The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-21
WHAT STETSON WAS.
A Most Picturesque Figure in the Amuse-
ment World.
"Born With a Shoestring," He Leaves
Millions to His Young Widow.

Probably the most picturesque figure in
theatrical affairs in this country was John
Stetson OF Boston, whose varied career
81 started life with shoestring, and
I've got the shoestring yet" was Johns
homely statement of the fact that from
diDgy poverty he had risen TO affiuence.
The dispatches from Boston say that the
estPte OF this unusually sbrewd Yankee
will amount TO from &, 900, 600 to 3,000,-
600. AS a boy he drudged for a pittance.
Grown to manhood, ,~he allowed no sehti-
mental consideration to stand in the way
Of his money getting.
The Brahmins of Beacon street and the
exclusive circles of the Back Bay In Bos-
ton never cottoned to StetsoD. After he
had become in devious ways the owner of
tat accounts in q dozen q. Boston's lead
ing financial institutions, and had taken
unto himself young ana comely wife,
fresh from the sawdust arena, John made
a break into Back Bay society. He reared
upon the most commanding place OF Com
monwtaith avenue row OF brown-stone
fronts. On the corner lot the then solid
citizen let architect, builder, and fur
nisber have full sway.
There John Stetson, once double-cross
sprinter, at one time the recipient of re-
venues from queer sources, and always q
sneerer at aristocracy, erected his man
sion. John sold the other houses in the
row to solid merchants, presumably sub
stantial bankers, and other men of appar-
ent means. But he maintained as a resi-
dence the palace which overlooks the
plaza on which the statue of Left Ericsson
commands attention. Weavers OF carpets,
designers or furniture, carvers, decora-
tors, and venders OF brio a-brac got carte
blanche when the Stetsonisn order went
forth to fit up residence among the blue
bloods OF the Back Bay.
In that magnificent nome, bluff, home
ly John Stetson and his attractive wife
without chick or child, lived their lives
until the visitor most feared by the head
of the house made his appearance on SAT-
urday last at the hour when John Stetson
usually "opened bottle" when down
town. Residents of the Back Bay, with
few, very few, exceptions, never dark
ened the doors of the Stetson mansion.
Ex-Governor Ames was one OF the few.
The biggest dry goods merchant in Bos-
ton was another. In the Hallway of the
stetson house stands magnificent
bronze, a life-size figure. "The Dane
ing Girl" That was a gift to the man
Of few friends from Ex-Governor Ames.
At one time the bronze added attractive
ness TO the furnishings of a saloon which
contributed to Stetson's income.
Passing over Stetsoh's earlier career as
a drudge, an Office boy in the publica-
quently held mortgage, 1t is interest
ing to note just how this unique figure
made his way in commercial and theatri-
cal enterprises. 1t has long been a saying
in Boston:
"if John Stetson backs that scheme,
want a slice of it,"
stetson, after the war, ran a minstrel
show; then got possession Of that old
time variety show house, the Adelphi,
in Boston, back of the present emporium
of Jordan, Marsh Il Co. At the Adelphi,
Stetson's abilities as a driver o; men and
women performers were first made
known. Woe, indeed was the lot of the
performer who went on past the Adelpi
and failed to come up to Manager Stet-
sons expectations. Two weeks notice
was not necessary In those days. il
the gallery or the pit shouted disspproval
the alert Stetson coincided with the ver-
dict, and he gave the order.
"Pay that stiff off damned quick and
throw him out of the stage door,"
Then John got into the management OF
the old Howard Athenaeum, probably In
its day one OF the best paying variety
houses in America. There he made his
first big money as a manager Ii was
early in the '70's. "Big money for good
turns was Stetson's motto, but no
pected from him. His subsequent owner
chip of more pretentious play bonses,
including the Glote of Boston, is a mat
ter of history. His management OF Booths
theater and the Fifth Avenue IN New
York, as well as other houses of amuse-
meni,. are equally we'll known. As a
specuIator in productions and as hacker
OF stars or comp anies he was wonderful
ly shrewd and in the main successful
Leading men, first ladies, chorus girls,
musical dire CT ors, and al associated with
the stage, stood, as rule. In terror OF the
Boston man. lie had none OF that fire
regard for the artistic which is supposed
TO sway some OF the latter day impress
sarios. To Stetson, men and women on
or about the stage, especially IL under his
control. were cattle, devoid of sense,
bereft OF feeling. and entitled to draw
salary as thief might get away with