National Republican., 1884-02-23
ON TIE AVENUE.
Small Talk About DIon aud Measures.

! small TRlk About Mcn nnd Measured.
"rhat fellow is q character" said the busi-
ness manager of John Mccullough, as ho
pointed to q short, squarcly built man with
norid complexion, who was standing in front
of the stage entrance to the National theatcr.
"Who is he an actor2 ?" asked the Avenue
Man.
NO; that is Bob Pritchard, better known
rs McCulough's Bob. 1Tc is tho governors
dresser, and has been with him for about
thirteen years. Bob has weakness for the
ardent, and sometimes gets little too much
on board when the governor will discharge
him. But no is always taken back, for he
knows Mr.. McCullough's ways so we'll, is so
thoroughly familiar with his wardrobc, and
is really such q valuable dresser that hi,
occasional shortcomings arc forgiven. An
instance of his value was shown last year.
"You remember, Nc cCullough played Ingo-
mar at tho Boston theater to Mary Andersons
Parthenia. We'll, the morning of the day on
which the governor was TO loavo New York
for the Hub Bob turned up rather the worse
for wear, and tho governor summarily dis.
missed him. told him to 60 of and never to
show his face again, Bob went away and
Immediately sought Billy Conner, to whom
be related his misfortune. Pm fired for
good now said he, with tears in his oyos
The governors awful mad Conner know
better, aud so he told Bob to go homo and
sleep until afternoon aud then to como back
and see him.
an tho meantime the governor had
started for Boston, without taking bit
of wardrobe, and was in horrible stew to
know what ho should do. Miss Anderson,
who was on the train, suggested that tho
next day they could got up early and go to
some costumor's in Boston and get something
that would do. This didn't please Mac much,
for he is not an easy man TO fit, you know
but he thought that was the best thing that
could be done. He reached Boston in an un-
onviablo frame of mind, and put up at the
fremont house"
"Wehre was Bob all this timer"
Hold on and I'll toll you Bob went home
and slept and went to see Conner in the
afternoon all right Conner told him to get
together everything that the governor would
want in Ingomar and to go to Boston on
the night train, and go to the governor at
his hotel in the morning as though nothing
had happened. Bob did so, and when tho
governor came down carly tho next morn
stairs. Hello, Bob said Mr.. Mccullough,
"have you got everything all right for
Ingomar?"
"Yes, sir replied he Gust as you told me,
SIR"
"You ought to hear the governor toll the
story. when ] saw Bob sitting there that
morning, says he, 4 felt that | could have
put my arms around him and hugged the
Scotch cuss'"
a@a
why can't we have a musical festival
here?" asked a prominent musician yester-
day. 81 don't mean little one for cent,
but grand affair. such as they are going to
have in Boston in April. They were making
preparations for Wagner festival, at which
selections from ParsifaP will be given by an
immense orchestra and "a chime of bells,
which is demanded by tho score, and which
are being made at cost of $4,000. A chorus
Of 600 voices is now in active rehearsal for
the festival, aud the applicat ions already
made for seats indicate the financial success
of the affair. Mr., Th cod orc Thomas will
have entire charge, and the soloists will in
cludo Materna, 1Ierrn, Winkelman, and
scarca. Now, why can't we have festival
in, say, May?"
And The REPUBLICAN, asks why cannot
this be done?
a@a
Sir Randall Roberts, who is now in the city
as the business manager of the Charles Wynd-
ham Comedy company, which will appear at
Ford's opera house next Monday, has had
quite n remarkable career. Educated at
Harrow, he entered the British army in 1853
, and served in the 33d regiment of infantry
until his retirement in 1861, during which
period he went through the Crimean war,
and also saw active service in the SepOy
) rebellion in India During the Franco
! Prussian war Sir Randall accompanied the
1st prussan corps in the field as special
q correspondent of the London Dai'y Telegraph
showing many instances of great personal
courage At the storming of splichern he
picked up wounded soldier of the Sth
c Brandenburg regiment within fifty feet OF
: the French lines and carried him on his
, back to a place of safety. He performed
other heroic acts and was twice wounded
and in recognition of his service!
= the German emperor conferred upon him the
order of the Iron Gross, the only one evel
bestowed upon an Englishman, He alst
wears the ribbon of the Legion of Honor o
France, the cross of st. Maurice, and Lazaru
s of Italy, the Crimean and Indian mutin.
medals, and the war medal of Germany o
' 1870.
In 1876 the baronet came to America. A
IL first he was in newspaper work, and durin
y the Russo-Turkish war he was foreign edito
20 of the Boston Ddily AdrertiSer. lie is tn
g author of Progress" drama purchased b,
the Madison Square theater, and is the fathe
% of a couple of novels. lie has contributed t
& the American art galleries in water eolor
II During Mr.. Wyndhams engagement here h
IS will assume the character of the governor o
ia the Jail i'll Fourteen Days"
"a 81 have been so long in America" said HI
that | almost look upon it as my nativ
20 land, and am as glad to again SEQ the dom
10 of the capitol as that of st. Paul's. l have
i made many warm fridlds in this country
L. whom | esteem very highly
"Did you ever know Col. Baker, or Bake
Pasha, rs he is now generally called ?"
"Oh, yes, very well. He and | were Il
gether in the Crimea and in the valley of tn
10 Alma, Baker, who was then a captain in tn
to 10th Hussars, did some gallant work.
of don't know what his capabilities are as
ppnnral but he was a snlendid lipht Cayalr