davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1911-04-16

some forty wears ago q bag hearty. lik-
aoie Young fellow drove horse car IN
Indianapolis. He was on the night shift.
One night there came one Of those binding
Storms n sleet and snow that almost
buned .le tracks. and before me driver
realized 10. when he was rounding curve,
the car was of the rails and had gone
two or three blocks beyond the end Of
the track slipping along on the ice.
Failure met his repeated efforts to pull
the car back so he decided to leave II
whore 81 was. unhitched the horses and
drove them back TO the barn.
Next day the superintendent called him.
Young fellow" he said, what 90 you
mean? Haven't YOU any more sense than
10 drive a car of the tracks and then leave
81 IN the Streets"
The reply came with no hesitation. Why
hats in the rules for drivers and conduc-
tors"
I'm the rules for drivers and conduc-
tors'' ragged the superintendent. Where
I'd Ike 10 know"
Don't you remember" replied the suaYe
offender eft SAYS. Always be polite to pas
sengers Don't you remember what KIND
OF night las. night was? Well, there was
4 nice old lady on my car VINO didn't have
any umbrella She lived two blocks from
mat curve. SO ] drove her home
That driver was Tom l.. Johnson the s.
cent fare Mayor Of Cleveland whose pictu-
rescue career was ended last week
This nonchalance OF his youth remained
with him. and was Illustrated in after years
Wien ON one occasion he was threatened
with contempt OF court FOR his answer
IN judicial proceeding
What is your occupation" he was askeu'
monOpOlst." was the reply, ana ne
refused absolutely 10 modify that answer
An incident in Congress illustrates his
Tactlcal application Of the motto so often
iace.olsly attributed to him, DC as
'ay. nor az ] do
trust LAWYER. member Of the House
sad % debate that Congressman Johnson
ih view Of his record. ought 10 vote for the
measures he denounced as fsvoring monop-
oics
Johnson promptly retorted As busi-
ness man ! am willing 10 take advantage
o. an tie monopoly laws YOU pass. As a
member Of Congress I will not help you
10 pass them and / will try 10 force you
70 repes them
Ohio politicians are still talking about the
va Johnson's style Of oratory wound dp
Theodore T. Burton back In 1880. when the
after was Representative from the 2lst
District and Johnson had JUST been elected
20 Congress They held joint debate. and
every one expected walkoyer for the old
~ Congressman, who was a trained speak
New-York tribune., 1911-04-16

East is ruined in the night stands IN
tn large cities, however. It will outlast
the twenty-year-term have spoken or
and will continue TO be popular as Ions "a
Uncle Toms Cabin ! believe IN my re-
cent production. Mother as strongly as
believed in Way Down East and am
having an experience with n somewhat
similar 10 the one with Way Down
East
Another Brady production that started lis
career 70 almost empty benches and wound
up in blaze Of glory and profit was The
Man OF the Hour" Broadhursts political
drama had been declined ty one OF the
keenest Broadway managers. The Brady
optimism about 1t was pooh-poohed and
the Brady plan OF campaign ridlculed. lie
made a start with It on the road. then
brought lt into Philadelphia and induced
tie manager OF New York playhouse to
run down with him 20 the Quaker city
and look IL over. with view 10 a metro
politan booking
why. Brady. you're crazy" said the Dig
mosul after sitting out the play New
Workers don't want that political stuff
No. sir, YOU can't put ii in my house"
New-York tribune., 1911-04-16
NJ Lack Of Incident m Tom l. Jonons from "A Mere Monopos

