Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-12-21
THE ACTORS, ,JEALOUsIES.
mr.. r. n. Chan frau's ChaIIenge 10
80 MT. Charles Fechter.D t9pn9

The troubles at the Globe Theater
have eliminated in the withdrawal OF
Mr.. Fechter from the -mailagement The
Boston Traveller publishes a history OF
the steps which led to this result, the
first of whichis the following note; 4 -
PARKER HOUSE,,
III BosTON, December l3, 1870. !
SIR: 1t has come to. my knowledge
that on a recent occasion, at the house
of q friend in this city, you presumed to
address tomy wife certain remarks dis
respectful In their nature and utterly un.
worthy Of gentleman. Respect for the
family whose hospitality you thus grossly
soiled, restrains me from expressing the
contempt with which you have inspired
me by tweaking your nose in public, but
/ take the first and only opportunity
your careful seclusion (of your precious
person renders Immediately available of
saying, upon my personal responsibility,
that think you are what your. conduct
indicates you to be, gross blackguard.
/ shall be at this hotel until five this eve
ming, when propose to return to Long
Branch, M j., sObediently yours, WQ
Gkt0S AF.SaCHANFRAu-O !
To Charles Fechter, ST. James Hotel,
Boston, Mass.
In reply to this Mr.. Fechter says:
\ The above letter, which | have given
oerbatim Ell Hterdtim ct punctuatim,
speaks for itself With regard to the
question of gentlemanliness between
Mr.. Chanfrau and myself. | leave others
to Judge, and will content myself by
saying simply that one clause of Mr.:
Chanfrau's letter, to the effect that !
have grossly soiled the hospitality of
any gentleman, is untrue; for, in the
house of the gentleman referred to (un-
doubtedly Mr.. Arthur Cheney | always
have been and am received as one of
the family, and Mr.. Cheney has too
much manhood to receive in his house
as q guest one who has soiled his hospi-
tality; and if you will for one moment
consider that, since the time / clasped
Mr.. Chanfrau's hand before his de-
parture from Boston, and his swife begged
my leave-immediately granted-to ac-
company him to New York, whence she
only returned to decline the performance
of her duties, l neither have spoken to,
or met, or seen the lady, you can form
a notion c who is the real blackguard
in ,.e matter, and pronounce for your
scf '-
The next step is troublewith Mr.. j. W.
Wallack, who was given the part of
"Don Salluste." He kept it five days,
and never alluded to- it in his converse
tions with Mr.. Fechter or the stage man
ager, and walked off, leaving in the hands
Of the doorkeeper the book of Ruy Bias
confded to him, enclosed. in this brief
note
"MY DEAR FEoHTER: / do not like the
part Of Don Salluste at,all, and would
rather not assume the part. Ireturn the
book, therefore, and am
yours truly, latp j, w. WALLAcK."
To this Fec6ter replied that the book
was sent for his study, not for his ap-
proval, and expressed surprise that he
did not like the part, adding:
"It is the best part of the play, and
I'd much rather act it than that of Ruy
Bias ian experiment we can try, if you
like, by alternating character). But
should you still decline to assume the
part, please consider your services as
useless, and your engagement at an end
this very week. In the hope you will re-
consider the question in reasonable
spirit and give me satisfactory reply, |
remain, dear Wallack, yours truly,
}VD "CHAs. FIGHTER.
This touched Mr. Wallack's pride and
he responded tartly as follows
d SIR: No other prefix need / employ
after your peremptory note of this date.
/ will not enter into any argument as to
fDon Salluste' or any other part but j
simply reply to your edict that your
services are useless and your engage
ment at an end this very week" Please
understand that L am engaged to Mr..
Arthur Cheney and not to you, as an
engagement made before you were con-
sidered / do not recognize your right
to tell me my services are not required,
nor will 1 permit Mr.. Cheney to stultify
himself by acceding to one supporting
you, in abrogating that which ] thought
YVES perfectly understood between gen.
tlemen.
NY position in the Globe Theater ought
to be Understood, and that position in
tend to maintain if l can. Any further
business communication | must have
with Mr. Cheney, with whom. Inegoti-
ated, to whom | look for the fulfilment
of nv engagement, and with whom alone
/ will in the future hold my correspond
enca V9- j, w. WALLAoK.
This covers the correspondence, and
Mr., Fechter sums up if conclusion as
follows. .s.d,,iA - .5.n 10, ~, ::
This is the whole, plain and candid
truth, Let the public, the press ana my
friends Judge and decide ~ was ciSariy
nv intention not to have considered the
of Mr.. FWallack useless to the
theater provided he would have acted in
the same kind and. friendly spirit to me
that would have acted to him. 4 con-
slider that | have acted the part OF a
true artist to him,in my written, PROPOSE
ton. which is unmistakable, in offering
to alternate with him the parts of Don
Salluste = and t.Rpy. Bias. Mr.. Wal,
lacks services to the theater, 1t VIII
readily. be admitted, would prove useless
should he do nothing but 60 TO the box
office every Monday morning and de-
mand his weekly stipend without giving
in return. I bad mo other
views in assuming the management of
the Globe Theater lat a peeuniary
loss to me) than the benefit of
art. the wholesome amusement Of the
public, and that of the pride and COM
fort of nv hearty friend Cheney. SThe
experiment proving tediously useless in
ne mean and petty jealous circle have
to work in, continually attacked by a
CLIQUE no gentleman can face, and as !
have 40 mortal reason for turning myself
mo a modern Hercules to carry the
globe on ssy shoulders, ] beg leave to re
fire bowing my heaFtfelt thanks to the
npblic. nv friends of the press and
Ds,,. ~ sbe theater for the valuable