THE THEATRES OP NEW YORK.                    31
placed in a sort of pit and nearly suffocated by the heat, took steps
to improve the situation. The first evening the violin players
loosened their cravats, and discarded their collars. On the morrow
the altos rejected their coats and played in their shirt sleeves. A
week later all the executants were completely at their ease.
One evening the public saw arising from the footlights a thin
wreath of smoke.    There was a veritable panic.
But it was only the musicians indulging in a cigar.
The alarm not only relieved the musicians, but put a stop to
this ridiculous invention. The executants cheerfully resumed
their coats and their proper places in the orchestra of the theatre.
Another theatre I was unable to see was the Grand Opera
House, which was also closed.
The Grand Opera House was built by the famous Fisk, who
was assassinated by his friend Stokes.
This Fisk had a career original and extraordinary even for New
York. Of very low origin, in his youth he began life as a pedlar
in pomatum. In a brief time he became, not only director of the
largest theatre of New York, but also vice-president of a railway
company, commodore of a line of steamers, and colonel of a regiment.
He had both energy and audacity, besides a good deal of origin-
ality. Everyone who wished to be employed on his railway was
first obliged to enrol himself in the regiment which he commanded,
and by these means he collected one of the finest regiments in
New York. Sometimes he took into his head to assemble all his
soldiers, and paradethem before the eyes of some pretty woman.
On that day the railway had a holiday, and the stations were
closed all along the line.
The sumptuous colonel had magnificent equipages and horses.
When he went out, he was driven in a large and handsome open
carriage, drawn by eight steeds.
A history of love explains his tragic end. The great impres-
sario was the victim of a drama, and a double vengeance decided
his fate.    Here are the facts.