I'll never get drunk again I swear it.
Don't cry. whatever you do pleaded
johnson.
But the woman paid no heed 10 the
Mayor. and continued TO moan
IF you keep on at this rate" exclaimed
Johnson. sternly, "Tu send you to the
workhouse.
And he did
During his last term as Mayor, while he
was riding in his automobile. a passenger
train halted across the highway and
blocked his passage. He peremptorily or
dered the engineer 70 move out. When the
man refused to OBEY he had the train crew
arrested That was simply another Illus
tration OF his contradictory streak.
While Johnson ruled Cleveland the street
takers had things their own way. One day
the Mayor walked past the postoffice and
stopped before a man who conducted a
weighing machine.
'1tll cost you a nickel to get weighed,
gents" he shouted. and II / can't guess
your weight beforehand within three
pounds | won't charge you a cent
BET you the cigars he can't come within
twenty pounds OF my weight" said john
son. turning 10 friend.
This was overheard by the barker who
didn't know the Mayor.
Make way for the corpulent gentleman,
nv good people" he yelled. and Johnson ell
bowed his way through the crowd.
The barker" then punched the Mayor in
the stomach Until he said ouch" poked
him in the small OF his back. felt OF his
thighs. pinched his legs. slapped bis cheeks
and finally made guess OF 2so pounds.
Then he hustled his honor into the little
basket until the machine groaned and
sGueaked.
See. gents" he said, Il guessed her
right the first shot.
you're all right" said the Mayor
here's your nickel" and the crowd howled
as Johnson walked of TO buy his friend
the cigars he had lost.
say do you know who tha, man was
asked the machine man.
That big Fat slob? NaW"'
Mayor Tom
The deuce you say
Then ne dropped hts machine hurried
after the Mayor and offered 10 return his
nickel but Johnson threatened 10 deprive
him Of his license II he persisted IN his
generosity. and the incident was closed.
/ He was equally lenient TO the boys who
ENDANGERED the heads Of pedestrians by
( playing ball on the public square One OF
/ the ;irst thngs h. did on becoming Mayor
was 10 remove all the Keep OF the grass
/ signs. lie was passing one day just as an
officer started 10 break up ball game
Let the boys have a good time the
Mayer told the policeman. Say ne add
ed turning TO one ~ the boys, II think
could do a better joO OF shortstop myself
| He was always a great lover OF baseball
on the day OF the former Mayors death
the Cleveland baseball club received let
New-York tribune., 1911-04-16
SAVING THE WHEAT PIT. "

Rrady's scrapDiness indeed. has nothing
TO do with physical size o. strength Al
hest he could qualify merely for the BAN
lam class. vet his friends are fond OF
relating two incidents that show him fully
equal 10 emergencies.
AT the Lyric Theatre some years ago
strike of the hundred and fifty supernum-
eraries threatened to prevent the produc-
ton OF "The Pit" The wheat brokers
assembled in the basement Of the theatre
had their dander up. ana declared they
wouldn't go on in the Board Of Trade scene
unless their pay was doubled. Brady up
stairs as he thought OF the impending
hasco Of the play before the crowded audi-
enc- and critics. got madder and madher'
Come along. Tuckman" he cried TO ms
turly property man They took the STAIRS
Oh the run When they reached the supers
room they were travelling 1T cyclone speed.
Brady grabbed one rinsleader by the scrun
Of the neck and the seat of the trousers
Tuckman grabbed the next They ran the
couple into the street in Lightning time
came back. grabbed two more forcbly ex-
peiled them likewise anu 80 on until the
tel fomenters Of trouble had all been
thrown out.
That settled the supers' mutiny. The
lead srless mob captuls ted on Bradys own
;erms. and i'm the big Board OF TRADE
scene their yes and frenZied hghting were
so realistic one could never have guessed
they had just been overawed and trounced
by the little manager Of $50 pounds ana
5i9 feet perpendicular.
About year ago sounds IA OF violent
alteration were heard issuing from the
Brady Offices Occupants OF neighboring
studios guessed that dn theatrical par
lance) il was a case OF manager and actor
trying to 'bawl each other out" in some
row over salaries Presently an animated
tumult cstapulted itself out OF the will
lam A. Brady. Ltd" main entrance. To
the astonished spectators It looked like a
combat betwlxt a giraffe and bobcat.
Closer inspection revealed the tallest
actor on Broadway-a Thespian who stands
6 feet inches in his stockings-with the
fingers OF the diminutive but agile BRADY
tightly clutching the others windpipe. Not
only had he choked the bawling actor into
silence but ever and anon ne would sha ke
the giant as a terrier shakes rat. Final
". AZ the elevator door. William A Brady,
Unlimited. gave his enemv final push
ana shove toward the outer darkness and
then coolly walked back 70 his ofice. "Oh.
he was easy.'' said the manager afterward
with a grin. It was all a part Of the day.
work
knowing that the most important battles
are not those fought with fists. friend
asked Brady the other day what were his
hardest theatrical struggle and his biggest
New-York tribune., 1911-04-16

