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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1900)
fSfsfs " spST'ipP- "wvl5-" ,yy!?,t1; J f BW 18 THE SUNDAY OBEGONrAN PORTLAM, JANUARY 21, 1900. JIT DEBASED FOR MONEY BLIGHTING TOUCH OP THEATRICAL TRUST OX AMERICAN DRAMA. ltir.e and Rapid Growth of a Power ful Syndicate That Alms to Crash. Oat Every Opposition. During the past decade, so prolific in the birth and growth pf gigantic trusts and consolidations that have crushed all weaker rivals to the earth, no syndicate has been formed that has had a more rap Id growth or far-reaching: Influence than what is commonly called the theatrical trust- This trust Is entirely mercenary In its nature, and is designed to effect an absolute, arbitrary monopoly of the the atrical business of the country, regardless of all other considerations whatever. Its operations are casting a blight upon all dramatic ventures not bowing to its do minion and are attracting the attention of ail lovers of the drama and thinkers everywhere. There are few actors, man agers of companies, or lessees or proprie tors of theaters who have courage to defy its mandates, and one learns, through the columns of the press, of the disas trous consequences almost inevitably fol lowing all such displays of audacity. The operations of the trust have even invaded the musical field, and most of the great operatic organizations of the country feel the powerful grip of the or ganization. Even the concert people are not free from Its influence. Norman Hap good, in an article In the International Monthly for January, ably discusses this gigantic evil, laying bare its origin, his tory and general scope and purposes, with a keen scalpel. Of the origin of the trust iie says: Its Origin. "During the season of 1S95-C, it became loaown that a combination was being formed to control many theaters. The spelling of the names of some of the members varies, but after the present method they were: Nixon and Zimmer man, of Philadelphia; Itlaw and Erlanger, and Hayman and Frohman, of New York. By February, it was announced that 37 iirst-class theaters were in the hands of the syndicate. To each of the houses 30 weeks of 'attractions were to be guaran teed. The essence of the system, from that day to this, with constantly increas ing scope and power, has been that the theaters take only such plays as the syn dicate desires, and receive. In return, an unbroken succession of companies, with none of the old-time Idle weeks. Another inducement to the owners of theaters was the promise of better terms from traveling companies; but the actual out come of that idea is not so clear. Avoidance of. conflicting plays, or of a, series of plays too much alike, was also one of the proposed advantages, but this has turned out a difficult object to aln, especially with the necessity of changing all dates to suit big syndicate successes; and many theaters have the ordinary padding, farce comedies, for wrtlts at a time." The success of the trust was made pos sble, Mr. Hapgood declares, by the pre J,uus efforts of the firms comprising it. HaMiian had obtained control of many theaters in the West, and Klaw and Er langer had captured the South. It is not jicv-ssary for the control of a city to have all its theaters in the hands of the syndicate. Take San Francisco, for example: San Francisco's Plight. That city has an independent theater, the California, but few companies from the Ea5t can afford to come to the Pacific cuist, -without playing in such towns as Kansas City. Omaha, Denver and Salt Lake City, in all of which the leading theaters are in the hands of the syndi cate. When it Is remembered that most of these are one-week stands, the ditti cult of getting along without them will be obvious, control of one-night stands is less important. Of course. It Is possible for a company, if It finds all the first clp cs houses barred, to go Into second and thiid-elass theaters, if there happens to b.5 any. But this alternative, -which Is neat enough in theory, has accomplished litt e. The manager of a cheap theater dislikes to raise his prices for a single en gagemert, because the public will be dis p'cascd, and he can only do it for particu larly profitable companies. And an at traction that goes to a theater out of its class loses the advantage of the theater's c ientele, and only a very strong attrac tion can afford to do that. Mr. Hapgood continues. "The reception of the idea, when this combination was first discussed, makes a d-amatic contrast to subsequent history. Slcnasers tried to organize in opposition and immediately failed. Then the leading artrrs took a hand, and their story is ttuching. Nat Goodwin, Francis Wilson and Richard Mansfield were the leaders in an effort to form a combination of stars, sTong enough to defy the syndi cate