The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1896-08-04

was told of Nero, not because they were
true, but to show what kind of man
Stetson was.
The stories which it was thought
proper to fix upon John Stetson were
those which exhibited any broad, COM
prehensive and picturesque ignorance.
He was an ignorant man no doubt-ig-
norant enough, perhaps, to say all the
things that it was ever said that he
said, but the chances are that he did
not say them all But the stories are
none the worse for that. Years ago
Sophocles' "Gdipus Tyrannus" was
played by the students Of Harvard col
lege and excited great comment through
out the country. It was discussed one
evening at q dinner at which Stetson
was present, and he cheered the COM
pany by announcing that he had con-
tracted with Sophocles for the writing
Of a new play to be produced by him
the following season.
This story belongs in the same class
as q somewhat more elaborate one.
Stetson once took possession of new
theater and discovered in the lobby q
picture that did not meet his artistic
taste. Take that picture down" he
said.
but, Mr.. Stetson,' somebody re.
monstrated, ''that picture was painted
by Michael Angelo. "
Michael whoP" said Stetson.
Michael Angelo.
"Well, take it down. . said Stetson,
land discharge Angelo. / won't have
any Of these foreign scene painters
around my theater; I'm going to en-
ploy Americans.
This so amused those who heard il
that tl.ey at once told the incident tc
friends Of Stetson and themselves, and
among them was Jack Haverly, the
famous negro minstrel manager Hav-
erly did not laugh when he heard it,
but simply looked puzzled He thought
for few moments, and then faint
smile came into his face, and he said,
"Oh, yes, / see; there ain Il no such per-
son as Michael AngeloI'
This answer was thought good enough
to take back to Stetson, who, it was as
sumed. must have taken pains In the
meantime to inform himself of the his
tory Of art sufficiently to understand it.
4. What do you think, Stetson2' said his
friend I'VE have told Jack Haverly
what you said about Michael Angelo,
and he said, oh, see; there amt nc
such person as Michael Angelop"
lon h s1,A A1~ne,
moment and then received his own little
illumination as to the humor of the
thing. "Why, the ignorant old fool, !"
he said; "of course he ought to have
said, There isn't any such person as
Michael Angelo.
This story again recalls another with
similar touch in it. The conversation
once turned on a clever passage in W.
J. Florenoe's old play, THE Mighty
Dollar" in which Bardwell Sloat ex-
poses his ignorance by referring to a
hackman whom he had encountered in
Venice "Yes," said Stetson. that is
clever; Of course they don't have hacks
in Venice; it's such q slow place they
don't have anything but omnibuses and
mule carts. This fable found its way
into print again only few weeks be-
fore Mr.. Stetson's death.
"What do you think Of So-and sop
Stetson asked Of friend, naming one
Of the actors Of his company He meant
to ask what his friend thought of the
way the actor was playing the part in
which he was then engaged, but the
friend supposed that he meant to ask
what manner Of man he thought him.
So he answered, "He's well enough,
only he seems to me to be a little toe
pedantic "
This struck Stetson as a good word,
and he stored it up in his memory for
future use. A few days later, when he
met the actor, he said. II was in front
watching you last night and thought
you didn't play that part quite as pc
dantic as you usually do. I"
Sometimes Mr. Stetson's expressions
amounted to epigrams. 1t will be re-
membered that when Gilbert and Sulli-
vans 1.-The Gondoliers" was first done
in this country at the New Park theater.
now the Herald Square, it was dread
full failure. 1t was clearly and obvious
ly SO to anybody who saw any consid-
cradle part Of it. even if he were ordi-
narily bad judge of such things, and
Stetson was not bad judge. He had Sc
cured the rights to the opera for New
England, and he had paid good deal OF
money for them. He went to the New
Park ON the first night to see and hear
what his property looked and sounded
like. After the first act he strobe out into
the lobby and somebody heard him NUT
ter: Z" 'Gondoliersp' 'Gondoliers?' HIM
Gone dollars l'-New York Tribune