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114
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
December 5th, 1881.
HIGH-TONED TOUTEES.
his name from one end of the country to the other.
I said ' Let us have one little spot in New York N the musical profession are many types of
sacred to the memory of Irving,' and I opened the
human nature that have not been delineated
hall December 18, 18G0. I started in with Theo. by the novelist of to-day. While American writers
"LAFE" HABEISQN UNBOSOMS HIMSELF TO AN Thomas' orchestra of twenty-four men. Thomas are borrowing from European fields which have
also played violin solos splendidly and then I in- been carefully gleaned already, they are neglect-
IMPATIENT REPORTEK.
troduced resident talent and helped all the mu- ing many types at home whose successful charac-
How HE BUILT IRVING AND SUGGESTED STEINWAY sical young girls and young men I could. My terization would bring them fame and fortune.
Monday popular concerts, after those of London, Vn interesting personage whose exploits have not
HALLS AND MANAGED ALL THE LEADING
took immensely. The Sunday night concert ori- received
AKTISTS THAT EVEH CAME TO
the attention they merit is the high-toned
ginated in the fertile brain of your humble ser-
AMEBICA.
vant. If I had less than $600 in the house I touter.
A touter is simply an agent for a firm dealing in
thought things were going to the devil. Now pianos,
organs or other kinds of musical mer-
"TTWERYBODY knows Lafayette Harrison, the Thomas has always been very dignified and hard chandise. He receives a commission on every
l^J veteran concert manager, who is as full of to approach. He was the same years ago as he is sale he makes. When lie travels he announces
musical reminiscences as an egg is full of meat. to-day."
as the agent of this or that house, "the
Lafayette has experienced the ups and downs of " That may be, but my engagement is impera- himself
greatest
the world, I assure you," and pockets
managerial life and sometimes the downs have got tive," interjected the reporter, "This corner is his divy in
like
a man.
the better of the ups, but he always has a quip or slightly windy, too, and you are pulling a button
The
high-toned
touter, on the contrary, does
a crank at his tongue's end and is as jovial a fel- off my coat."
not advertise himself as an agent. The way in
low as the day is long. A reporter of THE MUSI-
"That may be as you say," continued the vet- which he conceals his identity shows him to be an
CAL CKITIC AND TEADE REVIEW was sighted by eran calmly, "but as I was remarking, Thomas
of the first water. Elegantly attired, an ex-
" Lafe" recently in the vicinity of Union Square. was a trifle cool to the crowd of applicants to sing artist
pert in conversation and well versed in the suaviler
" Hello," said the veteran as the reporter was at the concerts, but one day I stood up for a little in modo, he impresses the circle in which he moves
charging across the street to keep an appoint- girl and gave her a chance. She was Zelda Seguin as a scion of the "inner brotherhood" of society,
sang under the name of Zelda Harrison.
ment. The scribe turned on his heel and replied and
is blessed with a plethoric bank account.
cordially, " Hello, yourself. I'll see you later." Y T ou know her career. I found William Castle and who
The
high-toned
tonter is everywhere. At New-
" Just a moment," cried Lafayette catching the gave him $50 a week to keep at his musical stud- port, Mount Desert, Long Branch, Saratoga,
ies for a year. He was then singing in Christy's wherever the social world is gayest you may find
reporter's coat tails and holding him in.
" I was only about to observe thnt I have been Minstrels at the famous 444 Broadway, under the with little search this festive individual, conspicu-
in the concert business since 1844 and am the old- name of Reeves."
ous in a round of gayety and attracting to himself
est concert manager in the United States. I start-
"Well, Bateman got Parepa Rosa and wanted
pleasing homage of beauty and the deferential
ed in at Apollo and Minerva Halls, just below Irving Hall, so I had all my people sing with her. the
of solid business men. In the winter
Canal
"
I fell in love with the woman at once. Bateman attentions
season,
he
is an active participant in the balls,
called
the
entertainments
the
Bateman
Concerts,
" But my dear fellow some other time," inter-
receptions
and afternoon teas that make up a large
but that was a big mistake. The people didn't portion of New
jected the reporter, " I
"
York social life during that portion
"street and the best resident talent and Dod- like it. So she made me her manager. I bought
the year.
worth's Band attracted the most toney people in out Bateman for $2,300, advertised 'Parepa Rosa of But
the high toned touter is not simply a social
the city. Those were the days, my boy, when Concerts' and they took like wildfire. Well, butterfly.
