Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-20
MEMPHIS. TENN. THURSDAY EVENING SEPTEMBER 90 1871

world. Neither Paris nor London
are as bad, although both are
commonly supposed to be
worse. Berlin, he thinks, comes
nearest to it as hot-bed
of immortality. It is not the open
shamelessness exhibited at night in
the streets and by day and night in
the quarters of the notoriously de-
praved classes that tells the story of
moral corruption, but the sin that
wears the guise Of propriety and,
like a dangerous miasma, spreads
everywhere and rises even to the
highest part of the social edifce.
Fifth Avenue is not free from it.
The most respectable, not to say
aristocratic, neighborhoods are
tainted by it. Even in the shadow
of the most fashionable church it
exhales poison for the destruction
of souls. Who does not know the
stately mansion on Fifth Avenue,
within earshot of DR.. Halls church
and the new cathedral, that has
often been said to be built of hu-
man skulls and cemented with the
blood of murdered infants? 1t is
the home of the most notorious
abortionist in the world, woman
who has accumulated immense
wealth at her atrocious trade, and
has for years snapped her fingers at
the law. She has often said that no
man or woman in New York dare
move against her, for she could tear
society to pieces in one day. But
the subject will not bear close han
ding, and | had better drop it than
go further.
MANAGER DALY's FAILURE.
No one who has known the state
of affairs at the Fifth Avenue Thea
ter for some time past is surprised
at the announcement that Manager
DAILY is obliged to give it up. He
has been running the house at a
dead loss for several months, and il
has pretty well exhausted the cash
box. He denies that he has failed
or got into financial difficulty ol
any kind, but the fact that the
theater is to be surrendered and the
company disbanded on Saturday
night speaks for itself. DAILY is still
a young man, however (only forty
and with his experience, tact and
energy, no doubt he will soon bt
safely on his feet again. He begar
life on his own account abou
twenty years ago as a reporter OF
the Sunday Courier. From tht
: Courier he went to the Express al
dramatic critic, and from the Elk
press to the Times. Then he tool
to play writing, making a decided
success with Leah, which he trans
lated and adapted for Miss Bate
man. About ten years ago he be
came a manager, and it can GER
tainly be said that he put new
life into theatrical business ir
New York and entitled himself
to popularity by sprightly enter
prise that had not been known
among New York managers till ht
appeared. Once before, about two
years ago, he was on the point Of
giving up, but a new play-Piqu(
made hit and gave him a fresh
start. Two weeks ago he calculated
on getting out of his present trou-
BILE in the same way, but the new
play this time-The Dark City
proved an utter failure, and there
was nothing for it but to wind up
at once. The play is really a very
good one, as plays go nowadays, but
it would not draw, and of course q
play that will not draw is failure
from beginning to end. One cause
of Days misfortune as manager
is the exorbitant rent required for
the Fifth Avenue Theater. The
property belongs to the estate of the
late Peter Gilsey. For the bare walls
alone, all the fitting up having been
done at his own expense, DAILY has
been paying 100000 year. Jarrett
& Palmer had to abandon Booths
on account Of the rent, $4,000,
but that was less, in proportion to
value, than $4,000 for the Fifth
Avenue. The house is really worth
about $4,000, and not u dollar
more, but young Gilsey, who man
ages his fathers estate, wants $780,
900 for it, and tried several times
to force DAILY up to that figure.
LEON GAABETTA.