Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-10
GOSSIP OF GOTHAM.
THE WEATHER, MAYOR GRANT, AND
TAMMANv HALL DISCUSSED.


Nxw Yosx, July Elf there is more
vnoist. damp. mucRy section OF the world
outside OF the British Isles than this island
Of Manhsttao am not familiar with It. II
would really DO treat TO have three days
In New York city free from humidity. Be-
ginning with last February, we have had
succession Of rains. mists. and fogs which
would do credit 10 the upper end Of Scot
land. But we are sometimes favored with
one clear day, aud when that clear day ar
elves 1t IL the brightest. most bouyant,
most chaupagne-iike weather produced
on this continent. Speaking OF humidity.
WAS talking with Mayor Grant the other day
about his recent trip 10 Mexico in guest
Of health and recreation. The Mayor Is
troubled at times with a tendency to
granulated eyelids. He took trip in the
early spring 70 Mexico. After crossing the
&o Grande he says that he travelled
Through district OF country there for
day or two. IN which q drop OF rain had
not fallen IN something like three years.
Yhe whole country was parched and
burned to crisp. The heat was intolera-
bic. and yet was necessary TO close every
window and aperture OF the railway car to
shut out the alkaline dust. Az II was. the
dust made the car almost uncomfortable.
Vhe Mayor sad that he had to wear pair
Of green goggles over his ewes, not even
taking them of at night when he retired.
A. between general humidity and a coun-
Try of that peculiar aridity. certainly pre-
Ter the moist atmosphere.
Mayor Grant assures mo again that he
has nc idea Of accepting renomination
for mayor. He declares that he has had q
sufficiency OF politics. and he proposed
now TO attend TO his own business affairs
Tor awhile. Nobody seems to know what
Tammany Halls plans are IN connection
with the mayoralty. Through the benign
dispensation Of Messrs. Whitney, Grace
4 Co.. who are managing the reformatory
end of Mr.. Cleveland's campaign, Tam
many will have no Democratic opposition
on its municipal ticket this year. The
friends OF Mr.. Cleveland stood ready, IN
The event of Hills nomination for the
presidency, to make vigorous fight
against Tammany, and all the machinery
was set in motion tor O new Democratic
local organization. Now that MIR. Cleve-
land IS nominated Tammany's votes are
wanted for the ticket. and il will be
given tree field in municipal matters.
THE soLE BIT OF GLORY.
About the only bit of glory brought back
from the Chicago convention 10y the fol-
lowers OF Tsmmany Hall was that reflected
by Mr.. Bourke Cochran the orator. IL Is
claimed by his admirers that Mr.. Cockran's
speech in the convention nominating Hill
and protesting against Cleveland was
one OF the finest oratorical efforts
vouchsafed mankind since the days
of Demosthenes. Mr.. Cochran is GER
tiainly good speaker. lie has n fine
physique, pleasing manner. and lung
power which may be set down as A No. l.
But must confess that cannot recall the
fact that ever was illuminated intellec-
tually by one of his speeches. There is q
roar and "A cadence about his oratory that
suggests the gigantic Eolian harp. or the
summer winds blowing through emerald
groves. But Cochran does not seem to be
0 man of great ideas or great sincerity.
/ went one night TO the Academy OF
Music especially TO hear Mr.. Cochran
crate. The occasion was the ratification
of Mr. Cleveland's second nomination for
President The great theatre was packed
30 repletion. and the opportunity was a
great one for the orator who could fill
the remaining space with his voice.
This Mr.. Cochran did. / listened to
him with great interest, and at times
was fairly lifted out OF my char
by his ringing sentences and lofty
ciimaxes. The great audience roared and
the orator roared back. lie walked up
aud down the stage. and for more than
thirty minutes there seemed TO be no place
between the words, which came like bill
lows upon the seashore, in which even the
point OF a knife could have been inserted.
Such volubility, such command OF Ian
guage. / never heard. And vet when | got
outside the building could not recall
single phrase or novel suggestion of that
entire address.
When n man like Colonel Bob Ingersoll
talks for five minutes he either furnishes
an epigram or phrase that one feels like
recalling. Mr.. Cochran IL not that kind
of an orator. At the same time he is
most useful man 10 Tammany Hall. He
can make four speeches q night for forty
nights If necessary. and by the sheer force
OF dvnamics is able to weld and fuse crowds
OF people who happen to think as he does.
But vohemence has never yet taken the
place of persuasion IN oratory. Mr.. Cock
ran IL now very rich man. His connec-
tion with Iammany Hall secures him an
enormous amount of business before our
courts here, which he seems to have turned
10 good profit. Every time big corpora
tion gets into trouble or needs assistance
Mr.. Cochran is likely to be called in. He
deserves great credit for the success he has
achieved. Ten or twelve wears ago he was
poor man. apparently without future.
living chiefly by the favor of Tammany
Hall. He corrected his habits, married
happily. and Is to-day a most conspicuous
Example OF what man can do in this
eountry OF great opportunities who has
fair share of ability and master will.
CHEATING SPECTATORS MUST GO.
trust that Mr.. A. NJ. Palmer. who is the
acknowledged head of the dramatic man.
hger,al profession IN this country, will
make 1T his business one of these days to
look after the cheating spectators who
are bringing the dramatic profession into
such disrepute. We have here in New
York class of irresponsible and money
less men who are ready at any and oil
times to organize theatrical ventures pre-
cisely az they would buy pool on horse
race These fellows secure farce-comedy
or q burlesque, find a confdipg citizen
with few hundred dollars. engage num-
Der of credulous actors and chorus girls,
and are ready for business. II tho public
takes kindly 10 the venture, well and good. |
II not, the poor devils of the company
may shift for themselves. We had q strik-
ing example of this recently If the produc-
ton of the piece known as King kaliko."
There was neither money nor brains be-
bind this venture. and yet a lot of worthy
professional people were induced to give
five weeks Of their time to rehearsals with
out pay. They played one week without sal
airy. when the dismal enterprise came to an
end. Thus it may be said that for six weeks
these dramatic specula had the services
of nearly 100 people for nothing. Thrown
out of employment at time when no pro.
fessional work could be found. the wrong
50 these artists NAV be we'll imagined
Sooner or later a number of them will find
their way to MIR. Palmer's actors fund for
relief. IL occurs to me that II some
measures could be taken to prevent
these bald-faced swindles and pro-
tect professional dupes Mr.. Palmer
would thereby protect the fund which
IL placed in the hands of his organization
for the relief of INDECENT and distressed
members OF the dramatic profession. Not
q season passes that does not witness the
starting from this point of at least fifteen
or twenty companies OF entertainers which
have behind them nothing but sheer
speculation and chance. Nine out OF
ten Of them meet with disaster. and
the local managers throughout the
country are taxed 10 help the. poor,
stranded performers back to their homes
OF course. 90 long as professional people
are necessitous and pinchbeck managers
are willing to take chances. so long this
abuse Will continue in degree. But a lit
tie organization among the reputable
managers Of the country might have the |
eject of reducing the abuseto minimum,
and the field is ors which, am sure. in
n. -.