Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-21

field Of combat between rival volunteer fire
companies. The common headquarters Of the
honorable pugilistic profession was in Chatham
street near Spruce street, just opposite the City
Hall Park. 1t was a low groggery kept by the
famous prize fighter Of those halcyon hours,
Yankee Sullivan, he who vanquished
Hyer, Caunt and Secor. and finally
fell before the unapproachable powers
OF Mr.. Congressman Morrissey. The Noses
of the moment frequented the Sullivan Arms
and on sidewalk and in doorway proudly ex-
hibited their manly muscles to the eye of every
passer-by. Chanfrau's Nose was readily recog-
mzed as one of these knights Grant of Chatham
street and the Bowery-bold. staggering, reck-
iess-looking bruiser of the thoroughfaree, the
terror Of thieves. the champion of 1.-THE ladies'
and the last resort Of the light-fngered fra
ternity. THE Streets of New York." with Nose
and Sykes and Lac in the cast, proved popular
with the people and profitable indeed to the
treasury Of worthy Mr.. Mitchell and his queer
little unclassical Olympic.
We read how Thackeray's gentle heart was
moved to sympathy and sensitiveness at hear
ing the soft strains Of negro air whisted at the
OPERA between the acts. BY little urchin in
the gallery. and how affectingly he says Of it
that its music had true tenderness and deep
meaning for him, and how we love the genial
gentleman for the tears that then o'erbrimmed
his lids and trickled down his manly cheeks.
cHRIsrYs MINsrRELs.
The earliest band Of negro minstrels Of any
note, and they had great popularity, were the
famous Christy troupe at Mechanics Hall,
Broadway. That was in 1s45 or thereabouts
E. p. Christy was the gentlemsnly middle
man. George Christy was the original ''bones,"
Gould was the ''tamborinist." and very funny
aud plantation-like they had all learned to be.
Mr.. Gould. the celebrated guitarist, performed
exquisite solos upon that instrument thero
nightly. George Christy was really a comedian
of considerable talent and his witty savings be-
came common street property. Mention is
made of the "Christy MMstrels,' chiefly in
order to make special reference to the only
strictly characteristic musical composer that
America has yet had-the gifted author of 1.-The
Old Folks at Home None who have ever seen
that thin, smooth face. with dark. glowing ewes
and the broad. white brow fringed with bushy
hair: none who have since heard the tender.
affecting strains of his southern minstrelsy can
forget or cease to recall with national pride and
pleasure the name of Stephen C. Foster, our
gentle American musician. Was it MY Old
Kentucky Home, "Good Night" or .'Massa's IN
the Cold. Cold Ground" which SO moved the
kindly Thackeray to tears, We wonder!
THE LATE BILLY FLORENCE.
1t were supererogatory to make other than
general mention of such professionally absorbed
actors as Mr.. E. L. Davenport. Mr.. William
Wheatley. Mr.. George vendenhoff and Mr.
Thomas Hamblin. The genial, tender. humor-
however, merit many a remembrance and kind
allusion. Like Charles Dickens, Mr.. Florence
was very human, indeed His heart was
warm as his hand was generous nor was his
head unstocked with able brains. His range of
powers was very ample. From Obenreitxer to
Bdrd,ceH Stote he was finished in both comedy
and melodrama, as every theater-goer knows.
Nothing could exceed the pathos Of his imper-
sonation Of poor hunted-down, broken-hearted
Bob Briefly" in Tom Taylor's Ticket of Leave
Man, and his touching. natural performance
OF Zekiet HOmespun in the "Heir-at-Law," the
last part in which he ever appeared, is most
memorable. In farcical acting Flor
ence was only second to William Z.
Burton, and. wearing the identical clothing
which Mn Burton wore Capt. Cutie, Mr..
Florence gave a remarkably close copy of that
great comedians accomplished style. There
were other things, too. which reminded one
of Burton, besides the DRESS in Florences
playing. namely. broad burlesque, unctuous
exuberance of manner. absurd pomposity and
self-impOrtant bombast. In horid expression
both Burton and Florence belonged to the same
old school characteristic Of the comedy of
the early part OF the Century, and which but
few actors have the sense of humor or capacity
to follow at the present day.
AN OLD ENGRAVING.
In the New York Society Library is preserved
an old-fashioned engraving. musty and moldy
a benefit night at the old Park Theater, Mr..
Stephen Price, manager. in-the year 1926. Upon
the stage are seen the elder Mathews and Mrs.
Knight engaged in enacting some laughable
farce OF the early quarter of the century. In
the dress circle and in the pit (Which was then
the fashion, are distinguishable excellent por-
traits Of the habtual frequenters of the theater.
There are to be seen such society Gothamites
as Thomas Adds Emmett, James w. Gerard,
David Graham, ST., Gen. Bogardus, Washing
ton Irving, Gulian C. Verplank Mathew L.
Davis and Hugh Maxwell, and both the lady and
gentlemen members OF the families Of the
Swartwouts, Morrises Van Rensellaers, Clintons.
Roosevelts, Duyckincks. Ogdens and Others
The descendants of the Knickerbockers are we'll
represented. Longing in the vestibule of the
dress circle back of the boxes, are seen such
elegant exquisites az Andrew Hammersley,
Frank Cutting n. P. Willis, Bob Morris. Frank
Waddell. Prosper VI. Wetmore and Beau Rogers.
A small compact figure. scrupulously neat, with
white face, glittering black eyes and protruding
chin, scant-haired elderly man. is stern and
silent Col. Aaron Burr. That thoughtful-look-
ing ponderous gentleman. with bushy brows and
hair and gold-rimmed eyeglass is Chancellor
WalwOrth, the last chancellor Of the state of
New York. What a notable scene il is, and how
the old Knickerbocker names impress the sense
with memories of Geoffrey Crayon's immortal
history of New Amsterdam. And .'SalmaRundi"
is sketched in every line of the old print
One feels welcome rustling in the breast
when the dead leaves are stirred and the old
time sock and buskin are again laid bare to view
There are no better actors of today nor greater
favorites with our play-goers now than then.
On the whole. however. memories of the theater
may be heightened by the golden reflections of
young day dreams when life and hope are still
ahead and plain, commonplace reality has not
yet blurred or blunted the zest and faculty of
youthful zeal Be that as it NAV. past foot
lights and the faces once behind them will still
come back at grateful moments to haunt the
present, as it flies, with not unsightly images.
DAVID GRAHAM ADEE