE, E. E. fel-I01-Thsu $15,000, EAST END. On one of tho most desirable asphalt paved and sewered residence streets in the East End. Large and substantial 10-room dwelling; wido halls, porches, Ac. (par'or, libiary, dining room -and kitchen on first floor), bath, range, laundry, gas, &c. WITH LOT 100x250 FEET. A number of "beautiful shade and fruit trees; a very desirable home; near cable, electric lines and Sbadyside station. See and be convincod. M. I. HIPPLE ft CO., feI3-31-Thua SO Fourth ay. CHOICE FBOPEBTIES. WHY PAY BENT ? When You Can Buy a House and Have Ten Years to Pay for It? "We have FOUK 8-ROOM FHAMEnOUSES, different plans, with all modern improve ments, reception hall, bathroom, inside w. c, hot and cold water thronghonr, largo pan try, slate mantels, tile hearths, built sepa rate: houses set 20 feet back from street, porches front and rear. Mil seweted; lots each 36x90: price, $3,5C0 to $3,800 each. Also, THEEE 5-ROOM FKAME HOUSES, different plans, all modern, ten feet space between hone, set back 20 feet from street; lots each 30x90; prices, $2,300 to $2,400 each. These houses were all built by DAY WOEK, and will stand inspection. They are on Greenfield ave. and Lydla St., 50-foot street, within a few hundred feet of Greenfield aye. entrance to Schenley Park, and are sure to enhance in value, as 60 more houses like them will be built this year on 'same prop erty. Electrio cars will take yon to the door. TERMS 20 per cent cash, balance in ten years in monthly payments. Possession given on or before April 1. Send for Plan of Greenfield aye. lots. For sale on easy monthly pay ments. s: 533 GRANT ST. Branch office, corner Greenfield ave. and I,ydl st. Twenty-third ward, felt-213-wsa $00 Cash FOE A SHADYSIDE HOME. A PRETTY QUEEN MP DWELLING Of eightrooms and reception hall, hard wood staircase, sliding doors, hardwood mantels, tile hearths, plate-glass mirrors, alcove in hall, bathroom, inside w.c, stationary wash stand, range; nice porches front and rear: slate roof; house is handsomely papered throughout; lot 10x161 to 20-foot alley. One square from DUQUESNE ELECTRIO. Only two squares from FIFIH AVENUE CABLE OR P. B, R, In the nicest part of Shadyside price only $6,2S0; $500 cash, balance to suit purchaser. (A 190.) BLACK & BAIRD, feli-tl-wsau 93 Fourth avenue. FOR SALE, LEASE- OR RENT. That beautiful suburban IDLEWOOD COTTAGE HOTEL can be, bought outright, leased or rented upon prompt application. There are 22 acres of pioturesqne landscape embraced in the tract of land, including: large orchard of finest fruits.mlneral springs, cultivated hedges, rare shrubbery, shaded lawn, charming woodland and most inviting drives aud walks. The main hotel has 60 rooms, large dining room, spacious corri dors, amnio porches, both gases, water and every convenience for 300 guests. There are, in addition, 13 oottages on tbe ground, nicely located and ready for occupancy, be sides croquet grounds, covered dancing pa vilion and lookout. This well-known and popular resort is only five miles from this city by good country road and Pittsburg, Cincinnati and St. Lonis Railroad. Price low and terms easy if disposed of at once. Tor further particulars and lithograph view, call on J. B. LARKIN & CO., 152 Fifth Avenue. feH-lsS-rara $500 CASH FOR A STONE FRONT HOUSE, On one of the finest ASPHALT PATED AYEOTBJ In the East End. This is a new two-storand mansard brick house, with stone front; has parlor, dining room and kitchen, fine laundry with sta tionary tubs; five hedrooms; is well built; is in a beautiful and fashionable part of tbe East End, convenient to rapid transit line and P.-R. R.: has fine sanitary plumbing, electrio light, large pantries and closets; nice lawn and wide flagstone sidewalks. Price is only $8,000. $500 DOWN, Balance to snit purchaser. The greatest bargain in tbe East End. Immediate pos session. BLACKT BAIRD, HO. 85 FOURTH AVENTJE. , fe2-90-2,5,7,10,13,H FOR SALEJ THE FOIXOWI1TO HOTELS.AND RESTAURANTS: For Sale The popular "Cozy" lnnoh room, 115 Fifth ave. "Ed's" Beanery or Hew Orleans Coffee House, 22K Diamond square, known through out the United States. The Windsor Hotel, 4, 8 and 8 Diamond st. This houso has 55 rooms and is furnished throughout. Now doing a good business. The Anchor Hotel, 325 to 329 iibertyst., corner Fonrtu St., 10 rooms, newly furnished. For all particulars in regard to above call at "ED'S" LAUNDRY, tM "LIBERTY ST. felS-U E. W. WALLACE. FORWENT, On Third -Avenue Near the Postoffice, With Fourth Avenue Entranoe, Large Storeroom, Suitable for Salesroom or Office. Rent Low.