Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-07


woman and child In New York knew Peter Cooper,
and be will be, personally, missed from the streets
and from the big public gatherings, by thousands
and thousands OF people 1t is great satisfaction
that he died easily. He leaves a monu-
ment that should convey a valuable suggestion 10
such men as Vanderbilt, Gould, Sage and Field.
MUDDY DAY.
"a Muddy Day" at Harrlgan & Harris Theater
Monday night barely escaped failure Great
things were expected of this play. Mr. Harrigan
has said for the last two months that It was the
best he had ever written, and would throw all his
other efforts OF the MUD Don series far into the
shade. The most elaborate preparations were
made, and the scenic effects were worked at with
great skill. But, nevertheless, the play Oil not
go the first night with ythng OF the enthusiasm
mhlch is usually the case with new play at the
Theater Comque. MY impression is that Mr.
Harrigan has written his play too hastily. There
are evidences throughout that 1t did not receive
the careful treatment that he bestowed upon
ton" The last act OF "A Muddy Day" is particu-
larry 1erky and unfinished in construction Ii is
not yet too late for the genial comedian to re-
write IL by the way, SAW three ladies leave the
theater In the middle OF the play on Monday
night This is. an ominous sign, ana should
Of vulgarity in Mr.. Harrisan's p play SIT It
does does not seem possible that the Theater
Comique can make the fatal mistake OF be-
coming vulgar. 1t has now patronage that
Is perhaps better than any other In the city.
BY which / mean that its patrons are easily
pleased, come regularly. pay high prices cheer
fully and crowd the house to the doors all the sea-
son around. Among his patrons Mr. Harrigan
numbers many OF the best people In the city, who
think 1t is jolly fun to go down 10 the ComiQue and
see the famous sketches from low life. on Mon
day night dozens OF society people were there In
1u Dress and the house had really brilliant ap-
pearance. These people go gladly 10 see Mr. Har-
rigans spirited sketches, because they represent
certain phase OF life that is novel and Interesting
TO be sure 1t is crude and coarse, but heretofore
1t has never been vulgar When 1t becomes vul-
gar this sort OF patronage will cease In a night
The scene which caused the ladies OF whom /
speak TO leave the theater was one In which Tony
Hart and another man who took the char scter or
TWO women In the piece are spilled overheard and
come ashore to dry their clothes When the cur
TAIN rises Their Clothes are hanging around the
stage, and each one is standing inside on a hogs
head or barrel, so that nothing but the head is
visible. Al this point In come number OF the
other characters OF the piece sort or half fight
ana hall tussel enSues, and the 'ladies" unce-
tremendously dumped out Of the barrels and sent
rolling around the floor. They are en- deshabille,
ana though II is not very pronounced it still has
decided element OF vulgarity. This is dangerous
Snag Ii Mr.. Harrlgan runs upon 1t he is lost.
GEN. MCCLELLAN AS PRESIDENT.
1t was shrewd move on the part OF the Essex
County Fox Hunt to elect Gen. Mcclellan presi-
dent OF their club. What heretofore was consid-
cred merely an afrectatlon OF few society people
suffering from acute attacks OF Anglomania has
been turned into legitimate sport by the presence
OF man who has fought for his country. The
Essex County Hunt has had three meets so far
this season, and they have all been successful This
Is principally because the hunt has good run I'm
New Jersey and the farmers OF that beautiful state
fo nos SHOOT at them as they go gallopg
Long Island. Fox hunting In itself is not open 10
objection when conducted in spirited and pic
anise seed bag, as is the custom OF the Long
Island huntsmen, is silly and foppish.
aseFs the is scent real lrae hunting Dsnv hs ,Ss
road sides: but II wild and vigorous fox Is given
a good start, and then chased for his life by a
good pack OF hounds and Jolly group OF hunts
men, IL Is highly commendable pJrt. At one
time fox hunting In America was sport ut for
the gods In the southern states, before the war,
the man who got the brush In a fox hunt deserved
all the distinction that usually accrued from il.
1t needed firm seat, steady hand, undaunted
courage and thoroughbred horse to win. AT
horses at daybreak, and started through the
woods They did not chase puny fox that had
was emaclated and weak from its confinement,
but they routed big, brisk and healthy Reynard
from his hiding place in the wood and followed
him wherever his fancy took him. They rode
through tangled brush, over hill and dale through
streams, bitches and boys, and encountered all
manner OF danger, until he was run to earth or
the horses had given out Then the men returned
home exhausted, but flushed with the chase ard
conscious that they had participated in a sport TT
Ior the energies OF strong and Skillful men.
BUSINESS MANS RECREATION.
saw good illustration OF the average business
man taking recreation" a few nights ago at
Booths theater. He came bustling in five minutes
late with his wife and two children, and paid the
strctest possible attention to the play during the
first act He laughed loudly at all the humorous
features and was immensely interested In the pa
thetlc. When the curtain dropped on the first act
he bustled out TO the door came In after ii had
raised the second time and sat through the next
intervals between the following act he read the pro-
gram through nervousy, and from that time on con-
suited his watch every three minutes and yawned
prodgiously Then he got i'll natured and spent the
last act In growing at his children and telling his
wife every three minutes he was so Internally
sleepy he could not keep his eyes open. Before
the curtain dropped he was on his feet, struggling
Wild his oyercoat and hurrying towards the door.
he was business from the tips OF his toes to the
afford the time spent at the theater His wife
watched the children and paid no attention what
ever TO her husband.
TIE NINETEENTH CENTURY CLUB.
Nothing daunts the Ninteenta Century Club
The subject does not exist that this astute and
complacent organization Will not discuss with en-
tire satisfaction to itself, at least At its session
on Tuesday night, at Mrs PaImers house, The
Religion OF the Coming Man" was seized upon as
the theme for the evenings discussion. After a
lecture by MI. James Parton, which skipped
ghtiy over the religions OF the world from its
alton TO date, and touched upon every Imaginable
creed and superstition, the president OF the soci-
ETY., MI Palmer, arose and asserted that there was
and that the spirit OF doubt had swept over the
continent Then everybody present found that he
knew great Zeal ABOUT the religion OF the coming
man. and at once seized the opportunity OF ex.
pressing his conviction in that direction. This
went on till a late hour, and many profound sentt-
ments were uttered. but on reviewing 1t all with
the utmost care, and giving the various speeches
the BEST consideration, one Is bound to admit that
not single original idea was presented nor
new theory OF any sort brought out
Mr. BRowNNG's BOGUS DIAMOND.
MI. John W. Browning has created a great SEN
sation In social circles. He was walking BY
the Vanderbilt mansion while some workmen
were cleaning away the debris the day after the
great ball, when something glistened In the dirt
at his feet He picked 1t up. stored It hastily In
his pocket, and hurried away. But his action was
observed. . detective put upon his track, and
later NJ Browning delivered the jewel to the de-
tective 1t was then taken TO an expert jeweler,
who nlliped 1t up In tho air, carelessy caught
In his hand, passed it back to the
detective and said 1t was probably worth dfty
cents. Mr.. Brownings surprise was as great as
his disappointment He had calculated upon two
thousand dollars at least and at rst bitterly re-
GREETED that the. detective had got the stone
from him; but when 1t was pronounced bogus
and instead OF being solitaire of great
value, 1t turned out to be mere paste diamond
he did not regret that It had passed out OF his
hands However. he revenged himself by solilo-
Qu1zng upon the fact that the bogus diamond
was evidently worn at the Vanderbilt ball. This
soltloQuy WAS taken up on all sides, and it has
now been construed into direct and paipabe slight
on the great character OF the Vanderbilt entertain