and make their own dates with the theaters, and their own terms. Actora in Combination. They said, with undoubted truth, that tf there were a dozen very popular actors who refused to give up their business in dependence, the syndicate could never be come a real monopoly and probably could not last. Mr. Goodwin's lawyers, there fore drew up an agreement, to be signed by leading actors first, and later by as many others as chose to join. Finally, early in 1S9S, another agreement -was signed by a few actors, to last until the end of 1S99 It provided that, as "both artistically and pecuniarily the good of the many Is oelng subordinated to the profit of the few by the combination be fore mentioned, an association was to be formed "for the promotion and protection of an independent stage in this country. "The members were to book either through the executive committee of the association, or directly, the only point being that they should not book through any agencies or exchanges; practically meaning that they should not book through Klaw and Erlanger. the booking branch ot the syndicate, although they cou.d play in the syndicate theaters, if the local managers would deal directly with them. A sum of $5000 -was to be for feited by any member who did not keep Oi's agreement and pay his assessments. This agreement was signed by Francis Wilson, James A. Heme, James O'Neill. Richard Mansfield and Mrs. Minnie Mad dern riske. Nat Goodwin had already gone over to the syndicate. The high po 6 . on held by Joseph Jefferson made his assistance very desirable. His views are expressed in a signed telegram to the New York Herald, March 13. 1S97, as fol lows: iSr. Jefferson's Views. "The first I heard of a theatrical syndi cate was the receipt of a letter from one of Its leading managers, desiring me to play at one of Its theaters. At the same f me I got a communication from one of the ant.-synd cate managers, trusting that I w ouid not join the new combine, which he deprecated aa an unfair movement, and asking me not to desert his house. 11 decafcd the offer of the syndicate manager and acted with my old one. An other old manager from one of the anti eyndicate theaters wrote me in the same strain, and asked my advice as to how he should act to protect himself against the 'octopus who was gradually coiling him self around the old, legitimate managers. I was about to reply and encourage him to meet the matter boldly, and that I would stand by him, when, to my surprise, I found that both of the old managers had joined the 'octopus. " The newspapers took up the fight, but they soon became silenced, one by one. An actor said, in an interview, that a membei of his profession had safety only in sLence; that he would loss, no matter what side he took. In March, 1S97, the Dramatic Mirror sent out 65 letters to managers asking their views. Only six replies were received. Many expressions of opinion, however, found their way into print. Some of these follow: "Business, Not Art." William Dean Howells said: "Not merely one industry, but civilization Itself is ebneerned, for the morals and education of the public are directly influenced liy the stage. Every one who takes a pride In the art of his country must regret a monopoly of the theater, for that means business and not art." Thomas Bailey Aldrlch declared that the Inevitable result of a theater trust would be "deterioration In the art of acting and discouragement of dramatic literature," and Richard Mansfield wrote: "Art must be free. I consider the exist ence of the trust or syndicate a stand ing menace to art Its existence Is, in my opinion, an outrage, and unbear able." All this time Francis Wilson and Rich ard Mansfield kept up a constant fire in speeches before the curtain. On one oc casion Mansfield said: "We are in the hands of the enemy; God help us." On January 24, 1S9S, Mr. Mansfield sue- "DIAMOND QUEEN OF RUSSIA." Jm fwf i --fK" Wg$ ry . - j , -5 -"-i . I '""" "i . i i it MOST BEAUTIFTJIj DANCER IN EUROPE, Marie fie Iibounskaja, of the imperial Russian ballet, and who is declared by her crazed admirers to be the most teautlful woman in Europe, Is creating a sensation at the various Continental capitals by her dancing:, ana the fabulously costly costumes she wears. The latter fairly blaze with diamonds, many of them worth thoucands of dollars each, and aggregating immense sums in -value. The fascinating dancer is making a tour of the great cities, by es pecial permission of tho czar of Kussia, who has granted her a furlough from St. Petersburg for the purpose. cumbed. Then Mr. Herne became silent. Th-s left Mrs. Fiske and Mr. Wilson practically alone In the fight; they were still standing by their guns. Toward the i n iRQQ hnwever. Francis Wilson, who had talked so sharply, was offered $50,- 000 for a half interest in nis ousmess Dy one