The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-04
GOTHAM GOSSIP.
Bob fngerson Entertaining Loafers
in Stokes Famous Bar
Room.
Seeing Some other n otables-Mr. and Mrs.
Mckee Rankin, Charles X.
1horne, etc.


Theater or into the magnifeently decorated,
picturesquely adorned bar-room kept by the
tolerably well-known Edward S. Stokes,
group of men pass me and entering the lat
ter named place, determined my course.
followed them, and, taking a seat at one Of
the round tables near the window, had the
pleasure of seeing Col Bob Ingersoll extend
the hospitality of the bar to his friends. It
was tolersbly warm time and the Colonel
confined himself to seltzsr lemonade, which
he drank with evident relish. Don't be
alarmed. am not about TO inAict a criti-
cism or review OF the noted special plead
er's views on religion, bat as his personality
interested me, doubtless it will you.
Ingersoll has come on from Washington
flushed with victory and with Government
seslps decorating his ample belt. A reason
able expectation would picture him faded,
tired, pale and feeble. The fact is precisely
the reverse. He stands nesrly six fees high,
with round, bullet-shape1 bald head, twink
ling blue eyes, q perfectly clean shsven face,
red as q cherry, leading to q. sturdy neck,
which loses itself in shoulders of tremendous
proportions, q fitting top to q well proper
toned but Doticeably rotLnd figure. The man
ner in which he wears mis- hat,
THE POSE OF HIS HEAD,
the entire status of his physique sptly picture
the individuslistic mentality which has
made him not only notorious but famous in
realms Of thought.
In common with Beecher, Webster, Ben
Butler, Garfield and other heavy framed men
cd tn uuith 10
Mr.. Ingersoll has not entirely pleasant
habit of apparently addressing his utter
snces, not alone TO the individual with whom
he is converting, but to the surrounding
spectators, who ere long find themselves in.
sentibly made part and pa-cel of what
hitI erto had been q perfectly private con-
versstion. Still, IngersolPs talk is bright
and breezy, tinctured with selt-reliance,
self-esteem and trife of self conceit. He
is sn inveter ate smoker, but has the habit of
allowing his fame to die out, after which
he finds the, 10 me, utterly non-understsnda-
BILE enjoyment of second, third and some-
times fourth and fifth relighting.
During the Is minutes Of Ingersoll's stay
in and about the bar-roOm there were proba-
bly, 200 other visitors, of whom not more
than 10 failed to recognize him. a. times
be was surrounded by 10 or 20, some of
who looked at him as though he was as in
sensate as the pictures on the wall and as
ready to be stared st IS the statues on the
pedeftals. This, by the way, is peculiar
tendency Of human nature in this part OF the
world. When Mrs. LaDgtry appears upon
the streets not only rude men bat others
who sppesr to be gentlemen, and
WOMEN BY THE SCORES
ko1l L.,- L oI0 To- l.
her several yards, turn 60 ss TO meat her tscs
to face and stare at her as though she were
piece OF bisQue or o phenomenon in earthly
guise. 1t is the same with Others who might
be mentioned, habit which, whether pecu-
liar to New York or not, certainly finds its
development on our streets, in our hotels
ard in all our public places. Mr.. Ingersoll
tells me that he hiss come with his family to
battle in the ocean and rest IN the quiet of
Long Beach. He takes no stock in any
more Star Route trials, snd is naturally ex-
hilarsted but perfectly good naturei in his
discussion of the farce which has tediously
and extensively worn its way to the same
verdict with which we are al familiar.
Asl 7ss thinking about Ingersoll, msn
entered the place, who, by reason of his past
successes in New York, his annual tours of
the theatrical circuit Of this country and a
position TO which he has been assigned with
in the past 4S hours, is well-known figure
in New York, and bids fair to shine with yet
greater lustre in all our local dramatic cir.
cles. 1t was Mckee Rsnkin. who ia now I'M
der contract at $500 week to be leading
man" in the Union Square Theatre next sea-
SGD, succeeding Mr.. Ihorne. We have all
known Rankin for the past Is or 20 years,
during ten Of which, at least, ne has been
prominent in his profession. He is striking
ly handsome. Doubtless Boston people re-
member him, more especially az the success
full wooer Of Kate Blanchard, who, during
her engagement
IN A BOSTON MUSEUM.
was the favorite of New England in. general
| aud of the Harvard boys in particular. Short
| " after Rankin married Miss Blanchard they
came to New York, and were part of the
marvellous stock company in whose hands
the 1.-TWO Orphans" became one of the three
successes of the century. What marvel
! lous play it is, exceeding any that l now re.
call in the large number OF leading parts
the chevslier, the minister Of police, his wife
| Madame Frochard; her two sons, Jacques,
and Pierre the cripple; Louise. the blind
| girl; Henliette, her sister; and Picsrd-each
part worthy Of a star. Rankin played
| oh, in addition there were G nsvieve, the
stately sister of charity, and Marianne, the
melcdramatic wife of the outcast Jacques.
| Rsnkin's part was Jacques, snd you msy
well imagine how pictures ueiy he looked in
the romantic garb Of that reckless and dissi-
| psted wretch. In Lied Astrsy," and, in
fact, in all tbs pieces he played, he was cast
almost invariably for the vllliaa, aad it has
has often occurred to me whether the contin-
uous effort to adequately portray the rascal,
the scamp, the scoundrel, the seducer, the
man who lives on his wits can psss without
producing some indelible impression upon
the character Of the actor so cast. However
that may be, Rankin, like many of his fell
low members in that great company, left the
tbeater and started out for himself with
plays apon the road. his pretty wife was
with him and did much toward building up
the ample fortune they now enjoy. Rankin
| has contracted for the
| ERECTION OF THEATER
on Third avenue here, where he purposes
playing combinations and stars. Meanwhile,
| Mrs. Rsnkin's heslth is far from rugged,
and it has been in contemplation for her TO
give up acting and remain at home with her
children this winter. just at this time,
Shook & Collier having determined that il
was folly tc waste further time in VISITING
| forE har of T.0pdou and no