The Washington herald., 1909-05-02
Manager Failed to Come anc
See the Lights"
PLAYED A PART BY HIMSELF
May Have Been Asleep. or May Have
Had a Lapse of sIemory-Audience
waited while the Musicians Per-
spired and Tuned Their Instru-
ments in DeEpair-A Sad Scene.

( Hotel last night tnal Jared tie Ciidla
deliers.
Joe Jefferson. when he was one OF our
best actors, excelled in the character OF
Rip Van winkle. Last night James W
M0rTisSey, a theatrical manager. took the
part without a cast, and he didn't wake
up in time to go 10 the Arlington and
| sec the pretty lights and big horns and
hddles and whatnot OF the musical ag
gregation that came all the way from
New York to play for him.
I Incidentally the musicians came TO
town to give a benefit performance. the
proceeds OF which were TO have swelled
the fund being raised 70 erect a monu-
ment of Joseph jefferson. in Central
Park. New York City.
A worthy Cause.
II was a worthy cause-heraIded
throughout the length and breadth OF
Washington. and If It had been pulled
or as advertised. the story would have
been good to tell
Mr. MorriSsey was enthusiastic over the
affair he talked much about It and In
spired enthusiasm wherever ne went. But
when the candles were lighted and
diamonds SDsrkled and musical instru-
ments were "plInked and pianked" into
tune. r8Ir. MOrrissey was a modern. thor
oughly up-to-date Rip. with trimmings.
Somewhere within the dark. dark re-
eesses OF the city Of Washington he slept
and moved and dreamed-such dreams
dreams that de1ed the noise OF street
cars. herdios. barking dogs, or quarreling
felines.
The audience was there with its good
chez. its smiles. its softly gloved panels
al ready 10 clap its approval OF the vari-
Gus numbers Of the programme. Mr.
MoTriSsey STAYED aawy The audience
yawned. got nervous the musicians re-
lentlessly bumped their instruments and
changed the strings. and then perspired
some and then some more
Scene n Sad One.
Il was one OF the saddest sciences ever
witnessed in this fair city. But SIR. Nor
rissey cared not. for was he not a.
Rip" with only himself 70 please or
blame OF chastise2 And through It all ran
the questions:
Why doesn't the show begin -
Has anybody seen Morrtsseys"
Then came the blow-the-hunk, the an
nouncement that the performance Of the
Julia Allen Company had been '1ndeh-
niteiy postponed" The programmes
which were stiH beng offered AZ the
door. announced a grand opera and mu-
steal performance. farrsnged by James
" AOrrisSey EisEn TO perpetaste the
memory and art ~ Joseph Jefferson"
Classic musical selections with we'll
known artists, who had come 20 Wash
ingtOn especially for the occasion. were
promised. Manager Morrissey, whose
long experience fn the theatrical bust
ness Inspired confidence in his ability 10
pull OF a benefit performance 10 per
lection. had been n Washington for a
week OF two planning the affair IN all
its details. Everything seemed 20 be go
ing along without a hitch.
Miss Julia Allen, who is the guest OF
Mrs. Clarence B. Rheem. at 1872 s street 1
northwest. consented 20 lend her name 10 /
an enterprise Of such laudable nature. {
On IN programme II was announced she I
was 20 sing a selection from Verdrs Ia /
Traviata," Una VOca POGO Ia from /
R0ssinrs Barber Of ServiIe," and
Ar6itt's Sc Serau Rose"
Had Planned TO Sing.
John Dunsmure. basso. formerly with /
the Bostonians, was 10 sing several classic /
selections. and William T. Carleton. barry |
tone. was 20 give an equal number OF 4
solos. Miss F. Ethel Tozier. a music I
teacher at 31I7 Eighteenth street, had /.
been engaged as pianist
The large ballroom OF the Arlington .
had been decorated for the occasion. /
Shortly before O'Clock Il was lighted up 4
In all its briIliancy. and the doors thrown 4
open wide to receive the crowds. which /
usually attend the functions given in It. I
The beuboys and other attendants Of the 4
hotel opened up the cloak rooms and were
concentrating the tips they
were 70 earn from the crowds Of society
folk expected 10 attend the performance.
Earlier In the afternoon Mr. Dunsmure
and Mr. Carleton drove up from Union
Station and registered from New York
seemed prOpitious and prom
sed a most successful performance. It Z
looked as II Manager MOrr;ssey was go
ing 10 duplicate his successes at Palm
Beach and Madison Square Garden.
Several Of the members Of the cast
looked for Mr.. MorTissey to have q word
with him before the performance started.
and incidentally to offer him few antici-
oGtOry congratulations on the good work
he had done But Mr.. MOrrissey could
not be found Inquiry. at first merely
nquisitive and finally anxious. developed
The fact that Mr.. Morrissey was seen
around the hotel several times in the
afternoon. but could not be found about
.he tine the performance was to begin.
AS the manager is quite an essential
person at the opening performance, his
absence caused some comment and con-
,ern among the members Of the cast. but
IL the hour arrived for the beginning
" the performance the absence OF Man
lger Morrissey sank into insignifcance.
4 performance with q manager is en-
,arrassing. but a show without an audi
.rce Is impossible
Those Not Present.
Among those who were not present, ,
,ut had been advertised as having signi-
led their intention OF attending the per
ormance. were ". Bourke Cochran. Lew
?. Morton, Cornelius n. Bliss, John D. /,
'rimrnins, William c. Muschenheim.
chen D. Jordon, NJ BUR- Wright. Eugene
L. O'NeiI. J. B. Martin. and numerous
ther members Of the board of directors
I the Joseph Jefferson Monument Asso-
Istion.
One Of the strangest things about the
ntire affair is that many tickets To the
erformanee were sold at $ each. and vet
heir holders failed to put in an appear :
nee.