of the firms in the syndicate. He asked one night to consider the offer and then accepted. "Mrs. Fiske," comments Mr. Hapgood, "now stands alone. Some people expect to see her jield also. I do not. If tho syndicate process of absorbing theaters goes on, she may be able to play but a few weeks each season in America, or not at all, but the chances seem to be that she will be found with her colors flying, and her reputation still higher, when the time comes for the syndicate to disin tegrate through Its own excess of power." Mr. Hapgood very aptly concludes his paper as follows: Is it well that such power should be in the hands of six business men, some with clean records, others with black ones, but all uncultivated? Is not the produc tion of 'The Conquerors' alone sufficient to answer this question? Is not .the dearth of repertories, of great dramas, of AmpHorm nlavs. enouffh? Much stresa'is laid on the taste for crude, comic and melodramas treatment of sexual mat- ters undoubtedly shown by members of fhA vndlcate. but Indecency seems to me a far less pervading fault than empti ness. "From this vacuity and restriction the only escape is a break in the power of the trust. Among methods for accom plishing this, the surest and most abiding would be the establishment of theaters in large cities, owned by cultivated peo ple; open to worthy productions, but pro vided with the nucleus of a company with a repertory." , Just a Little Country Paper. It's Just a little paper It isn't up to date; It hasn't any supplement or colored fashion plate. It comes out every Friday, unices the forms are pied; The outside is home-printed, with boiler-plate inside. It hasn't any cable direct from old Bombay, But it says that "Colonel Braggin3 is in our midst today." It doesn't seem to worry about affairs of state. But it tells that "Joseph Hawkins has painted his front gate." It neer mentions Krugcr or Joseph Chamber lain, But says that "Thompson's grocery has a new window pane," And that "the mission, workers will give a fes tival," And "tfjere'U be a temperance lecture in Will iam Hooper's hall." It tells about the measles that Jimmy Hankies had. And says that Israel Johnson "has become a happy dad." It says that "cider-making is shortly to com- sence," Ana cites the fact that Ira Todd is building a new fence. It mentions Dewey's coming in one brief para graph. And says that "Charlie Trimble has sold a year ling calf." And eicryihing that happura within that llttla town The man who runs the paper has plainly jotted down. Some people make fun of it, but, honestly, I like To learn that "work is booming upon the Jim town pike." It's Just a little paper it hasn't much to say But no long as it is printed I hope it comes my way. -iJosh Wink in Baltimore American. COMBAT Of HAIRY TITANS i MALE GORIMAS FIGHT TO A FINISH IN AN AFRICAN FOREST. Death the Portion of the Vanquished and the Prize of the Victor a Coy Gorilla Maiden. "After the adjustment of our little un pleasantness with the South," said Captain Jack Benton, to a New York Sun man, "t drifted back into civil life. It seemed monotonous, however, after the excite ment of campaigning, and, receiving an offer to go to Africa and collect animals for menageries, I jumped at It. My work took me Into the interior of Upper Guinea, which was then about as wild a country as there was in the world. "One morning I left camp to make a cir- cult of some traps we had set in the night, and, as I wasn't on the lookout for big game, I took only a light rifle with me. Trudging through the woods, I came on a little clearing, and there, not 50 feet away, I saw a big male gorilla. He was on all fours, half-squatting on the ground. "Equipped with only a light rifle, I had no ambition to meddle with the beast. I slipped back Into the underbrush, and was about to make off as quietly as possible when the peculiarity of the gorilla's ac tions attracted me. He seemed to be try ing to look as amiable as was possible for such a monster, and a second glance showed me the reason for this." At the right of the clearing was a second gorilla, smaller, but equally ferocious looking, a fitting mate for the first big brute. I had evidently discovered a gorilla courtship. 