The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-03-03
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.

Fright, but no Fire Civil Service Re-
Cheap Figures-Religion VS.. Mining, etc.
New YORK, February "a, 1888.
EDITOR CHIEF:
Notwithstanding the Lenten season,
the city wears any thing but a sombre
appearance. There is but little mortifi-
cation of the flesh, and apparently no
repentance for past sins. The theatres
are crowded nightly, even the poorest
show being able to secure an audience.
One man after all is Of very little account
i'll this world. 1t is only a few weeks
since Manager Stetson took it into his
head to produce the Corsican Brothers.
He would never have thought of it if he
had not been able to engage Charles R.
Thorne. He thought Mr.. Thorne was
the only man on the American stage who
could play the Corsican Brothers. On
the second performance Mr.. Thorne broke
down and never acted after; but the
play still ran on with Mr. Bangs in the
title role, and the public never knew
the difference. On Monday Mr.. Thorne
| was buried, and at tho same time the
funeral Of VIM. E. Dodge took place.
Both of these men in their lives filled
large place in the public eye, and even
in death they were as far apart as in their
lives.
VIM. E. Dodge was the very embodi-
ment of church man lie was never so
happy as at a Sunday school celebration
or revival meeting. He was Il Sabbata
rian of the strictest kind, who honestly
believed that Sunday should be passed
in absolute surcease from every kind of
labor, and in singing hymns and praying.
Smoking, chewing and drinking were to
him denominations which he never prac-
ticed and which he could never tolerate
in others. From his earliest age he had
always been connected with some church
organization, and he regarded with sus-
picon those who had not experienced
religion. Around his bier were congre-
gated ministers of all evangelical denom-
nations; but the Presbyterian Church, i'll
which he loved to worship, was most
largely represented. No such gathering
of capital has been seen within the walls
of a church during the present century,.
Not far apart sat Vanderbilt, Could, Sage,
Cooper, Grant and a host Of others not
than four hundred millions of capital
stood by the dead mans coffin. Yet all
their gold could not call him back. Sad
dest among the mourners stood poor
Jerry McAuley and his wife; tears rolled
down their cheeks, and we'll they might,
for it will be years before they will find
another friend like VIM. L. Dodge.
Jerry McAuley is converted convict,
who, while under sentence for robbery,
heard the voice of his Savior through his
prison bars, and resolved to devote him
self to Christ. Mr.. Dodge heard of him,
tSllu OClICtCu III anu OOoh tuI
convict by the hand that all men Stunned
and lifted him up to q new life and re-
newed manhood. He assisted Jerry 10
open his little mission among thieves and
prostitutes in Water street, and often
after his days work WAS done, involving
thousands and thousands of dollars, Mr..
Dodge might be found praying with
Jerry in his mission house, among the
poor, the outcast, the drunken and de-
graded, whom the Priest aud the Levite
passed by. Jerry's present mission is up
town, his quarters being known as one
| VIM. E. Dodge helped Jerry to purchase
| it, and it is tolerable certain that he has
not forgotten him in his will.
| Charles r. Thorne was born on tue
stage; his father and his mother, and
aunts and uncles on both sides were actors
and actresses, and all remarkably clever
people. His mother was IL Mestayer, and
one of the best actresses in New York
forty years ago. The life of Charles R.
Thorne was passed on the stage; it was
the only life he knew, and after passing
| his initiation, was an artistic success. In
| New York he was an immense favorite,
and his departure from the Union Square
theatre, where he had been playing for
several years, was regarded as serious
loss. He had a thorough contempt for
every thing like cant; he did not believe
because a man was an actor that he was
necessarily doomed to perdition. Nor
did he weaken in his faith when the last
supreme trial came; almost lis last words
were a request that there should be no
religious service about his bier, and there
was not. A few gentle and kind words
by one who knew and loved him, a tear,
a flower, and the dust was returned to
dust. The mourners gathered around his
bier were not calculating while the serv-
| ice was going on how much he had left
to this church, and that mission, and the
other Bible Society. Both rest quietly
enough now, the dead actor and the
| Christian millionaire
Nor steel, nor poison. malice domestic,
| Foreign ievy-nothlng can touch them further.
We came near having another theatri-
cal holocaust on Monday night. The old
| A lon1np hac {rn nSf., ;,,kr 3,o
Cosmopolitan theatre. The opening
! night, when the house was crammed to