The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-03
MAGGIE ClIhE'S CHAIR.
A Historic Piece of Furniture in
the Press Club.

Up in the Press club rooms on Woybosset
street, is an easy chair in which drowsy
members frequently find repose.
| 1t is called Maggie Ciine's chair for the
robust Irish comic singer used TO rest in 1t
before and after her efforts on the Theater
Comique stage eight or nine years
| ago. 1t stood In the theater's
Office corner upholstered with leather cal
| culated TO Withstand the wear and tear OF
| much sitting and in it Marguerite often
sat and held receptions To sports about
| town and frequenters OF the "comique"
| Those were days when Maggie's salary
was about $50 week, II tong way short OF
| the $500 she now demands for her services.
She was younger then and more
| blithe. And she knew how whisky
tasted too, as some OF her admirers
can testify to at the present time.
Well, this hasn't much to do with Mag
| gies chair. 1t is prettily upholstered
now and il is always inviting as the clubs
steward can substantate by "afiidavits"
IL necessary. On that Friday night OF
| Feb. II, 1888, when fire licked up the par
lor scene, the kitchen scene, the street
scene, the fairy grotto, and made mess
of the stage generally, then foraged on
| the folding chairs and made sieve
| of the tobacco saturated gallery,
| Maggies chair was rescued from the cor
ner just as n flash OF flame darted i'll and
cleaned up about all else there Was III the
| office. The next day Manager John ID.
Hopkins gave the chair to the Press club.
lie had to give it to somebody with plenty
OF space, because it was large and storage
| room was expensive at that time. That is
how it came into possession OF the jolliest
| club in town.
Seeing Maggie in the Providence Opera
house last evening brought to mind the
history of the chair and an ex-president
OF the club and member OF THE News staff
called on the now famous character singer
in her fifth floor suite of rooms looking
| south from the Narragansett hotel.
Marguerite remarked that IL was a great
vista, the hospital at the left, Oneyville
to the right and the Athletic clubs new
| building in the foreground. She was
/ somewhat interested in Olneyville be-
cause she has a brother living in that
devastated region.
oh, yes; she remembered the chair
| very well and remarked that times have
| changed. So has Maggie. She is stouter
| and more sedate, and association with
! different persons has Impaired to her a
certain kind Of reserve, making her un-
familiar to "Rialto" frequenters
in days of yorc. She says
she is more toney now and in it for what
! she can get to lay by for harder times. A
! good deal harder than they are now al
though that seems unnecessary as but few
theatrical ventures are profitable"
| "None OF 'em are making money now.
| They want me to star next season, but
| guess I'll stick to big salary aud let the
/ manager worry"
I Is, she would fihe tu sit in the old
chair once more" And Maggie visited
! the Press club with THE News
man and had something from the
| sideboard, real natural like, while she sat
in the old familiar place and remarked
| that she liked Mary Anderson, actor
! Willard, Dick Mansfield, and hated fhrce
| comedy.
Hamet's" played out and will be tn
| the young folks get old fifty years
from now. They want something lively
| and something they don't SEQ every day.
Perhaps that's the reason why I'm
a wonder. There are altogether too many
| theater, in this city, now, hen SO many
are out OF work, don't you think so? The
| place amt large enough for them all. pye
had offers TO go to Europe, but this coup-
| try Is good enough for me. like comfort
and there is as much of that sort OF thing
here as anywhere, but there's no knowing
how long it will last with the largo
amount OF foreigners coming to crowd us
out"
Shave another?" "No, thanks. This
chair is very comfortable, but I've got to
go to Olneyville to see that brother of
mine and must be back in time to sing
tonight. Good luck to the Press club and
goodby, old chair, and then Maggi. took
a green car.