The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-16
COCKERILL'S LETTER
A Budget of Midsummer Gossip
From New York.
LILLIAN RUSSELL'S SISTERS
@icissitudes of Manager-Nellie BLY, Writ
ing Horrors-Death of the Speaker
of the Confederate Congress.


favorites are beginning to be seen and
heard again in old and new parts. As
rule, they do themselves justice in the
former rather than in the latter A mana
ger who could find acceptable new parts for
even a majority of people of established
regulations under his command would
thereby make the eternal fortune of the
artists and himself. OF that most beauti-
full woman on the comic opera stage in this
country, easily the leader Of her rivals and
contemporaries, Lillian Russell, 1t has been
said repeatedly this summer, with increas-
ing conviction, that nothing like the role OF
the ''Grand Duchess" has yet been dlscov-
erSd as an appropriate vehicle for her oper-
attic talents and presence. AS many times
as the old things have been said of her,
there are surprising number of interest
ing things which have yet to be said about
her for the first time 1t has never been
claimed for Miss Russell that the angelic
has any controlling interest in her makeup,
and her friendship for one or two we'll
known men about town, themselves people
OF some prominence, as well as her mar
riages, have from time to time received
their due share of attention in the public
prints. There is certain dash and elan IN
her appearance in public and private life
which has given rise TO the idea that while
an eminently successful singer in opera
bouffe and a self-possessed woman Of the
world, she was otherwise not particularly
better or worse than her theatrical sisters.
AS matter Of fact the few who are admit
ted to her confidence and who know her at
hpu1a .ra mazda we'll n the
lety and solid merit Of her requirements
and accomplishments. 1t is doubtful If 1t
could be truthfully SAID Of any Of her rivals
IN this country, past or present, that their
artistic accomplishments have been any
thing ike equal to those OF Miss Russell.
She has never been a poseuse on Broad
way, and. is oftenest seen in public, off the
stage, either in her elegantly furnished
equIpage rolling through the park or skip
ping along In the early morning when most
stage people are Just In their second sleep,
with her bank book in her hand and de-
termined buslnosslike look upon her fair
features, which might be taken as some in
dication of her descent from that female
parsonage of somewhat robust mentality,
Mrs. Cynthia Leonard. Lillian RUSSELL S
father was an accomplished and
successful man of the world in
Chicago. She inherited in no small
share from him those literary and
IIdll6 WHICH, 81 NGl1 OGCuDJ htE
leisure hours. She speaks French, Ger
man and Italian with equal facility. Dis
linguished foreigners who go to the Casino
and are emboldened TO ask the honor Of a
presentation to the prima donna are agree
ably surprised if they are successful to find
that she takes pleasure In converstng with
them III their native language. This she
has often done when there was no one else
about the establishment equal to it.
Mrs. Leonard and her two other daugh-
tiers are sometimes seen about town, often
enough at matinees, but would scarcely be
taken for so close kin to the fair Lillian.
The girls have none of her beauty. While
they are not without accomplishments, they
cannot draw, paint and embroider witt
anything like the prima donna's artistic
excellence. Some of her water colors, par
ticularly the floral pieces, would do justice
10 many professional artists of high stand
ing. Her drawing room is Uttered with the
newest books from Berlin, Rome ant
Paris, but as often as not she is found read
ing Dante in his own immortal tongue.
UPS AND DOWNS OF A MANAGER.
The least known to the new generation
of theatre goers in the United States Of al
the famous old-time managers in New Yorl
and proprietors Of travelling companies il
John f. Poole an old gentleman of SOM
personal oddities but of remarkable expert
age, although he looks nearly twenty year
more. He has been connected with Amer
icat theatres in one way or another sine
he was thirteen years Of age. He wa
manager of the old Bowery theatre. Tn
Chambers street theatre, the site of whic
is now almost forgotten, was under hi
control, as was the Fifth avenue for nun
Der of years. Having met with series c
repeated frosts during his incumbency g
the Fifth avenue at one time, and being i
need of some ready money, MIR. Poole wa
advised to apply for q loan to some of tn
men about town and other wealthy patron
of the house who had been cronies of hi
own. With characteristic firmness he dc
clined to do anything of the sort. ''Non
of them would lend me 10 cents if l wa
actually in need of it, was his answe
'swny should expect them to lend me SO
000ni So he fought through the crisis @
his own resources and came out all RICH
The gang Immediately focked bac
TO his side, but he sent them about the
business in short order. Mr. Poole hs
written plays and songs enough to fill
green-roOm. He is living quietly now dow
at Sheepshead Bay on What he saved fro
long and successful theatrical career. T
would have 100000 more if during the la
three years of his professional activity /
had not bought and managed Poole
theatre in Eighth street, which has new,
been a success, and thereby hangs tai
Many years ago, when Poole was mel
lad, for he married very early in life the
was a little church called St. AIMS, stant
ing on the site of the building now calle
Poole's theatre The ceremony whiC
united the youthful and ambitious manag,
and the girl of his choice was performed
that church. Afterwards a matter
sentim ent towards the close of his profes
ional activity he bought the church al
turned it into theatre. 1t was largely
matter of sentiment with him, but II
theatre never paid, and there are,
course, a great many people who cou
never be convinced that its failing was dl
TO any other cause than that it had been
sacred editice.
NIGHTMARE FICTION.
For yomng woman whose exploits
sea and land made such stir in the wor
not five years ago, Nellie Bly, seems tC
surprising extent to have been lost frc
public view. / saw her yesterday on I
street smiling like a school girl and e.
IDENTIFY in good health and spirits. She isl
married yet, but is and has been for u
years doing the most serious and by far Z
most lucrative work of her life. Miss Coo
rRne doesn't look over twenty one
twenty-five If so much, and since her r
urement from daily journalism of the sc
satinnal variety, she has been at work und
a three years contract with Norman
Munro, the young and successful publisht
who is himself decidedly interesting D,
sonage in New York life. In return fol-
salary of 1000, which Mr.. Munro pa
her with great regularity, and with a 20
grace BESIDES Nellie writes serial tales (
his Family Story Paper. They are not of
high an order of excellence by any mea
as the young woman is capable of, but tn
seem TO delight the several hundred tho
sand people who read Mr. Munro's week