i
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, "PORTLAND. APfilL 1, 19fo.
en,-
ATHLETIC SINGER RUSSO
PHYSICALLY "HARD AS NAILS" AND
BCNCUED WITH MUSCLES.
Boston Lrlcs Clever Tenor o
Believer In, nwl Exponent
Physical Development.
Firm
of,
during the engagements U a very arduous
one, and onlr the most physically fit are
able to attempt It. The mules which ac
company a battalion are supposed to tret
within 500 yards of the men In action and
the carts to within 1000 yards.
s
KEENER-SIGHTED THAN WE
A singer must have strength and power
to go through the arduous task of Inter
preting a grand opera role, the same as
a blacksmith must possess the ability to
wield a sledgehammer all day. This Is,
of course, a broad comparison, but It
answers the purpose b showing that an
artist must have health and physical de
velopment. Should any of the Portland Hotel guests
chance, by accident, to walk Into the
apartments of the tenor of the Boston
Lyric Opera Company, Slgnor Domemcu
Russo, they would behold, probably to
their amazement, the parlor of his suite
converted Into a veritable gymnasium,
dumb-bells, ranging In weight from 5 to
SOU pounds: Indian-clubs, wclght-puIIs.
rowing apparatus, head-lifts, horizontal
bars and punching 'bags being scattered
everywhere These nre In dally use by Big.
Russo. who Is an athlete as well as singer,
and In the strictest sense of the word.
Although by no means a large man. his
muscular development Is remarkable, nni!
would put to shame many a top-notch
pr.zenghter. When asked the reason for
bo much Interest In phjs-cal culture as
he displays. Russo rays: "It helps ze
voice; gives ze grand tone, ze sweet timbre
so often lacking In ze English singers."
Necessnry Foundation.
Russo Is correct In his conclusion. In the
Italian school of singing the iirt principle
Is vigor and strength. This Is the neces
sary foundation for perfect singing the
nnnT- Tvhirh comes from a perfectly
healthy and carefully developed dia
phragm and strengthened muscles of the
stomach, throat and chest. The develop
ment of the muscles of the arms and
shoulders which, as will bo seen In the
two accompanj lr.g pictures of tho singer
on this page. Is almost phenomenal In the
case of Rao. has a tendency to strength
en the cheat and thereby Improve the
voice tones.
Tenors of the English school are rare.
They are a musical commodity almost as
scarce as rubles and as high In price.
Uhere Is a reason for that, argues S.g.
Russo. In the first place, he sajH, In
Italy, when a child develops a voice, he
Is at once put into training. Exercises are
given him, both athletic and vocaL So.
when tho time comes for the change of
voice, which Is usually about the age of
12 to 14. the youth has the power to hold
Its distinctive tenor quality, because he
has surrounded It with power and given
It a good backing. The English voice,
while a nice tenor at 14 years, will often
times change to a high or low baritone,
and often. 1efore 20 years of age. to a
bass, all for the want of the physical
preparation necessary. Italians are born
with voices, and retain them for 0'cars,
after the voices of singers of other coun
tries have faded away.
Ilia Dnlly Routine.
An Insight Into the dally routine of
Russo's physical exercises will undoubted
ly prove Interesting. In the morning, he
rises about 5:30 o'clock, and, dressing hur.
rledly, takes a long walk, of about seven
or eight miles. Returning to his apart
ments, he Is rubbed down thoroughly by
his valet, with salt and warm water, and
13 massaged with alconou unis tas.es
about three-quarters of an hour, at the
conclusion of which he slowly dresses and
then eats a light breakfast. An hour Is
consumed In reading his letters, and then
to rehearsal. At 1 o'clock he cats a
lunch and then reads the dally paper?,
finishing which he commences on the
dumb-bells and practices with every ath
letic apparatus In his apartments. This Is
followed by 30 minutes of vocal exercise.
At 4 o'clock SIg. Russo takes his din
ner, and then a promenade, which usually
lasts until 6:30 or 7 o'clock P. M.. when
he Is ready for the theater. There his
valet has been before him nnd has his
costume for the evening all ready to b
donned. A Russian cigarette Is here In
dulged In, to clear "ze pipes," says Russo.
