Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-28
JOHN LIS GOLD NINE.
His Little Act on the Stage Brings
Him in $1,000 Every Week.
he SPENDS NEARLY HALF OF IT.
The Modern Hercules Has Made Three
Quarters of Million,
WILL INDULGE IN ONE MORE FIGHT

in the zenith of his prosperity. Never be-
fore has he made SO much money and made
it so easily as he is now doing. He is the
star of theatrical company which is in re-
ceipt of an average income of quite s., 900
per week after dedueting the share of the
house. Twenty-Five per cent is the propor-
tion received by all the theaters at which
Sullivan appears on his present tour. He
played to larger gross receipts in Baltimore
lately than did Booth and Barrett during
their recent partnership venture.
Sullivan gets the lions share, an un.
divided half of the gross receipts after the
house receives Its share-that is, half of IS
per cent of the total gross receipts, or 371f
per cent of all the m oney taken In at the
bo1-ofice. Duncan B. Harrison, Sullivan's
manager and fellow star, gets what is left of
the other half of the Is per cent alter paying
all expenses.
A SMALL FORTUNE EVERY WEEK.
Sullivan is thus in receipt of an actual
income of s., 500 per week, says the New
York Herald. He lives very extraVagantly
and literally shrows his money away. On
his present tour his personal expenditures
average about 81 900 per week. He seems
to have no more idea of the value of dollar
than kitten. He falls an easy prey to
rapaeious friends as we'll as beggars of all
cl asses. The following incidents illustrate
how Sullivan and his money are partedi
Sullivan was leaning against the bar Of a
popular sporting and billiard resort on
lower Broadway, New York City, not long
ago, when one of those frowsy, starved and
wretched-looking "bums" that frequent
Battery Park entered and asked for aims.
Everybody gave gruff refusal except Sui
ivan, who remarked: Sits pretty hard
lines when a man gets down as low as you.
Here, go get something to eat and coat"
with which he handed him three 50 bills
and 81 bill. Joe Coburn, ex-champion
pugilist, who was then dying of consump-
tion. was rendered benefit November %,
in New York City. John L. Sullivan sent
him $500. He seldom gives a bootblack
less than % cents for "shine," or q news
boy less than 10 cents for newspaper.
Very frequently it is 81, or even more, if
the youth happens to be a favorite.
A DAY WITH HERCULES.
Sullivan's life is passing very pleasantly
to him now, as will be seen from the fol-
lowing exact description of one of his aver
age days.
Scene, a frst-class hotel in any of the
prominent cities Of the United States; time,
II M.
Heavy rapping at the door of one of the
choice bedrooms; heavy snoring within the
bedroom.
Rapplng repeated.
What is it?" in deep, thunderous voice.
Mr.. Sullivan, In weak, timorous &C.
cents, sit is II o'clock
"All right" grunts His Sullivanship, as
he turns over and peacefully dozes of
again. The hall boy descends the stairs,
proud in the consciousness of having held
actual communication with the great Sulli-
van, and Is an object of envy among his
companions during the rest of the day.
AT 1880 Jack Barnett, SulliVan's secre-
tary and Fidus Achates, raps at the door
and insists on Sullivan opening it. John
acquiesces after many surly grunts and
few remarks of lurid nature. He rises
and poses in front of the mirror, admiring
his own huge bulk. He gives satisfied
smile at his immense reflection. He lights
a reina cigar. He won't smoke a cigar
nowadays that does not cost as much as %
cents) He goes into an adjoining room
and hauls Harrison out of bed. Then he
suggests that q small bottle is in order,
After he has absorbed his share of the
small bottle he repairs to the bathroom.
His room must always have a bath attached.
He soaks In warm water for 20 minutes.
NOT AN INvALID's BREAKFAsr.
After rub down with bay rum he gives
the order for breakfast" Steak, chicken,
with celery and other vegetables, washed
down with Bass ale, constitute the meal,
Then he reads the newspapers, paying par
ticular attention to the sporting news,
Next, if the day is pleasant, a coach is or
dered, and accompanied by Barnett, Harri-
son and perhaps another privileged friend,
be is driven through the most picturesque
part of the town where he may be stopping.
The drive may last until dinner time. He
always dimes in private room, there being
no other table in it occupied except the one
around which he sits with Harrison and
Barnett and other boon friends. The dinner
lasts until it is time to go to the theater.
The coach is again ordered. Arrived at
the theater he is Immediately assigned to the
"star" dressing room, which he occupies
with Harrison. He begins to dress for his
part by making up his face. This he
does unaided.
In the first act he dresses in Fauntleroys
and "looks pretty" as he calls it. He
makes some slight changes in his clothes in
the second act, but does not alter his face
In the third act, in the blacksmith's
scene, he darkens his face and smuts it over
with black.
Between the acts he receives his friends,
who come and' go by the stage door. He
smokes cigars and drinks one or two bottles
of Bass during the intervals he is off the
stage. He also sings q little, if he is in
good humor. He favors the popular comic
songs. "Annie Rooney" is one of his
favorites. He is also apt to go into one Of
the boxes to see his personal friends and to
watch and guy other actors who are on the
stage. When he himselfIs on the stage he
is continually guying the other actors and
makes so much fun of Harrison that il is
difficult for the latter to 60 on with his part.
THE BOSS OF THE STAGE.
He controls everybody on the stage, gives
the cues for encores and tells the different
actors where they shall stand. His walk
while on the stage is amusing. He stalksup
and down as if waiting Tor an adversary to
come and give him battle. His acting is
mediocre, but is perhaps better than might
be expected. He has good voice, but does
not know how to carry himself or what to do
with his hands. His play is of the SEN
sational style, and be is continually having
to make speeches which are absurdly gram
diloquent.
Sullivan Is now never shaved or barbered
in public barber shop. He has the barber
come tn his room. The same is true in re-
gard to his tailors, who come 10 his room to
fit him, as do other furnishers. Sullivan
may lose some of his gallery god admirers
when they learn that he wears pink silk
underwear. He has to have this underwear
made to order, as no ready made garments