The New York herald., 1879-08-29
A BOHEMIAN RESORT.

DISAPPEARANCE OF THE CLIFTON SHADES
SCENES, PRICES AND "REMINISCENCES AT THE
AUCTION YESTERDAY.
A motley assembly gathered in what is known
Cifton Shades at No. Is Houston street. yesterday
morning to share in the trophies Of the famous
establishment, which had been brought under the
hammer. Among the bidders were Harry Hill and
Harry Clifton. once proprietor of the place. Many
"reminiscences connected with this far-famed
chop house. Once it was fashionable mansion, but
after the uptown hegira it became. first boarding
house and then the establishment which has been
long familiar to New Yorkers. 1t opened by
Brown Clarke, well known restaurateurs in their
day. in Maiden ane and then passed into tho hands
Of Harry Newport 1t was great soldiers resort in
the early days OF the late war; but after Harry Cliff
took possession of in 1868 many members Of the
theatrical profession made it their The
cosey parlors OF the old mansion. with the
quaint bar in q nook between the entrance
and the hall stairway. and the walls lined with
paintings and engravngs, made attractive retreat
for hungry and thirsty actors. after the play at
Nbo's and the Olympic. when the latter was Laura
Keene's. 1t is said that here Mr.. Leonard Grover
first learned to clap his friends the back and hail
them as sold Fell; that here Mr. Jefferson has been
known to say. "This is the last; drink to you and
your families they 1.-Two long and prosper" that
here MIR. sothern TOOK ms matatinai cocktail when
Lord Dundreary was good enough for him. "Our
American Cousin" having been taken from under
the dust which long concealed 1t at the and
put in rehearsal; anu that here the late George L.
Fox would occasionally 'smile" with grimace
that was very much like u clowns joke. But elf
ton Shades" was not the resort OF actors only-it
WAS. in fact, "free and easy" where clown and
clcrk the workers of the mimic and the real world
were made equally at home There was music
songs. glees and medleys-and piano to accompany
the singers; but about the only thing in the place
which kept correct time the high Dutch clock in
the corner Many 'characters frequented the place,
among them the Squire. who. having been ruined by
fox hunting and horse racing in the Old World,
found for his losses in the free and easys OF
the New. The pictures were worthy of the turf, but
the most valuable one in tho place an oil paint
ing by Lazarus theatrical subject. ''FastaG
THE AUCTION AND THE PRICES
The sale yesterday began promptly at half past ten
O'Clock. Chairs, tables, desk, mirror and stove
were first sold aud then the works OF art reached
pictures offered two oil paintings OF the
Catskill Mountains Both wero a study in turpen-
tine. In the there was mystical water. and in
den behind the Jumps OF paint, while on the rocks
above Mrs. Van Wrinkle and Mecny looking for
Rip. These art gems brought So each. An engrav-
ing .Tnc Woodbinc." in which some we'll known
theatrical faces appear. sold tor 81 10. -Four old
field prints. "The Lcicestershire Meet" brought
So 90 each, and three others relating to the turf
portraits of Topgalant, Rather and Belifounder.
S3 81 " each. Seven imported ergravings, "Turpins
Ride to York." started at S5 with determined ef-
fetch good price; SS was the Anal bid. landscape
by Eiarts brought $40 12ls, and Delaware Water
'.Chops, Steaks. Rarebts and Hot JOINTS" sold for
sixty cents. and this all that could be obtained
for an oil painting OF "Mss Farren."
''who is sncY growled some one.
"a pretty question to ask in such place as this.
the resort OF actors singers and artists retorted
another "That is Miss Farrcn, the wifc OF Gaspard
Maedcr. the sconc painter, and daughter of George
=, Farren, who made his FIRST appearance at the
Bowery and driven from the stage by the McKin-
ney riots i'll 1883. II you don't know Miss Farreh.
you least must know Mrs. Farren. for she is as
familiar to New York theatre-yoers any of the old
freuuenters OF this house."
FELL mo something about the place 1t was from
1868 to 1872" said the HERALD reporter.
"REMINISCENCES CI.IFTuNs.
''Well," tho old hddttue replied, "IIl do my best.
Harry Clifton was always man of light spirits and
lie delighted to have men of wit and intellect
about. The Saturday night concerts were man.
aged by T. II. Harding, the originator of cheap
music publishing in this country, and Dick
Sterley, the accompanist, was a. fine pianist
and song writer years ago. The Dodo club, headed
by the genial John Brougham. met within its walls,
aud Jefferson, Raymond Mccullough. Barrett, Nc
Kee Rankis, Harry Palmer. John A. Duff and many
other actors and managers among its visitors.
Nearly all the singers of any note have visited
ClIttons. Among Others George Lee, Sher Campbell,
Stanley, Wachtel, Maurel, Wilfred Morgan, Samuel
Hodsworth. Alfred wilkie Arthur Cook. Tony Pastor.
Harrigan and Hart, T.. ID. Gooding Sam hickey, Pat
Rooney, Scanlan ana Cronin, II. NJ Morris, Dave
wambold, Cyrus Peele Ernest Byne. David johnson,
Ed Hawthorne, Joseph H. johnson, McIntcc and
Jarvis are among the artists who frcquented Ciif-
TONS"
rupting his interlocutor She brought thirty cents,
while the sign the bar, "Dum Vivimus Wv
anus" sold for fifty. When the large oil painting
was reached the auctioneer put his best foot for.
ward. This painting originally was worth $780,"
he said. 1T cost $500 to put 1t into this place.
What do hear for ity' A bid of 800 was made,
to the selling OF chairs aud tables, mugs. casters
and bottles tobys pitchers and glassware, and the
auction came to Al end with tho ssle OF the dumb
waiter