- Haitand Light Fra. Immediate Possession. BLACK & BAIRD, 85 FOUETH AT. fel3-20-TS3U IMPORTANT 10 MANUFACTURERS. Those intending to locate, a most desirable site free, in newly laid out town, near Pitts burg. As a Shipping Point unurpassed, transportation by competing railroads and water. Freight rates same as Pittsburg. Every advantage to offer. For full particu lars address enterprise; el3 DISPATCH OFFICE. OWNER GOI SOUTH On account of ill-health, and offers his West ern av. property for sale; lot M feet 8 inches by 120, with two-story brick of 9 rooms, with all modern conveniences; immediate posses sion; low price. BAXTER, THOMPSON CO., felt-172-WT3u 162 Fourth ar. PETER HE LD -7 3 Houses Built to Sell Are Good Ones to Buy. You can be convinced of this fact if you will examine that stone front, 9-roomed brick dwelling on Boquet street; Oak land, which we offer for sale. It and six others were built at the same time, not by contract, but by day work. It did not cost what it would have cost you to build one house. It is, therefore, a better house for less money. A better house because more salable, and more salable because built to meet the wants of purchasers. For this reason it is also very complete in all the details which go to make a perfect modern dwelling. You can think of few objections if you want a house at about its price $iV 00a BLACK "& BAIRD, .' 95 FOURTH AVE. fe4-53-tJ,10,H SELECT Any of these anc you select a flrst-claaa brick house in aTiesirable location. Price. Location. Front Ft. No. Eootaa. 3 7,500, Eoup, po 7 7,750, East End, Corner, O 8;50O, East End, 40 O 8,500, Eoup, Corner, 8 0,000, Eoup, 50 O 10,000, EaetEnd, 60 10 lO.OOO, East End, 40 10 11,500, Eoup, '40 9 12.O0O, East End, 40 10 13,500, Shadyside, 40 10 15.O0O, Shadyside, OO 13 17.O0O, Bellefleld, 37tf 18 20,000, Eellefleld, 50 10 21,500, Bellefleld, 100 14' 25,000, East End, 103 13 25,000, East End, 60 13 25,000, Bellefleld, 78 10 25,000, Shadyside, 80 15 MURRY & EDSALL, Fidelity Building', 121 Fourth At. felHJ T LET lOS A Entire first floor now occupied by 1IOEHI5 St FLEKIXO and A. EEGGATE A SOS; bell location on Fourth avenna for Real Estato, Insurance or Broker'3 office. Bent low. BLACK 4 BAIED, 35 Fourth avenna. mo XXTC-&& A' terse office on first floor; best location em street for Broker's office. See BLACK & BATED, 95 Fourth arena. TO LET-MM. A S-Story Office BUILDING, Choice location; can give Ion? lease urny 9i,3w. .oxf.&i,A. a aiai;, 95 Fourth avennc fe7-lTnsa $1,000 CASH. ELEGANT I OliUE ON Forks Avenue Near Craig Street. A new three-story hrlck dwelling of nine rooms, hall, bathroom, two w. o.s, hot and cold water, both gases, slate and hardwood mantels, tile ana stone hearths, pan try.china closet, cedar closets, electric light and bells, speaking tubes, elegant chandeliers, artlstlo class door and window, good dry cellar, laundry, front and rear porches. Lot 25 by about 110 feet. Nice lawn; 6tono walks- Only two squares from grand entrance to Scnen ler Park; and near Dnqnesno electrio and Fifth Avenue cable lines. S1.C0O cash: balance quarterly or, yearly payments, as desired. Possession April L (D2S7) BLACK & BAIRD, fel2-6-Tursa 95 FOUETH XT. STANTON AVENUE, NEAR HILAND, . $9,000. Xew modern brick house of nine room, bath, range, heater, cabinet, hardwood and slate mantels, cemented cellar, laundry, sta OHCICE rKOPJERTIES. tionary wasmuos comomatlon cnanaew both gases, etc Lot 43x135 to a 20-foot alley. LIGGETT BKOS.. felMO 71 Diamond street. FOR RENT, CHOICE WOOD ST. PROPERTY. Two large four-story warehouses SOtfTH- "w EAST CORNER WOOD STREET AND SECOND AVENUE, fronting feet oa Wood street. "Will rent separately or together. CHAMBERS GLASS CO., . Westlnghouse Building, Corner Penn avenue and Ninth street. fclt-153 - CONNER & BEST, - Real Estate Agents, B Sixth avenue, corner TVood atrea . The buying and selling of real estate la the shortest possible time a specialty. If yon wish to buy or sell houses , or lott . -call to see us- felt-Jtwsu '-"8I
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