Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-19

with the depot and make such southern con-
nections as might be agreed upon by the
Charles B. Jefferson. The charter members
enrolled as dramatic authors" were 7. B. Aid
men, .. l.. Clements, Augustin DAILY, William
Gillette, I. r. Sullivan, Brander Matthews, G.
+. Lathrop, and d. d. Lloyd. The outsiders
claim that neither the actors. managers, or
dramatic authors of America are properly rep
resented in the club. and they laugh at the
title OF the organization as ridiculous mis-
homer. Meantime, at any rate, the club Is
hourishing in its way. Booths and Jefferson's
gifts have been added to by several other mem
bers and the club will soon have list of treas
ures remarkable in number and value if the
thing keeps up.
always thought that Washington was the
paradise for cranks, but am beginning to be-
heve that they have their own way in New
York about as much as anywhere else on the
civilized globe. We really have a multitude
OF cranks here who should be confined within
an asylum for the insane. There is Miss Har-
rlet Coffin. for instance, the rich young woman
who chased Kyrle Bellew about the country in
mad infatuation, and who afterward attacked
an inoffensive gentleman who was her fellow
passenger in 5th-avenue stage. I boarded a
next lady dressed plainly in black, whom
did not particularly notice except for the fact
that she seemed DESTROYS Of giving me as much
room az possible, although the car was not at
all crowded and veritable Pickwick could
have perched comfortably between the lady
and me. An umbrella that / had with me 1
held tightly between my knees while exam
med my pockets for nickel to nav nv fare
While was thus engaged the lady edged still
further and further away from me until she
-s~--A
then she suddenly snarled: do you want to
hurt me with that umbrella? Take hold of it
at once before it falls on my head!' at once
turned to assure the young woman that
the umbrella couldnt possibly reach
her person even if I held 1t at half
neighbor was none other than Miss Harriet
Coffin herself II didn't take me long to get
out on the front platform beside the driver,
and was much relieved when saw Miss Cof-
fin alight from the car at cross-street square
or two further down. This woman is wealthy.
roams about town alone at her will. and is a
frequent visitor at stationery stores, where she
buys stationery and writes dozens Of letters
which she generally tears in pieces as soon as
written. Once in while she makes scene on
the street or in public conveyance, but is Or
dinarily quiet and normal in her actions, only
noticeable for the strange expression Of her
dark eyes.
Lewis the Light" is a crank who has en-
joyed perfect liberty until this week, when he
was arrested and held in an uptown police
court for examination to his sanity. His
name is Greenslade. and for some time he was
supported and supplied with money by his
wife, who kept a barber shop in Brooklyn. He
is a religious crank, who imagines himself a
sort OF successor to the Saviour. Several times
he has entered the most prominent churches in
the city during the midst of the service, walked
erect down the main aisle arrayed in a most
weird and extraordinary attire, and has with
loud voice commanded the clergyman to cease
his exhorting. More than once this has been
followed by theatric condemnation of pastor
and flock to the neither regions. and an appeal
to all hands to follow Lewis, the Light, and be
saved. He prints the widest trash in the form
OF religious tracts. and breaches to crowds on
the street corners distributing his curious lit
erature with generous hand He was arrested
on Tuesday while haranguing q crowd on East
50th street.
There are number Of eminent cranks, too,
in New York. They are not only eminent in
the way of crankiness. but are also eminent in
other fields Of more usefulness and more sense.
Such crank is Luther r. Marsh, the eminent
lawyer, who was, and is still bamboozled by
the Princess OF Spookdom. Ann O'Delia Diss
Debar. Since the release of this unamiable crea-
ture from Jail she has been petted and cared
for by Mr.. Marsh, and under his protection and
patronage she is preparing to carry out the
most elaborate plans for further revelations
from spirits both artistic and renowned
Another distinguished crank is a well-known
woman lecturer, cultivated and intelligent
lady, who has been for year or more worship
ing cur-dog that she picked up ON the street.
Ignorant Of the nature and necessities of ca
mines, she stuffed the poor little animal with
sweets, chocolate cellars, bon-bons, charlotte
russes, and such dog-despised fodder until the
dyspeptic brute was pulled out like q balloon
and too weak to waddle. She had . regular
physician to attend the cur at e5 visit. and
when the Esculapius recommended exercise
for the purp she hired . man to take it out for a
walk every day. The lady'e display Of affection
Tor the beast was 20 disgusting a. to estrange
many OF her friends, and every night she slept
with the bloated body Of the dog coddled In
her arms. At last the animal was brought to
its death-bed. Night after night the woman sat,
Watching and sleePless, beside the creature
she had pampered to death. Specialists at
great expense were summoned to prescribe for
her "angel pet" and 'only true friend" e she
called the dog, but notwithstanding every ef-
fort the cur died. Then she bought satin
lined comm, had hearse, an undertaken, and
two coaches, and buried her dog in an ortho-
dox cemetery with great pomp. At the grave
:he Frustrated herself on the coffin and cried
IN an ecstacy OF grief, s'Oh, my angel pet: shaI
meet you againr" After the funeral abe re-
moved from her former residence and viii not
departed dog still hovers around its former
home. This woman isn't insane, perhaps, but
she should assuredly be provided With Z guar
dian whose sanity il beyond question.
Another distinguished crank il respected
business man and junior member of s we'll
known stationery firm. Leyel-headed in al
other respects, he has been led by the nose By
another Diss Dsbar in the person Of . spirit
ualistic medium, who has made Mr.. Carroll
believe that she r in constant communication
With the spirit Of his dead SON. She has In
duced this sensible business man 20 hold :
spiritual wedding ct his house, 1t which his
dead sons spirit was married 70 another spirit
announced q bright Eyes." Then Is W.
led e be present St the alleged birth Of {
spirtt child 10 his new spirit dauehter-in-law,
and Later journeyed to Niagara to christsn this
spook child IN the Soaning waters Of he fAllA
He wife, Who objected 10 his relations With
&c @sdiom, and openly called thst female :
nands = nov ccnaned u an Insane asylum for
ner temextty, while the husband remains nee
g squander his money upon fhs medium
who has inhaled him and Who has ALREADY
~ ~ r. r uoux&.