'Tho male gorilla, trying to attract the attention of the female by uncouth motions, was beginning to advance clums ily toward her, when suddenly a dull boom! boom! sounded from far away in tho forest. Up to that Instant the male gorilla, while savage-looking, had given no sign of being angry, but now all was changed. His huge jaws shut together with a snap. Then through the silence which had fallen on the jungle when the first sullen challenge was heard came a sharp bark, followed by a deep, humming sound. Battle Call of Gorilla. "It was the terrible battle call of a full grown gorilla, the cry sent out when he is about to fight to tho death for a mate. THE JUGGLER At the end of each echoing challenge the hairy giant beat with his big hands on his chest, while at the other end or the clear ing, waiting to bestow her hand on the v.ctor, sat the female gorilla whose charms had inspired such jealous rage. "Suddenly there was a little flurry at the left end of the clearing, and the chal lenger broke through the bushes Into plain sight. He was worthy to do battle with the first giant. I could see he was a veteran, with the scars of many battles on him. His big lips were rolled up in a grim snarl, showing broken teeth and great gaps, the result of former battles. Both gonllas were taller than the average man as they stood on the'r hind feet for battle, but their enormous breadth of chest and shoulders made them look like squaiting,, hairy giants In fighting ability both seemed equal, for while the second, older gorilla had evidently been In more "battles, yet the one I had first seen In the jungle had an advantage in strength and youth. "Neither of the big animals wasted time in preliminaries; they bad. worked them- selves up into such an insanity of rage that only ' killing1 would satisfy. Each advanced on his hind legs until within six feet of the other. Then 'the younger go rilla began to fight. Stepping forward with marvelous quickness for such an un galnly animal, hetruck a flall-llke blow with his huge pawsr Had the blow gone home, no mere flesh and blood, not even the big-boned frame of his antagonist could have withstood it. But the old gorilla had been n too many death grap ples to be caught so early in the fight. Even as the big arm" swung around he sprang forward, coming in close so as' to miss the full forco of the swing. The next Instant he had swung his own arm around the younger gorilla's neck, en circling It with four feet of steel muscles and holding his enemy's head stiff upright, so that he could not bring the terrible teeth Into play1. Gets a Grip. "Then the old gorilla opened his heavy jaws, and getting a firm grip on the right shoulder of tho younger gorilla, held on like a bulldog, tearing his way through tho knotted muscle' and sinews and shoul der blade of his opponent. At the same time che left arm of the old fighter wrapped itself about the younger gorilla in a rib-breaking grip. "It was only for an instant, however, that things looked so desperate for the younger fighter. The first gorilla's splendid fighting ability and tremendous strength showed themselves. Whirling up his left arm he fastened' his long fingers 8Out his antagonist's .throat arid tried to break his grip and shove his head back. At first the only effect of this was to make the old fellow tighten his grip on the other's shoulders. Then the younger gorilla put forth all his strength. I could see the muscles of his arm, shoulders- and Dack gather themselves into big knots and bunch up as if they would break through the skin. Tho murderous desp-set eyes started forward until they were level with the cheekbones. A last desperate effort and the big head went back, the tightly closed jaws of the old gorilla tearing out flesh and sinews as they were shoved away, but not ungrlpped. Then the old lighter's right arm slowly and reluctantly uncoiled from the other's neck. The younger gorilla had broken the death grip. Both big fighters were momentarily free and stepped back to regain breath. "Although wounded, it was the younger gorilla that made the attack. This time he did not waste any efforts on blows with his huge paws. When they had ap proached almost within striking distance the younger of the fighters made a rush. He received a blow on the head that would have crushed a man's skull. It scarcely staggered him. Then both his long arms wrapped themselves about his opponent's neck and, holding his antagonist tightly clasped, he began biting with fierce energy, not a steady gripping bite, but furious, tearing gnashings, which ripped skin and flesh from face and shoulders and chest. Trial of Strength. "The older gorilla was taken by surprise at this sudden rush and change of tac tics by his opponent. But though at a dis advantage, he was too old a fighter to be easily dismayed. First he secured a grip on his opponent's throat, and straining every muscle, tried to tear himself free from the infuriated grasp of the younger beast. He might as easily have broken a steel cable aa the strangling hold of his enraged opponent. Then the older fighter relaxed his grip on the other's throat, and placing both his big human-like paw3 on the youngers face, tried to force hia head back. "This brought out a terrific trial of strength. If the old gorilla could force the other's head back, he would be free and might perhaps break his enemy's neck. Each of the huge fighters seemed to know this and put forth all of his