Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-21
Special Correspondence Of rHr Frrxrsu srAn.

Special Correspondence Of THE EVENING STAR.
NEW YORK, Oct Goth.
The retirement from the turf OF August Belmont
has caused a greal deal OF comment, coming as IL
doeSimmediately after the withdrawal OF Mr.. Aston
Besides these two well-known men, Mr.. Milton
Young, the owner OF the celebrated Kentucky
stable, left the turf formally a few days ago by
selling his stock, and Mr. George L. Lorillard has
announced that he will cut his stable down very
materially next year, II he does not give up racing
altogether. These four owners are all
men OF influence and weight In turf matters,
and their action is somewhat significant els the
sport OF kings" too expensive for our Million
aireST DO they ind that the heavy drain OF Keep
Ing up stable Is more than they can stand, are
they discouraged at the action OF the authorities
ing decided failing Oh in the Attendance At the
contests In New York; Irather suspect IL is due
10 the former reason. Few men, even among our
racing campaign. The cost is simply enor-
nous lind that most OF the heavy racing men at
tfleuts the withdrawal OF the elder Belmont TO pc
Cunlary reasons He sank more than one fortune In
MS nursery stables. 'If Belmont had laid more
money on his horses" racing man said last night,
''he could have raked in a mountain OF money, but
ne began Dy running to win, and was happy when
ms niles carried the maroon and red to the fore"
even II he didn't get cent to pay for his immense
honor OF the victory OF his colors he was content
Well, that is heightened policy but in the
OF niteen or twenty years 1t becomes mighty ex:
pens1ve. Belmont was the most exacting man I
ever knew in regard to his stable. Nothing salts
ned him but the most perfect order In
Of his horses was e Studied aDd
REQ out faultlessy. He achieved the greatest sue
cess with bis fillies. They were q noble lot Of
Woodbine, Magnetism, Flnesse, victoria, susqu-
hanna, Sllkstockings, Sultana and thirty more.
HIS ! colts were not so good, take them as a whole.
put there were some OF them that bee anne famous
Count D'Orsay. Ill Used, Kinghsher, Freebooter
and Rhadamanthus are all celebrated. Belmonts
withdrawal is to be deplored, for he was an honor
to the turf" Mr.. Aston has not done much of late
In racing, and he win not be seriously missed, but
MI. Lorillard's partial retirement is a matter OF
almost as much Importance as the total retire.
ment of MIR. Belmont
THE HABIT OF CIGARETTE SMOKING
is becoming so universal that much alarm is felt.
Old men use them In many cases instead OF cigars,
because they can inhale the smoke. A young man
OF fashion who does not smoke cigarettes is not to
be found. They think more highly OF it than any
other accomplishment they have. Most OF them
smoke to excess ana inhale the fumes. They light
one after meals and between meals, smoke be-
tween the acts at the theater, and un-
dresS for bed with one In their mouth.
young men who have lost their voice through this
practlce, or have become prey to some disease
brought on by it. Its worst manifestation is
among boys Every Office boy has his bunch Of
cigarettes In his pocket. and boys in knee-breeches
ana stockings smoke on their way to and from
SCuool. lut case WIN winch the laDlt may De
acquired has led many women also to adopt It.
don't know OF any women in society who indulge
In IT, but do know OF women OF good families and
who have Independent fortunes who smoke cigar
cites regularly. At first they do not let their nus
bands know, but they finally become bold enough
10 c0oy lean back and light their roll OF tobacco
after dinner.
THE "PAssIoN PLAY"
Is TO be produced during Christmas week. A bare
announcement OF the fact has created a sensation
When Manager Abbey proposed to produce the
play at Booths theater two years ago great up
roar was raised, and he was compelled, much
against his Will, to abandon the undertaking. Al
though the present conditions are different a hue
and cry Will probably be raised against 1t as be-
fore. The performance will take place under the
management OF Salmi p. Morse, the author OF the
play. EaneS, the coStumer Is largely interested
in the undertaking. went to see him to-day.
He was not In, but Madame Eanes who is to SUI
Perlntend the making OF the costumes, was. she
looks like Rosa BOnheur, the cattle painter hav-
Ing snort hair In crfmp, curly locks all over her
mead She had pet cat perched on her shoulder.
ut is true" she said ''that the Passion Play
is to be performed this winter"
"Have you no fear OF public disapproval?"
"This time the Passion Play VIII be acted.
Madame replied, her black eyes swapping
mi. Abbey, you know, was forced to give it up"
"Yes, but it was because he was dependent
upon the good viii OF the public. He had Bern
hardt In hand then. and he could not afford to
make ma himself unpopular. With US it is different
measure"
"But will there not be the same prejudice
1.-The arrangements shall go on just as If every
body approved. This time it shall be done.n
Who are TO take the leading parls?"
body will know. There will be no names on the
DILL But this can say, that no theatrical people
Will take part In the play at all"
us this to Obviate OF the leading objections
to the perfOrmance7"
"YeS. Some OF the parts will be taken by pro-
lessional men, mean lawyers and physicians
who esteem the play literary work OF a high
character and believe that it should be brought
out. We ourselves are church people, and can
tell you that many church people are interested
In the piece and desire to see IL produced under
proper circumstances The performance is not TO
take place In theater, but in the building on 23d
street Which has been used as an armory. This
building, which was originally a church. will he
converted into a theater."
"Are arrangements already under way7"
1.-The alterations are In charge of an architect.
ana we are now engaged in making the costumes"
Madame threw her cat into a back room and laid
some charts on the table showing the costumes of
Herodius, the High Priest, Judas IscariOt, the
Apostles, the Persians, and the Roman soldiers
"Wll any OF Mr.. Abbey'S costumes be used 2"
"No, they will all be new"
"Are those who have undertaken the production
OF the play confident OF its success?"
"They have no doubt OF 1t whatever. Mr. Morse
read selections from the play at my house TO a
large number OF guests, including clergymen law
most enthusiastic auiience ever saw. They were
astonishei: They all clamored for a public per-
fOrmance."
The AUTHOR OF THE "PAssIoN PLAY"
Mr. Morse is an elderly man. He has had a
curiouos history. For years he was associated
with Charles Dickens in his literary work. Becom-
ing interested in the Passion Play, he began pre-
pairing himself to write an English version OF
literary merit To this end he spent eleven years
in Palestine studying the manners and customs of
the people. His play was produced In San Fran
CISCO, but even there 1t was Withdrawn under
pressure brought to bear upon it. When he
made his contract with Mr.. Abbey he brought his
costumes, properties and the leading players to
New York, at a cost of 1000. The opposition OF
the public to the work or his life has made him
very sensitive on the subject He dislikes to dis
cuSs IL even with friends. The clamor against hts
play has only increased his determination to bring
1t out and WIN popular approval
THE NEW OPERA HOUSE
Various rumors have been afloat regarding the
Grand Opera House. 1t has been reported that
after this year it would be converted into hotel
I asked Mr.. T1llotsOn, who is the business mana
ger at this theater for Mr. Abbey, about this to
day, and he said there was not grain OF truth In
It. Almost every week there is some new story.
But, I'm fact Jay Gould is making good profit out
OF the house as 1t Is, and doesn't think OF making
any change. He takes pride in having q theater
among other little things that he owns 1t is very
rarely that he goes to see play, however, and
when he does he sits in an obscure corner OF the