He has a little racket to work and he
George 4 Bristol and Harvey and Allen Dod worth Parepa wanted to sing in opera at the Academy works it deftly.
parlor of some palatial
were in the zenith of their glory, without a cloud and I furnished the costumes. The first $2,000 home a fair pianist In is the
playing perhaps a Chopiu
to pale their effulgence. Look at the programmes went to Maretzek. After that Parepa and I shar- Nocturne or the Bocchorini
Minuet in a manner
of those halcyon days! Edwin J. Mitchell, of ed. That looks like a poor contract, my boy, but
elicits cordial praise from her assembled
the Olympic, was the captivating tenor, and the I cleared 87,085 on nine performances. Fact, I that
guests. The instrument that contribnted to her
lovely Mary Taylor saug lier way into everybody's assure you."
heart. But the great hurrah for the concert business " Then Steinway wanted a hall and was going to success becomes the subject of conversation in the
came when Barnum started his boom with Jenny buy the property now occupied by Harrigan it most natural manner in the world, suggested, of
Lind at Castle Garden and Genin, the hatter, Hart. I said 'no,' and advised him to purchase course, by the high-toned touter. Should any one
paid $750 for first choice of seats. Those were the present site of Steinway Hall. He got it for present manifest the slightest intention of pur-
the days, my boy, when admission cost you fifty ^75,000 cash and it is worth to-day a cool quarter chasing such a piano this elegant gentleman at
cents and a reserved seat fifty cents extra. More of a million. He acted generously and made me once falls into line and praises his excellent judg-
than that would have caused a riot. \\ ell, Castle manager from G
' G to '(38. I also saved the Phil- ment.
Garden held 7,000 people and Barnum made a harmonic Society from going to pieces. It was at " It is the best piano going, undoubtedly," says
pile of money. Then he went to Tripler Hall the Academy when the war broke out and was the touter, "and as I am personally iciuaintecl
where now stands the Grand Central Hotel. It paying big rent. I gave the society Irving Hall with the manufacturer, I should bo glad to oblige
was the most magnificent Music Hall America has just for expenses and a dividend of $69 was de- you with an introduction to him. My long ac-
ever seen. Fact, I assure you ! The three tiers clared. If those Germans had had to pay for quaintance with him would enable you to get the
of seats, would seat 5,000 persons and the exits losses that would have been the end oi" the lowest figure, etc., etc."
If a sale is effected, the high-toned touter draw
and entrances were the most perfect I ever heard society."
his little " commish," and continues his game of
of. At that place I did a funny thing."
" Do you feel better now?" asked the reporter deception and good-living.
" You must excuse me," pleaded the reporter. anxiously.
Nobody seems to be seriously injured by the
" In one moment. This funny business was "Yes, lam relieved, but I was going to add practices
of this individual. It is questionable,
done in 1852 with a furniture dealer in Fulton that if I gave all the names of artists that I have however,
whether
any money is saved by having him
street. I got up a big gift concert. A two-dollar brought out it would set a man crazy."
give
you
an
introduction
to a piano manufacturer
ticket entitled you to Sl.OO's worth of music from
" Very likely!"
even
in
the
guise
of
an
acquaintance.