The orchestra bell is sounded; the scrap
ing of violins Is heard;, stage carpenters
and stage hands are running about In con
tusion; the call boy has made the last
call; the prompter cries. "All ready"; th
lights go up; the orchestra commences a
forte movement, and the curtain goes
slowly to Us loft. A few momenta later,
applause comes from the audience and
Rus-ao Is on the stage.
"While the muscular development of
Russo Is not abnormal, still It Is rexnark
oblo for a man of his height, which Is 5
eot 4 Inches. His chest is 2S inches In re
pose and 4C4 Inches In expansion; waist,
22V4 Inches, wllh a vacuum power of 2H
Inches; neck, 17 Inches. His diaphragm has
a capacity of IS ounces of air, and an un
loading power of 34 Inches. He can hold
lis breath for two minutes easily, ana
can perform the even more difficult feat
of controlling the exit of breath from
his lungs, so that It will take one minute
and 30 seconds to wholly clear them of air.
The pictures of Russo In this Issue were
taken from life for The Oregonlan.
Good Vision Commoner Anionic Brit
ish Than Americans.
"There are more people with dcfectlvo
eyesight In the cities of this country than
you will find In Great Britain or Ireland,"
said a naturalized New Yorker who
served In the British Army when he was
a very young man. and who is now an
optician, to a reporter of the New York
Sun. "I do not judge fcy the number of
people who wear glasses here, as In Amer
ican cities glasses are worn if there Is the
slightest trace of nearsightedness, while
few persons wear glasses for this cause In
the Old Country, unless they are so near
sighted that the wearing of glasses Is a
positive necessity. But, taking it on the
whole there are more people here whose
eyesight begins to fall at a comparatively
early age than In England, Ireland or
Scotland, and fewer people who nave ex
ceptional keen eyesight.
"In the British army you will And a
dozen men with exceptionally good eye
right for one that you will And In the
O'ROONEY, THE WEBFOOT
DC
RELATES HIS EXPERIENCES
WITH A DEVILFISH.
But Johnson, His Friend, .Is Skepti
cal, "When Told of Narrator's
Ducklike Appendages.
As I happened to have plenty of -time at
my disposal the other day, I strolled aim
lessly along in the North End, and finally j ute. ye'U be afther larrsn' thot. If It
brought up in front of one of the glided hadn'fbeen for those same bllssld wlbbs
Hike, knocked the ashes from his pipe and
began:
"Yls, solr. It was me brave Mike
O'Rooncy hlmsllf thot got dissatisfied with
his farrchuno In Portland ond sthruck out
wan folne day, when the rain was comln'
down Joost glntle lolke. And ol tell yc
Johnson, thot was the wan thing thot was
afther playln on tho tinder chords a
regrlt In me bosom thot rain. Ond the
lavln' av It beholnd was the hardest pace
av worrk ol hod done for mony a day.
"Te see. ol had been here so long thot
ol had as folne wlobs In me toes as on
pair av dooks ye lver laid yer two oyes
on."
"I tank not." broke In tho Swede,
"It's not Mike O'Rooncy thot's oskln ye
rer yer tnougnu; ond If ye'U wait a mtn
Burnslde-street saloons. As every ono
who knows anything about that part of
town Is aware, the North End saloons
dispense schooners of foaming beverage
ye'd not be havln' the plalsure av me
coompany toaay.
"It so happened1 thot ol was a little
lMWrd oop, Joost thin, so ol was afther
glttln' a poor mon's pass to thravel on.
to the thirsty CBradys, O'Briens, the . end lverythlng was going will, ontll wan
Yon Yonsons nnd Gustave Andersen's, as day we were crassln' a river. Ol don't
well as to "Mine Brudder, William." vot J xnew its name, or If It wos afther havln'
onj, uui oi Know u aia nov punty av
wather. Ol had "alrldy gone to shlape.
vas dere, too. And apparently they con
tribute as much to tho general happiness
as do the 10-cent beds and meals fur
nished by such enterprising persons as
"Slim Jim."
