New York In Ghiaro Oscuro. A Pfea For a National Hymn tlow to Bo. como a Philanthropist at liltlo Expense Italian Opera. From Our New York Correspondent! ESIDE3 being professor In Co lumbia university William Mllllgan Sloane Is a 1 8 o president of the National Institute of Arts and Let ters. This doublo dose of distinction docs not In any way make It Im possible for him to be a patriot, and that Is exact ly what he Is un less all signs fall. What else can It be that Inspires him to suggest that his Institute should devote It self to the propa gation of a na tional hymn that Is really worth wlille? Professor Sloane considers It n perfect shame If anything so unpopular as shame can be perfect that this mighty repub lic, which has plenty and to spare of everything else, is still unprovided with a national hymn of sufficient merit to appeal to the real musician as well us to the devotee of ragtime. We have patriotic songs, n number of them. "The Star Spangled Banner," for Instance, was a genulue Inspira tion, and Francis Scott Key deserves a good deal more credit for having been the medium through whom it was communicated to man than he Is likely ever to get. Poetically and musically, however, It Is only "middling medio cre," not big enough for this great big country. It is really n curious bit of composition, violating pretty nearly every rule of harmony nnd still main taining a certain dignity which Is all Its own. It certainly isn't popular In the real sense of the expression. Among Gotham's four millions and odd there must be nt least half of that number to whom It Is an unknown melody. Worst of nil, other countries not half so worthy of a splendid national an them as this have good ones, so good, indeed, that we use them for hymn tunes In our churches those of Eng land, Russia and Austria, for exam ple. Up to date neither "Dixie" nor "Yankee Doodle" has been accorded a place In foreign hymnals, and the lack of reciprocation Is galling. Professor Sloane deserves well of his countrymen nnd all that he can get besides. I have been feeling rather deeply on this subject, nnd it Is possible that It may have tinctured my ordtnary conversation somewhat too perceptibly. I.nst night nt the play I met Jacobus Datum who, after all, cannot beheld strictly responsl- ble for the Knick erbocker blood he Is reputed to con tain and I spoke of the awful paU' city of our nation nl songs. "It seems to lim it our national ca pacity," I said. "It puts a damper on our expansive ness." "If we need It so much, why In - (the locality men tioned by Mr, Damm is now a matter of grave theological dispute, aud he will be given the benefit "why of the doubt) can't we buy it? Tell don't we HIRE THAT MEU UY WIDOW' FEL LOW T" Tho other fellow's?" me! Isn't our money as good ns "It Isn't that so much," I tried to ex- plain. "Austria hod Its Joseph Haydn, Ilussia Its Anton Rubinstein "Then why don't we hire that 'Merry Widow' fellow to do the Job?" Inter rupted Jacobus obtusely. "He ought to polish off a national anthem In good shape. Dick Savage has raked In about a million out of the 'Widow'Ttfed more coming." An excellent method of becoming a philanthropist hay Just occurred to me. It Is nothing that will draw on one's resources either of time or money, but It Is something which may be accom plished by anybody who Is capable of deriving satisfaction from the. fact UB DOESN'T WANT TO BE PRESIDENT. that some time nobody can possibly say when a small coin of the day may take on n value wholly dispropor tionate to its present worth. At the recent sale of a coin collection In New York n United States stiver half dime of 1802 was knocked down to a man from Oshknsh for ?71f, and the Wis- constn numismatist seemed tickled to death to get It at any old price. There are only sixteen specimens of this coin in existence, and the Wisconsin man now has three of these In his posses sion, ne doesn't want to be president of the United States. He would be perfectly satisfied to te the owner of those remaining thirteen half dimes. Bo to be a philanthropist In future, that Is all that is necessary is to bo qucath a small coin of the present day to the trustees of some charitable foundation with the request that they keep It until well, until It is worth a million. Until recently I had been wondering how It happened that the bottom still A ifa refrained fromdrop ff Js ping out of that fill3j P1 chcerfuI American HjjjHJ Pi industry known in uotnani east side parlance ns the "Eyetnllan operar." Strange that It shouldn't have oc curred to me that the market for this commodity Is grow ing up right here In our midst Although the subscriptions of those who take their season of grand op era as they take a course at Carlsbad or the gold cure are still solicited by the managers, the time Is approaching