Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-06
Candidate Sullivan IN watsrviIls.

John L. Sullivan. the ex-champion
pugtltst, would-be politician and all that,
was In this city all day Saturday and
Sunday. John was booked for appearance
at MIR. chaSe's opera house. together with
a vaudeville company. Now John had
never been here to any great extent ana
the management thought they saw a lot
of soft things here that could be induced
TO part with cold, everyday American
dollars for the purpose and perhaps
pleasure of seeing the man VINO mas
done SO much for his country and so little
Tor himself to use the language o. me
had experience with Watcrvile people
End he urged that the price Of admission
be dropped peg 1t came down TO %
and 70 cents and then we went IN in such
numbers that the theatre was filled.
Everybody went prepared to 'hotler
when John l.. appeared. The first part,
or opening scene was that of ship III
sea. with a little fun thrown IN, but
really for the purpose of introducing the
gentleman from Boston. After q season
of song and witty conversation, the CAP
tain of the ship asked the passengers II
they were aware of the fact that the
ship held distinguished passenger, ana
when the reply i'm the negative was made.
he told them that ii was no more or less
than John l.. Sullivan. OF course there
is demand for John, and the captain
steps back and sings out: Mr.. sullivan,
will you step this way a moments? Back
in the wings, or rather. perhaps, from
the vicinity of the forward cabin, comes
the answer in deep, gutteral tones; Just
as soon as | change my coat, captain,
and then the music started up nVely
tune. just as the circus bind does when
a fair equestrienne has been announced
as the next card on the programme.
Almost Immediately, Mr. Sullivan who
has of course. changed his coat, accord
ing to contract comes upon the stage and
clares straight in front at the audience.
rs much as to say: Here ] am. what do
you think of me?" AT once the audience
began the shouts and calls so peculiar to
the autocrats of the gallery. If we were
to pass an opinion regarding Mr.. Sulli-
vans physical condition. we would say
that he is simply immense. His immen-
sty is what totally units him for another
appearance in the ring and makes him
appear with about as much grace as Il
yoke of oxen, when he assumes the role
of an actor.
But John had a lew lines to say and he
said them well. just as well as though he
had been saying them all his life. He was
asked to sing and dance by the enthusi-
astic passengers. and when he said he
could do neither. they said: well, do
something" This was Johns cue. and he
sprang into the breach at once as follows:
We'll, ladies and gentlemen. ! have
boxed all the best men in the world and
| stand ready to do the same thing
again" Whoopecl WOW, but that was
just what the folks down in the pit and
up in the gallery We're waiting for. and
they set up a cheer that caused Mr. Chase
to gaze anxiously at the plastering that
for several years has threatened to de-
stroy human life. Then the curtain falls
ana hides from public view the bushes
of the hero of the evening.
But the people with John l.. are not to
be sneczed at, While John has that Bow
cry yank ut the riSht-hand corner of his
mouth when speaking. the rest of the
company devote the time allotted to them
to doing some marvellous work, and they
are stars for the most part. For instance.
when 'oceana'' came onto the stage Il
slight, frail little thing. everybody won
dercd what she could do. But she as
tonished them all with her wonderful
feats of balancing. the best ever seen
here. and she retired a favorite. Then
came 'Darmody." the club swingcr. If
anybody wants to see something greatly
superior in that line to anything that ever
appeared hercabout before, "Darmody'' is
the man that can produce it. To say his
work was wonderful is but half express
ing it. His hands appeared to be mag
nets and ii seemed to be impossible for
the clubs to get away from him. All the
specialticS were good and the entertain
ment was worth the money invested
The young lady who did the bag punch
ing act great and she showed up
well in the ring with her husband. who
had mis- hands full saving his face. Then
came John l.. again, with boxing part
ner. The big fellow gave his hitler oppo-
nent a few object lessons i'm the art of
Sclf-defence. or self destruction, and
capercd around the stage just as though
he expected the little man to throw a
bomb at him.
We did not interview John, because we
were afraid he would want to talk poll
tics and as we have but recently escaped
from siege of that kind and have no
particular interest in the mayoralty con-
test in Boston. refrained from giving
| John an opportunity to commit himself.