This second visit, it is agreed on all hands, brought more money into the treasury of the Boston than had ever before been taken during one week at that or any other theatre in the city, namely, $24,087,—and this was the largest sum that had been received during any previous week of the Irving engagement.
It will be interesting, at this period of the tour, to glance at its financial results. The following figures are taken from the cash-book of Mr. J. H. Palser, the business manager and treasurer, who supplied them to the “Boston Herald,” and “vouched for their absolute accuracy”:—
New York—first week $15,772 00 New York—second week 18,714 00 New York—third week 18,880 00 New York—fourth week 22,321 50 Philadelphia—first week 16,128 50 Philadelphia—second week 16,780 50 Boston—first week 18,845 50 Boston—second week 16,885 00 Baltimore—one week 9,952 00 Brooklyn—one week 12,468 00 Chicago—first week 17,048 75 Chicago—second week 19,117 50 St. Louis—one week 13,719 00 Cincinnati—one week 11,412 00 Indianapolis (4 nights) and Columbus (2 nights) 8,700 50 Chicago (return)—one week 18,308 75 Detroit (2 nights) and Toronto (3 nights)[54] 13,430 50 Boston (return)—one week 24,087 00
The total receipts in cities where Mr. Irving has played more than one week were as follows:—
New York—four weeks $75,687 50 Boston—three weeks 59,817 50 Chicago—three weeks 54,475 00 Philadelphia—two weeks 32,909 00
The total receipts of the tour, thus far, have been $292,571.
WASHINGTON, NEW ENGLAND, AND SOME “RETURN VISITS.”
From Rail to River.—Once more on Board the “Maryland.”—Recollections of President Arthur.—At the White House.—Washington Society.—An Apt Shakespearian Quotation.—Distinguished People.—“Hamlet.”—A Council of War.—Making Out the Route of a New Tour.—A Week in New England Cities.—Brooklyn and Philadelphia Revisited.
WE left Boston at about two o’clock in the morning of the 3d of March, and after breakfast, at half-past ten, some of us turn out to stretch our legs on the railroad track by the side of the Harlem river. Once more we are shunted on board the “Maryland,” that is to convey us “down stream, to connect with the Pennsylvania road.” At about eleven o’clock we are afloat. Presently we pass Blackwell’s Island. The pretty villas on the opposite bank are in notable contrast with the hard, prosaic buildings of the island. The morning is grey and cold. The snow is falling lightly and is full of crystals. Most of the company are on deck, which stretches right over the snow-covered cars. Some are promenading and enjoying the change from railway to river travel. Others are breakfasting in the steamer’s spacious saloon. Howe and his wife; Terriss (his hand in a sling); Tyars (in his long Scotch ulster, which was evidently new to the gamins of Philadelphia, where they said, as he passed, “Here’s a dude!”); Mrs. Pauncefort, and others, are defying the sharp weather at the bows of the vessel, which, with its freight, is a continual surprise to them. Miss Millward, the picturesque Jessica of “The Merchant,” is romping merrily with the children of the company, who are quite a feature in the garden and church scenes of “Much Ado.”