It happened that a couple of knights ot
RAPID TRANSIT IN 1853
SIX MONTHS BY OX-TEAM EXPRESS
ACROSS THE PLAINS.
"Uncle Sam" ITnnrtsnfcer, Oregon Pio
neer, Narrates Experiences of
Forty-seven Years Abo.
"I never forget the anniversary of our
start for Oregon, and this Is the 47th," said
"Uncle Sam" Handsaker, a well-known
pioneer, to a reporter of the Eugene Guard
recently. "It was March 22, 1K3." he con
tinued, "when we started from Edwards
vllle. I1L. for Oregon, a country that was
to us a 'terra Incognita, and was less
known to many of us than the Phlllpplna
Islands are today.
"The outfit, consisting of three wagons,
drawn by nine yoke ot oxen and cows,
was owned by Mr. Bemlah Robinson, an
um pioneer or aiadison County, Illinois,
if w '
whin, bliss yer hearrt. mon. tho flrrst
thing ol knew ol opened me oyes, and i and lis County Surveyor for many years,
there was me brave Mike, at tho bottom I Mr- Robinson's family consisted of him
av thot bllssld sthrame. elf. wife, a son. James, who Is a cltl-
ThouRht He "Was In Bed.
"At flrrst ol was afther thlnkln' ol was
In mo own bid, at the Scondla, ond the
b'ysi were makln' a Joke on me. so oi
terrund over ond was about goln to
shlape. whin"
Here Johnson again shook his head du
biously, as he remarked:
"I tank not; I tank not."
Mike brought his fist down vigorously on
the table.
"By the howty St. Pathrlckt" said he,
"Ol till ye olm not oskln' ye yer bllssld
molnd- on the thruth. "Whin, as ol wos
afther sayln', I saw a monsther dlvllflsh
that was Joost ruchln' afther me two fate.
It wos thin thot ol came to mo slnses ond
ralllzcd where ol wos. Ond ot siz. slz ol
to mcsltf. 'Moichel O'Rooney, may yer
sowl rlst alsy! Sure, ond It's a, did mon
thot ye are.'
"But whin oi flit him tooch me fut, alsy
lolkei-moy the howty saints belave me
et Jerked It so sooddlnt. the bllssld wlbbs
made sooch a wave thot It washed thot
dlvllilsh tin fate away ond brought me oop
to the surface.
"But whin ot got oop there, may me
sowl rlst In pargatory. If the rain wosn't
coomln' down harder thin ot lver saw It
before. It wos flowtn' as fraly as lager
flows over Erlckson's bar, Joost before
ellctlon. HoW.y Saint Pathrlck. but It
wos Tnlnln'I It was dhroopln' sooch big
dhroops the dlvllilsh couldn't git nalr
enoot to the sarface to tracho mo. Ond
afther the gcttln av mesUf on land, ol
could nlver have rached Oregon again. 11
It hadn't been for those same bllssld
wlbbs. '
"The ounly pangs av regrlt thot's lift me
Is. the wather was so great from thot
rain. It wore, me wlbbs all away, ond ye
could nlver tilt afther thot day that ord
lver had ony."
At this Juncture Mike's eloquence was
suspended. It was evident the unsqueicn
nbte Swede was still unsquelchcd. but the
friction that for a moment seemed Immi
nent was soothed by some one. flushed
with North End whisky and silver dimes,
calling up "the houso" to drink, and onco
more all differences were washed away.
TOM.
TENOR DO 31 CXI CO RUSSO, IN ATHLETIC POSE.
American Army, and I know a good many
soldiers In this country. I once knew
a private of the First Leicester Regiment
labor and. Incidentally, of lager, also
were lounging over In one corner, quite
by themselves. As I took a seat near
who has since been killed In the fighting j them there could bo distinctly heard the
near Ladysmlth. This man had such keen
sight that he could tell the time by a
church clock at a distance of several
miles, yet. strange to relate, he could not
read very smalt print In a book. I also
knew a roan In one of the Lancer patrols
who had wonderful eyesight. In the
Transvaal long ago what appeared to his
watchful chums one day as a mass of
veldt heather, dim and blurred In the dis
tance, was seen by him as an ambuscade
cunningly concealed nnd bristling with
Boer riflemen. His splendid sight on that
occasion saved him and his comrades an
unpleasant surprise.
