Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-01
NEW YORK NOTES.
Arthur az NeWPort-The Sorrows of
Sprague-The Stage Given Up 10
VIIIaInY aud GOre-Jaded Baehe-
Tors and WIIted AdOnfses.

NEW YORK, August 30.-The President'c
junketing tour is of a peculiar nature. 1t
is Of distinctively social character. While
he is politician to the marrow Of his bones
he has been pronounced by the society wo-
men of Washington to be quite q society
man. There are different ways of looking
at the same thing, and therefore one should
not quarrel with those who believe him to
be all the better on that account. On his
way to Newport he was accompanied by
several members OF the Cabinet and Gen.
Hancock. A great crowd welcomed him,
small boys rowing out in Newport harbor
in boats, decorated with Chinese lanterns, to
meet him. At the wharf there was a dense
crowd (the aristocracy, it appears, is curious
tool to see him land. He has been enter
tanned Ike prince by D. Morgan and other
cottsgers. The most sumptuous dinners
have been prepared, and the rooms in which
the entertainments have been given has
been decorated with flowers In the most ex-
IRENE aesthetic fashion. Through all this
the GTeSlOoHb mas COnuuCJ0Q ulLnS6ll SIdNCAfs
He has watched the gilded youth playing
polo on horseback and on skates, and has
attended the balls at the Casino. he
arrived too late to attend the last meeting
of the Queens County Hunt. But Newport
is at its best now in the most brilliant
season in its history, wherefore the Fresi-
dents visit is opportuue. One thing has
been lacking. James Gordon Bennett has
not been there this season. He has been
abroad with lords and "dOoks." When he
is there he does more dashing things than
any of the youth there. That is why the
ladies miss him so much. 1t is really cruel
for J. G. B. to spend his time with them
lords and DOCKS"
The last acts of one OF the saddest do
nestle tragedies Of late years are being
played at Canonchet, she former home OF
Ex-Governor Sprsgue and his family.
Canonchet should figure in romsnce-and
it will yet, for writer's of fiction take what
ever the world of fact brings them that is
of use. It is caprice-that OF Mrs. Kate
Sprague, the Governors wife. In her days
OF honor and purity she gratifed every
whim. Money was nothing. She wished
to make the house at Canonchet villa that
would excel every other country place in
point of picturesqUeness and magnifcence.
One wing after another was added until one
could not traverse the halls without guide,
and chambers were fitted up until they
seemed to have been created by the magic
rays of Aladdin's lamp. The work,
which was done by patches, in
the end cost almost a million dollars
In those days Mrs Sprague was beautiful
intellectual. She was just the kind OF a
woman to shine in Washington society, and
she did shine there, exciting admiration in
the breasts of men-even the Chinese Min
lister was not proof against her-and envy
in the hearts OF women. Although Canon
Chef is a long distance removed from Wash
ington, she expected to hold political
court there, dream which was
never realized. The history Of the
Sprague family troubles are too well
known for iteration, but there is one
episode that cannot be referred to too often,
and that is the hasty retreat OF Roscoe
Conkling from Canonchet once or twice,
pursued by Governor Sprague, shotgun in
hand. At the time this incident was for
the most part looked upon as a piece of
pleasantly, but In the light of subsequent
events, and those especially of recent date,
| do not see why It cannot be put down as
real history. Mr. Conkling's protest against
this indignity on the ground that he was
Mrs. Sprague's counsel, did not satisfy the
suspicious and querulous husband. For
some years the house has been going to
ruins. Ceiling on which were paintings in
water cOlors, costing thousands OF dollars,
dropped upon the nooTs-nOt upon the floor
ing, but upon rich carpets and Persian rugs
At every rain the water poured down
through leaks in the roof, destroying furni-
ture and upholstery fit for Kings and
Queens. Meanwhile Governor Sprague
lived in the house. or, as you might say,
haunted 1t like spirit, for he was indeed
amid ghostly surroundings. If the weather
intruded itself too much in one room, he
moved into another one. He was the ghost
of his former self, brooding upon his mis-
fortunes, cursing those who had brought
them upon him, and going into
uncomfortable rage at the mention
OF his wife's name. His boy,
Willie, has lived with him. He is a mere
lad, pale and slight, and thoroughly in
sympathy with his fathers misfortunes. It
in tearing down a foot bridge connecting
the lawn with the road the
other day when the auction
eer came TO sell the house
and grounds The father Aourlshed a pis-
tol and muttered threats-so did the boy
in his small, white hand, with a scoWl on
his pale, thin face. l know OF nothing to
compare with this scene-eXcept the one
that took place last week. At that time
for $50 600 to Francis D. Moulton, who will
be remember as the mutual friend of the
Beecher-Tilton case. Flction-which is
outdone in this strange history from first
to last-offers nothing that l know
of like the incident of last
Friday. When the new owner of Ca
nonchet went to take formal possession the
place was guarded by an armed force. A
red flag 1oated defsntly from a tower and
a sentinel with a rifle paced the roof. At
the gate were several men armed with guns
and clubs. One man sat on horse armed
with a heavy club, and Willie Sprague,
armed in the same manner, sat on another
The horses heads we're turned to-
wards the gate. No attempt was made
to enter the grounds. These men
who garrisoned Canonchet are said to be old
mill employees OF the Spragues, once the
greatest cotton goods manufacturers IN
this country-and they had prepared them
selves to endure a siege OF several days
Governor Sprague claims that the sale was
illegal, and that he has acted at the instruc-
tions of his counsel. Within few days the
house has been stripped of much of the
furniture, which has been carried off. But
father and son. and trusty servant will re-
main to guard the residence.
The theatrical season is opening. Within
two weeks every theatre In town will have
it's machinery in motion, and | have not
used machinery" here in a metaphoricaI
sense, for it is a lsmentable fact that our
PLAYS now are nearly altogether mechanism
and carpentry. The revival of the melo-
drama has brought inferior playwrights and
carpenters together, and they manufacture
dramas which appeal to the ear and the eve.
Actors and actresses are required, but they
become mere pigmies. There was Rose
Coghlan at Wallack's last season who was
compelled to 90 through stupid part In
youth which any woman almost could
have played successfully. One could real
ize this great waste keenly when he saw
the magnificent power she subsequently, dis
PLAYED in the title role of La Belle Russo.
That stage carpenters piece "Youth, F." was
also responsible for the temporary loss OF
John Gilbert. This actors familiar hulkiue
figure was there at the theatre night after
night, but his part did not admit of his
doing anything. Some other man might
Just as well have been in his Shoes But
last season seems a very unobjectionable
season indeed, when It is compared to what
the present one promises to be. Four thea
tres already have three melo.dramas playing
In them.
A new one has Just been produced at the
Union Square, under the title OF the "Black
Flag" Happily this Is q bad play, for II II
is bad it will die the sooner. 1t consists Of
an impossible plot made up OF Incidents that
allow of stage mechanism and realistic
scenery. There is villainy in it, gore, the
suffering of the Innocent, gunpowder, O
sailing ship, and so on, The season at Nib
los opened with a revival Of "Youth," and
at Haverley's Fourteenth street Theatre q
play called "Ranche 10" is on, in
which the pistol is prominent.
AS its name implies it deals with life on the
Western plains. 1t IS highly popular with
h., ori,. PIT this &c moi all On Mo-,