ter dictated by the dying man during
,o,,,oror, revival from a state of coma.
.r n-obabIv won't be able 10 attend the
opening game" the letter reao' ou' uo1
let that make any difference 70 a"e"0
and win. ao,,o-
He showed himself consistently uei'io-
cratic at the time Of his son Loftln ma
r,aee 70 Miss Hafner. his sister maiu
When the Mayor heard OF il after II was
all over he laughed and said
III he'd had one OF those cut ana ur'eu
aossv church weddings, I'd have diso"neu
him" -. ,,i,
Then he telegraphed Loftin 10 bring ms
bride home. ro,
No,ii,v ever unnerved Tom Johnson
ono dav as he was entering a restaurant
an Austrian fired at him point blank pu'
fortunately missed. The man was arrested
hut Johnson refused 10 prosecute an"
ON 10 his luncheon unperturoed.
"The man was drunk. he sal'' "a''
didn't mean to hit anybody in particular
Such proved to be the case ~
In ,oos when II looked az though MS ok
fo,.t,,ne were swept away. he SAID
pm, going TO be happy yet, TOO. we may
have 10 go back to cottage put tia'
tho yav we started, and we can LOOK up'"
lie lust as joyfully there "a we did III 'he
hip house on Euclid avenue. They tell me
my enemies are planning to bring hhahoia'
,ro,,hIa rpon me- I've teen expecting H.
rbsrs,e one mistake | haven't mads-tha'
=, ,o,,,rg r. foresce the efforts OF those VINO
no,,lo IKE 20 destroy me II opportunity
40 What tleN may.
: >, them make any sort Of attack upon
Inc that they choose, with Whatever sue
cess and they will find me with thou
sand Nights left in me. III never give up.
I'm we'll and strong and confident ana
they'll always find me at the front.
The next year he was defeated for Mayor
Of Cleveland. and it looked as though his
aqht OF years had been lost
Il will be a candidate for Mayor again
tNo wears from to-day" was all ne SAID
wnen the returns were In.
lust before he died he sent this message
TO hts inquiring friends:
How are all the boys? Tell them to be
nj strong heart and be game. am game.
! That vas Tom Johnson.
/ uumor Mr.. Johnson had In abundance
/ and nothing delighted him more than a
/ funny story. His perfect control over his
/ risibilities was exemplihed in a talk with
Howard Dennis. the Public Square orator
j. Howard visited the Mayors Office 10 gel
/ a photograph Of himself for 10 cents. John
son invested. Then Howard took occasion
TO express the hope that the Mayor would
be successful In his street railway plan
and make q lot Of money thereby.
New-York tribune., 1911-04-16
WAY DOWN EAST. q"

Way Down East he replied. with
out an instants hesitation. 1T was a
struggle lasting nearly two years. includ-
irg seven long months az the Manhattan
Theatre. every week OF which was a los
ing QUE Way Down East just had 10 go
out into the country and establish itself.
The experience was like a drummer's with
a new line Of goods he's trying to intro
duce. The goods'had TO demonstrate merit
before there were any recorders. We played
the Olympic Theatre. ST. Louis. that first
season TO weeks receipts of 1890 A
year later We came back and got $4,000
in week
Il discovered in that campaign that there
IL an immensely large class OF playsoers
in the United States who pay no atten-
tion TO the theatrical columns ot the news
papers. who aren't influenced by the bill
boards but whose patronage OF the theatre
is entirely dependent on mouth-to-mouth
advertising OF a play by those who have al
ready paid 10 see H. This class is admit
tedly difficult 10 reach, but once reached
their patronage is good for twenty years.
owing 10 the depredations Of the play
pirates, the financial value OF Way Down
New-York tribune., 1911-04-16
BACKING HIS OPINIONS.

Brady was game. II know I'VE got a
big piece OF properly in that political
stuff as you call it," he replied. and 10
prove my faith I'll guarantee you $4,000 as
your share OF the weekly receipts for
Man Of the Hour run in your theatre
Done said the visiting manager, and
the bargain was closed. The Man or the
Hour" more than justified its owners faith.
A long and successful run in this city was
followed by an unprecedented theatrical
cleanup" OF the country. in general, In
which at one time five companies In the
one pjav were on tour. And did The Man
of the Hour fail Of maintaining it's record
anywhere. Brady simply would not admit
defeat Looks bad eh?' he said 10 his
booking agent. Here's the remedy; book
each of those night stands is week stand.
Give the people in small towns chance 10
learn about it. They'll Gomez And they
came The novel methods, the gradual dii-
fusion Of the merits OF the play in the
course OF It's protracted visit. did the trich.
Whipping defective or poorly PRODUCED
play into shape is another of the manager
specialties Most dramatic entrepreneurs
make some pretence OF supervising re-
hearsals. although as A matter OF fact the
ma tority OF them are absolutely AZ the
mercy OF their hired stage directors Not
so with Brady. \ Grace George produc-
ton. for example. is in charge OF an
efficient war council Four persons are
active in il. namely, the playwright, the
stage director. the manager producer ana
the star" II the trial production doesh (
please. the work is picked 10 pieces ana
constructed anew. The playwright must
write new lines and scenes: the director
must plan new business" Mr.. Brady
busies himself perfecting new effects ana
Miss George. the star practically re-
makes the scenes in which she appears.
Then. supposing a principal in the pro-
duction falls sick al the last moment even
Their the ex-Californisn is not dismayed'
The illness of Frank Worthing in Detroit
some time ago left the "Divorcons' COM
panv without a leading man, there pelns
no one in the organization considered cap
able Of playing the part of Des Pruneiles
onposite Miss George. That didn't feaze
Brady. He announced promptly tnat ne
uould nlav the part himself
New-York tribune., 1911-04-16
Manager, Who Hopes To Do for Grace George What
Ausustn DAILY Did for Ada Rehan, Denies That
New Theatre Was a Failure and Expects
to Make Money in Same Field.