"I have heard of American soldiers who
are sharp-sighted, but, as I said before,
their number Is much smaller In propor
tion than In the British Army. One ot
these Americans Is a man named Cullen.
who can see objects clearly at a distance
of 12 miles. During tho Spanish-American
War Cullen. who is an artillery man. aid
ed his battery very materially In sighting
the guns for the long ranges and always
by his unaided vision.
"I account for the standard of eyesight
being better In tho old country than here
principally because of the gray skies there.
There are so few sunny days In Great
Britain and Ireland that the eyes are not
subjected to the samo strain as In this
country, where there Is a far greater pro
portion of sunny days, and the sun's rays
are more vertical than In more northerly
countries. The glare has undoubtedly
much to do with bringing about the decay
of the eyesight at an early age. Another
reason Is the nervous temperament of
Americans. The optic nerve Is very dell
cato and responds quickly to any strain on
tho nervous system."
SUPPLYING AMMUNITION.
falling of the rain outside.
O'Rooncy gave a fresh puff ot smoke
from his corncob, recrored his legs and
remarked to his comnanlon:
"As sure as ye live, Johnson, she's com-'
In' down quite fair."
Johnson stretched himself as he replied:
"Well. I tank so."
They sat another minute In silence,
which Mike again vouchsafed to break.
"But it's mcsllf thot's afther tlllln' ye the
paple av this fair coonthry don't know
onythlng about rain, occordln' as ot see It
mesllf wan day."
Johnson gave a little grunt of disap
proval. "VIII. O'Rooney, I tank you yoost gone
crazy: I bet you tousan dollar" but here
O'Rooney cut him short, with a wave ol
his hand and a cutting rebuke.
Didn't "Want His Money.
"It's not Mike O'Rooney thot's afther
wantln' yer sordid dollars, though there's
not a mon could win tmm from ye nlser.
If ye hod ony to win."
Here Johnson looked disgusted and made
a move, as though to leave Mike, but
O'Rooncy gave him a friendly tap on tha
shoulder, as he continued:
"Whist now, Johnson, me b'y; It's not
tho lolke av ye to be takln' offlnse at a
friend. GIntty nowi ond If ye'U till Tom
my to bring us around a coopte av schoon
ers, oft thry ond convince ye thot It was
the bllrslde thruth ol was sphakln' about
the rain."
day, while ascending a, high mountain, we
saw a heavy storm approaching from the
west. About the time we reached the
summit the. storm was upon us. Our
teams were 'loosened from the wagons,
and It was fortunate for us that they were,
for they were past our control. The driv
ers took refuge beneath the wagons, while
the wind blew with great violence, and
hall and rain descended In torrents. The
thunder and lightning were simply fearful.
When the storm had passed we went In
search of our cattle, finding a part of them
crowded on top of each other In a deep
gulch. A number of them were smothered.
The hall left marks on the wagon beds.
Sand Storms.
"After plodding beside our teams all
day through the glaring sunshine nnd
burning sand, having to wear a silk hand
kerchief over the face to preserve the
eyes from the keen sand that was hurled
with terrible force by the wind, which al
ways seemed to come from the west. It
was not uncommon to have to make our
camp, minus wood or water, and very
thankful If we could obtain grass for our
animals. Having to 'guard our stock from
wandering Indians or outlawed whites
was no easy task, but It had to be done.
"We traveled hundreds of miles up tha
North Platte River, without seeing a
tree, and If we found a piece of drift wood
OLD SAYINGS.
I have often been puzzled to understand
why people attach so much Importance
to old "sayings," which are realty fly
blown and absurd. They will tell you with
grave face to go to the ant and takeetes
sons. I used to believe In the ant, as a
representative, wlso creature, until expe
rience showed mo that she lacked even the
rudiments of discernment, and prudence,
and I did not think of her any more.