when they will not be in dispensable. That will be when the Italian colony In New York surpasses in point of numbers "etetalian ope- the population of, bab." say, Milan, with Its La Scala. Measured by the tide of im migration of the last few years it will come within the present generation. Now, the Sicilian as he is found hi Gotham is not as black as his skin would seem to indicate. He is appar ently of simple construction, demand- lng little nnd getting less. Most things he can do without and does, but there Is one thing which he cannot and will not try to deny himself grand opera of the home brand. He does not re gard it as a luxury; for him It Is a necessity. That Is what makes Italian opera such a good business In New York that Its two foremost promoters, Gliillo Gattl-Casazza and Cleofonte Campanlnl, are employed by our rival opera houses to boom It for nil it is worth. That the opera going habit is con genital In the Italian population of Go tham is a fact recognized by those who try to do business as If it were only acquired and might easily be modified. My friend Giovanni Matteo, who has been an Italian long enough to know better than to Interfere with nature, is convinced now that such is the case. He Is a bootblack padrone, the patron saint of twoscore olive skinned nnd decidedly husky Sicilian lads who mo nopolize the "shine and polish" Indus try In an uptown business district, a cheerful nnd vociferous brigade that Is putting nickels Into Giovanni's pocket with a certainty and a celerity that ere long will enable him to return to his native Palermo In "great shape." Last year Giovanni was brought to a keen realization of the fact that the good old Sicilian custom of keeping ' one's employees at work as long aa it can be made profitable regardless of time and tire has not yet taken root In this country. When the opera season opened the padrone was confronted by a delega tion of eager and determined young sters who were a unit in demanding early closing on opera nights. Giovanni tried to be diplomatic. He tried to convince the Insistent lads that in DEMANDINO EARLY CLOSING) ON OPEBA Nianm America bread is regarded as the stafl of life and that opera Is only a fitting supplement to terrapin, truffles and the other unattalnables. It did not work. Giovanni tried to be firm, and his youthful countrymen proved that the; were becoming real Americans by go lng out on a strike. Now, such a thing as a bootblack strike right In a congested business district of New York means real hard ship. It is almost as Impossible for the average business man of Gotham to do his dally stunt without his dally shine as It Is for the normally con structed Sicilian to do without his opera. Giovanni wrestled with the problem individually for an hour oi less, but the miracle of shining forty pairs of New York shoes in less than forty minutes did not happen In his case. There was nothing to do but yield, and be yielded finally and con sented to the "night off" system among his triumphant employees. He Is by no means reconciled to the situa tion and has no enthusiasm over the coming of Gattl-Casazza. "If dat Gazzaz be know da mlzercc he maka mo," be moans, "ho woulda glf only da German op'ra." STUYVESANT BItOWN. One Quest Only. "What did he ever see in her?" asked one. '"What did she ever see In him?" asked the other. Which of these two was the woman and which the man? Kansas City Times. Pi FACTS IN FEW LINES The average number of Alpine accl dents has trebled in fifteen years. Bicycles arc not out of date in Hol land, which imports over $1,600,000 worth a year. A cord of wood ordinarily yields about one ton of mechanical pulp or about one-hnlf ton of chemical pulp. There are live so called foreign banks doing business in Rio Janeiro, three British, one German and one Italian. The Kongo Free Stato includes 000,- 000 square miles of undeveloped ter ritory. The number of black Inhab itants Is 20,000,000. The Humaultarlan League of Eng land has addressed a petition to King Alfonso of Spain asking that he put a stop to bullfighting. Just 3,9G2,GG0 cords of wood were used In the United States in the manu facture of paper pulp last year, twice as much as was used In 1809. In Philadelphia all the fire trucks are equipped with nn acctyllne searchlight for the purpose of Illuminating cellars and smoke filled rooms when fighting fire. At Milan, which claims to be the the atrical center of the world, there will be nn International theatrical exhibi tion in 1013 In honor of the first cen tennial of the birth of Verdi. A new Belgian llfo preserver In the form of n knapsack, which the invent or claims is unsinknblc, contains a small storage battery to light an elec tric lamp In a headpiece, which forms part of the apparatus. For several weeks after tho British steamer