It is best to
Firth, Hall, Pond & Co., admission to the big " Every great artist that ever came to America deal with piano firms at first-hand, undoubtedly,
concert and a chance to win a $500-suite of furni- was under my management at some time. I and save the commission, at least.
ture. I gave three of these concerts, and then managed Bateman in ' Leah' to the tune of $47,000 The high-toned touter is a despicable character
John McKeon, now District Attorney, came down in five weeks and no deadheads, as I believe I re- because
a hypocrite. He makes friends by
upon me for disobeying the lottery laws of the marked before. When the Sanitary Commission reason of he his is address,
easy assurance, and his
State. But I had sold my tickets and so I went of Philadelphia had the ' Hunchback of Notre assumption of the airs his
men better born and of
to Charlie Gaylor, the dramatist. He was not so Dame ' produced at the Academy there, I had $10, • higher social standing of
himself. Then, at an
brilliant then as he is now by a long shot, but he 000 to bring it out. Most magnificent represen- opportune moment, he than
to a manufac-
made a speech for me at Tripler Hall and the tation of English opera ever seen in America. I turer some silly fool who introduces
he can buy a fine
drawing came off according to programme. Those had 300 United States soldiers as supes. I spent instrument at less than its thinks
cost to the maker, all
were splendid concerts, my boy, and there were $700 at the Girard House entertaining all the
no dead-heads in those days. Mr. Noel, then journalists in the city and county. But don't on account of the latter's friendship for the touter.
leader oi the Seventh Regiment Band and—"
give that away. The boys might not like it. Many men at fashionable watering-places last
who had no visible means of support,
" Cut it short," remarked the scribe despair- Fact, however, I assure you! I'll never forget the Summer,
were high toned touters. A so-called Count, at
bill.
I
opened
with
this
little
Minnie
Hauk
at
the
ingly-
Grand Opera House, paying her $600 a month. Newport, several of the reputed jetmesse doree at
"the Shakespearean orchestra turned the Parepa
the Sulphur Springs, and one or two swells at the
got $1,000 a night."
heads of our citizens and so did Mme. Bishop and
Oriental Hotel on Coney Island, were talked about
"Look out for that button. It's going," incessantly, and to have their names inscribed on
Bochsa, her husband, the wonderful harpist. I
gave lots of concerts to big money and there were shouted the reporter, viewing his coat in dismay. their dancing-cards many fair young debutantes
" I wanted to say, my boy, that the concert played their cards skillfully. But they were only
no dead-heads in those days as I remarked before.
I now skip to '55 and go with you in memory to business is going to the dogs. Singers get concert high-toned touters who were pulling every social
Fourteenth street and Sixth avenue where the hulls for nothing and you can have complimentaries wire to artfully introduce in conversation their
without the asking. Few people buy a concert employer's wares.
22d Regiment Armory now stands."
" And I am going home," observed the man of ticket now-a-days when they can get it for noth- Occasionally these fellows marry above their
ing. It's an outrage on singers, managers and the station by an artistic sailing under false pretenses,
letters, firmly.
" Not yet. This was the Palace Garden—full public, this blank, blanked blankety-blank com- but as a rule they sink out of sight when their per-
military band—a quarter admission to hear Carl plimentary concert racket anyhow and don't you sonal charms fade. They make their toilets with
Bergmann, the great conductor, S. B. Mills, Gus- forget it."
feminine neatness, and the appearance of the
tav Satter, renowned pianists, and Arthur Napo- Here the reporter's button which Lafayette had first gray hair is a dark day in their calendar.
leon, the lad who could pick a tune on a piano firmly gripped gave way and the scribe at last re- Then, by careful " making up," they strive to con-
that would make your hair curl in admiration. leased from bondage mournfully pursued the tinue their youthful triumphs, but their day is
You should have heard Louis Schreiber, the great even tenor of his way.
past and they cannot hope to realize the handsome
cornetist. He could beat Levy out of his boots.
commissions of yotmger and handsomer rivals.
Our metropolis needed a concert hall and so
James L. Benedict, a great friend of yours truly, The St. Louis opera, "L'Afrique," composed it
and myself leased property for twenty-one years ! is said by W. C. McCreery, or by one Meyer, is to Mrs Aline Osgood has many engagements. She
and built Irving Hall. I named it, my boy, after ' be brought out at the Bijou, in this city, some time sings at the rhst concert of the new Mozart Society,
Chicago, December 20th.
Washington Irving and have thereby perpetuated in February.
A VETERAN'S CAREER,
I