Then there Is that choice bit of folly
about the early bird which Is said to catch
the early worm. What humbug this is!
For if carllness bo a virtue In the bird.
Is It not a virtue In tho worm? And If the
worm Is to be swallowed up simply be
cause It is industrious ana not a iie
abed," why should the bird be lauded for
Its business energy and the worm dis
counted? We are told that a rolling stone gathers
r.o moss, with the Implication, ot course,
that It Is wrong tor tho stone to roll. But
what Is the good ot gathering moss? Is
not moss a sign of ruination and decay?
And Is not a stone which rolls much more
likely to have Its angles and corners
rubbed oft than one which simply rests
and produces moss? Here Is another
"saying" which Is more glaringly fatuous
than all the rest:
Young people nre earnestly counseled by
their elders to take care of tho dimes, and
that- the dollars will take care of them
selves. That Is an injunction funny
enough to make a. stone dog laugh. It Is
all the other way. It Is the dollar-wise
and dime-foolish person who prospers.
The man who puts buttons Into the church
plate and thinks ho Is saving Is a block
head. If he gave one hundred dollars and
Si 3v
j - i
APPEARANCES DECEPTIVE
OLD KIT, THE BRONCHO, FRISKIER
THAN SHE SEEMED.
TENOR DOMENICO RUSSO, IN ATHLETIC POSE.
zen of Benton County, Oregon, and a
daughter. Miss Margaret, who Is now Mrs.
U R. Straight, of Walla Walla. Wash.
Ai;uiucr uuufiiiier, .uisu i.ui;j, uiiuncu .jai.
Jprrv Joh. fneh 1 1RS3 nnd the Job
we would haul it In our wagons, using It
very sparingly. Had It not been tor tho
'buffalo chips" we should have done with
out our cup of coffee many times.
At this time there was but one house,
brothers, formerly bankers at Corvallls, 'an Indian agency, anywhere near where
The schooners were brought, bubbling ! had his name published In tho newspapers
with cheering draughts, which seemed to It would pay him.
wash away all semblance of 111 feeling, and 1 And so on and so on. VIC
are the result ot this union. One of the
brothers. Dr. Job. resides at Cottage
Grove, In Lane County. All of the Robin
son family are dead, except Jim and Mrs.
Straight.
"The teamsters, who 'worked their pas
sage,' simply having their board for their
labor, were Evan Cunningham, who lo
cated on the Coqullle River. Cunningham
Creek 19 named after him. He died years
ago and was burled at Empire City. Will
lam Nixon lived near Monroe, and mar
ried a Miss Polly Ann Brown. They
are both dead. William W. Davis Is liv
ing In Illinois. Mr. Job and a brother
bought up about 400 head of cattle, which
he drove to California the same season, wo
traveling In company until about the 1st
ot August.
Toole Six Months.
"We had a continuous trip of more than
six months, arriving In Oregon Territory
early In October, 1S33. Persons who cross
tho Continent now In palace cars, cover
ing the same distance In four days' time
that then required more months, can
have no Idea ot the trials of such a trip.
In many Instances It was necessary to
convert our wagon-boxes Into ferryboats
I to cross the swollen streams. The, thun
der storms wo encountered were awiui,
and many a man has been killed by light
ning during those times.
"The worst storm wo met during tho en
tlro journey was on June 19, when travel
ing In the Black Hills, and slowly ascend
ing the Rocky Mountains. In my Journal
of that date Is recorded: 'At 3 P. M. to-
Omaha now stands, and not another one
until we arrived In Oregon, except by
leaving the most direct route, via Salt
Lake. Think of traveling now In any
part ot the United States for Ave months
with a team and not seeing a house for
five months!
"After arriving hero we considered our
selves fortunate If we received an answer
to our letters 'from the States' In two
or three months' time. No pony express,
stage lines or railroads then. What a
changel"
FASHIONS IN PIANOS.
YE CHEERFUL APRIL FOOL
- AVork of EnglUU Powder Monkeys In
Snpport of Flektlus; Line.