Scsostrls was stranded on the coast of Guatemala a nearby town was lighted with electricity from Its dyna mos, wires being strung from the ves sel over temporary poles. Application has been made for a pat cut for a process of extracting wax from the sugar cane. It seems that the rind of the cane contains a certain proportion of wax which has hitherto been lost with the refuse. Edison's $1,000 concrete house will cost not less than ?2,4G2, declares Pop ular Mechanics. Experts have figured up the cost on the lowest basis prac ticable and found it impossible to crowd the expense Into the $1,000 limit W. W. HUdltch of the Sheffield Sci entific school has by laboratory tests ascertained that the bacteria found on paper money, while running up into the thousands for each bill, arc not usually of an infections or virulent type. A method has been found to make a much stronger and more durable gas mantle by using an artificial silk as the fabric on which tho oxides are de posited. This silk Is made by the dis solution of cellulose In nmmonlate of copper. A Bangor (Me.) man after lighting a lamp fell asleep. When he awoke he found that tho wick had worked up and had covered everything in sight with a black coating of soot It cost him about $300 to put things Into con dltlon again. Tho authors of "Wintering In Rome" claim that In respect to water supply that city Is better off than any rival health resort In the world. The dally supply consists of 51,000,000 gallons of absolutely pure water, well aerated, entirely without odor and moderately bard. Until about 1850 writing was taught in the schools of the United States from copies that were written by the teacher, who also made from goose quills tho pens which tho pupils used. A penknlfo with a keen blade was an essential part of the teacher's equip ment. Beginning last February, the Austro- Hungarian bank ns well as the ex chequer suspended the payment of ell ver florins. It is in this way proposed to withdraw silver florins from circu lation, covering the withdrawal by the Issuance of silver pieces of 1 to crowns. The flame of an ordinary match has a much higher temperature than Is gen orally known and will melt cast iron or steel filings. Try it by striking a match and sprinkle the filings through the flame. Sputtering sparks like gun powder will be the result of the melt ing metal. A fire which broke out in Walton, England, recently was found to have originated In strange fashion. A cir cular shaving mirror standing next the window In a bedroom had focused the rays of the sun on to tho bed, and the Intense heat speedily set the clothes ablaze. The Japanese army had till recently only one artillery range, that situated at the foot of the Fujiyama mountain, but in consequenco of the Improve ments in weapons and the Increased strength of the army five new camps have been established in various parts of the empire. In the northern part of India sheep are put to a use unthought of in Eu ropean or American countries. They are mado to serve as beasts of burden because they arc more surefooted than largo beasts, and the mountain paths along the foothills of the Himalayas are steep and difficult. Wherever carob trees are found on Greek government land they are rented to contractors, who harvest the crop. In the four provinces of Epldaurua, Kynourla, Spetsac and Hydra' there was thus gathered last year 2,821,850 pounds, from which the government received a revenue of $1,750. The referendum In July last by which the Swiss prohibited the manu facture and sale of absinth through out Switzerland has resulted in an un precedented boom in the beverage. The prohibitive law does not go Into effect until July, 1010, and In tho meantime absinth manufacturers in the canton of Neufchatef arc working day and night with doubled staffs in order ta Elect tho demand. NEW SHORT STORIES Obeyed Order to the Letter. "When I sailed with Admiral Mark ham some years ago," said a naval offi cer, "he had already mado a reputa tion as a rigid disciplinarian. .One day it chanced that a midshipman whom ho had sent ashore went a trifle be yond the instructions given blm with relation to his errand. The matter was not of the least importance, but Mark- ham chlded him sharply, saying: "When you receive an order, sir, do simply what you are told to do and never a particle more or less.' The midshipman touched his hat re spectfully, but he thought tho rebuko "AT THE POSTOFFICB, SIB." was uncalled for. A few days later Murkham summoned him ngain and said: "'You will tako a boat, sir, and go ashore to the postofflce. See if there is n package addressed to me.' " 'Aye, aye, sir.' "The midshipman took tho boat and went ashore. When he returned Mark bam asked: " 'Well, sir, was there a package for me at the postofflce?' "'Ytis, sir,' replied