Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-08-30
From the 81. LOnN Rcpciiic.
a TENNESSEE DOORkEEPER.
BY SOL. SMITH.

north carolina and South Carolina. into GeCr-
gia, with a small party of recruits for my sou
thcrn theatres. At Green>ille, East Temnes-
see, we made a halt. and determined to treat
the Inhabitants of that beautiful village with
three representations of the Legitimate dra-
ma, ina carpenters shop hastily but lastly
fitted up for the OCCASION.
The first representation was attended bv lust
SIR persons, making the total receipts OF the
evening, THREE DOLLARS.
My lardlord. the carpenter. attributed the
slim attendance To- n camp mceting that was
in successful operation about two miles from
town, and 'reokoned' that if would "hold
on until that broke up, we should have full
shops every night.
Thus urged, we did "l,old on and cur next
performance was rewarded with the receipt of
TWO DOLLARS AND A HALF.
proposed In decamp next morning, but the
printer OF the Greenvillc Expositor, (who was
OH the free list as a matter of counsel rcmon-
strated against 50 sudden a move, urging that
n hird performance must be successful, as il
was quite certain that the Camp Meeting will
break up that morning, and the folks would all
return TO their homes.
yielded-and advertised for 'positively
the last night Of performance" the play of
William Tell, a iavoritc aiterpiecc, and a lot
OF comic songs.
~ WV INV VI USiiflilfE, tNtSD lht 10 ma
a crowded audience i'm waiting-thc shop.
workbench and all, was literally crammed.1
One OF the carpenters apprentices whom |
iiad transformed into a citizen of Altorf for the
occasion, told me that all but five or six of the
people IN front Were religious Joiks. who had
attended the camp meeting faithfully TO the
conclusion.
Inc performance proceeded-tl,c actors
were In high spirits. Lynn afterwards a cc-
leoraied Mormon elder,) ,ullicd Gov. Gesler
with great fierceness; Sarnem whacked the
carpenters apprentice with hearty good will.
while the latter was making a bow 10 the Go
vernon capon a pole five t ct and a half high
the arrow, aimed at the apple on Albert's
head, flew with remarkable exactnesss into a
horse blanket held up asa Target TO rccei, il
behind tho scenes, and the play was received
WIN shouts OF satisfaction BY the Greenvil-
hans. The farce was honorcd by peal OF peal
oil laughter; while the comic songs were doub-
" encored, every one OF them.
Inc entertainment over, | observed there
was a reluctance in the audience to DEPART
they wanted another song. | gave them one.
Sull they remained as if glued to their seats.
l went before the curtain and thanked the la
oies ana gentlemen for their patronage, and
SAID that the performance was concluded
Inc did not move-they wanted vet another
SN'S 'i'II uIIOiI1tT-dlm AGAIN tOlu
them the entertainment of the evening was
discriminating, at the same time, that the
stage carpenter was waiting to take down the
scenery. A gentleman in the gallery 1.-THE
WORK Dench) here arose and addressed me as
follows: Mr.. Sol. Smith: Sir-I have been
requested to express to you tie unanimous wish
oil tins meeting that you will %prolopg your
season. The liberal patronage bestowed ON
you tins evening must have convinced you
timt we can make something of u turn out
here: and l feel fully authorised to say. that
IL you VIII give us a performance on to-mor.
row evening, you will have another house as
as This.
ion Of " ,h OF applause followed tn: onin
ION Oh the speaker, ana 1 was greatly tempted
to yield to their wishes; but ~bethinking me of
ccr'ain announcements Tor performances i'm
towns further south, ! was obliged to decline
the invitation OF my kind auditors, and CON
tent myself with the 80 or 30 dollars which
supposed had been contributed that NIGHT IN
my ways and means Finding me determined
the audience gradually dispersed. each indiyid-
ual casting wishful and sidelong chances To.
wards the stage, which by this time was berin-
ning to be dismantled. o.
MotionIng the door keeper to follow me i'm.
to a sort OF shed adjoining the theatre. | pro-
ceeded to open the ticket box i'm his presence
while he sat on a bench in the corner TO wait
Tor his wages. l found SEVEN tickets i'm the
box, and turning TO the waiting doorkeeper.
who was busily engaged in chewing tobacco
and splitting, | asked him wha, he had done
with the rest.
They are all thar he replied. with prea,
comPoslre, looking %intently ON a beam in the
shed, and rocking his right knee, which he held
IN his clenched hand and held about half WAY
from the floor To his chin.
al Msre-where?" was the very natural
question | next Propounded.
I'm the box, whar you told me to put 'cm"
he replied, still ~intently cycling the beams and
~rafters.
Il md but seven here" | remarkcd-"and
l want TO know where are the tickets for the
lou or $50 people that were in the house this
evening"" 30
81 tell you again they are all thar, sir" he
answered, sturdily; "andI allow 'twon't he
safe for any man to insinuate anv thin@ ac;n
my Character" he continued, releasing his
Knee, and taking a very large quid of tobacco
rom a rusty steel box and ranming il into his
mouth.
i dont wish TO insinuate anything against
your Character, said I. soothinoIy' 5but |
want to know what you have done with tho
tickets" "i '"'
They are thar he again allegcd-"evcry
one Oh thein are tliar-noo one passed me with
out giving me a ticket, and the tickets are all
thar" WI
now began to get a little pettish. and ask
Ell The tobacco cllewer to explain himself. |
urged that there were nearly 200 persons in the
house.
There war full that" he admitted.
"Well, them finally asked, ''what has
become OF all the tickets?-will you explain
this MYSTERY
My friend, the tobacco-chewing door keep
er, here renewed hisgrasp on his raised knee,
deliberately withdrew his eyes from the raj
'ers, and hxing them, half closed, upon mine,
at length afforded Inc the desired erDLanation
thus:
M engaget mr to- keep your door, and /
nave performed my dooties TO the best of mv
abilities, for which you owe me three dollars.
and want my money. No person has mas.