The New York Clipper (July 1903)

DRAMATIC. VAUDEVILLE. CIRCUS. Copyrighted, 1003. by the Frank Queen Publishing Company (Limited). Founded by FR ANK QUEEN, 1853. NEW YORK, JTICY 18, 1903. VOLUME Ll.-No. 21. Pries 10 Cents. M155 Clipper's Mites, Personalities and Cants, COHCEBNINO STAGE FOLK and Sometimes OTHERS It for you, you Just tell him that I say you can hare half of my part, and I'll divide coatumcB with you." Could any offer be more disinterested than this one? Alf. Holt relates the following Incident, which occurred while he was playing with hands which bird was the best known In the neighborhood, On this occasion Holt approached the local property man and asked: "What bird la found in greatest numbers In your town? Do yon have robins!" at the same time Imitating, as only Holt can, the chirp and song of the robin. BY JOSEPHINE ORO, Let it be recorded that there are really instances of "professional" generosity. Mem- bers of the theatrical calling are said to be the most selfish In the world—that is, where their professional work Is concerned, though In aiding their confreres or others, when In Lew Dockstader, who Uvea there, returned late one afternoon last week from his re- hearsal, held In preparation for the next two weeks' engagement at Manhattan Beach. To the bell boy who looks after the Interests of this popular minstrel manager, be said: "Bam, did anyone call to see me today ?" "Yes, Sub," replied that Individual, rolling his eyes. "Three men called to see you. Sub." "Ah," said Dockstader, "three men " "Yes, Sub," Interrupted 8am," "thar wus three—two gentlemen and ono man with a panama hat." The recent frequency of the name of James J. Corbett In the papers, regarding his train- need, they are known to be more than gen- erous. The following Is an Instance of sweet (bought end generosity on the part of May Taylor, whose professional friends esteem °er one of the dearest In the "business." Miss Taylor, who has been for five years a moat earnest and faithful worker among the Klaw & Erlanger forces, has at present a filrty good part, i n w hi ch she has made a bit," in the production now so popular at the Crystal Garden, on the New York Theatre roof. Besides her part, the little actress has •evcral small bits In the entertainment, and where most professionals rightly and natural- 'y want everything that belongs to them In * Production, she, as shown by ber gener- ously Impulsive offer one day last week, Is on exception worth recording. Meeting a young friend laBt week on one 01 Hie Broadway blocks which are Banked »}' rows of the unemployed In the profession, May was made the recipient of a bit of news 'bat meant much disappointment to the mem- bers of "The Blonde In Black" Co. "Just think. May," lamented the girl who had a very small part In the production, "I •Jwll be down and out on Saturday,—the •how closes." "Oh, my dear, don't you worry—ask Mr. ^"erer to put you on the roof In bis other Production, and if ho says there's nothing In Hoyt's "A Day and a Night" Co. A per- formance was to be given In a little Min- nesota town, called New Rochester. Aa the company arrived late In the afternoon, the property man bad bis bands and time full preparing for the evening. The local prop- erty man was also kept busily enployed till the show was actually begun, when be sta- tioned himself In one of the entrances to watch it Holt, who In the second act did a whist- ling specialty, which Included bird Imita- tions, usually gave one among tbem of the bird most familiar In the town where the company might be playing. In his desire to make his act locally popular, It wss his custom to ascertain through one of the stage At this the weary property man, who had been kept so busy bunting up numerous "props" for the performance, gave the whistler an Impatient look, aa he answered: "Sure, we've slews of 'em hereabouts, but why on earth didn't yon tell me this after- noon that you wanted 'em,—how do you ex- pect me to get 'em now?" The ubiquitous panama bat of last season, when It was the extreme of good style to wear one, la this Bummer conspicuous by Its absence, while the regulation straw bat has resumed Us swsy. The estimate In which It Is held as a "back number" was amusingly Illustrated by a colored bell boy belonging to the Marlborough Hotel. Ing for a proposed tight with Jeffries, re- calls many incidents that have been related In the past during his popular reign as champion pugilist. One concerned his re- turn from bis first boxing match held at Port- land, Ore. The elder Corbett was averse to bis son's pugilistic proclivities at the start, trying, In vain, to persuade him not to follow the ring, Upon Inquiring the re- sult of the Portland bout, and hearing that It bad been a financial failure, the old man said: "Jlmmle, my boy, borne Is the best place fer you. Remember the old ssylng, which ts a trus one, 'a rolling stone gathers no moss.' "Perhaps not always, father," replied the youthful fighter, "but the rolling stone gath- ers polish, and don't you forget It," a fact to which those who know "Gentleman Jim" will testify. A few months later, when he met Kllraln, In the New Orleans ring, and returned to the paternal roof with considerable money In his pocket, bis father had a different proverb to launch at him, "My boy," said he, "always remember that 'It's the roving bee that gets tho honey.'" "That's true, father, and here's a mess of honey for you," said the young pugilist, banding him the fifty dollars he had bor- rowed when he set out upon bis trip.