the midshipman, touching his cap. " 'Where is it?' " 'At the postofHce, sir.' "'What! You didn't bring it with you?' " 'No, sir.' " 'Why not, sir? " 'Because I had no order to do so, sir." " 'I told you to get the package.' "'Beg pardon, sir, but I understood you to tell me merely to see If there was a packago for you at tho post- ofllce, and I could not venture to do a particle more nor less than my instruc tions indicated.' "Boston Herald. Why He Got a Pats. SIg Conger, member of the state falr board, has a big heart He believes In repaying obligations. This Is the reason he issued a pass to the recent fair under unusual circumstances. Conger was called from the adminis tration building by a messenger, who said he was wanted at ona of the outer gates. Just outside the grounds a man whom be did not know stepped up to him. "I'd like to get a pass to the fair," he said. "Why so?" said Conger. "What rea son have you for asking for a pass?" "Don't you remember me?" said the stranger. "Can't say that I do," said Conger. "Why, that's strange," declared the man. "I can't understand that Don't you remember about five years ago when I loaned you a wheelbarrow ?"- - "The man took my breath away," said Conger, "his nerve was so great, and I gave him a pass. But to save my life I don't remember borrowing a barrow from that man. This Is Just ono of the Incidents that members of the board of agriculture bavo to stack up against" Indianapolis Star. When Flanagan Sparred. John Flanagan, the Irish athlete and champion hammer thrower, who dis tinguished himself with the American team nt the Olympic games in London, was telling some friends his first night's experience as a New York po liceman. ne was sent to a beat in one of the toughest localities In the city and came upon a crowd of drunken rowdies who were disturbing the pence. " 'Byes, ye'd better be all goin' along home; it's growln late,' I says when I camo up to them,' said Flanagan. " Go to Texas, you big harp!' wan of them yells back at me." "And what happened then?" asked a listener. "Oh, I laid down me night stick, and we sparred a bit," said Flanagan. "And how did It turn out?" "I arrested two of tho laddybucks, and two others were carried home by their friends," said Flanagan. New York Press. Accounted For. Henry Farman, tho aviator, during his American visit seemed as much Impressed with tho primitive propor tions of some of New York's flats as with the height of her skyscrapers or tho immensity of her hotel bills. "I visited a Brooklyn aeronautical experimenter the other night," said Mr. Farman to a reporter, "and his flat was the smallest I've seen yet. It showed me the point of a Joke I once heard an American make. I laughed then at this Joke, which I had beard two years before. " 'Smith of Brooklyn,' I said to my American friend, 'doesn't strike me as at all literary, and yet he declares be only feels really comfortable and con tented when snugly ensconced in bis library.' " 'Well, you see,' my companion ex plained, 'Smith's bookcase is a folding bed.'" s ( if Got Left In the Ruth. "Jessie Is engaged to be married." "The mischief she Is! I Intended to propose to that girl myself when I got Umo." Chicago Rccord-nerald. One of Many. A literary bent ho thought He had till he awolco One day and found ho was Not only bent, but broke. Detroit Tribune. Taking Him at His Word. Wcerlus Old fellow, I know it's none of my business, but The Old Fellow Well, then, don't butt into it Chicago Tribune. The Retort Matrimonial. "Madam, did you go through my pockets last night?" "Sir, you nsk too searching ques lions." Baltimore' American. Impatient Susie. "Oh, 1 can't thread this needle, ma!" Was little Susie's cry. "Just as the thread Is going through Tho needle -winks Its eye!" Woman's Home Companion. Complimentary. He pried the biscuit In two parts. Then said, not wishing to be rude, "I truly, madam, never met A really more substantial food." New York Press. The Hunt. Ursus Major What's the matter? Ursus Minor I sec n shooting star coming. New York Sun. Costly Missiles. Dan Cupid's darts are costing more Than they did In days of old. For they arc not efTcctlvo now Unless thcy'ro tipped with gold. Chicago News. Our Stock Expressions. "I can't see the point of this Joke.' "That's funny." Boston Post. Shakespeare Revised. This world's a stage so vastly set. And every man's a trooper. I long to bo a hero, yet I'm only Just a super. Smart Set A Flattering Estimate. "How do you like your new teacher Tommie?" "Aw, fine. She dresses swell and she knows a lot o' slang, nnd I guess she'll get along with me all right." Cleveland Plain Dealer. Tragic. He's sitting at his desk, deep bowed In woe. And as tho tiours pass grows daft and dafter. No crimes are his; he's Just a bard I know Who somehow cannot find the