The New York Clipper (February 1903)

DRAMATIC. VAUDEVILLE. CIRCUS. Copyrighted, 1903, by tbe Prank Queen Publishing Company (Limited). Founded by FRANK QUEEN, 1863. NE¥ YORK, FEBHTJA.RY 28, 1903. VOLUME Ll.-No. 1. Prioe 10 Cants. M155 Clipper's Motes, Personalities ami Counts, CONCERNING ST1GE FOLK and Sometimes OTHERS BY JOSEPHINE GRO. No man In the theatrical profession is better loved by Ms friends than la Tim Mur- phy, nor has any other a greater and more admiring following throughout the West than he. This la evinced In the display made by the appreciative possessors of hla photo- graphs which are found In all the offices, hotels and homes In the many States where he la one of the most popular favorites. Murphy's friends like to catch him In s mood for story telling for at that he Is prince among entertainers. Not long ago, from above stairs which seemed to contra- dict the statement of the fond mother. "Mamma, mammal do come quick," piped Helen's shrill little voire. "Come quick. tb» angels are biting me." Murphy related another story, which had probably been told before but which he had never aeen In print. It was about a man who was on trial for the crime of murder, of which he waa guilty, and of which he seemed tarn, with the decision,—guilty of man- slaughter,—which waa what the prtsonsr pre- . ferred to the sentence which he bad feared,— ' murder la the flret degree. The counsel afterwords met the Irishman to pay bin the other half of the money agreed upou. After the man bad received It, he heaved a big algh of relief, saying: "Well, I'm glad that trial la over. I never had such a terrible time In my life before. I thought I never would be able to man, lightly laying bis tbln hand on tbe coat sleeve ot the actor, "I wlsb I hsd bit muscle." At the "Lambs" the other day, a number of the members, among whom waa Willie Collyer, were discussing an accident to a singer which bad been occupying some spare In the dally papers. "They say the poor man waa killed by fall- ing oat of the fifth story window," said onr of them. "No," objected another who seemed better informed, "the sixth." "Ob, that's another story," chimed In Collyer. "1 supposed you often receive many really good plays," said a playwright to a mana- ger who bad Juat refused one of his. "lies, very often," answered the manager who, though possessed of large means bad recently produced playa that had been fail- ures, "We frequently have very good plays sent In to us." : : :: ,V ; . ' '"'" at a dinner In a Western city where be was playing, he related a story concerning the little daughter of a friend. The child, who was about Ave years old, bad a decided aversion to being put to bed In the dark, and this fact waa well known to all friends of the family who had ever heen In tbe bouse during that hour which moat youngsters fight against The little gtrl, whose name waa Helen, had, on several occasions when Mr. and Mrs Murphy had been dining at the home of Helen's parents, created considerable dis- turbance In strenuously objecting to being made to retire Immediately after dinner but more especially as she was afraid of tbe "big dark." A few weeks ago, however, Murphy re- lates bow astonished he waa to see Helen meekly, and without a murmur, follow her mother out of the room at her uaual retir- ing hour. When the mother returned a few minutes later beaming with satisfaction the actor exclaimed: "How on earth did you manage 1 Helen seems to have overcome her fear of the dark," "Why," said Helen's mother, "tbe dear little thing never objects any more. Too see, I finally convinced her that there waa nothing In the dark to be frightened about. I told her. and sbe folly believes It, tbst tbe dark Is Oiled with angela which are al- waya with her, protecting her from all barm Now she doesn't mind It at all and Is per- fectly content to be left. I never hesr a word from ber any more and ——" it tbls moment there waa a startled call "Then why don't you produce a thorn?" asked the playwright. of likely to be convicted. However, being a man of means, be was able to employ good counsel, though, with tbe exception of one man, an Irishman, he was by no means sure of tbe Jury on tbe case. He bad known tbla Juryman during past years and had done him a favor. He In- structed bis counsel to give this man five hundred dollars with the promise of live hundred more, If be could Induce tbe Jury to bring In a verdict of manalaughter. The grateful recipient determined to do his duty In persuading tbe other eleven to agree with him In the verdict desired by the prisoner. After tbe solemn charge of the Judge the Jury retired ti decide tbe caae. It waa evi- dently bitterly fought among them, as twenty four boars slapaed before their sa- bring tbe other men over to tbe verdict tbe prisoner asked for,—manslaughter, Why the whole blamed eleven waa for acquittal." Apropoi of tbe fact that few have exactly what they most desire, It has been told of Tim Murphy that while croaalng one of tbe ferries one day he found himself seated be- tween two well known characters, though they were of distinctly different types, as the revelation of their names will quickly In- dicate,—Russell Sage and lames Corbott. "I aay Murphy," said Corbett In a loud whisper, giving tbe actor a strenuous dig In the ribs by way of emphasla, "I wlsb-1 had hit 'dough,'" Indicating tbe multi-millionaire who aat at Murphy's right "I aay. Mr. Murphy." amid that gentle- John J. Cantwell, of Boston, known to all theatrical people who bare visited that city, attended the annual banquet In New York, of the Amcricfin-IrlBh Historical society, It was hold at tbe Manhattan Hotel and It was a feast In more sensea than one, for tbe gems of wit, rhetoric, sentiment and pa- triotism, were plentifully Interspersed with tbe delicious viands so bountifully spread. Cantwell, one of tbe brightest of the shin- ing lights ut the table, aclntllated brilliant- ly not only In his pottpraudlat address, but at frequent intervals during tbe repast. II* fcorvd one of his biggest rounds of applause hy an unexpected answer to a question asked In a peroration delivered by Judge Franklin M. Danaber of Albany, the "silver-tongued," It was one of those questions tbat an orator puts to an audience, though expecting on reply. It was apropoi of tbe progress of tbe nutlon, with especial reference to tbe pa- triotism and the part that lbs Irish play In tbe general advance. . "What does our nation require!" 01 claimed tbe orator In empassloned tones. "What does sbe require as she proudly atept acroas the broad. Atlantic—as ahe strides boldly across the mighty ocean In her march of trade and freedom?" "Rubber boots," piomptly answered Cant •tell. Needless to sty. tbe orator was obllgtd to await a lull In tbe chorus ol shouts and laughter that went up about tbe banquet table, before resuming bis patriotic address. And Panther's' laugh was loudeat of all. ^m