The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1890-06-14
MR.. AUGUSTIN DAILY.
THE NOTED CATHOLIC MANAGER AND
PLAYwRIGHT-HIS CAREER.

IoIk Clty III the 1Ortles. In early lie
he was dramatic critic on the old Citi-
zen, after on the Sunday Courier, Eve
ming Express and Daily Times. AS a
playwright his first success was the
adaptation of "Leah the Forsaken,"
which was put before the public with
Kate Bateman in the leading role.
Next came "Under the Gaslight," which
proved very successful.
In 1867 he left the field of the dra-
matte critics and became manager of
the famous and unlucky old Globe the
atre on Broadway, the site now occu-
pied by the Old London Street build
ing. In time he went to the Twenty
eighth street. Or st. James hall, now
Fifth Avenue theatre. Mr.. James Fisk
at this time was proprietor of Madison
Square theatre, and Mr.. j. Brougham
his manager. Mr.. DAILY succeeded the
last named, and from there again re-
moved to the Fifth Avenue theatre.
when he introduced Mrs. Scott Siddons
as Rosalind in "As You Like It."
MT. Days next venture was not a
happy one. From the Fifth Avenue
he went to the Grand Opera House.
Here a good number of patrons fell to
his share. Returning to Twenty
eighth street and Fifth avenue he es-
tablIshcd the theatre which now occu-
pies that site. Clara Morris, Fanny
Davenport and many other leading
dramatic artists were here brought
before the New York pubic under Mr..
Days management. 1t was at this
house he organized his first stock COM
pany. Ill fortune seemed to follow
him, and brought failure. Financially
embarrassed, he was compelled to
leave the Fifth Avenue theatre. A
notable incident took PLACE at this
time. A. NJ. Palmer, by the offer Of
increased salary, succeeded in gaining
over many members of Mr.. Daly's
company. When in ~ Mr.. DAILY es-
tabllshed himself in his present loca-
ton to offset Mr.. Palmer's methods he
gave such high salaries to his actors
that he there and then established high
rates for professional services.
At length, after repeated failures,
undaunted courage, hard work and
p~ersevering spirit conquered, and Mr..
DAILY ranks foremost among successful
managers. To-day he is practically
without a rival.
AS you stand with Mr.. DAILY amid
the throng in the lobby of his theatre
you find yourself in the very centre Of
culture and refinement. A glance
through the house is only needed to
make it evident he had attained his
ideal standard.
when opened this house." said
Mi. DAILY, ut was my plan to establish
a theatre where the most exactinr
parent could without scruple permit
his child to attend. With that aim !
removed every word and action from
my dramatic productions which |
thought in the least offensive to good
taste and morality. | promised to
make this a family theatre and | sue
ceeded."
Mr.. DAILY for years has managed the
yearly benefit of the Roman Catholic
Orphan asylum and his private bene
factions are numerous.
Such men are Invaluable TO the trn.
advancement of the drama. The
drama has come to stay. Like the
press. it has fearful possibilities to
work evil, while it possesses undoubt-
ed power for good. In the hands and
under the management Of men sound
IN principle, irreproachable in ch:.rac-
Ger, we may expect results affecting
only the stage itself, but society
large, refining, elevating and en-
nobllng. That Mr.. Daily has already
accomplished much il this direction
Is most clearly evident to many per
sons VINO know the class and quality
OF his patrons. He has lately de-
monstrated in his production of a one
act drama, "rhe Prayer" the pos
OF interesting theatre goers in
plays with "a religious motive.
There can be no doubt of the sue
cess of such plays if they are produced
with the same regard to dramatic
effect as one of our modern melodram-
as. Mr.. Daily has also given the
comedies of Shakespeare a new beautv
by his careful studying of them. ami
does not seem to have suffered tiuan-
cially from the effort. He has reached
that period of his life when anythin.
with DAILY stamped upon it is a sue.
cess, which does not mean, however.
that he is released from the burdens
and lahOrs of his profession, but ONLY
from its anxieties. He gives even
care at this moment to stare
work than in the days when every
thing depended solely on such care.