, 1877-01-14

sEffEHSuNt FOA3 AND DUFF
Fox owed much, both directly and indirectl
to Jefferson, who in certain sense brought hi
out. John Duff, manager OF the Olymp
Theatre, owed much more to Jefferson, who p1
him in the way of making all the money he ev
| possessed. The three were connected in u som
what singular way. When Jefferson was NAL
| ing venture with actorship, and not success
} full venture either, Duff stood BY him nobl
Jefferson in prosperity was tic same mau {
jefferson In adversity. When he came bac
: from Europe with the substantial proofs Of
great success, and when it was discovered tha
his Rip Fan 11iuk|e was masterpiece
for any stage, he went straight to Duff, an
said: u l made great success in England.
shall do equally well here. And I will play
season ut your house on your own terms" |
DufTdid not fully appreciate the liberal offer then
he did at the close OF the season, when he pu
money in his purse for the first time during hi
management Of the Olympic. Jefferson by tina
first season placed the Olympic on new basis
and paying one. The popularity he gave it va
not only marvel but a fortune to Duff. Th,
next yearJcncrson again engaged at the Olympic
and, rs before. allowed Duff to name hi
own terms. Nor was the season less successful
At its close Jefferson told Duff he should not
play in New York the next year. He suggested
to Duff, however. that he might
! MAKE 4 GOOD THING
| by producing midsummer Nights Dream 81
| with splendid scenery, ana combining with II
/ Telbin's Panorama, which could be secured.
Dull set Hayes. the scenic artist, who aftcrward
married one Of the managers daughters, to
! work on the scenery, and set himself to work
securing good actors for the various parts. All
were found but man for Bottom, Duff at last
appealed to Jefferson. The latter had caught
glimpse OF Fox, who was ut the time low
comedian in the Bowery, and Us low i'll char
actcr as was the house at which he PLAYED.
Jefferson suggested Fox to Duff, who sent for
lin and concluded to try him. Thcn Clifton
Tayleure, who was unriyalcd in ''billiug'' a
town, did his very greatest. "Fox's Bottom, :"
stared at the passer-by from every bill board
and other accessible place in the city.
1t must be confessed, however, that Fox's
Bottom was not an overwhelming Success The
season Was :: good one, but not owing to the ap-
pearance of Bottom. AL the drilling bestowed
gratuitously by Jefferson, Duff, and others
could not shape Hunlpy- Du,npty into Sink
spearean delineator. His day was to come, ney-
crtheiess.
jefferson announced that he would play in
New York the next winter, and Duff was in
high delight. But Jefferson went to him aud
frankly told him: 81 I am not coming to the
Olympic this time. shall appear at Booths.'
For this act, which
DUFF CALLED 4 DEsERTIoS
and all sorts OF hard names, the manager never
forgare Rip. He forgot what his obligations
were to the actor who had taken the Olympic
out OF the grasp of bankruptcy aud made it 4
paying Investment. He forgot the advice which
had enabled him to 60 through season pros
pcrously without Jefferson. He swore to be
avenged by bringing out something that
should ruin the business at Booths.
and Humpy-D"mmy resulted. Tay-
leure wrote what there was to write, C. X. Fox
invented nearly all the tricks, and from his
failure as Bottom George L. Fox stepped into
the slippers Of success US the fool Of fools, the
potcntatc Of pantomimc. The hit was immense,
as the world knows; but the business at Booths
was not ruined. New York was too large CITY,
aud Jefferson was too much of an artist. for the
carrying out of scheme like that of the Olym-
pic manager.
"Humpty-Dumpty" never failed to draw
Fox made money fast enough, and so did
Duff. Both, however, were undone By
Duff went into the grand
combination with DAILY, and in trying to run
half dozen theatres sank all he had made,
with the exception Of perhaps few thousand
dollars, which now support him in retired life.
Fox was BY nature and education OF low tastes.
He maintained his low associations. His mud
ness WIS attributed more to his attentions to
Fanny Hayward, with whom he became iufatu-
atcd, than to his stage performances. His case
is another Illustration Of that biting sentence of
Eur'pidcs, "Nomcn were born always to be in
the way Of what may happen to men, to the
making OF things unfortunately which is not
believed, OF course, in this agc.
TIE PRESS CLUB,
which IS the fair exponent OF the newspaper pro-
fcssion in the city, has undergone reyolution,-
blooodlcss, but not the less unpleasant to the
"outs " on that account. The 4Su, has for
some time employed regularly on its local staff
a young lady, who, naturally enough, CAME
from Boston. This young lady wished to be
In ail ways reporter, and recognized as re-
porter, just the same as if she had been born |
male instead OF female, rs many arc einccrcly |
soEFy she was not She furthermore regarded |
it essential, as reporter, that she ., be |
admitted to the Press Club, and accordingly had |
her name proposed. This brought about the
referred to- The matter was referred |
to the Committee on Membership, by whom it |
vas discussed, pro and con, and at length, and
with warmth. There was. indeed, IN entire
lack OF unanitnity. Some said it was against rca-
sou and morals to admit woman to 4 club
where men alone had from time out of mind been
Tont to congregate, smoke, lunch, play billiards,
ards, or chess. 1t would BE- an outrage on both |
eIes. The married members were most acitatrd |
What would their wives say to their injecting
women at the cluba A mau owed rs much ai-
egiancc to his yet remaining hairs rs he lid to
he club. If woman came in, either he or his
lair must come out. Despite argument and
ven cntreaty, despite precedent and every
'thcr consideration, the necessary vote was
rarely secured, and the feminine named was
laced on tile roll. Before this was accom-
lishcd the Committee had drawn uo state
aent OF their position and rcasons, and sent it
0 Miss Reporter with request that she with
raw her name. In refusing to do this, the Young
ady declared herself j qualified reporter on the
round, among other 1llines, that when on the
oston press she had been suppcd and oystercd
he same us her masculine associates, Noonnn
tlon on the part OF the Committee could over :
1me so thorough proofs Of fitness, and the |
lection followed. But what an e1amp]et II
ne Invasion has succeeded, why NAV not an |
ther! Where is man to fnd refuge if not in ! =
is club-houses No marvel that the members
the lOtOS md }Tninn Cfuhe ara 4ror,hf;nr- | =