If It were not that there Is a very ex
cellent and elaborate system of supply
ing soldiers with ammunition during the
course of a fight, says the London Mall,
It would be almost hopeless to attack any
position. Modern cartridges are very
heavy things to carry. The long bullet,
the heavy brasswork ot the case, and tha
weight of the wads and powder all com
bine to produce an article which, though
It is of small compass. Is very weighty.
When our soldiers ore attacking a Boer
position their operations require that each
man snail nave a large supply oi ammuni
tion. This must all bo carried forward
as tlfe fight progresses. The Boer In
trenched upon a hilltop may have tha
largest supply of his ammunition by his
side, and ho Is not weighed down by It.
as our soldiers are when storming c. po
sition. During a protracted fight the British
soldier is In most instances compelled to
fire away all the ammunition which he Is
personally able to carry. An ordinary
private carries 100 rounds. Just before
an action, when heavy firing Is expected,
this 100 rounds Is supplemented by 50
more from the battalion reserve of 77
rounds a man. Thus each private ad
vances Into battle carrying no less than
IjO po-slblo dealers of death.
Whenever a soldier falls or Is wounded,
he Is Immediately stripped of his ammuni
tion, and It Is at once distributed among
the men who are still capable of carrying
on the fight. Tho reserve ammunition for
each battalion is carried In four carts and
on the backs of two pack mules. When
an action appears Imminent a temporary
reserve, called a "brigade reserve." Is
formed.
This -onslsts of two carts taken from
each of the four battalions composing the
brigade. This special reserve is placed
tinder an officer selected for the occasion.
In the event of any of the battalions be
coming detached from the brigade, they
receive their own carts back ngaln. In
addition there Is always with the regular
ammunition column 77 rounds for each
man. and a further supply Is carried In
the "ammunition pick" of ES rounds a
man. Accordingly the total amount car
ried (n the Held for each Infantry soldier
works out at S09 rounds.
Tho mon who actually bring up the
cartridges to their comrades of the fight
ing line ore selected from each company
for their strength and agility. This duty
Of bringing up supplies of ammunition
'And now the cheerful Idiot marches promptly t o the front.
To blight hU rc and curse the e. u ever is his wont.
In harmlesn little "practical V which mark hW dlrmal way.
And tbouth b spoils one's life he claims " 'twas only done In play."
Ilia brother In the flesh 1 he who low across the walk
A wire stretches where one paases.as 'til grow Injr dark.
To mash one's nose, to skin one's knees, to break one's heai or neck.
To please the deVllsh fancy of a blasted lunatic
The first, though net the greatest fool. Is he who Reeks to atr
And adrertUe his Innacy by Jerking back one's cLsir,
Jut as one's "brakes" are taken oX from ank le up to neck.
When, In tbe place of sitting down, one strikes the floor a wreck.
The "Cheerful" Is resourceful, and can find a hundred ways
To bring dfepalr to all around, throughout hi wretched days.
Through working cheerfully uch tricks, while mocktnr at their fear.
Nor doea he e'er grow old or die, nor does the smile he wears.
V
j msy rV?y a Ls
' a PA 'f i
In order next Is he who lays the redhot horse aboe down
Alone the way where busy men are hurrying thro' the town:
"Whence, hi a behind the shatters dose, with ghoulish glee he stands.
To hear the oath and smell the saok Xrcra blistered, burnlcs hacia.
But. ah! there ccmes a happier day. when men shall groan no mere
Beneath the Jokes and senseless tricks of earth's nrpremect bore.
When progress. In Its onward march, shall sweep him from the earth.
Nor leave the faintest trace to mark his death, or life, cr birth.
-J. M. "IVaMm.
Modern TJprlrrht Ilns Displaced the
Square Instruments.
The upright piano was first Introduced
Into this country about 33 years ago, and
came Into extensive use 23 to 10 years ago.
