The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-11

Instructions for Continuing His The
ater-His characteristics.

attE-niS tnAI1ctcE1slhcs.
NEW YORK, June 10.-Augustin Daily,
some few months ago. made his will. and in
this lengthy document, some sixteen pages,
It is understood left full directions in case
of his death for the continuance of Days
Theater in New York for the benefit of his
wife. The value of Mr.. Days estate is prob
ilematical- He was a man who spent money
f1avishly on theatrical productions and ac-
: cumulated vast quantities Of rich furniture
and bric-a-brae. He had three storage
places filed with these goods. One item
Falone on his list OF stored goods covers
ksome hundred suites of rare old furniture.
He had quantities of armor, and in the
foyer OF his theater hang paintings for
which he gave over $4,000. At times he had
heavy dramatic losses, but of late had been
doing a profitable business.
OF the many actors and actresses whom
Mr.. DAILY introduced to New York may be
mentioned. besides Miss Ada Rehan, Miss
Clara Morris. Miss Fanny Davenport. Miss
Sara Jewett, Miss Edith Kingdom (Mrs.
George Could and Mrs. John Drew. Mrs.
Scott-Slddons and Mr.. z. L. Davenport, too,
played under his management, and Mr.. VIII
liam 1errfsS made a starring tour or Amer
lea under his direction.
VIII us DroeneL, Juuss Daiyt Eumdn
the founder OF the Players Club. in this
city, and took the liveliest interest in the
welfare Of that institution. He was a men,
Der OF the Catholic Church, and he was
accustomed to lend his theater and his COM
pany annually for benefits for various re-
ligious charities and institutions.
Mr.. Days father was Capt. Denis DAILY,
OF Ireland. who had settled at Plymouth,
another. who is stin living in this city, was
Elizabeth Therese Duffey, a native ef Mont
ego Bay. Jamaica, W. l., the daughtes OF
an officer in the English army.
Hillary Bell. critic OF the New York Press,
writing OF his old friend Augustin Daiy.
fore any OF its employees arrived and seldom
left II before midnight. He had an inSatia-
sble appetite not only for hard work but for
iall the details of work. He decorated the
famous foyer OF Days Theater literally with
his own hands. and it was an almost in
furniture on the stage for each scene. He
had two offices, one in front or the house,
the other at the rear of the stage, each a
wilderness of art and literature. He neither
smoked nor drank. although on sociable oc-
easions he might sip a glass of wine and
pictures, books and the drama. He pos
eessed a small gallery OF Hogarths.
Reynoldses and Lawrences that will bring
probably 10000 under the hammer. His coll
lection OF old prints is valuable and his
library of religious and dramatic works
should sell for a handsome sum. His life
was insured in several of our great com
panies. He owned his home and his lease
of DAYS has still sixteen years 10 run. The
latter should be an asset or some value, for
his theater, IN addition 10 being centrally
located has the lowest rental of any first
class playhouse in town. He made money
and spent il literally. Certain suites of fur
niture which he purchased for his old COM
edy revivals are now priceless and his tapes
value. In addition to these material factors
or wealth he possessed several hundred
plays that have never been produced. Some
of them may now see the fOotlights and
thereby swell the volume of his estate.
Augustin DAILY was OF a highly nervous
temperament IL was this inheritance which
led to the gastric troubles that were the in
direct cause of his death. He lived on his
nervous force rather than proper nutriment
for Ii. and never allowed the pleasures or
the table to interfere with the work which
he had set out 70 accomplish. Indigestion
patience he cultivated q cold demeanor.
beneath this assumed mantle OF severity
lay a kindly heart and a magnetic DISPOSE
tion. which enabled those who enjoyed his
friendship To forget its occasional Quickness
OF temper. He was a man of strong likes
and dislikeS, but he never changed the lat
ter, while the former were subject to tenn
porary ciOuding. Many folk who did not
know AuguStin DAILY had intense dislike for
him. but those who were acquainted with
the full value of his character continued
through all his moods to hold him in esteem.
Efs actors were loyal 10 him in respect,
II not in conduct, for even after their de-
fection from his company they remained
eloquent in tributes to his quality. He was
earnest I'm everything he undertook, and
even his failures had the element Of pathos
Quarrels he had OF intensity. for the fact
that he started life as a newspaper man
did not change his opinion that newspaper
men should stand by his theater through
thick and thin The Tribune. Times and
Evening Post were obedienr 10 his require
nients in this respect. but the other paper
were often in open warfare with the man
ager. He took curious ways OF fightine
these critics, sometimes by cutting down
or removing the advertisement of his thea
ter from their journals. sometimes by print
ing scOrnful squibs about notice writers
in his bills OF the play. sometimes by rob-
hing them Of their familiar chairs and put
ting the critics into the back rows of his
p<rquette. The latter means OF retaliation
was more irritating than all the rest. yet
most Of the newspaper men took IL good
humoredly. remarking TO each other on first
nights: 4 see that we have been bad.
Well. this time Ifmean TO be good. and then
maybe DAILY will put me up in front with
Winter and Dithmar." Mr.. Days chief
q<arrels were with Fyles OF the Sun and
Melfzer. then OF the Herald AT one time
he refused 70 send any tickets whatsoever
10 the Herald critic. and on many occasions
leltzer. denied admittance on the first floor,
climbed 10 the family circle. FOR which he
had secretly bought a ticket, and secured
new material for an assault on the LAZY
productions When Melfzer left the Herald
anfable relations were at once resumed be-
tween that Journal and Days: but the pipe
Ct De1ce WAS never smoked By the manager
- -. Er4n man Afv1l<f1U DAILY H@1. and