giant strength. Back, shoulders, arms and neck were called into play, the heavy muscles rippling up and gathering into big knots. Th& snarling growls, which had marked tne beginning of the fight, had died away. Each animal was silent. A stillness seemed to have fallen on the whole jun gle, and the crackling of the twigs and dry leaves seemed unnaturally loud as the two gigantic fighters came to the supreme struggle. "For what was probably half a minute, but seemed an hour, the two semihuman shapes stood there putting forth every energy. At last the younger fighter's face was within two inches of his oppo nent's head. The younger gorilla made a supreme effort, twisted his head suddenly and before his opponent could dodge had fastened his teeth In a death grip on the throat of the veteran fighter. "The veteran was borne backward, carry ing his foe down with him. Unless- he could loosen the grip on his throat he was doomed, and the old fighter knew It. Over wcia anil nvp.r nn thA e-rrmnrJ tho wn Vinco anaa rolled, fighting desperately, but without sound save for the shrill hissing of their breath as it was forced from their heav ing chests. The veteran of many a hard fought jungle battle knew his own end had come. His Death Wall. "Up to. this- time the battle had been nniylif 4vi plTAt.nA Vt. n 4-VtA 1Jl MAM.11 gave up the contest and felt the teeth of hi antarnn't Rmkw r fln(i nr .wo amaaun. onions uGcyei auu. ueciJCi into his throat, the pain was greater than he could bear. He broke into a walling cry that echoed through the Jungle. I have heard the death cry of many ani mals, but never a call like that of the aying gorilla. For it was not like an an! mal, but the wall of a man in overmaster- lng pain, a choking half sob, half shriek. Again and again it rose up. I lifted my rifle and then lowered It, for I could not help the old gorilla, and to meddle In that fight with only my light rifle meant my own death. The half human wall broke out again, but while I was standing irreso lute, it ceased. The fierce, hard-flghting, hard-bltlng younger gorilla had been work ing his way through his antagonist's throat and had at last bitten through the wind pipo. The great fight was over, and the AND THE LADY; OR THE SECRET REVEALED.' veteran of many similar contests had met the fate he had meted out to others. "I watched the younger ape, as If fas cinated, while he wreaked his revenge on the body of his dead enemy. Then, with a start, it occurred to me that I would suffer a similar fate If I stayed in that -vicinity. -But I had no real cause for anx iety. The gorilla had other matters to think of. The last glimpse I had of the conqueror was as, with the glare of battle still in his eyes and covered from head to foot with his own blood and that of his enemy, he marched off in triumph toward her for whom he had fought ao desperately and eo well." Forjretr-IIIe-Nlts. 'Tls a comical tale of a German gent, Who only spokofEngllsh in spots; He wished to present, jsjb a compliment. To a lady "Forget-me-nota." The fable goes on that this, German gent, Who only spoke .English in bits, Still can't understand why she laughed as ha bent, And presented 'Forget-me-sats." Judy. SYBARITICGOTHAft? DAMES TURKISH BATH PARTIES, "WITH DAINTY LTJNCHBS, LATEST FAD. New Yorlc "Women of the Swell Set Adopt diatoms of Ancient Rome. Luxury Gone Mad. The Turkish bath habit has won a place among the fads of the New York woman, and appears to be running neck and neck with the woman's club as a time-consumer. At least, that Is the Impression one ob tains by frequent visits to certain well known Turkish baths for women. For more than a year, says the New York Sun, this particular establishment has given New York tho distinction of possess ing the finest baths for women in the RICHEST 'MAN ml lip ,ffip i t 1fve I The new Duke of Westminster, who has Just succeeded to his grandfather's titles and es tates, is the richest man in England, and bears one of the proudest names in the British peer age. He at present serves his country as an aide-de-camp on the staff of Sir Alfred Milner, the governor and commander-in-chief of the Cape of Good Hope and its dependencies. The duke, better known under his former country title of Viscount Belgrave, will come of age next March, should he not fall in the campaign. He is a second lieutenant of the Cheshire Yeo manry cavalry. The accompanying portrait of the young man is from the Jfew York World. United. States; and, in that year, the pro prietor's knowledge of feminine character has been justified. "If a thing is to take with women who (have money to spend, it must be chic,"" he said, and he proved his point by chang ing the Turkish bath for women, whlcn was. formerly, rather a forlorn perform ance, to a luxurious function, with nu merous incidental opportunities for self indulgence