Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-09

cession OF broken contracts, quarrels, bicker-
lngs and ruptures She was cast for the title
role Of Priacess Ida, but few days before Its
promotion she had one Of her accustomed fts
stage. and finally refused to attend the re-
nearsals She was promptly discharged and
another actress put In her place The opera
was failure, and Miss Russelrs friends claim it
was due to her absence from the cast So
thoroughly do many American managers believe
this that the beautiful singer has had many
oners to come back to America. The latest was
cable dispatch from Manager Stetson. who is
to produce the ''Princess Ida" at the Fifth
avenue theater on Monday. But even If Miss
she can act in New York. She has broken con-
tracts with Manager Rice. Manager McCaul.
Messrs. Brooks and Dickson and Manager Hen
derson: They will all enforce what they believe
TO De their rights, and the result will be tedi-
Gus series OF law suits before the matter can be
decided Miss Russell is thoroughly disgraced
IN London. No manager will accept her ser
vices, and she is prevented from making her
living on this side of the water She has sent
twice to America for money Prma dopnas
must quarrel. 1t seems to be part of their very
natures Here Is the spectacle of a woman who
is unquestionably the most talented and beauti-
1ui comic opera singer in the world. who is
actually in financial want because of her violent
temper and troublesome disposition.
WALKING MATCHES.
yea, are endeavoring to work up the excitement
Tor walking match to take place shortly at the
Madison Square Garden. 1t is to be another OF
those dreary and inhuman six days contest OF
endurance. I don't believe it will be success.
The people tired of such exhibitions long ago.
| and the interest in them has quite disappeared
1t Is said Of course that the highest record will
be beaten. This record by the way. is 800
miles, 220 yards, and it was made by George
Hazel nearly two years ago. The walkers have
been in bad way since the craze for siy-day
matches abated. Some Of them have been wan
dering about the country, giving exhibitions at
fairs and in cheap halls. and others have en-
deaVOred to get up matches in western cities.
The majority of them have, however, led any
thing but luxurious lives. The three or four
who opened beer saloons on the prestige that
their efforts won for them have made reason
able amount of money. All of the old walkers
are to take turn In the new match. Hughes,
the Topper, is the favorite at this time.
LESTER WALLACE.
Mr.. Wallack's days of usefulness are we'll nigh
over. 1t Is questionable If the genial and agree
able old actor will ever again appear on the
stage for more than one performance. He is
very touchy about his maady, and claims that
it is govt, bat In reality his ailment is partial
paralysis. which has thus far stubbornly resisted
the best efforts OF New York physicians He
mas heen IN Florida long while now. and is
gradually losing interest in theatrical affairs
1t Is said that the climate In Florida is not doing
hin as much good as he had hoped it would, and
MIR. Wallack breads old age. He has always
been young man, and he lived like one until
ne had passed his Goth year, when nature sud-
denly asserted her sway and brought him up to
a short turn When he left New York he showed
the effects OF his early life very plainly His ele-
giant figure was a bit bent and as he hObbled
along, attired faultlessly and gancing with a
bored expression through his single glass; he
was the very picture of a broken-dOwn English
nobleman who had spent his life little too JOY
fully and was paying penance in his old age.
The Coal Tar Nuisance.
HOW 1T POISONs FISH-wHY Is NOT THE LAW
ENFORCED?
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
Several days ago I read an article in your
paper which stated that the House committee
on the District was about to report a bill for
the preservation Of fish in the Potomac river by
stopping all kind of SEEMING. 1t is a very good
thing; and there should be inserted clause to
prevent the gas company from emptying coal
tar into the river. This coal tar is more detri-
mental to the fish than all the seines that are
used in the District. 1t can be seen floating on
the water at all times, but the greatest quantity
SINKS TO the bottom, and during freshet 1t
spreads for miles, and fish are sickened and kept
back by this impure water A good thickness
OF ice formed on the river In front of the city
this winter and hundreds of men would have
been employed getting 1t out, but this tar
made it unfit for any use. Every thing handled
from the water is covered with tar Surely the
gas company could get rid of 1t in some way
without running it Into the river. 1t could be
sold to companies manufacturing pitch, or 1t
could he consumed as fuel, but suppose the
gas company find it cheaper to run tt into the
river than to build tanks to hold it, The atten-
ton Of the District authorities was called to
this matter several years ago, but it seems they
have taken no steps to prevent this nuisance.
l understand that there is a law to prevent
such nusances, and it should be enforced and
we would have pure water In front Of the city,
besides a protection for the fish.
THOs LUCAs