The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-24
CHRISTMAS IN A CELLAR.

A Strange Story About n Pantomime.
More than three years ago was sent away
from London for the benefit Of my health. II
would be useless to mention in what breezy spot
spent my exile. Suffice it, that it was highly
salubrious and intolerably dull. was forbidden
to read. Every day seemed to last week, and
every night fortnight. How Insignificant were
the minor annoyances of draughts pills. irritating
under-clothing, and strict regimen, compared to
that intolerable ennuil
What thrill of pleasure l felt when long
strip of yellow paper informed me that the
sTheatre Royal - would shortly open for a
limited season" Here was occupation for my
dreary evenings The Theatre Royal - did
open, and commenced an acquaintance with the
''ActDg Drams," as published by Cumberland.
After the performance used to smoke a cigar
Tobacco was strictly forbidden, but l smoked,
neverthele less) in the coffee of the Rose and
Crown Hotel; and there l met the actor VINO
played the stern parents at the theatre, and was
adamant for four acts only to melt in the fifth,
and consent to the union of his son daughter
as the case may be. He was u very gentiemauly
veteran, quite of the old school-took sRuff, and
wore friil, smiled whenever he was addressed,
and had fatheTly manner, acquired by long
course Of dramatic paternity. he used TO tell
Singular anecdotes, more or less true, some OF
them much less than more; among others, one
which | thought interesting enough, having
obtained his "kind PERMISSION, to reproduce.
give 1t In his own Words -
HSackports aseaport town, he began, "situlte
-as guide. bucks say-four miles from the sea,
and everything in Stockport is of the sea, fishy,
from the gilt thTee-masted ship on the vane over
the Town Hall, to the rope-"alks, hmber-yards,
and old boats on the outskirts. Every man with
money no matter what his pursuits, keeps
Yacht; and IL would almost seem as If the small
fry of 6shermen's children were Wesned on boat
hooks.
'The Stockport theatre q mean the old theatre,
for 1 am speaking of the year 49, stood, as
country theatres always do, at the most incon-
venient end of a dirty lane-in fact, it stood upon
wharf, and had been granary, or ore or
warehouse or something OF that sort; the wall at
the end Of what was used for the stage went right
down into the dirty river, which, as you might
see by the wet space between high aud low water
marx, washed it with refuse twice day.
cit was eleven o'clock, and a rainy morning, as
picked my steps over the petrihed kidneys that
did not pave the lane that led TO the stage door.
ItWa melancholy lane, beginning with little
chapel rented by the primitive Muggletonians
Ounior branch(, then going into stables and back
premises; then asserting itself hideously with q
reekiDg slaughter-house in the centre returning
10 stables and back premises, and terminating
with a rabbit hutch looking stage door. Not an
object could be seen but misanthropic cock and
three dTaggle-tailed hens. / walked on to the
Stage, which was as chill and cherries as stages
usually are on January mornings, and as looked
into the vacant darkness visible, my old notion
came into my head Of the likeness of an empty
theatre to an empty coffin.
at was a queer old building, that ex-ware
house tlat lau Dt6l cOuftFltu lubo u ltinpl6 O
the drama and among other requirements fol
the dramatic art bOasted extensive ce arage
MessTs. Cape Coriander, the great wine mer
chants, at one time kept all their stock there
until one high tide the water rushed in, smashed
the bottles, and SO damaged Messrs. Cape & Co
riaDder that they were forced TO turn bankrupts-
not that it hurt them, for afterwards they wer,
richer men than ever. Then extensive altera
tiops were made, and thick walls built to kee;
out he tide but Messrs. Cape Coriander neye
again housed their wine there. | suppose thel
did not like the water mingling itself in thet
affairs so publicly.
',Not soul but myself had thought proper {,
be punctual for rehearsal. The first call was fol
Pizarro, at cleveni the pantomime 70 follow
Our manager Mr OWarre0oyle never set goo
example and rehearsals usually began AZ ali sort
of hours. Annoyed at having left my comfort
able fire, went back 10 the stage door, and stJOl
locsing out into the rain
1.-TWO men stood AZ the end of the lane. Afte
exchanging q few words one of them disap
peared, and the other tramped up 70 me.
"sThis here the playhouse z he asked
1erhis is the theatre REPLIED trying TO i'm
press him. but failing signally.
6'Ah yes; the-ay-ter, if you like IL better b
said. 'Mr. O'WMrebOyle is manager, isn't he 2
TThe coolness Of the mans questions and th
rudeness Of his manner annoyedme had playe
leading business was the 'Pizarro' OF that even
ing. 1 therefore looked out into the rain, an
6'No ofiense, master, said the man, after
pause, but Mr.. Terence o'WarTeboyleis is mana
ger, isn't he
sWitbout deigning to turn my head in tn
direction Of his voice, answered Yes.
"'Is he in the way, master 2
SsNo.'
\ SSure inquired the man, in tone Of th
opgest doubt.
i'This was too much / turned upon my heS
and walked back TO the stage.
Afew minutes after the prompter, sdcknau
arrived, and shortly after Scandrey and Mrs. Fo
jampe, who played fValVerde' anG ElVira.'
NOV we can begin said l. s-
81 had no sooner uttered the words than pei
ceixed BY the light Of long slit or opening in tn
wall, when leI "A the cold and the rain, and di
tears. asked what Was the matter,
"iOh, that brute FojambsP replied the lady
mot home til 4 O'Clock this morning, and tins
as-aughr = and she began 70 cry.
adrs F0ljambe was older than her husbant
Rad Il was said led him Life. ThsreAl fact va
,rHflttM saa'1 4