The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-09

In the theatre it is held that no one can tell
in advance who is to get the honors in . new
play. On the part of the hero the author may
have lavished his finest fancies, but the part
may fall as fat as the smallest small beer.
Even the lady may excite an uncomfortable
attention, and some old man, some eccentric
juvenile or mere soubrette may catch the
humorous possibilities of character that is
only sketch, and I'LL its emptiness with the
there is similar uncertainty as to the success
Of things to happen-a truth whose applica-
ton is before us in two recent democratic
gatherings, respectively famous and charac-
teristic.
By happy coincidence there was an assem-
blage on the same night at the two centres of
democratic power in this city. At Tammany
the braves met and there was powwow, and
in the gay salons of the Manhattan Club there
were dress coats and white ties; there were
immaculate shirt fronts, and there were kid
gloves of dainty hues. In short, there were
all those points of an elegant toilet that in our
times are the equivalents of the silk stockings
of our grandfathers. It is fortunate thus to
have the public eye filled, as it were, on one
occasion, with all the aspirants to the prestige
of the name of democracy In view Of the
tastes and prejudices of the world it might
have been supposed that in the rivalries of
these aspirants for favor in their respective
parts Of the great democratic play the dress
coats and high comedy would have carried it
over the somewhat melodramatic war paint and
tomahawk but it was otherwise.
Into the Manhattan Club came many gentle
men Of local and national fame, and several of
them made happy and pretty speeches; but
into Tammany Hall came John Fox, with q
damaged nose. and requested the General Com
mittee not merely to apply adhesive plaster,
but to discipline the offending Morrissey, who
had damaged the nose by the forcible impact
Of his round and ponderous head. In oil the
doings at the Manhattan Club, handsomely
announced, and with the world waiting on the
words of distinguished orators, no evidence
was given that any of its members was equal
to such piece of headwork.
There was always in this happy land Of free
dom relation between democracy and chiv-
airy, and it was thought the high toned
democracy had a monopoly of this connection;
but the gratifying fact that the democratic re-
vival in Tammany turned on point of honor
proves that this was an error. John Morrissey
and John Fox, two paladins Of democracy,
were friends; it appears, but on recent occa-
sion the first paladin, in shaking hands with
the other, extended him only two fingers in
stead Of FIVE. This was not to be endured;
an explanation was called for, but put off with
the statement that the act was an inadvertency.
No paladin could accept sucha lame pretence,
and, face to face, the punctilious Fox asked
about the two fingers. This led to recrim-
ination, and Morrissey intimated that there
were some points on which Fox was not SO
nice-he did not always discriminate SO accu-
rately as to what belonged to himself and what
to other people. Finally, as Fox was not
satisfied with two fingers, Morrissey gave him
five somewhere on the cheek, and, by way Of
emphasis, 'sbutted him."
This seems to us by far the most Characteristic
and vital of the two democratic REVEALS, and
the one sure to have the greatest favor with the
democratic masses.