New-York tribune., 1910-12-19
.FR|ARS KID Mr.. HARRIS
Veteran Theatrical Manager Butt
Of Jokes at Dinner.
WAS GUEST OF HONOR, TOO
Well Known Thespians, However,
Mingle Their Jests with
Praise,

When man subjects himself to being
honored at the hands of the FIiars he
needs a steel corseIet to repei the jabs Of
his 'Fkidders." or so william Harris, the
veteran theatrical manager, decided at the
dinner given for him with true monastic
munifcence at the Hotel Astor last night.
But Mr. Harris's sense OF hurI1or was equal
To that Of the other speakers and the large
audience. and he had as good time at
his own expense, in every sense but the
monetary, as did the hundreds of Others
for whose edifcation ne was made the butt
of countless jokes. For these were but foils
to the expressions OF esteem which. when
all was said and done predominated-
The programme announced that Cohal
and Harris would appear. and IL was
thought that the team OF George NJ Cohan
and Samuel Harris was referred to. To
the surprise of ALL however, Jerry Cohan
and William Harris. the guest, carSe out
and sang some OF their oldtime songs.
Jerry. just as he was making his exit.
struck his head against projecting wing.
He soon appeared, though, and assured the
audience that he was all o. K The guest
of honor then put the finishing touches on
the entertainment with his famous cigar
stunt
Almost every theatrical manager play
bread with what Rennold Wolf proclaimed
the Sarah Bernhardt of theatrical manag-
ers.- They said he was sixty-seven years
old, but they called him the young father
of Henry B. Harris and william Harris,
jr-, both Of whom joined in every laugh d.
rected at their youthful sire. More than
six hundred were seated on the floor Of
the hotels grand Ballroom while the
boxes above sprouted thickIy with the tenn
porarily inactive fair sex.
John ". Rumsey, the Friars' abbot, led
of the festive clatter with the remark. at
tributed to Henry Ward Beecher, that
Some men walk through life as the band
moves down the street, radiating pleasure"
MIR. Harris, he said. was one of these
men, and in the next breath ne turned
the guest Of the evening over to the
tender, though discriminating. mercies of
Marc Klaw-
Mr.. Klaw described himself as the ad-
vance agent of the show, and as such
responsible for its success But he con-
sidered his job easy, he said, for 'fBilT'
Harris could do his own lying His record
speaks for itself and, personally. 1 wish
it had the lockiaw.''
Then he launched into the significant
phases OF his hero's history, reminding the
diners that the subject of his remarks
was the originator of that famous trick
by which a burning cigar butt is doubled
back behind the teeth, only to- emerge later
at its proper angle. still dry and ready
for business. This accomplishment was
acquired in Cleveland.
after Cleveland the chronicler con-
tfnued, my information tells me that Har-
ris was next found with E B. Lent's New
York Circus. This was in 1873 and while
the salary he received was not muniicent,
according to his own account, his facility
in short changing" customers while sell
ing concert tickets enabled him TO save
s., 500 the first year. This was the nucleus
of an i'll gotten fortune He promptly sent
in his resignation to Mr.. Lent. who as
once more to become the proprietor of his
own show
And more Of the same, to which Mr. Har-
rfs replied when he got a chance that he
wanted to thank the Friars fer appointing
Mr.. Klaw as his advance agent. for the
latter was '+the biggest liar in the busf-
ness
But though the guest OF honor got
back at Marc KIaw, since he spoke I'M
nlediately after him, this advantage was
denied him when il came 70 4. I. Erian-
gers address The later started Of with
the innocent and highly conmendatory re-
mark:
81 could dispose Of all that could be said
os William Harris in this sentence: There
Sis a man
But ne added: And all men have their
faults" Whereupon he proceeded 70 emu
merate those few attributed to Mr.. Harris
which his partner had left untouched or
unfinished
Mr.. Welt did not conf1ne his illusions 20
Mr.. Harris. He included K1aw and En-
langer in a series OF remarks that raised
the roof. He spoke OF Mr.. Harris and MS
two accompIices. Messrs. klaw and Err
.anger. one for all and all for Al. Hayman.
And then he generaIized with the reflection
that 1.-The principal ingredients Of success
fui theatrical manager are q rclltOp desk,
4 diamond shirt stud and three new thea
.res-two in his hat and one in The Even
ng Journal"
Augustus Thomas had his fling, too.
whose beginning CT rag time ended in a
ninuet OF serious sentiment He ukened
Mr. Harris TO a white corpuscle, and the |
diners with one accord applauded with !
-ears in their eyes
Henry Arthur Jones. that example OF |
The blight produced by syndicate man |
agers," as Mr. Wolf described him. was
another contributor to the evenings hiIar- !
ty. After him came Clay NJ. Greene and /
Percy G. Williams And the whole was |!
topped off with entertainments provided by /
he imperial Russian Court BalaIaika Or !
,hestra. Miss Irene Franklin, Bert Levy. /
Laddie Cliff, and Irving Berlin and Ted !
Snyder.
FUNERAL OF "ELi PERKINS,"
The funeral of Melville Delaney Lam
lon better known as Eli Perkins," was /