Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-16
MURRAY'S MUSINGS.
Bad Luck That Went With Two Gifts Made
by Ex-Secretary Whitney-Election Bet
ting in New York City-Wear and Tear
of the Stock Exchange,


Blackburn. of Kentucky and for Colonel o. o.
Stealey, the Washington representative OF
Colonel Henry Watterson. 81 have two lovely
big st. Bernard dogs" he said to the corre-
spondent one day, land I'm going to give one
to you and one to Joe. They cost me 81. 600 I'M
ported" OF course both Kentuckians were
delighted. The Courier-JourndL man laughed
his best winning horse-laugh, and the stalWart
blue grass Senator placed both arms about the
ex-Secretary's neck and wept his customary
bovine tears of joy and good-fellowship. The
other day Mr.. Whitney met Colonel Stealey on
Broadway and inquired after the animals. If
1t was to divert the Coloneps mind from the
unpleasant results of the recent election the
charm worked.
"Those dogsI Look here, Whitney, never
had such luck. Blackburn and 1 went to see
you about those dogs. Joe broke his rib and
several of his legs, and then his dog died and
let up on him. Mine cost me 81 day for some
time and lost every time 1 went around
race track Then it had 13 pups-lovely ami
mals-but 13 Think of that. was actually
frightened and wrote to Joe. He said 1t was an
unlucky number, but advised me to hang on 10
the pups-to grow 'em-they were worth
money. He spoke for the secand pup at once. L
wrote him he should have hall, but as there were
l3 and it wouldn't do to cut $50 dollar dog IN
two, I'd make it six apiece and we'd give the
odd one to some man in his district against
whom he entertained the greatest grudge SO
it was go. Joe told some friends and told
some friends, and between us we had appllca-
tions for upwards of SO pups at from SlOO TO
$3.50 each. For time began to think that
dog farm would pay better than the newspaper
business. Well, instead of taking advantage
of the market and selling out my stock fol-
lowed Joe's advice and hung on. All at once
the mother got sick and the pups dled-yes,
sir. died. every mothers son of them. And the
market fell fat. Thirteeni would not take
Sl3 over a counter in change. I'd give 1t to the
cash boy"
Mr. Whitney readiusted his glasses on his
aristocratic nose, and giving that feature an
the unhappy mother.
stOh, Pve farmed her out for 80 cents day
and Pm hustling around trying to make money
to pay her board. You haven't got giratf or
something to trade for herr No. The worst
of the whole thing is, don't you know,
everybody tells me the first litter of the st.
Bernard never lives. don't know any more
about dogs than you do about New York
election. Both of US thought we knew it all.
The grass is just sprouting on the graves of the
Is pupsl Well, good day Whitney. Excuse
me-but. you know, I've got to scratch around
for that dogs board.
A Little Cash on the Stage.
THOSE who are not behind the scenes will be
surprised to learn on how little money
some of the dramatic attractions are started.
Perhaps some of the actors who have to walk
back to New York annually by reason of this
would not be surprised, but refer to the gen.
eral public. Take the play for instance, called
Natural Cas-" which proved quite success
last season. 1t was started scarcely $780,
The play netted s27 900 in one season. 1t was
brought out by John Russell. later of the "Citv
Directory" company, and Messrs Donnely,
Girard and Gilbert The last three put up 5000
each, while Russell against this immense cap-
tai put in his experience, his pull with the man.
ayers, which enabled him TO get dates; his
financial standing with lithograph firms, which
enabled the company to get their printing on
credit. Russell was also in the good graces OF
the leading photographers who furnished the
pictures of the company. The play proved
great success financially.
There is another instance in the late Hen
dirk HUDSON Company, with Fay Templeton
as the star, although the result was not quite
as happy for the managers as was that which
attended the production of Natural Gas"
Lykens, the manager of Fay Templeton, who
raised great row with his hackers when the
concern went to pieces, had not dollar in the
world and was living on his cheek at New
York hotel when he received letter from Fay
Templeton informing him of her hard luck IN
Paris. She had pawned her diamonds-those
famous diamonds which formed the remark
She offered to come to America and be man.
aged by anybody that could raise about 81, 500.
Lykens struck man by the name CT
Unaverzagt who had a little money and
vealed the plot to him. He succeeded in get
ting $1,000 out of him, and on that small
amount fully equipped company and bought
Everybody knows the result 1t seems little
queer that enterprises involving really SIC. 600
TO $4,000 should be started by experienced
men on such small capital. If every now and
then one falls through for want of cash to pay
salaries, there is no surprise manifested among
theatrical experts.
Politics Too Much for Him.
UNJo. didn't vote." said a friend of mine. 1
met him on Broadway a couple of days
able ability, and is well known for his lovely
water colors. II don't know anything about
politics." he continued II haven't had time
in my life to devote myself to the subject of
what party is best fitted for the control of the
Government. don't know anything about the
tariff, dom: know who want for Mayor-I
don't know who 1 want for President. 1 don't
care who holds the offices. Things seem to run
along well enough to suit me under any cir
cumstances. There was man up in my studio
the other day and tried to give me instructions
as to how to get my ballot in, but it was too
much for me. l don't recollect of over having
voted in my life. You may think it a little
singular but don't make it business to be
posted on political subjects. You see. do not
object to the trouble of going to the polls if
l knew whom to vote for. If only knew what
principles were at stake. if only knew what
was voting for, as well as for whom was
voting, but I do not, you see. It is waste time
to try to keep up with political events. 1t
doesn't interest me in the least 1 am here to-
day and there tomorrow. Sometimes year
in this country, sometimes year abroad. You
may think it humiliatlng to make this confess
sion, but only confess to an ignorance which
is very common. The difference is that the
majority of the people affect to know more
about these things, and when they vote, know
Just as little as do" My friend laughed.
II went down to the polls the other day."
said he land took look at the new arrange
ments, thinking possibly might try the expert
ment The friend who instructed me was very
anxious that should vote. Perhaps 1 should
have done so, but he began to talk to me about
the tariff, about Mckinley, about Tammany
about Congress, about Boss Platt, about the
Municipal League and about every other politi-
cal tomfoolery, until l was thoroughly dlsgusteu
You see, he overdid it. 1t was too much. So
didn't voIe."
Betting on the Election.
WHILE not as much money changed hands
w during the recent local election in this
city as did in the last general election for Presi-
dent there was good deal of "boodle'' to be
seen floating around one or two days before
the end of the campaign. On the last night
preceding the election the Art Gallery, other
wise bar of the hoffman House, was the scene
of a good deal of sporting excitement. Men
went about with money between their fingers
like fakirs in front of side show and bookies
on race track Offering SO much on Grant, SO
much on this man and SO much on another
| naming the odds and Stockholders. Every
time a deal was made little crowd would con-
| gregate around those making it. as if they
| really desired to see what kind of money was
being handled and how much there was of it.
The chief stakeholder of the Hoffman House
| is Billy Edwards. ex-prize fighter. Edwards