rhyme he's after. New York Telegram. In a Hurry. "The best men In Georgia," said the old farmer to his son, "came from the plow." "That's where I want to come from," said the youth, "nn' mighty quick too!" Atlanta Constitution. Out of Gear. The strangest opinions from him you hear. It seems he's possessor of every whim. Ho's full of caprice, nnd his thoughts arc queer. Why, even his food can't agree with him! New York Telegram. The Aftermath. "My, but there was lots of fire and brimstone In Mr. Bowers' sermon this morning!" "I expected there would bo. Their cook left them yesterday." Brooklyn Life. Another. Tho leaves all turn to fairy gold. Whoso brightness swiftly will forsake The scene as skies grow black nnd cold It's Just another nature fake. The Airship Paradox. Though they should tame the fickle wind, Tbo skeptic still can scoff. The more balloons there are, we find. The more the falling off. New York Evening Telegram. Wanted at First Hand. Gerald May I kiss you for your mother? Geraldlne I never receive anything In trust New York Press. Busted. These are the emnty days. Indeed. When we come from the seaside nooks Loaded down with empty shells And empty pocketbooks. Los Angeles Times. A Different Young Man. Gerald There Is a good deal power in my arm. Ot Geraldlne I have never bad occa slon to notice it Brooklyn Life. One Case Explained. The fisher would not overstate. His catch to htm looked very great. But all because his Jug of bait Had made his eyes exaggerate. Kansas City Times. An Adept. Miss Flurtle I don't care, he's just nn expert at making love. Mr. Chellus Yes, especially to him self. Philadelphia Press. Old Favorites. Now doth the gay spellbinder note Once more the scrapbook anecdote. By changing just a name or two He makes It seem as good as newl Pittsburg Post. Mixed Fruit. "You say you bavo a date. With whom Is it?" "With tho apple of my eye." Balti more American. Held Many of 'Em. When sitting In her hammock The 'Willies all grew bolder, Which was the very reason She called It her spoon holder. Houston Post LPROFBSSIONAJL CARDS. Attorneya-at-Law. M.SALMON, " . ATTORNEY a counbelor-at-law.V Olllce Next door to post ofllce. Formerly ' occupied by V. 11. Dlmnilck. llonesdale, I'u. WM. II. LEE, ATTORNEY A COUNBELWU-AT-LAW. Onicc over post olllcc. All legal business promptly attended to. llonesdale, l'o. ME. SIMONS, . ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LAW. Office in Foster building rooms 9 and 10, llonesdale, I'n. E. C. MUMFORD, ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LAW. Otllro Liberty Hall bulldlne. oimnslti" thn Post Office, Honesdulc, Pa. H EHMAN 11AHMKS, Patents and pensions secured. Office In thn Court House, llonesdale. Pa. Charles a. Mccarty, ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-1, AW. Special and prompt attention elven to the collection of claims. Olllec over Hell's new store, llonesdale. Pa. PETER II. 1LOFF, ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LAW. Olllcc Second floor old Savings Hank building, llonesdale. Pa. FP. KIMBLE, ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LAW. Olllcc over the post ofllce. HoncsdalcJ'a. A. T. SKARLE, ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LAW. Office near Court House, llonesdale. Pa. 0. ROWLAND, ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LAW. Office over Post Olllcc. llonesdale. Pa. HOMER GREENE, ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LAW. Ollleo over Keif's store, llonesdale. Pa. . WILSON, ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-1. AW. Office. Masonic livit.llnfr. sin-ond ftnnr. HoncsUUiC. l'a. Dentists. DR. K. T. BROWN, DENTIST. Offlu Klrfct floor. old Savings Hunk build- lnt:. Honesdulc. Pa. Physicians. DR. H. B. SEARLES, HONESDALE, PA. Ollh-e and residence 1116 Church street Telephones. Office Hours U0 to 4M) and :uu to a:uu, p. m. Liveries. G1 II. WHITNEY, f. LIVERY AND OMNIBUS LINE. URcarof Allen House. llonesdale. Pa. Aiieiepnones. $22. OO Dining Room BuSTet for $16.85 Only $16.85 For this beautiful Buffet in goldon Quartered Ontc. This Dining Room pleec Is CO Inches hlcli. Base 42x21 inches, French bevel plate mirror 10x10, Four drawers and two cabinets, exquisitely carved, French stylo lees. T&ree fancy shaped front drawers, one lined for sil ver. The equal cf t his Buffet retails for 122.00 In stores. Carefully packed and shipped freightcharges prepaldforllft.85. For 500 other styles of dependable Furniture at factory prices see our new catalogue. Send for one. BIKGHAMTON, N. Y. For New Late Novelties IN JEWELRY WATCHES SILVERWARE ry SPENCER, The Jeweler "Qurnlced articles only sold." JOSEPH N. WELCH Fire Insurance The OLDEST Fire Insurance Agency in Wayne County. Office: Second floor Masonic Build, ing, over O. C. Jadwin's drug store, llonesdale.