The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-17
TIA eItISled Age.

FEE INTERESTING FACTS khSAhOiN' ~Ann
rwNs's PLkY-THE TURNiP AND THE STOVE
scENg-4ArENT EYE-wATER-THE BIG HAT
TlvvIs BUCK.
The NAV of the "GiIded Age" was first
predueed from Mark Twain's book by Jour
nalist named Dinsmore, OF San Francisco.
1T was very similar to what it now IS, WHO
the exception that Senator D'AroTay was
zersonated and brought on the stage. inls'
1t was found, did not work well, ana lmalo'
when he reyamped the play from ms doom
noefi tb. lines so as to refer only 10 DtH'
,,6,.tb1,. Mark TWaiD'S originss lDlentioh
was TO throw in large quantity OF pathos'
and with this view arrangements were Pepu.
Jnc with Edwin Boothan Lawrence BarfeH
at the time ,Raymopd's attention was ola"u
IN the play. II was at his suggestion mucho VI
the nresent mbusiness OF the play was put
IN The stove scene belongs to TWAIN en-
tirely. but putting his hand on the pipe
vhije Sellers explains the philosophy OF beat
iheIoncs TO RAYMOND. The turnip scene was
originally intended for pathos, but aslen.
alteration in the lines gave 1t lis present
]suchahlc aspect. Raymond never eats Vese'
tables, and on the stage, lnsteaa OF eaohe
the turnips at the turnip dinner, he eats ap'
pies. On one occasion he sent turnip WHO
his compliments into private box OF which
4
Dants, and subsequently, much to SeHers:s
amusement, the turpip was cut into small
pieces and distributed among the audience.
The phrase "There's millions in it." which
RAYMOND gets of with such flushed and
confident JUNCTION, originated with him, and
Is not TO be found in "The Glded Age"
Colonel Raymond assured me that ne hse
never read any of Mark Twain's books, but
hoped soon to attack the one upon which
the drama Is based.
The hat with the ample brim, which he
wears during the play, and which increases
his resemblance to Secretary Seward, has al
Interesting history.
When Walter Montgomery, the young
fragedian, came TO San Francisco, he wore
such an outrageous hat that Colonel Kay
mond prevailed upon him to purchase an
other, and Montgomery handed his old hat
to Raymond, who rolled it up, thrust II IN
his pocket, and when he went to bis roons
tossed it into one of his trunks. When Sec
retary Seward reached SIN Francisco, by
an odd coincidence he wore hat just like
that which Montgomery bad discarded, aud
which, through some friend, found its way
also to Raymond. In preparing for the part
of Colonel Sellers, Raymond selected this
style of hat, but found only one in bis
trunk. Whether it is the one Seward or
Montgomery wore be cannot tell. Not long
ago, when coming east, he met the eX.secre-
tary's son Clarence, and the hat was referred
70. Clarencetold the Colonel that bis brother
Frederick would be able to settle the mys-
terry, but as yet Colonel Raymond has not
met him, and the mystery remains nightly
upon Colonel Seller>'s head, exciting COM
ment and performing its part in the most
satisfactory manner. Sellers told me he
could judge Of many cities by the man.
ner in which the jokes of the play
are taken. The phrase "At the SELL
er's option" used in connection with his
patent eye-water joke, did NOT take in this
city, but in Baltimore and other COM
mercial cities it vas greeted with loud ap-
plause. Raymond's continuous acting or
Che part of Colonel Sellers has not been
without effect upon his everyday life. In
conversation he frequently fluids himself IN
the exact position of Sellers when computing
the number Of bottles of eye.water that will
be used by the citizens Of Asia-his right
hand holding his chin with the affection of a
patent clothes-pin. This happens so often
that he really believes there is considerable
of Colonel Sellers's indiVidualism In MIN
originally, and has doubts about the identity
Of the dozen or more fellows who have repre-,
scented themselves to him as the origlnai
Sellers. ..-
An enterprising New York druggist o.
fered Colonel Raymond an immense royaty
if he would allow him to introduce "Coio,
mel Sellers's Patent Eye. Water" ne sa'o
he'd wait until he had advices from Asta.
Of the profits of the play Marx IVAN ge.s
one half which is rather comfortable. Coto-
mel Raymond in one respect is without peer
as an actor, and the pride which nc displays
when boasting Of that fact, which IS, tnat ne
never smokes OR chews tobacco, or orlnks
}iouor. would make mother OF twins dis'
gusted with herself !,
Mrs. RAYMOND, who accompanied the
Colonel as far as Washington, and took the
mart of Laura Hdaokins, is lady of great
6tauty and fine abilities. She is OF Hebrew
extraction, and comes from Mobile. Ray.
rnond has great affection for the people Of
the South, and says the happiest days of his
life were spent among them.
In reply to the question (Which do you
regard as the three really American plays ?"
Colonel Raymond said he looked upon "The
,Gilded Age" as the principal one, and
tEep, In their order, Rip Nan Wipkle !"
and .sDavy Crockett" He said the country
contained any quantity Of Colonel Sellers
aud Senator Dilworthys. No other country
could produce them. They hadn't the ma.
terial to WORK upon. The Tennessee lands,
the appropriation, the glorious old flag, the
reconstructed Confederate, the Mississippi
steamboats,, and the great American habit
Of specializing, were all wanting in
every other country under the sun.
Plays like rip Van Wrinkle" and
"Davy Crockett" could not be multiplied.
They must stop just where they are. They
are purely American, with hard limitation;
but every town could its Isl 4Ha,okins
and its CoLoaek Sellers and be sorry for it,.
In connection with the play of "Dayy
Crockett" Colonel Raymond spoke in high
performs the part of Bob Crockett. He Is
q boy of, say, twelve or fourteen, and acts
as If born to the stage. His judgment as TO
acting In general is beyond bis years, and
among oil who have appeared with Dir.
Adams 10 the play be is the SUPERIOR Rob.
CTeiShton's anteruie1, an Tie .Da1slury Ners.
A story not unlike one that everybody
has heard alresdy is related BY German cor
respondent as being a true acrount of an
anciaent tnat occurred after the late imperial
nunt ~ Huoertustock. The Emperor Nil.i|
nam, feeling uuwel, proposed TO return to
eee castle on foot. in company with the King /
Hof Saxony and the Grand Duke Of Mecklep.
hsrg; but firing on the way, the party |,
SGT peasant to give them q Lift In his |
cart. Presently, the mans curiosity being
exated by The appearance of his mas.
sengers, ne said, turning to one of
taeto, SAnd who may you beyn uI
aha the Grand Duke of Mecklenbure y
or, indeed" replied the peasant. win
wink, Y Then who may pou he %, ha ;,,s.