man He winged" the part the first nignt.
learned II fully the next day. and glided
gracefully and easily into a ten-day en-
gagement' az Des Prunelles which tickled
the Detroiters Just as much "a IL did him.
Speaking OF the pirates who played hoo
with the profits Of way Down East.
bringing IL into the "ten-twenty- thirty
class OF stolen "rube shows" Brady had
his revenge II them at Washington. A
delegation OF New York theatrical man.
agors was irving TO induce the Congress
slonal committee to report favorabiy new
and stringent copyright bill. enscting
prison sentence for fragrant offenders. Iney
v,sre meeting with poor success. send
for Brady. the man with the punch" sus-
oes,ed one Of The managers. He u Jam IL
through
New Yor. was wired. Broadway show
men hacked Brady on a train for Washing
ton late that night. and the next morhi'is no
anneared IN the committee room panopheh
for war. II was no begging. whining speee"
that ne made-he ism tEat kind OF "'d'''
In stand-up. straight-from-the -the-shouiue'
talk ne told the representatives that me
producing managers had rights mat snou''
be respected: that they owned large prop
erty interests. and that they were "e"s
robbed right and left by sneaks VINO naue
stenographic copies Of the plays ana So'd
them for s. apiece 10 reptile manaser9.
He demanded protection from congress-
and he got IL. The copyright law ""l0"
was passed at the same session. protects
the property OF dramatists and managers
as stringently as il protects book authors
and publishers.
Brady has never fought the theatrleai
labor unions With one exception he never
fought a critic the exception being the case
of a cricket" who announced IN advance
OF Brady production that he meant 10
slate IT, But the manager made no oohes
awhile back Of telling Chicagoans that the
Windy city was a mighty poor snow
town. and that his attractions tand others
didn't receive anywhere near the patron
age they deserved. Speaking OF the mel
dent MIR Brady said 10 the writer
New-York tribune., 1911-04-16
FY HENRY MACMAbON.

low do you-a commercial man.
WI ager-expect 70 make your
i l. repertory Playhouse pay after
,ss rererfory experiment has been trieo
"a discontinued by The New THEATRE
This question was asked OF William \.
p-,sv as he was conducting the visitor
,,,o his spacious press department. where
.so chief Brady scribe. W. y. Coxey. vas
h,s3v preparing canned" interviews con-
lining the Grace George repertory com
,snv The inquiry so interested the man
.ger that he hastily bade Coxey shelve the
...srred goods and himself granted a face
,o.face interview.
How do r." repeated Mr.. Brady. BY
..oson of smaller expenses in running my
horse. b. the absence Of dig, costly pro-
s,o.ions. the construction OF The Play
,ouse which allows OF handling produc-
,,on. Quickly and easily. by substituting
-, terribly expensive double company
small nucleus Of first class players. say
.,rn, persons. whose combined salary list
vii foot from &. 200 10 s2,5co week
..rbe New Theatre was not a failure
continued Mr.. Brady, warming 10 his sub
i.c The Coincide Frsncsise never
showed in an equal space OF time su, II
acbieyements as those of The New Theatre
compsny in the last sixteen months. /
have been in New York and interested in
Vev York theatricals since 1889. Tn
oves;ionably the man whose achievement
s the finest and proudest in the history ~
su t.period-considering the short length
NJ time he has been with us-is Mr.. Wiz
,brop Ames. II there's any New York
oroducer I could POSSIBLY feel jealous OF.
I, IS he As a matter of fact. could
never occupy his position because 1 haven
New-York tribune., 1911-04-16

Win Booth. j. w Mccullough and T. w.
Keene were among the principals 40
shirlling from work. no trusting Of theat-
rical fortunes TO one hit there Vt the
be ginning Of ~ week Salvini would en-
ter the greenroom and throw down his
repertory Mondey. Hamlet, Tuesday
'Otheno': Wednesday The Stranger :
thursday. King Lear and so it went We
Just had 20 get Up six. seven or oven eight
parts week. according 20 the demands OF
the visiting star.
"Of course and Mr.. Brady smiled
again. Il can 20 into this present expert
ment only 50 far as my pockethook-not
an overly big one-will let me 60. But l
can promise New Workers one thing: NO
one shall ever see on the stage OF The
Playhouse anything that he would rather
not have his mother wife or sister see
The highest standard will govern not only
the selection Of the actors. but the choice
and stage rnanagement OF the plays wneth-
e. ancient or modern
New-York tribune., 1911-04-16
PRAISE FOR WINTHROP AMES.

