The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-25
FOR JOSEPH HOLLAND, $4,000
BENEFIT AT THE METROPOLITAN
A GREAT SUCCESS.

Net Even the Detan Cop Escaped the
WIIes OF the Actresses VINO Sold Pro.
Erammes and F1OWers-S7SO for
Pink-Letter From Joe Jefferson.
There was only one thing TO be- com
pared to Joseph Hollands benefit at the
Metropolitan Opera House yesterday aftcr-
boon, said the old timers. That was Lester
Wallack's benefit away back In tho 's)s,
When they came 20 count the returns after
Il was over II was discovered that even
Lester wallack's benefit had been outdone,
IN money At least. for they handed over
20 Mr.. Wallaok matter Of 10000, while
bir. Holland win receive. after all expenses
are paid, at least $4,000.
u was great show on the stage; but
the greatest show, after all, was going
on IN the lobbies-a struggle 10 the death
between 100 flower and programme and
candy girls, trained in all the lures Of stage
craft and dressed like the glories OF the dawn,
and the money Of the audience. The women
always won One step through the door.
and the visitor vas surrounded by half
the beauty Of the Rialto. Another step,
and they were upon him like cabmen at
. country station.
Paula Desmond Of the Low Fields com
pany thought that she did pretty well when
she held up Victor Herbert for the first
canAtion on her tray at the rate OF $3.50,
The box ofhoe confirmed this report, and
Mr.. Herbert, when asked about IL, showed
the carnation for proof. But Hilda Spong
did a better job from the standpoint Of
artistic finish She held up a cop.
Detective Sergeant Fogarty was there in
plain Clothes keeping order. Az he didn't
carry programme or wear Carnatlon, ne
was nailed frequently.
Il am the offcer here" Fogarty always
responded in his most dignifed and Official
voice. That always stopped them until
Miss Spong came along
wei, what II you are1r said Miss SpOng,
smiling her sweetest. That doesn't pre-
vent you from helping Fogarty's hand
travelled automatically toward his pocket;
then, as Miss Spong began TO pin a carna-
tion In his buttonhole, ne got control OF his
muscles and his hand stopped.
"Plesse!' said Miss Spong. Well, say,
II was all over with Fogarty. He had the
oarnation and she had his 81.
The show was going along on the stage
all the time. It ran its course from half
past 20 nearly g. and It certainly was what
the advertisements called tan aggrega-
ton Of stars. After a cast from the lambs
Club had burlesqued The Music Master,
Mrs. Leslie Carter did her part by making
the FIRST speech Of her life. ana readlng
this litter from Joseph Jefferson to his
RodsOn, Joseph houanu.
TIE RBEFE.
PALM BEACH. Fla. March 10, 1905.
TO Mr.. Joseph Jefferson Hoiigad.
My DEAR JoE-As have known you from
the hour Of your birth up 70 the present time.
it is natural that | should feel deeply inter-
ested on the occasion Of this most suspicious
Your father and we're friends for forty
years. He was the meTriest soul ever knew,
and the most inveterate practical joker Of 1
his time. ] now recall an instance when gold 7
Ash we're frst introduced in one Of the public /
fountains in New York. With many others /
your father appeared in the crowd in full
sporting costume-high boots. straw hat
and basket, carrying hing rod and camp.
down and began to angle for the goldfish:
The bystanders vigorously remonstrated
dumb. policeman was sent for and your /
father tried the same deaf and dumb game
with him. but he was threatened with, being
locked up, whereuDon the old gentleman
recovered his speech and told the officer that
he would give him the means 10 lock him
Of which was a large bunch Of keys, The
crowd, who by this time had reco gnized the
iavorlte eomeaian, r1aTfo WIN lapSnter ana
need not say was dumfounded
was requested by your parents to ,oficiate
or course, / consented ! met them at the
church, your mother In tears, your father
wreSthed y smiles; you re0eie S,, az the ceTe
rounded by enough stiffiy staTched frils
and ruhies TO make any young one low spirited.
Il Of course, promised TO bring you up in
the way YOU should go. and the way you did
20 was tremendous for though brought you
up could never take you down
Our next domestic relations were OF
more solemn character. telegram from /
your father I fastened 70 town, and taking
your brother with me repaired 20 the church /
your mother attended. and asked the minister .
II the funeral could take place from his church, /
he consented. but when | meutio ned that I
Mr.. Holland Yves an actor. D." withdrew his .
consent But, he remarked there is q /
little church around the corner where you !
might get the pastor to bury your friend.
20 which J. replied, III that is so, then God /
bless the little Churdl around the corner. [
And 7 am gad 10 say that it has kept its |
baptismal appelaton TO this day, and ] am ]
glad TO know that in the same year was god 1
father 10 yourself and Christeued the Little I
Church Around the Corner.
And now, my dear Joe, ! feel II must be
gratifying for you 10 know that though
through your Illness You have fallen by the
wayside IL has been from no fault Of your own.
and that thousands Of eager hands have
and comfort, and believe me, no one rejoices
In this more than your, ahectionate godfather.
JOSEPH JEFFERSON.
William Gillette, assisted by Ethel Barry
more and others, performed a burlesque
on bis own sherlock Holmes" He didn't
say a word from rise 90 fall Of the curtain,
which was part Of the burlesque Miss
Barrymore went out Of her class 70 play
the part Of a lunatic. Joe Weber's stock
company presented all Of The College
Widower,r with the football team from
'Strongheart' helping out in the last scene.
OF the $4,000 realized, the industrious
flower, candy and programme girls turned
over about s. 900.