New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-09
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
THE ROMANCE OF A ROMANCE.

HISTORY OF TIE PLAY "sTRUCK IL"-INClDENIs
IN THE LIVES OF wEIL-KNowN COMEDIANS.
The "Slave Market in Union-square was
greatly agtated Monday afternoon 1t had not en-
oyed tho of rencounter for weeks, and the
prospect of a violent collision between two prominent
comedians was looked forward 10 with eagemess. The
expected combatants were Joseph Murphy, the Irish
comedian who has made a great hit In d" Kerry Cow,
AMI the Dutch dialect actor j. s. Williamson VINO mas
bounded fortune and fame IN part not unlike nap
Van Wrinkle in play called "Struck Oil" The two ola
friends had for three years and during all that
personal anmostes supposed to be at fever or
fighting heat of rival claims to the possession OF
the play. when, therefore. the two met right IN
the Slave Market which was crowded at iho
time. anticpatons Of lively scene hed the minus oi
all the slaves present But they were doomed 10 disap
pointincnt for instead Of clenchng in deadly array the
two comed embraced anoher,-at any rate theS
shook hands heartily and there many expressions
i'm which the familiar Of Joe" and jim ana III
ouiries after Maggie" were frequently overheard.
The q" Slave Market" be II understood by those not
familiar with its history and locality, situated IN 'front.'
Of the UnOnsquare entrance to the Union fIaoe ooi
and the theater entrance Here every day rs soon
as tho sun has passed the meridian and pleasant shade
makes the spot attractive tho slaves most do congresae
Poor actors out of employ,eager TO find any sort OF
Summer engagement and full OF doubts as to how they
are going live till the beginning Of next season
creates a demand for their services they FORM at
once n picturesque and characteristic group
where gossip is ALWAYS entertaining If not instructive
Here they lounge, exchanging notes OF theatrical news
and waiting for some graspng and sorlid manager
10 come along and bny" them From one OF these
"slaves" across table in "Ltle Iwly" (Which Is
bounded on the north by FOurteenthst on the east by
Tliri-aye and which is more Familiarity known as
"Moretti's restaurant -, the following history OF the
quarrel over Struck Oil was obtained
Murphy and williamson were members OF McCuloughs
-, In, g,u Fran ~ 80 i.
Raymond-he was first low comediaa-bu that doesn't
matter. SO was Maggie Moore, now Mrs. williamson
but that doesn't matter either though some OF the boys
thought the bottom Of the trouble Tor both o
c were Of her before she married Williamson But
the play the plays the thing that the row was to
have been abOnt."
several years AGO Murphy, I'm search OF a play some
thing akin TO " Rip Van Wmkle' devised a plot for
piece which he determined TO call " The SNty-Nnth
The principal part was to be poor German. The hrst
act was show him with beautiful wife Ike GFe""
bat more placabe and as amiabe child as Mccha hui
rounded by poverty and trouble and pursued by an I'M
ulacabe Old landlord, who finally dspossesses him. In
despair at seeing his wife and child suffer he enss, gels
large bounty deyOes great part OF IT 10 buying the
farm for his wife and clid and goes of to the war Az
fectng tableaui Wife and child IN tears llu'-
band half criZy-two-thrls drunk. Landlord III
IA rage; rest of tho neshborhoOd Hooded Win
tears and beer. SLOW music. Mnifed drum.
the ribuations Of the wife thus deserted to the machine
tons of the rcachcrous landlord; ana the travels and
trials Of the husband He gets shot; his head u tI'-
named aud badly that he becomes harmless lunatc
with only brief ucd intervals, and even then the most
maistnct recollection of home and family. Brought bN
circumstances his old home, lac falls into the hands o
his old landlord who has at length prevailed upon me
wife, who suppOses herself To be- widow 10 marry MN
and thus restore him The valuable farm on which on
Las been discovered 10 get rd Of the Oh German thc
in line
Il. n love with tine MtcHu OF the play, mi Inc NAM
calcrness to for frcud IS wandering Tramp nf
g..jn. him tO luuatc asl IAN cXcitcs ilc suspicion
instead OF the admiration O the Physicdn 20 he dh-
d,ltakrs 10 the luuuci, ana discovers MS 'u>'
Inc un-kiIul repaunng l. fcmcdi,l, ana nSian ny
observe the trum IA OF skilled surgery! k''son returns
just Ia time 30 prev Mt tHc commission oil pt'i9 v '
bart of Inc wife, and tue success Of the plot ~ tAe oid
Mpnby fSnud consd,rhic difficulty in getting the
play written To sui, him, ard na ly ic. tt" rau Fran
SEQ Dlay wright T. finish ANA forward 10 g. o. D. { e.
press. ItIeYtr came. IL was year before M"iPA
went West again, and while ~ SAT- LAKE Ciy, uldh ne
heard the gtI tucrc detail Tie pot 81 piece tdcb
- : rlc1 on l." I which the W.ituson- Cor Miss Moore
pny was ast0und. to hnd that Us playwright "u SOFA
thc play VIII InSOu, ana tH1i Williamson WAS lIiFhS
ii ln England Australia win great success iir "l
once land cain-noi 10 The ptte' Tor NnfpN Aiu aptn
dou,d Tor iIi-l caiaci -i~uI 80 cicoi' ~
r-iuatua u, aud some sl"hdrn,r I"o1 ii 'u
tcNtr"t aiutuFit0 were "''"" "i' ~ 'l.ni7' o
originator ttud yet not jic a"thpi OF ihe pay ana '
actor 0f a e ding part met Toy ihe isl Dic since DOT"
we've deceived by tAr aclud! Wiiei ~ 500 piece.
Instead of quarrel ~ 50 ducihc dtIii.-rin was
I made Mr. Williamson conceded % Hr MufphN iht
credit OF originating the plO aud cIdf"t ti ana pr.
Mummy; olnu,d 10 Nj. williamson thc -J part uI
lc raricc r which he pla! hdyns tLal as piird"n
written including the "bU,Lcss,' H. mai not niihsicd
kuywu liz subsequently sent Mr. Win, usnn ilt pa,
and much OF its business vii probably Zoe embodied M
ia. piece produced next september a. mo uh4oh
square Ihe"1ef'