sE-hv >mes vas everything YOU have
,--.che6 and praved for" said Brady tor
-srt,ally addressing is It were an mag
nary circle Of the critical death watch
assembled on a theatrical first night. a
gentleman. p scholar: free from any taint
~ sordidness. well read in all dramatic
ue-atures well yersed in stage history
and traditions. sure in his judgment If
actors. artistic 70 his fngertips-snd tas>s
- tho bandicaps he worked against Fi-ST
p-r cent OF the newspaper press hostile -
co.6lv Indifferent. The home OF The New
Theatre experiment built for operate pur-
noses and unsuitable for any except the
largest dramatic productions. The very
audiences-75 per cent OF the patronage
unable 10 distinguish the actors faces or
make out more than part of the speeches.
Not only was Mr.. Ames's direction OF
The New Theatre a great artistic achieve
ment. but the box office receipts were
enormous-eQual 10 those Of any other two
New York theatres combined No week
last season fell below $1,000: some weeks
rose as high as S25OOo II that does not
indicate popular support what does?
If YOU will study The New Theatre
record. YOU will notice that every play in
which personality succeeded proved
financially profitable by virtue Of that per-
sonality Herein is the secret OF modern
repertory production. America requires
The power Of compelling personalities to
brinr audiences within the theatre and
keep them there. England is still more the
slave Of personalities than We are. In The
PLAYHOUSE I shall not have a stock com
panv. in the ordinary sense OF the term
but rather a small group % players Of
stellar rank.
"Wil your organization be permanent"
You had better put II that ! shall keep
up the policy OF The New Theatre while
The New Theatre is out Of existence. With
the new New Theatre-when that is started
II snail not attempt 10 compete
How many new works do you expect TO
produce
'I can't tell Enough TO build up rep
ertory for Miss Grace George Associated
WITH her will be a distinguished English
leading man. with whom | am TOW nego-
New-York tribune., 1911-04-16
III. svnatbie, and Rsbities Were Alike Easily Touched
and HI. Personality and Mannerisms Were OF Such
Nature as to Make Firm Friends or Bitter
Enemies of Those Who Knew Him

. "you don't mean that Howard. do your
asked Johnson.
Il certainly do" returned Howard. L
hope that you will get rich.
Howard don't you know that ! can't
make money in street railways and be
Mayor and stay honest?'
No. Howard did not know that, and left
the office As soon as Howard was safely
out Of the place the Mayor collapsed in his
chair and laughed till he was red in the
face Shaping his leg and rocking back and
forth in exuberance Of his appreciation of
the fun in the :hing. As long as Howard
was in the office the Mayors face was as
grave as that Of an undertaken AT
funeral.
From the time that Johnson said he
would rather be in Congress than in
heaven. he loved the game Of politics. but
he thought too. there were other things
that contained fun besides politics.
IF ever quit politics" he once confded
to a coterie OF friends and newspaper men
who gathered in his Office. II will either be
a monopolist or a lawyer. There is more
money in being monopolst but more fun
in being lawyer. / guess that I will be
a lawyer"
Mr. Johnson was handy with his fists. IL
the occasion required. Notwithstanding his
excess of avordupos. Yet no man was
more uniformly bland and courteous. Seat
ed one morning early in the screened OF
counting room OF his Indianapolis traction
offices. and reading newspaper, big
burly fellow entered and began TRADE
against the management because OF some
1
one OF the ears Of the line on the previous
day Tom l.. was alone. knew nothing
OF the matter-indeed 70 was merely an
accident that he was in the place at that
hour al all. After reasoning with the irate
intruder and trying 70 convince him that
II there was anything ~ be- righted b. tbs
company it would be done in due course.
/ the man few into a passion and called
| Mr. Johnson a liar
Smiling blandly and still holding his un-
| folded newspaper IA his left hand. Johnson
stepped from behind the inclosure and
knocked the big fellow down This was
such sudden and unexpected turn 20 the
issue that the big fellow squealed: Don't
/ HIT me again, youns feler | didn't mean
to hurt your feelns.'
Get up. my good man. and set out"
said Tom t. And just bear in mind that
what YOU got means that 'har' is outlawed
In this shsnty."