and money-spending. He didn't lose any of his ascetic worshippers or cleanliness, or his rheumatic and nervous patients, and he gained a carriage clientele that makes the street in front of the baths .. ..M A . suggest an aiiernoon reccyuuu Ui . m- I mee. It was a social innovation much com mented upon several years ago that gave the philosophical proprietor his suggestion. A well-known woman gave a Turkish bath party at his old establishment; and, after the women had gone on to a dinner ana dance, and the bathrooms were deserted. (the deus ex machlna entered, sat down amonir the scattered flowers and violet .4. ..! Uti Vilmcralf '1ti llfftch tVimif?Vlt " , When he came out of the trance, he said to the pier glass: "Why not more Tur- , . . . - -.. m- . 1m. -,lncD v,ov. lng a j. many 6urprising things i vjat evening, didn't offer any argument, and that's how it all came about. The old rooms were torn out. Marble and onyx and nickel plate replaced tin and Iron and lead In the plumbing. Hard wicker and leather and iron cots gave way ' to luxurious divans; velvet carpets and Oriental rugs and tiling shoved aside oil- cloth. Effective hangings, soft lights and mirrors were scattered about promiscu ously. Private rooms, with accommoda tions for luncheon parties, were provided. Bath Parties Sow Common. Then the women were left to do their part, and they did it. Now Turkish bath parties are as common as matinee par- ties. Indeed, the two go hand in hana; Meggendorfer Blaetter. for. every Saturday morning, the bath rooms are filled with women who come in groups of two or three or four; take their baths and massage; have their hair cferessed and their nails manicured and then appropriate the divans in one of the private rooms, rest and gossip, have lunch eon served to them and finally make leisurely toilets in time for the matinee. Sometimes, the party is a -mutual affair, and each member pays' her own expenses; but the same people meet at a certain hour each week. More often some one woman entertains the others, and the entertain ment is elaborate, according to the host ess' inclination and Income. The matinee Sirl may merely give her friends Turkish baths and chicken salad, or there may be huge bunches of violets on the pillows of each divan, and an epicurean luncheon eerved on the little tables. Flowers have become quite a feature of the bath. 0 There was a time when a Turkish bath was something occult and mysterious, referred to only in whispers, and Indulged dn with sensations of guilt; but that time is past. So, if a woman devotes a certain morning or afternoon each week to the Turkish bath, her friends are likely to know it; and It is" quite the proper thing to send flowers to her at the bathrooms. When she has been steamed and scoured and plunged and massaged and perfumed, she snuggles down upon a coucht with her violets or roses, and dozes and dreams in an Arabian Nights sort of comfort; and the relaxation does more for her nerves than, all the tonics that could be prescribed for her. . According to the bath attendants, how ever, the women think more about their complexions than their nerves. A good complexion is the acme of every woman's desire, and there's a theory afloat to the effect that steam and water and massage, applied to the whole body, will do more for the complexion than- all the cold cream and cosmetics on the market. Hence these bathers. To Improve Complexion. "Nine out of 10 women," says a bath attendant, "come to us in the hope of improving their complexions. They stay wlt!h us because their skin does improve and because they learn to enjoy the batna and depend upon them Instead ot medl- IN ENGLAND. cine. We have almost all the actresses and singers. They have t use cosmetics in their profession, and .aey know the things will ruin their skin if not often thoroughly removed. So they come here and take an extra dose of the steam room. That opens the pores of the face and takes out all the paint and powder and that sort of thing. Of course, those pro fessional people think a great deal about their figures, too, and the baths and spe cial massage keep them In shape, ana then, any one whose work is a nervous strain, needs just such relaxation as the bath gives." "Isn't there danger of too great relaxa tion in case of heart trouble?" asked the reporter. "That's a bugaboo; there Iff danger if one is subject to heart disease; but none even then if proper precautions are taken and the baths are rationally managed. The dangar lies in the employment of bath at tendants who do not know their business. No woman with chronic and pronounced heart trouble has any right to take Turk ish baths without warning the attendant or bringing a doctor's prescription; but, on the other ha d., JJJJ??? "frfaUent carefully and ouW be com- petent to detect the slightest symptom of