Sold at first more especially for use In
tho small rooms of modern flats and
apartments, because of the small space It
occupied. It soon came Into general use,
and Is now regarded as the modern type
of piano. The upright Is now the piano
commonly sold everywhere, in alt parts
of tho country alike. Just as tbe square
pianos were sold years ago. So completely
has It crowded out tbe other that there
are no square pianos made nowadays, ex
cept to order, for special purposes, as for
use In schools. There are, for Instance,
says the New York Sun. several hun
dred square pianos in use In the schools
of New York City. Such a piano can
bo placed In a schoolroom wherever most
desirable without obstructing the view.
But while with the exception noted there
aro no square pianos made nowadays, and
none sold new, there are tens of thousands
still In use, scattered all over the land. In
city and country; proportionately fewer In
city than In country, the supplanting of
the square by the upright having naturally
progressed most rapidly In the cities. Many
of tbe square pianos yet In use in one part
of the country and another are still
good Instruments, some of them excellent.
Made of the best materials, and In the
most workmanlike manner, by good mak
ers, their life with any sort of reasonable
care Is very long, and they may remain
good pianos for years yet.
Man second-hand square pianos, which
have been taken In exchange for modern
pianos, are rold. The old square pianos
taken In exchange are disposed of In
various ways, and at all sorts of prices;
some are sold for as little as J10. Some
second-hand square pianos are sold to
churches and to Sunday schools and
other schools all around the country.
Others are sold to country hotels and
summer boarding-houses. But by far tho
greater number of them are sold for use
In homes to purchasers of moderate or of
very limited means, who want a plana
and cannot afford to buy a costly Instru
ment. For a long time Philadelphia was a good
market for second-hand square pianos.
Philadelphia Is commonly known
as a city ot homes, where many
peoplo of moderate or small means
live In houses of their own. The
owners of these homes had more
room to put pianos m than 'the flat dwell
ers hsd, and many of them bought second
hand squares, getting good Instruments
at low prices. Second-hand square pianos
have been shipped from here to Philadel
phia In carloads, and such pianos hava
been loaded Into cars without boxing.
Philadelphia doesn'ttake so many second
hand squares now as It formerly did, but
It Is still taking some.
While the upright Is now the standard
piano, as once the square was, all manu
facturers report a steady and proportion
ately Increasing sale of parlor grand
pianos, both small and large. More and
more people of comfortable or ample
means are now Buying parlor grands.
While all manufacturers are now making
more grands than formerly, the propor
tion of grands sold m any one make In
creases with the cost ot tbe pianos pro
duced. In one make, at least, the grands
constitute & large percentage of tbe out
put.
Sway-Backed, Leon nnd Lank, She
Provides an Acrobatic Exhibition
"Worth Coins; Miles to See.
It was down In Tonto Basin, "the bad
man district" of Arizona. I had been
there several days, when the rancher I
was visiting invited me to go with him
to look at a mine. The mine was about
13 miles distant, so we would be obliged
to ride, and I wasn't a bit backward
In telling them I couldn't ride a burro,
much less a horse.
"Oh." they said, "we've gots lots of
gentle ponies. We'll give you one that
couldn't throw a 3-year-old kid. to say
nothing of a heavy-weight like you."
Not liking to appear a coward after this
assurance. I told them all right; so they
went out to drive a bunch Into the cor
ral. When they had a bunch of about
20 In the corral, I was told to come down
and take my pick. I told them to trot
out their giraffe; I would look at him.
The first one they succeAled In roping
was a young gelding, rather frlsky-look-lng.
and he hopped around so lively that
I told them to turn him loose. They
caught two or three more, but I objected
to each on account of their being so
lively.
"Catch old Kit for him," ono of them
said.
"Who's old Kit?" I asked.
"Walt a minute, and you'll see her,"
they said.
"Old Kit." t
They had no trouble In roping her, and
as soon ns they led her forth I decided
that she was the horae of all horses I
could ride. Sway-backed, pot-bellied. lean
and lank, she stood with her head down
and eyes half closed, and didn't look as
If she had enough life to switch a fly from
her tall.
Better ride her, I thought, and have to
kick her ribs 15 miles and back than to
get a young, frisky broncho and get off
again. I told them to saddle her up
while I got my grip, containing my kodak.
When I came back they were waiting, and
ever body on the ranch was there to see
us off, as I supposed then. Now I know
they were there only to see me off.
