The New York Clipper (April 1903)

DRAMATIC. VAUDEVILLE. CIRCUS. Copyrighted, 1908, by the Frank Queen Pnbllihlnf Company (Limited) Founded by FRANK QUEEN, 1853. NEW YORK, A.FRIL 11, 1903. VOLUME U.-No. 7. Pile* 10 Carta. ^55 Clipper's Irttts, Personalities and Corneals, COJJCBBJfDiO STIGE FOLK and Sometimes OTHEBS BY JOSEPHINE GHO. A story cornea from the West concerning the vicissitudes of a road company which Is blaming Its late manager for a recent bit of misfortune, his lack of tact preventing their departure to All a good engagement The company, which has had a difficult time to keep together daring most of the season, last week reached a town where the business was ao poor that tbey bad not Alaa! for the carrying out of the plan of the tactless manager. The proprietor of the theatre owned the hotel, also. * Tim Murphy, who Is now touring the South In his latest dramatic success, "The Carpetbagger," Is frequently called before the curtain for a speech. In this he often Incorporates one or two stories, to the de- light of his appreciative audiences. While recently In Houston, Texas, where a large and enthusiastic audience Insisted upon a speech after his third act, he went before the curtain, and, after tbnnltlng hla [cause, place bulletins in front of his news- paper office. ,' "The first opportunity arrived with the Illness of a prominent deacon of one of the churches. The first newa that met tbe notice of the passers stared at tbem from great white abeets of paper, heavily band printed with black. It read:— " 'Important I! Deacon Jones stricken with Illness I' This waa followed later by other bulletins, reading: ■"2.30 P. M. Deacon Jones rapidly sink- Is*' " '3.90 p. m. Deacon Jones about to pass lunch after tbe performance that night. When abe algnlfled her Intention to tbe actor he said: "Very well, dear; we'll stop at the first bakery and get what you want." "So," objected the pretty actress, "I don't want baker's cake, I want the kind told at the Women's Exchange. That la home-made and much better." "All right," answered the Indulgent hus- band. "That you shall have, but where is tbe exchange? We'll have to ask somebody." "There's a man coming down the street who looks like a cltlxen of the town," snlil Miss Sherrod, Indicating that person. "Sir," said the actor, as the countryman approached, "can you tell me where the ■Women's Exchange' la located?" "Gosh 1" said tbe man, looking at the pret- ty actress with ovldent but respectful ad- miration, "you ain't a-goln' to swsp the laity off, are you?" enough money to pay railroad fares to the next town where they were booked. The road manager waa one of the aort whose managerial tactics might once in a while be questioned aa to being perfectly •legitimate, this, perhapa, being necessitated »y the weak financial condition of the com- pany. The morning after the performance which Paid so poorly the manager broached to tbe proprietor of the theatre the subject of a loan large enough to get the small company to the next town. Being a kind hearted man the local manager signified his willing- ness to help the company out of town, and asked what sum the manager wished to bor- row. "I think that about a hundred plunks will see na through," said he, after giving the proprietor apparently good security. "That'a only about enongb to pay faree," ■si the owner of the theatre. "How are you going to manage about tbe hotel ac- count?" "Oh, that'a easy," replied the foolish man- ««er, with a significant wink of a rather tricky looking eye, "I know a way that I can do hla all right—all right" "And how la that?" asked the proprietor, apparently pleased at the Idea, and sssum- 'off a confidential manner and tone, which suggested that he would be glad to see the hotel owner defrauded. At this encourage- ment tbe manager unfolded a plan whereby •he hotel 'account would be left unsettled. audience for their appreciation of the ef- forts of bis company and himself, he added: "Now, I know you would all like a good story. Hy friend Alba Heywood told me a good one the other day tbat I think you'll appreciate because It is about ona of your enterprising Texaa newspaper editors, "This editor happened to be In New York during tbe illness and death of a famous man. The large papers In that city were Issuing hourly bulletins concerning the con- dition of the patient As tbe deatb of the man meant serloua changes In tbe money market the editions of the papers were In great demand, end the hourly bulletins at- tracted Immense crowds In front of the of- fice. This the Texas editor noted, and, tak- ing points, determined tbat on bis return to bis town be would Imitate the tactics of tbe New York papers, snd, upon sufficient away.' " '4.30 p. it. Family summoned to bed- aide of Deacon Jones.' *"S p. m. Deacon Jonea baa gone to Heaven.' "An advance agent of a theatrical com- pany aaw this announcement, and, being something of a wag, made tbe following two additions to tbe big sheet: " '5.30 p. if. Great consternation In Heaven t Deacon Jones not yet arrived.' " *0 p. M. The very worst Is feared I' " After the laughter raised by Murphy's story had subsided be then related an Inci- dent which occurred s short time previously during an engagement In Fsrls, Kentucky. Hla wife, Dorothy Sherrod, while out for s stroll about that pretty city with her hus- band, conceived the Idea of bnylng soma rake lo tske back to tbe hotel to add to ber A well known dramatic critic waa once asked to define a "star." Being In a particu- larly critical mood, and having In mind the dramatic luminary of a production he bail seen tbe previous night, and failed to ap- prove of, anawered: "A stsr Is an ordinary actor wbo happens to have bis bead above tbe clouds." An orchestra director In one of tbe Now York theatres, who sometimes furnishes music and men for entertainments, received the following message the other day from a prospective client It may be beat appre- ciated by a member of an orcbeatra: "Please send me three musicians and a double base." Not long ago a Broadway leading man, who Is a prominent member of the Players Club, waa showing a favored guest about the club bouse. Coming upon a collection of old ale muga tbat bad been used by distinguished Thespians be pointed separately to several, at tbe same time Informing bis guest to whom they bad belonged. "This one," be said, "was Edwin Booth's mug,—and thla was, or rather Is, Joseph Jefferson's mug; upon that ahelf there you see Lawrence Barrett's mug; and here Is Mr, Kendal's mug " "I hope," Interrupted the guest, with pained expectation, "that you're not going to tell me that you bave Mrs. Kendal's mug." Mary Mannerlng and Amy Kl-nrd, who is prominent In the support of the former, were