The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-29
The Fast Life Of the Conqueror
of the World.
CHAMPAGNE BEFORE BREAKFAST
He Throws Fifty-DolIar Bills Away,
Grows Fat and Receives Mash Letters
BY the Score-Hcro-w orship.
Chicago Tribune.

share of the house During his recent en-
gagement at Niblo's theater New York
city, the gross receipts were tribe over
81 900 per week. Of this the house took Is
per cent, 81, $50 in round numbers, leaving
the Sullivan combination $3.50. Twenty
i've per cent. is the proportion received by
all the theaters at which Sullivan appears
on his present tour.
Sullivan gets the lions share, an undi-
vided half of the gross receipts after the
house receives its share--that is, half of 10
per cent. of the total gross receipts, or 3711
per cent. of all the money taken in at the
box office. Sullivan is thus in receipt of
an actual income of 50 500 per week.
He lives very extravagantly and literally
throws 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
a kitten.
Last spring Sullivan was in a Brooklyn
saloon on Fulton street when Sister of
Mercy entered to ask for money in aid of
the poor. The half dozen other men in the
room gave her dimes and half-dimes.
Sullivan, however, drew from his pocket
greenback and banded it to the sister in a
careless way. The woman spread the bill
out between her hands and plainly evinced
surprise. The denomination of the bill
was $50.
'John, what did you give her $50 for?"
asked one of his friends, as the woman still
stood staring.
"What2" said Sullivan, $500 thought
it was So" Then turning to the woman.
"Never mind. Keep it. I'm glad to give
it to YOU"
The woman murmured her thanks and
one of the men told her it was John l..
Sullivan who had given her the BILL Even
she had evidently heard of Sullivan. She
thanked him more etfusively this time and
beat a hasty retreat. Joe Coburn, ex-
champion pugilist, who was then dying of
consumption, was rendered a benefit
November % in New York city. John l..
Sullivan sent him $500.
Wherever Sullivan goes he is the center
of attraction. 1t is certainly a curious
| anomaly of this super-civilized nineteenth
| century that an ordinary, overgrown,
| good-natured bully, OF only average intel
ligence, which is an accurate summing up
| OF Sullivan's character, can attain the
| prominence he has. Sometimes sensa-
| tional writer's have attempted to idealize
| him and depict him as hero. Extreme
| generosity is his chief good quality, and
| he is undoubtedly very kind-hearted At
| the same time he is bully and tyrant
| occasionally. In reality, beyond his gen.
| erosity, there is nothing at all heroic about
| him.
| The secret of his prominence is the fact
that even In this age, when brains are
| superior to muscle, there is still enough of
| the old animal instinct LETT in humanity to
admire the physically perfect, and Sulli-
vans is popularity supposed to be the ply
! steal superior of any man in the world.
This is the reason people aock in crowds to
| see him ''act." They don't care a picayune
| for his acting They want to see curiosity,
| the man able to Flick" any other in the
| world. They may ridicule his acting"
| but they entertain sort of admiration of
| his physical prowess.
| Snllivan's life is passing very pleasantly
| to him now, as will be seen from the fol-
| lowing exact description of one of his av-
| erage days:
| Scene, a hrst-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
Rapping repeated.
What is it2" in deep, thunderous voice.
"Mr. Sullivan" in weak, timorous ac-
| cents, cit is II O'Clock"
''All right" grunts his Sullivanship, as
he turns over and peacefully dozes off
| again. The hall boy descends the stairs,
| proud in the consciousness of having held
| actual communication with the great Sui
Ivan, and is an object of envy among his
companions during the rest OF the day.
At $50 Jack Barnett, Sulivan's secre-
| tary and Fldus 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, admirng
his own huge bulk. He gives a satisfied
| smile ut his own rejection. He lights
| reina cigar. (He won't smoke cigar now
| adays that does not cost as much as %
| cents.) He goes into an adjoining room
| and hauls Harrison out of bed. Then he
suggests that small bottle is in order
| After he has absorbed his share of the
| small bottle he repairs to the bath
| room. His room must always have
! bath attached. He soaks in warm water
| for twenty minutes.
| 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 ne reads the newspapers, paying par
| tlcuIar attention to the sporting news,
| Next, If the day is pleasant, a coach is
| ordered, and, accompanied by Barnett,
| Harrison and perhaps another privileged
| friend, he is driven through the most
| picturesque part of the town where he
may be stopping. The drive may last un-
/ I'll dinner time He always dimes in a
| private room, there being no other table
| in 1t occupied except the one around which
| he sits with Harrison and Barnett and
| other boon friends. The dinner lasts until
il 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 oceu-
| pies with Harrison. He begins to dress
for his part by making up" his face This
| he does unaided. In the Irst act he dresses
| in Faunteroys and looks pretty as he
| calls il. He makes some slight changes in
| his clothes in the second act. but does not
alter his face makeup In the third act,
! in the blaeksmith's scene, he darkens his
| face and smuts ii over with black.
| Between the acts he receives his friends
! who come and go by the stage door. He
| smokes cigars and drinks oneor two bot
| ties of Bass during the intervals he is off
the stage. He also sings little if he is in
| q good humor He favors the popular
| comic songs. Annie Rooney" is one of
! his favorites. He is also apt 10 go into one
| of the boxes to see his personal friends and
| 10 watch and guy the other actors who are
| on the stage. When he himself is on the
! stage he is continually guying the other
| actors, and makes so much fun of Harrison
that il is difficult for the latter 10 20 on
1 with his part.
4 curious phase of the Sullivan craze is
| that women. the majority of them very
| respectable, write to him words of praise
| and admiration, and ask for his photo
! graph and autograph. Many of them beg
. Tor an introduction. Some of these re-
| quests John condeScendngiy notices but
refuses TO meet most OF the women, and