New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-16
BITS OF THEATRICAL CHAT
,AreHr IN A sAUNrER DOWN BROADWAY.
WHAT BIRCH, HAvERLY, TERRIss AND COLLIER
THINK OF MEN AND THINGS.

WHAT BIRCH, HAVERLY, TERRISS AND CULLEN
THINK OF MEN AND THINGS.
There is nothing like a fine afternoon
at this season Of the year to bring OUT Ae
many members of the theatrical profession
whose temporary permanent home Is IN rev"
York Broadway from Fourteenth-st up Is tneH
favorte promenade and from to o'clock in the after
noon their favorite hours. Their time Is their own
rehearsal over and there is nothing TO be done save 70
enjoy themselves best they may until the early dinner
or tea and the subsequent visit to the theatre ana ngh
labor They q gOssipy lot as a rule ana aWays
ready chat let themselves their neShbors De the
subject matterpreferaby perhaps the former however
II was OH sunny day recently that TRIBUNE reporter
stroed down. Vanity Fair of NewYork seeking wnat
he could devOur of newsy nature.
Standing on the steps Of the San Francisco opera
House Is short, stout welldressed man, whose rudy
face and snow-whte beard and hair give him venerable
EXPRESSION which taken with his raven-hued apparel
suggests retired banker broker rather than what he
really ia negro minstrel performer. It is Billy"
Birch and as he steps forward to greet THE TRIBUNE re
porter an inquiry the Of his percepbe limp
ELECTS the reply he is suffering from attack OF in
ferna govt" Sweet Williams temper, however, does not
seem 10 have suffered attack Of the enemy and
he cheeriy replies question to Ills partner
IL YES saws he think have done a very judicious
thing Jack Haverly knows much about the business
rs the man, and atter myself that am Iar from
Bernard and set out from Francisco with our COM
pany. There are only two OF them IN My piesett oOn
thing like those days, though I've nothing mucn 70
complain of now Still feel as though we were haruy
Is face and tells funny story is about as good as an
other who does the thing They don't know t1at
has to be good comedian to MAKE ms matK on
our stage he has 10 be success In the legitimate II
reminds me OF story they used TO tell Oh fLaedc S
was q very big man, weighing some two hundred ana
fifty and was day with friend on hlSAsslppl
steamboat At one OF the landings tS stn pHT se
Southerner said he was glad to meet him and led him
was "a thin as an egg-she Arrived there the planter
produced enormous wallet extracted ten dolr pIi
and lust throw one turn Thought an actor ana on
acrobat synonymous don't you sect Well Dut as 70
us We send company over to England this summer
and go along 1t will be my first trip to EEr0Pe and
enjoy me WELL" and Mr. Birch disappears up the STAIRS
OF his tiny theatre.
Mr. TERRIsS PLEASED WITH NEW YORK
II was on the afternoon of the last Irving performance
that the reporter met stalwart figure wrapped III
capacous ulster and hurrying along with Free swing
ing gait Framed in by the broad brin OF the English
Derby hat high tumedup collar of the coat was
handsome face which he recognized as belonging to
William Terriss Irvings leading man.
have lust been for fye-mle walk" said he, and
this New-Yorx OF yours bigger place than had i'm
agined 1t is jolly place too, and In which could
be very happy, think. Perhaps four or five years may
see me here. suppose Ibreak confidence in saying
that I have had four very hattering offers from New
York managers. But have refused them ALL for prefer
TO stop with Mr. Irving. The bond between us is more
than that between manager and actor; it is that which
exists between friend and friend But this not the
case should hesitate long before engaging myself to
American manager with exception of two per-
& and resort TO mere legal bubble recently indulged
in with apparent success by manager whose gross igno-
rance hal caused him To make an unprohtabe contract
with English leading man. Is apt 10 make man shy OF
vcnturing into tie unknown waters OF specnatlye man
ayers speak without hesitation on rus point Ior
have but little patience with man VINO docs not carry
out the terms Of bargain however unfair to himself 1t
may Well, instead of telling you how kindly have
been treated by every one and how much IKE your
people have been indugng in diatbe against an I'M
favorable specimen Of an unfavoraOle class me GX-
cepton proves the rule, though, You know, and with
one his peculiarly infectious laughs Mr. Terriss goes
on his way like healthy young locomotive.
COLONEL HAvERLY HARD AT WORK AGAIN.
Surely that slim; rather angular figure leaning ZIP
against of the pillars Of the Fifth Avenue Hotel and
noddng to acquaintance about once In every second
and half some Of note. The tall silk hat shadows
pair OF quick restless eyes, and the reddish dropping
musaches cover thin resOluc mouth He Strengthens
up as he is approached and holding out his hand Jack
IIavcrly begins To speak in quick. nervous manner
yes" says he, am in the swim again. There is no
Disgusting the fact that six months ago was pretty
hard hit Those mines had drained away good deal of
my income Not that they bad investment Far
from it. Some day they will pay me handsomely.
tried recoup by speculation and went into spec
ulatiOn go into everything, heavily Well lost
heavily too. I didn't lose everything, of course.
always had a few thousands to auuse myself with
made p my mind to take a rest and what would turn
M Well. things have turned up rather quicker than
expected, and now am in harness and hard az work
again Before long shall be able 70 ten you an about
capitalists who are backing it, 1t IS sure enough thing
however, and the site is actually chosen suppose You
know all about my partnership with Birch Well that Is
only Of my irons. The Others are all heating up in
The conversation then turned well-knOwn man
agcr. I'm sorry to hear he's rather too much given to
champagne and Diandy-and- soda sad MI ,HaVerN.
" only say that should have been ruined OF
dead long ago If had been given TO drink when
am taking holiday take several drinks day. aud think
all the better for them. When am at work don't
drink at all | want all my nerve aud all my powers,
physical rs well mental for my business. busy
theatrical manager wants training as much rs race
horse a priZc-tghter" and Mr.. Haveriy, having
ehewed toOhpick into fragments saunters away posi-
bly, to procure another.
MIR. COLLIER IN EXCELLENT HUMOR.
1t is further down the citys main artery, and beyond
Union Square in fact that is most likely TO stumble
across the cherubic counenance with its snowy mus
tache and air OF beamng good-Lature which Jim Col
Ter calls his His partner, Shed Shook. seldom
srays outside his domain which comprises the Nor
ton House and the Union square Theatre. Mr. Collier
however, sometimes takes n stroll the Square and
as it Is generally for recreation Is always ready for
chat.
81 think to be congratulated" said he when
thus accosted tho other day. From all appearances
storm-Beaten Is hit cannot tell you the relief we
all felt, for have been working hearts out for
months, and during the last week sometimes the
stage for twelve hours at stretch We cutting the
time down till IN day or two 1t will only play to IL rs.
The fault anyhow lies with the scene-shers and not with
the lines the actors. We are well satisfied with the
criticisms though curously enough where looked for
eolness find friendness, and looked for
had right TO expect fendness found vitupeiatiou.
However, the most influential papers, including THE
TRIBUNE, treat us fairly and give credit where it due.
Miss Elscr. may say has exceeded expectations
and think she is of the of the piece By
the way, management. like OF eve5 other tho
are in NewNork, Is periodically accused OF paying bat
little attention to American plays aud wifuy sighting
them Tor the imported article This Is absurd the face
of IL. 81 am American, and IL play by American
playwright Is brought To me more inclined 10 Judge
tayOraby than II IL were the work OF nn alien, IL
matter OF business only We take the best we can ind