The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-10
I'd JOHN STETSON.
licturesqus Figure in the
Amusement World.
= ,LLITERAcs AND vuLoARiry



- ended By death April -.
= started life with . shoestr!ng. ana
-. rot the sboessrlng yet" was Johns
.elv statement Of the fact that from
- poyerty he had risen 10 aRluence.
~ Hlspatches from Boston cay that the
ssse 81 this unusually shrcwd Yankee
IN AMOUNT to from S2.soo.00 10 ss.mo.0o
q Roy he drudged for . pittance- Grown
=. s,anbood. he allowed no sentimental con-
~earnttor to stand In the way Of his money
m1ting
rcInrIvs circles Of the Back bay In Bos-
- aver cot,oned to Stetson- After he
~ hecome IN devious ways the owner
n ~ ACCOUNTS IN q dozen Of Boston's
s..dIns financial institutions. and had TAX
= upfo himself q young and comeiy wife.
- from the szvdust arena. John made
/ 4 hroak into Back bay society. He reared
- NJ most commanding place Of Com
IGenvmlth avenue . row Of brown stone
8usts. On the corner lot the then solid
Gfisen Ut architect. builder and furnlzher
E1avs full sway.
fhsrs John stetson. once q doubie-cro1
|urtnteF. 81 one time the recipient OF rev.
~res from queer sources. and always .
nsn1 ~ arisfocracy. erected his man.
-. John sold the other houses IN tho
~ 10 eolid merchants. presumably sub
|anntiAl bankers. and other men OF appar-
~ mans But he maintained ~ q resi-
E6ace the palace which overiooks the plaza
|uands attention. Weavers Of carpets. &C.
6nsn Of furniture. carvers. decorators.
~ vsnders OF bric-a-brac got carte
|faachs when the Esetsonlan order went
ENffh TO ~ up 4 residence among the
nfue hIoods OF the Back bay
n that magnificent home. blum, homeiy
Linn 6tetson and his attractive wife, with
La chick or child. lived their lives until
- visitor most feared by the head Of the
Ehou0 made his appearance on Saturday
III ct tho hour when John Stetson usual
If opened q bottle" when down town.
Enuldsnts Of the Back bay. with few. very
~. exceptions, never darkened the doors
Ea the etetson mansion. Ex-0ov. Ames
|ns ons Of the few. Tho biggest dry goods
|nofchant IN Boston was another. In the
Hallway Of the 6tetson house stands a
|nanincent bronze. life-s.xed figure. 1.-THE
Dancing Girl" That was a gift 10 the
Ian Of few friends from ex-Gov. Ames.
A. enc time the bronze added attractive
|ness to the furnishings Of Q saloon which
|epntrsbuted to etetson's income.
Passing over Stetson's earlier career A.
Il drudge. an Office boy In the publication
|elhcs OF paper on which he subsequently
|lsid 3 mortgage. II In Interesting TO note
|3nk how this unique figure made his way
ID commercial and theatrica, enterprises.
IL hAs log been a saving In Boston:
IF John ste.son backs that scheme. !
|psnt slice Of it,
1tesson. after the war. ran . minstrel
|oAow. then got possession OF that old
|1me variety show house. the Adeiphi. In
|osstou. back OF the present emporium Of
Serbian. Marsh & Co. At the Adelphi.
|letson's abilities as driver Of men and
|osmen performers were first made known.
|Rcs. indeed. was the lot OF the performer
|eho went on at the Adeiphi and failed to
|coms UP 70 Manager Stetson's expecta-
|ecna Two weeks notice was not neces-
|nry IN those days. 1f the gallery or the
|cs shouted disapproval the alert Stetson
eoincided with the verdict. and he gave
To- order:
~pay that stin on damned quick and
Arow him out of the stage door,
fhen John got into the MANAGEMENT of
|@e Old Howard Atheneum. probably In its
~ enc OF the best paying variety houses
~ America. There he made his first big
|ncnsy A. . manager. II was early In the
va "Blg money for good turns" was
|etetsoa's motto. but no consideration for
|euhsequent ownership OF moro pretentious
|olayhouses. Including the Globe. Of Bos-
|esn. Is a matter OF history His manage
hent Of Booths theater and the Fifth Ave-
hue In New York. as well AZ other houses
4 amusement. r. equally well known. As
asrecuiator IN productions and as hacker
stars or companies no was wonderfully
ere~d. and In the main successful.
Leading men. first ladies. chorus girls.
eusscsl directors. and all associated with
- stage. stood. rs a rule, in terror Of the
ooston man. He had none OF that fine re-
eM for the artistic which IL supposed 20
nay some Of the latter day impressarios.
70 stetson. men and women on or about
Ne stage. especially N under his control,
eere cattle. devoid of sense, bercst of feel
~. and entitled to draw salaries rs thief
eixht get away with your purse. James
VNeili, the elder saivtnl. Nine. Modieska,
Cora Uruuhart Potter. Kyrle Beilew. Ida
isrison, and hosts of stage people. rsmem-
~ wei the coarse and often brutal con-
snes which characterized S,e;son's domi-
eafson Of stage rehearsal And yet he
vas snarvelously correct In Judging of
troduction or PLAYER. Sometimes. of
scarse. he erred. For instance:
When Stesson bought the rights 20 pro-
soee zola's '"rhercse Rsauin' in this coun-
" ana arranged with Cora Potter and
Ayrle Bellew for tn leading roles. he ala
~ anticipate the sensational reception
nat drama rot On its initial performance
= the Globe th-ater. Boston. IN the fan Of
~ gallant gathering. Including swell
ssesdhesds. was present. John Stetson and
n wife occupied the stage hox. Mrs Sses-
- fresh from an ocean voyage ana ar
ssred N the latest productions % Worth
~ N'rot. turned thumbs down on the per-
mmsnce, Mr.. Stetsnn. sure-Niv gownei.
an'd see nothing IN Cora Potter. acting.
sos's lines. or the chear costumirg Of the
se'ers That night. before the close Of the
Perlornance. Stetson strobe from his ScN.
sseos'ed two OF his managers. one Of whom
Is s ARIEL Rarney. ard SAID r-uyfy:
. .lose the Damn house. Hear me- Its
Al OF rats. This piece ~ too vile for my
Mint Wy
Rsrnonstrarce was vain. The million
= managers Judgment was echoed by
49, -, OF Three crcries. ore a medical sre-
-sst one ssiconkeerer IN S.etsnn's
10y. end tho third gambler who
~ s,.'ant see beyond the curtain line. Tho
~ vs. changed. The Potter Befiew en-
s]ssmens hooked Ike failure. but the
80 ~. msrar~f-s referred 20, facility agreed
- s'e'son. fer their own purposes Sew
s.s-. letters attacking the motive OF The
appeared In Boston papers A wri-
" eroiic novels der,ared the aesecra-
~ c' The Stetsontan stage. ard one night
xer Ariel Barney was startled BY
Ewing orders from sset~on 10 announce
Ansrese for a farewell week as q ''stn-
,.aucn or the policy ~ ,hh family thea
0t Boston" Cora Potter smiled Eyrle
.es elevated his head Barney ana St~t-
- ios>sl manager kept quiet hat hfffea
= reervning heavily. The result was a
- house and a week 90 receipts Of
sfe'-cn always sais that the result
~. AZ stroke % business Judgment on
= Psft. Tie rcVer said Pats" again IN
presence % the two managers.
ne rraN old fellow ressrsea All ccrrer>
~ - suspicion. To nesSpsNe- nan en-
ssI a. his business manager. Ssesson