The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-24
The Hub In Hublub Over The Fechter-
Wallack ImbrOgIio.
The Stories OF Both the Bloodless Histrion.c
Warriors as Told t. Herald
Correspondent.
Who's to Blame lyon Pays Your Money
and lon Takes Your ChOice.'
posroy. Dec. u, 1870.

rnpus between the manager and the actors az the
Globe theatre. For nearly u week II has been the
popular theme OF discussion all over Boston, and In
remote sections OF the country the interest IN tne
affair appears 20 nave been more general than It's ac
tual Importance seems to justify. IL Is a weak
of human nature however. to revel
in Just such spicy GOSSIP this row
between Fechter and Wallack and the Chan.
fraus has been productive Of The vouminous
correspondence which has been published has. as
is wen known been somewhat oil the "you le'
description, aud, after all said and done, the CON-
munIty Is scarcely any wiser after having perused
the vndictve letters thaa before they paraded
before the world. Although the whole row may be
regarded as Insignificant beyond us effect upon the
parties Immediately concerned, 1t is, however, a.
before minated, one OF those funny episodes which
ought to be faithfully and impartiay recorded for
the benefit OF future generations. IL VIII serve as
companion romance BOUNDED on fact to such
stories as that Of the alteration between Andy
Johnson and Congress- the Fenan Invasion of Can
aoa, and host OF other and similar ridiculous but
amusing incidents OF this glorious nineteenth cen
tury.
The Globe theatre has always been unfortunate,
but why 1t should have been is an enigma hard to
solve. Its one Of the finest temples of amusement
In the United States, and Mr.. Arthur Cheney, the
proprietor, has always been / Dera and enterprisng
ia It's management. 1t was built by Mr. Cheney and
Dexter H. Toilet as an up town. theatre although
ITS location (on the corner OF Washington and Essex
streets) is more properly down than up town. 1t
was started as "Selwyn's theatre" ana John II.
Selwyn was the manager. Early In its career Toilet
sold out TO Cheney. Subsequently Cheney and Sell
wyn quarrelled. and the latter had to vamose.
Then came the great Fechter with his name ON the
bills In large letters rs the sole managcrr He
menced with the beginning OF the season. and
determined 10 show thai strong hlstrlonic talent and
first class executive and business ability could BIO
combined IN man, anu that one man was
Charles Fecher. He engaged his own company,
and Mr.. Cheney gave him full scope and unlimited
funds to fulfil his promise OF "eleyatlng the drama
IN America" Everything seemed to be lovely and
serene aI the start; but alter While there were
rumors Of dissension. on account OF what were
termed "Fecht rs damned Dutch ars.n good
many haa predicted this at the start, and their
ability 10 forcsee coming events was now exempt
ned First one actor was thrown out, then another,
and there was profuson OF profanity from
those who remained Finally something occar.
red which caused Fechter 10 tell Wa!lack
that his services were useless. and then 1t
was that the 'mi began In earnest. Also at about
this time Mr.. Chanfrau, who, with his wife, was
part OF the company, had trouble With Fech-
ter no less serious than the rupture between
him and Wallack. Mr.. Chanfrau said that Fechter
had insulted his wife, and added few words about
pulling his nose. Things went on in IN lively
for several days. but Fccher back partially by
Cheney, proved master OF the situation. Mr.. and
Mrs.. Chanfrau were discharged and Wallack
although drawing his pay, was not allowed
darken the door at the sta 70 entrance All these
stories common gossip, and the opinion Of the
public was generally against Mr.. Fechter, and there
fore when he resigned the other day great many
were unch irtable enough to rejoice.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE ROW BY THE PROPRIETOR OF
THE THEATRE.
In endeavorng to get at The origin and incidental
circumstances OF this gigantic misunderstanding
between such eminent members OF the histrionic
profession have interviewed all the parties con-
cerned, including ialso Mr.. Cheney, the proprietor
Of the theatre l found him in the front OF the
house, Monday evening, gazing earnestly upon
Fechters admirable impersonatlon of Ruy Bias
Having INDUCED In q few preliminary remarks upon
other current matters finally touched upon the one
upperruost in the puzzle mind, somewhat as fol-
lows
..uow about this trouble between Fechtcr and
Wallackr'
"Oh, they were both wrong. Matters ought to have
been harmonized. Fechter had a peculiar manner
offensive to American actors, and Wallack could not
put up with 1t. There ought to have been u conf
promise"
IL believe, Mr.. Cheney, that during all this con-
troversy you have taken no part in ltthat is, you
have made nc public statement"
.No; have never said word about 1t Ia the
papers, and opposed to Fechter doing so. The
very last thing said him the day the Traveller
published his card was my utter dlsapproyal OF IT.
but he paid no attention to my reQnast.n
"Was there any particular understanding when
you engaged Fech ter anu Wallack IS to what kind
OF business they were to dor'
Eyes, they were to alternate in leading business
and supposed and hoped they would get along
good naturedly and harrnonous!y together, and
that would have season more successful than
have had. AS 1t Is have not lost any money;
neither have made much.n
Were there any >, particular conditions In
"les he vas to play for mo not only IN Boston,
but in New York and Philadelphia and when ne
II II had not been for this Difficulty should have
transferred Fechter to another CITY IN rev days,
and then, after o while, brought him back and
transferred Wa!lack and aternaaIcd In this manner
during the season."
~ suppoe you don't mean to close up the theatre
on account OF these troubiessn
mo, not much. ! hope there VIII never any,
thing Of the Kind happen here again, and for what
has happened am not responsible, and therefore
have not much to say about it. am willing to give
ysu all the Information have, but Feciter and
Waack arc better qualified TO tax to the public
through the press, and you had better see them"
~ guess you are about rignt, Mr. Cheney and |
will act upon your suggest!oA Ii the morning. Good
GOOD evening, sir.'
THE INTERVIEW WITH MR. FIGHTER
as Mr.. Fechicr IN ~ inquired Of the gcntiemanly
CLERK OF the ST. James. "les, SIT; please senu UP
your cardn This ! Immediately did, aud the reply
was, 'sre the HERALD correspondents to walk rl&ht
np,n ana accordingly walked right up. ! FOUND
HIM IN quiet secHislon IN IN eIegans rom apal.'
Inent, Surrounded with books pamphets, neWsla-
pers, letters end manuscripts OF al descrptloas, ny
reception was cordial, and when he assured me tiaJ
he WAS always glad 60 see CORES pohdent Of tno
HERALD / think tie utterance came lroM the most
Inward reccssas oi his heart.
"oh, all right Business has It's ups and downs
toau ltan ~ hy