The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-11-22
Doesticks sees the American Ira
gedian,

gedian.
have always had a passion for theatri-
Gals, and was at one time of my variegated
existence much more intimately connected
with the stage than at present-and on
reaching this city felt. Of course, q great
desire to behold again the theatre, with all
its brilliant tascin ations-the light, the
music, the varied scenery, comprising
gardens, chambers, cottages, mountains,
.cloud-oapped towers and gorgeous pal
aces," barrooms. churches, huts and how
els-to look again upon the glass jewels,
the tinselled robes of mimic royalty, the
pasteboard banquets and molasses wine,
and all the glory. "pride, pomp and cir
oumstances," and humbug which once
"knew so well, set quorum magma pars
fui."
So. with my trusty friends, Damphool
aha Bull Dogge, | wended my way to the
Metropolitan Theatre No. I, TO see and
hear the distinguished Mr.. Rantanraye
Hellitisplit, the notorious American trage-
dian, in his great, original, unapproschs-
BILE. inconceivable, inexplicable, incom-
prehensible part OF "What q bore 0, the
last OF the Vollypogs."
The house was full, and-what a spec
tacle Tor modest young man!-the front
rows of the dress circle being occupied
almost exclusively by ladies undressed in
the latest fashion, appeared periec, sea
|T bosom.
AS the modesty Of the third tier ladies
did not permit them to vie in this respect
with. their. more fashionable sisters. they
had staid away, to entertain some audi
ence. not so refined, whose less cultivated
taste would not require 80 complete an
exposure of the--in fact, as Mioawber
would remark. s.the maternal fount."
There were several babies in the crowd.
who, evidently hungry. kept up con-
slant wsiling-poor thingsl really pi.ied
them-but | presume they were ignorant
ed what they thought they had right to-
they had not yet learned. as zee had, that,
although they might see, they must "touch
not, taste not, handle not" II was bad
enough to .starve them, but to tantalize
them in this manner was really barbaric.
And opera glasses, too, were continually
levelled at them by people who. impelled
by q laudable curiosity. were anxious to
see all that could be seen. Damphool
says that when you see aooman with one
OF these implements, you may be sure she
wants to be looked at-and called my
attention 10 the con6rmatory fact, that all
the ladies with the finest busts and the best
developed forms wore their dresses the
lowest in the neck, and sported the biggest
opera glasses.) Bull Dogge asserts that
they were invented by the author of "S,art-
ing made Easy" and "a Treatise on the
Use Of Globes.''J
By y-and-b bye, after a season of tramping
by the intelligent audience, which seemed
by its measured regularity, to intimate that
they had learned the motion in the tread
mill. the bell jingled, and the members OF
the orchestra entered, one by one. After
the audience had endured the prolonged
turning Of the instruments. conducted in q
mastery manner by the leader of the band
the music got "good ready" for 9 fair start,
and at the word .'go" they went. could
not critically analyze the uproar. but it
seemed to be composed OF these elements;
q predominance OF drum and cymbals--
a liberal allowance Of flute and horn-a
spasmodic sprinkling Of trombone - q
small quantity Of oboe, and q great deal
Of fiddle. The tumult was directed by the
leader. who waved the fiddle over his
head, jumped up and down upon his seat,
kicked up his heels, disarranged his shirt
collar. threw his arms wildly about, stamp
ed, made faces, and conducted himself as
if he was dancing frantic hornpipe for
the qualification of the crazy whims OF an
audience ot Bedla,nltes. F4q. s;ss. i
At length the curtain went up--two men
came on and said something, two others
came on and did something. then the
scene changed, and some others came on
and listened to shabby looking general
who seemed to be their .'magnus Apollo,
and who certainly was very long g.winded.
Nothing decisive. however, came to
pass until the long expected, entrance Of
the great Hellitisplit himself even.uated.
must coniess that was awed by the ter.
rife, yet serene majesty OF his appear.
ance. When saw the tragic. codfishy
expression of his eyes, was surprised;
when observed the fexibility of his capa-
cious mouth, opening and shutting, like a
dying mud sucker. was amazed When
my eye turned to his fingers, which worked
and olu,ched. as il feeling Tor coppers in a
dark closet, was wonder, ,s,ricken-bus
when my attention was called to the mag
niiude Of his legs, | was fairly electrified
with admiration, and could not forbear
asking Bull Dogge if those calves were
capable Of locomotion. d;,ss l,olfs ~
The admiring audience, who had kick
ed up perfect young earthquake when he
came on, only ceased when he squared
himself. put out his arm and prepared to
speak. That voicel Ye Godsl that voice!
Il went through sgradations that human
voice never before attempted. Initiating by
turns the horn Of the City Hall Gabriel,
the shrek Of the locomotive, the soft and
gentle tones 81 q forty horse power stsam
saw mill. the loving accents Of the scis-
sor,s wheel, the amoross tones Of the char.
goldman, the rumble Of the omnibus. the
cry Of the driver appsrtaining thereto--
rising from, the enhancing notes Of the in.
furiated house dog to the terrific cry OF the
oyster understanding the 'e'supes" to
tremble in their boots, making the fddlers