danger. Wo do not employ any woman here who has not taken a certified course in massage and electrical treatment, and most of our attendants have taken at least part of the course required of trained nurses. We try to give regular patron3 the same attendant each time, so that the latter may understand the case perfectly. "With strangers we exercise the greatest care, and at the least suggestion of ex haustion, whitening of the lips, shadow un der the eyes, paleness and so on, we take the patient out of the heat and give stim ulants. To delicate or old people, and with children, we do not allow any extreme de gree of heat to be applied; and, often, wo omit the steam room altogether. Then we use Judgment about the cold shower and plunge. Some people cannot stand the shock, and we do not take any chances. There have been cases of heart trouble in Turkish baths, but not so many as at dances and on the streets; and, because of the precautions, there is really less danger here than elsewhere." "You spoke of old people. Do you have any really old ladles7" Merry Old Lady-. 'To we? Well, rather. Any number of them. One 81 years old comes here every Thursday. She says her Turkish baths and her grandchildren are the greatest pleasures she has In life. Her doctor brought her here first to be treated for rheumatism, and gave us rigid Instruction. The old lady had to be carried In from, her carriage. Now she comes trotting in, with her maid, as merrily as you please; hasn't had a touch of rheumatism for two years, and does more advertising for us than our regular agent. She gave her little grand daughter a bath party here last month had six little tota about 7 or 8 years old and they had the greatest lark imaginable. You ought to have seen them swim in the pool. The grandmother ordered a lovely lunch for them, and had the cutest little dolls done up in sheets Turkish bath fash ionfor souvenirs, and then sent them all off with the governess." The number of children who go regularly to the Turkish baths- is surprising. A large percentage of them are sent because their mothers believe it is good for their general health; and nurses who bring them turn them over to the attendants with sighs of relief. But still more surprising than the number of healthy children sent to the baths is the number of them tak ing the baths as a cure for rheumatism and nervous troubles. "I don't know whether the condition is new,'' said the attendant, "or whether the same conditions have existed for a long time and only recourse to the bath treat ment is new; but it is a fact that, within the last.few years, we have had a most astonishing number of children, often not more than 2 or 2 years old, brought to ua suffering seriously from rheumatism and nervous diseases," FOOD MOLDS CHARACTER ACCORDING TO KIXD PARTAKEW OF, SUCH IS MAX'S JTATUItE. Boe Inspires Courage, Porlc Breeds Melancholy, Lamb Imbecility, aiiiT Mustard Preserves Memory. What influence, if any. has food over human character? is a question that cer tain European physiologists have been trying to find an answer for during some time past, and now; one of them an Eng lishmanannounces several important discoveries, which seem to demonstrate conclusively that food is a most impor tant factor in governing the actions of human beings. Every kind of food, wo are told, pro duces a distinct effect upon the charac ter of the person who consumes it. Thus, If a man were to eat nothing but beef for a few months; the inevitable re sult would be that he would become ab normally energetic, courageous, and. per haps foolhardy to the verge of insanity. If he were to continue this beef diet for some time longer, he would become aa untamable as a wild bull, and it would be dangerous for any one to approach; him. This would prove true even though; he might naturally be a man of the mild est character. Pork as an exclusive diet is not rated any higher than beef. Much of the mod ern pessimism may perhaps bo rightly ascribed to it. for we are told that it breeds melancholy and sadness, and that overindulgence in it Is likely to lead to suicide. Even the most refined persons become coarse and brutal under its in fluence, and the most inveterate gour mand will In time become disgusted with; life and its pleasures. lamb leads to Imbecility. Unhappy, too, will speedily become the mental condition of those who feast con stantly on lamb. No matter how bright and clever they may be-, they cannot long resist the Influence of the sportive but stupid little animals which have gradually become part of themselves, and imbeciles they will surely become If they do not in good time recover their lost intellect by three square meals a day of some food less debilitating than lamb. A constant diet of veal is not desirable, as it tends to make the muscles too soft and the character too