The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-21

your purse. James O'Neill, the elder
Salvini, Nine. Modjeska, Cora Urquhart
Potter, Kyrle Bellew, Ida Vernon, and
hosts OF stage people remember well the
coarse and often brutal conduct which
characterized Stetson's domination of a
stage rehearsal. And yet he was marvel
ously correct In judging OF a production
or a player. Sometimes, OF course, he
erred. For instance:
When Stetson bought the rights to pro-
duce Zola's "Therese Raquin" in this
country and arranged with Cora Potter
and Kyrle Bellew for the leading roles, he
did not anticipate the sensational recep-
tion that drama got. On its initial per-
formance at the Globe Theater. Boston,
I'm the fall OF 1892, gallant gathering,
including swell desdhesds, was present.
John Stelson and his wife occupied the
stage box. Mrs. Stetsop, fresh from an
productions of Worth and Virot, turned
thumbs down on the performance. Mrs.
Stetson, superbly gowned, could see moth
ing in Cora Potter's acting, Zola's lines,
or the cheap costuming of the actors.
That night before the close OF the per-
formance Stetson strode from his box,
accosted two Of his managers, one OF whom
..Close the damn house. Hear mef It's
full OF rats. This piece is too vile for my
theater. Change the bill or shut up the
joint"
Remonstrance was vain. The million
aire managers judgment was echoed by
that of three cronies, one q medical speci-
aiist, one saloon keeper in Stetson's
employ. and the third gambler who
couldn't see beyond the curtain line. The
bill was changed, The Potter Bellew en-
gagement looked like q failure, but the
two managers referred to, tacitly agreed
with StetsoD, for their own purposes.
Several letters attecking the motive of
"Therese" appeared In Boston papers. A
writer OF erratic novels deplored the de-
secration of the Stetsonian stpge, and one
night Manager Ariel Barney was startled
by receiving orders from Stetson to an
nounce "Therese" for q farewell week as
a"vindication OF the policy OF the family
Kyrle Bellew elevated his head, Barney
and Stetson's local manager kept quiet,
but billed the reopening heavily. The
result was a Sl760 house and a week to
receipts of $4,000 Stetson always said
that the result was as stroke of business
judgment on his part. He never said
"Rats" again in the presence OF the two
managers.
The grufi old fellow regarded all
comers with suspicion. To newspaper
man temployed as his business manager,
Stetson once said:
"I suppose every damned man and 10y
In this house Is thief. q hose who
haven't stolen from me will, IL you give
'em chance. Look on every one as q
crook until you find out he's honest"
Yet the eccentric money maker bad in
his employ men so faithful that no amount
of the coalsest abuse and vituperation
from their employer could make them
careless as to his interests: He knew this
and in way showed his appreciation.
From his lonely Back Bay mansion, John
could and did communicate each morn
ing by telephone with his theater, his
show printing Office, his stock brokerage
concern, his real estate bureau, his mer-
camille houses, his stable and his saloon
(the latter run under the ostensble man
agement OF one OF Stetson's proteges).
This was bis style;
1890 q. m.-Stetson at the 'pbone-Neet
me at the theater in half an hour. Sure.
Bring everything with you. / want to
settle all accounts. See that all hands are
there. IL not thereli be trouble.
At those morning sessions In the pri-
vate offices of the old Globe Theater, an
apartment filed with romantic memories
antedating Stetson's entrance into matri-
mony, men were gathered, who Danddled
daily thousands upon thousands of dol
lars of suspicious Stetson's funds. One
would tell how the rents OF North End
resorts were coming in. and how sugar
other would give the figures of business
and profits of the big Stetson pawn chops,
somotimes- patr cnized by people. of Beacon
Hill; third.would report the outstand-
ing claims OF the show printing house,
and advise squeezing some struggling
Snowman in debt, while another would
report purchases of'or loans upon Boston
real estate. The local manager of the
theater would state his case. II the attrac-
tion then running was on big sharing
terms, and playing to big money, Stetson
invariably growled. IL the. week looked
like q loser for both house and attraction,
the old man gruffly said:
.Teach 'em better. Good. Serves 'em
right. They'll 20 10 some other house
next time.
stetson was high liver, but not at
home. AT the hotels around Boston's
business center his patronage was valued.
He rarely drank to excess during the
day. He would transact huge volume
of varied business, sit through show,
suggest changes, sign contracts, dictate a
dozen letters or dispatches, and then,
when the curtain rang down. old John,
, to quote MIN, "opened up."
'1've no use for 'ginner," he said,
"but the man who can't do big days