The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-12-05
BT0alhrin'S New York Letter


some distance on the American conti-
nent to find his originals to-day. We
have in New York an aristocratic col
ored society, which in all of its appoint
ments and general tone, is quite up to
the best style of Fifth Avenue or Muir
ray Hill-not that mean to convey the
idea that they can shake double eagles
with the Goulds, the Vsnderbilts, the
Astors and Goelets, but they have mon
ey enough for all practical purposes and
in general good behavior they are SANS
reproach. 1t is too much the practice
of our scribes to represent every colored
ball as an assemblage Of darllies with
whitewash brushes in their hands and
rdzors in their boots. If any such i'm
preston is shared 10y the general public,
1t certainly would have been dissipated
if they could have attended the second
annual ball of "The Evsepuds of Peace
Just think of it--what a pretty name?
could anything be iiore delightful and
suggestive-"The Rosebuds of Peace"
"Surely de worl' do move" The only
incongruity in this beautiful title was
the startling fact, that most of the buds
of peace, were full blown roses, turning
the scale at 275-still there were many
of them that might yet have hung some
time upon the bush, and still be worth
the picking, But the ball of the Rose
buds of Peace was an immense success,
socially, musically and financially; the
sum of two dollars and seventy-fve
cents being left after all the expenses
were paid-not bad that for the Rose
buds of Peace, when you consider that
there are plenty of concerns here, which
started with hundreds of thousands of
dollars, and wound up without cent.
These Rosebuds are evidently not only
men of esthetic tastes, but better and
honester iinanciers than either Ward or
Fish. They had good time-Victoria
on her throne could not have received
more delicate attention than the female
Rosebuds received at the hands of their
male friends. The next sensation in
colored society is the first reception of
The Silver Snow Flake Coterie." Fif-
| teen hundred invitations are out, and
the excitement among tailors. mantua-
makers, hairdrcssers, florists, is at fever
heat. 1t is currently reported that the
| Rosebuds and Silver Snow Flakes are
not the warmest friends, and if money
! and style can do it, you will never hear
of the Rosebuds after the Silver Flake
ball. Let IT'S have peace.
If you want to see the two sides Of an
actors life follow me to Union Square.
About the Morton House is where they
most do congregate. Here at times you
will find all the popular actors and ac-
tresses in the country. Those who act
regularly in the Metronol!tan theatres.
are all of them well paid and enjoy life
very comfortably; most of them, if they
feel so inclined, being able to lay by
something for rainy day. Not many
of them do however. If they receive
$50 per week their expenses are gener-
ally 5000. Not only the regular COM
panies are recruited here, but all of the
transforming companies that afllict the
country find here their victims. 1t may
not be generally known in this free and
enlightened republic, but the dramatic
| profession Is the most aristocratic of any
profession on the face of the earth. Miss
Anderson would scarce wine her shoes
on any of her small female subordinates,
and certainly would never think of rid.
ing in the same railroad car with them.
Edwin Booth or Lawrence Barrett
would not feel called upon to notice in
the streets person who played first ac
tor or second grave-digger in Hamlet u
any more than if he were perfect
stranger, and, indeed, the man himself
would scarcely expect TO be noticed by
such distinguished person. ! recol
lect, many years ago, an actor who
fiourished in New York by the name o.
George Barrett, or, as he was familiarlN
known, Gentleman George. He wai
walking down Broadway one afternoon
with old Rufus Blake, another aristo
cratic snob, when they happened TO pas!
a young gentleman attached to the Parl
Theatre Company, of which Mr.. Barrett
was the stage manager. The young
man, like the gentleman that he was
raised his hat as he passed. Old Rufui
Blake brought up his gold eye-glass, ,anC
glaring on the offender who had had the
audacity TO bow to him IN the street
turned to George Barrett and said II
the most freezing tone, "Who is thi
personY' Don't know" Mr.. Barret
replied, ''never saw him before in IN!
life"
Most of the popular idols have a gool
, time, but there are plenty of aspirats u
fame about Union Square who get up II
the morning without exactly KNOWN,
where to get their breakfast; and whili
they may not all fare quite as well asPatt
or Mary Anderson, they all find a shelte
and something to eat. As a genera
thing actors are the most charitable anC
considerate of people as far as money il
, concerned. Those who have give freell
, 10 those who have not, and while tn,
star might not be willing to notice TIN
bootjack (which is the dramatic classic
= for small actor in the street, II his at
tention is properly called to his smalle
brothers necessities, IL is seldom tha
he would refuse a five or even n tel
dollar bill. But while the few go claI
in purple and fine linen, the many keel
J up a constant struggle With poverty
, Here, too, you see the wrecks OF popula
idols. A few months ago / stood lean
ing against a railing that surrounds tn
statue OF Washington, opposite tn
, Morton House. A poor, bent-up olC
man passed me, tottaring along as If h
would drop at every step. The frs
time | saw him WAS at the Criqu'
Francaise, on the Champ Elysees, many
many years ago. lie appeared as tn
Young american Wonder In the "Spiri
OF the Silver Shower" Then he was
model OF beauty and grace. The eircu
rang with thunders VI applause At hii