"Let me hold your camery," one of
them said, as I got ready to mount. I
handed him the grip and walked over to
old Kit. I remember now that three of
the boys were standlns by her head, but
I thought nothing of It then, suppos
ing they were waiting to say "adlos" to
us. I put my foot In the stirrup. It was
one of those clear, calm days, such as
they have only In Arizona. On all sides
lay the foothills ot the Mogollons. A
number of buzzards were circling over tho
remains of a deer we had killed the day
before. Around the corral a few scrub
chickens were scratching over the rem
nant of the night's feed.
A big horsefly lit on Kit's side and tried
In vain to get a meal. He was Just whero
I theught the spur would dig In well, and
I remember thinking I would hava a holo
started for him and his like by the tlmo
we returned. All this time Kit was asleep.
I stood a minute looking around, until
the boys got restless. Thy wero afraid
I was going back, but I was as Innocent ns
old Kit looked.
"Well, we're waiting." they said. So I
took a good grip on the horn of the sad
dle ard started to raise myself, at tho
same time throwing my right leg over tho
saddle. Things happened so quickly for
a time that I don't know what did hap
pen first. One thing Is certain Kit woko
up. Groaning ns If In fearful pain, she
sonred skyward. I did likewise, not In
tentionally, for I tried to get off. but got
tangled up In the stirrups.
Different With Ilronchos.
When a boy, studying physics, I was
taught that the force of gravity made all
bodies descend with equal speed. Thl3
does not apply to bronchos, but men who
write of gravity and such things cannot
bo expected to know this. Contrary to
all laws of nature. Kit reached earth
first, and had started back whvn I was
Just concluding to come down. We met.
and, unfortunately, I hit the saddle
squarely. All this time she was groaning
awfully, and I was really alarmed. It
was not my Intention to hurt her. and the
performance couldn't s-top too quick for
me. Her head disappeared, but I knew
It was somewhere beneath me. on account
of the noise.
This time we soared skywnrd until the
ground was hazy In the distance and tho
boys looked like brownies, and Just as
we started to descend Kit had a chill.
I suppose It was caused by the violent
exercise making her perspire, and that
when we got up among the clouds, where
it was cool, she naturally took cold. I
could not keep my head still, and soon
lost control of myself. I had had no
control over her since we started. As we
got nearer the earth. I could distinguish
the voices of the men. and what sur
prised me was that they swmed to be
happy about something. They were glad
to see me coming bT-k.
I was feeling tired by this time, and
the upper atmosphere had caused me to
be short of wind, and I guess Kit un
derstood, for she started to tak( me to
the house In a hurry, but. suddenly chang
ing her mind, she storied. I changed my
mind. too. but not quick enough, and went
some Httlo distance after she stopped.
Arizona C5mnhl
They Have Their Gall.
Bay, when a feller's loafln'
And has no Job at all.
No one seems to know him.
Ills friends forget to call.
Yet, when he has a Job
And a big. fat Ptlpnd draws.
"Why, then his friends are man t. i '
I
think
they
hae
their
galL
They sayr "Hello there. Jack, oil boyl
You're looking well today."
"Say. old chap, lid roe a dollar.
Next week to you I'll ray."
Bo you. poor fool, cive up the chink,
Be he fat. short, lean or tall.
While he he thinks you're easy, hut
I
think
they
have
their
gall.
Now. I've no use for people
"Who talk behind your back.
Wear good clothes, take In the shows
And ride 'round In a hack;
Bo when you work and pay your bills
In summer or in fall.
Don't give these drones a single cent, this
Will
Cure
them
of
their
1 gall.
Lue Vernon.
a
That "Vns Different.
All this time the great railway magnate
had sat silent, listening.
At last he spoke.
"Young man," he said. "I am not sure
I understand you. Please bo 'a little more
explicit."
"I am asking you. sir." said the young
man. reddening, "for the hand of your
daughter."
"Oh, Is that a!17" rejoined the magnate.
"Why; certainly. If she has no objec
tions, I haven't. I thought you were strik-
J lag me for a pass." Chicago Tribune.
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