effeminate. Prize fighters, soldiers and all others who have need of physical or intellectual courage are advised to abstain from it. There is a tradition that from time immemorial henpecked husbands have been great con sumers of veal. If this be true, their lack of courage on critical occasions is easily explained. Milk and eggs diet Is recommended by this fin de siecle physiologist as a con stant diet for any young lady who de sires to obtain a very beautiful soft and white skin. Pure cow's milk, .he says, never exercises any bad influence elthar on the bodies or on the characters of human beings. Sheep's milk, being moro oleaginous, has an exhilarating: effect on the system, and any one who consumes an unusually large quantity of butter daily will gradually become very paciflc and lazy, and -wilt In the end suffer- con stantly from fatigue, firom which he will find it impossible to arouse himsalf. Strong cheese, if eaten in moderation, is said to be excellent as a sedative, and is recommended to persons who are too nervous and excitable, but If eaten con stantly and in large quantities. It is safct to produce the same obnoxious effect as pork. Eat lots of Uses. Those who would strengthen their in tellect and their muscles at the staae time are advised to eat many eggs dairy, and those whose main object is to im prove their memory and to retain it un impaired up to the day o thaiQ death, are assured that It is thfeir bounden duty to take a large quantity of strong mustard with every meal. Fish as a constant diet Is not recommended to any one. Inded. it is anathematized in rather bitter terms. "Persons who eat nothing but fish," are the warning words, "will soon bo on, a level with the fish- eating inhabitants of the north of Siberia, who are the stupid est creatures In the world." As for po tatoes, experience shows that an exclu sive diet of them produces Indescribable ennui and a feeling; of Intellectual and physical weariness. Indeed, an exclusive diet of vegetables Is said to produce most lamentable re sults', and vegetarians are informed. In pretty plain language that they are un dermining their constitutions by abstain ing wholly from animal food. The valuo of vegetables Is admitted, but only when they are used with other articles of food. When used alone and constantly, they invariably make the flesh soft and tho muscles flaccid, and at the same time the eyes begin, to lack luster, and vigor de parts even from the roots of tho hair. Worse still, the brain gradually loses its cunning and Is powerless to do any durable work. Quite the contrary Is the case wrien fruit of any kind forms the frequent diet of a person. Excellent, we are told, are fruits, one reason being because they produce a most pleasant exhilarating ef fect without enervating the brain, as al cohol does. The After-Money Beggar. When you've shouted "Happj'New Year." wfcea you've done jour swearing off. When you've clone jour twentieth century biz. You will notice there s a fellow with a rasping sort of cough He's the New Year3 bill collector that ha to. He's an after-money beggar, hla tenacity la But jou'and me must take him. as we find him. He is out on active service, wiping something oft the slate. And he tries to leave receipted bills behind him. Brown's bill Smith's bill bills from, a hundred more. Billa for tho coal and bills for flour are falling due today. Every collector will do his work as eoon aa ha enters the door. And this is the sound he will sing to you: Oh, pay pay pay. There are bill3 for things you purchased so doriff ago they've slipped From your mem'ry hut they'll all coma up today. There's the man who wants the money for the overcoat that ripped. Though at the time you swore you'd never pay. There are bills you ran up casual now you'ra sorry that you did, For the after-money beggar, he will find you. And until you settle with him, why ot him. you can't be rid. For you'll always hear hla rasping cough be hind you. Gas bill meat bill bill for a ton of icet (Isn't that a cheerful thing to have to meet today?) It isn't a comic opera it doesn't sound half so nice To hear this chorus arise and sing that Pay pay pay. There are Chrtetmas presents, maybe, that you wish you hadn't sent. And posstbll a bill for some old rye, (Which makes- you think how llttla your "swear off" of last year meant). And some bills for things you know you didn't buy. But the after-money beggar he don't cara & rap for that. He's as heartless and as soulless as a clam. It you pay him. ha will leave tho room aa softly as a cat Ifijou don't, he'll give the door a nasty slam. Shoe bill drug bill bill for a new straw hat I Thlnlc of the nere to hand In a bill liko that today. This is the month they've got to come you can't get away from that. Dig In your purse for credit's sake, and Paj pay pay. Baltimore American. V