Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-01
THE GROWERS THEATRE MEET
ING,
The Grand Clio Entertainment NJ
Growers T~heaIre-Ihe Legitimate
EcIipsed-The Sensational Drama
Gone ~Under-Irish Comedy OufdOne.

places adjacent thereto, never presented a
livilier scene, or succession of scenes, than
on yesterday afternoon. The programme
advertised in the Republican attracted
to the spot a great many outsiders, who
were making the 22d a holiday, and who
helped to fill the theatre to repletiOn.
The stage manager, Mr.. Florence, mot
VIM. j. exerted himself in placing the
pieces on the stage in the most effective
manner. His arrangement Of the scenery
was exceedingly appropriate, presenting a
view Of Fort Lafayette iRthe background
and a variety of trees on each side of the
stage. Mr.. E. was quite active in
bringing on chairs for the performance,
and making himself Il general utility
man.
The doors were opened at IL o'clock,
and at = o'clock the orchestra seats, par
quette, and upper tier were filled. The
dress circle was reserved for ladies.
The treedmen's list having been entire
" suspended, the audience was probably
the most select and highly respectable
ever gathered in y Washington theatre.
Some of the most eminent lex secession
lists our city can boast of had seats Of hon
VI uNNbl INT SLh2ET OlAt VI W. - NAblA
were so aged that a naughty boy in the
upper tier cried out-"There's old Super
huous Lags!' in a]llusion to Shakspeares
line
"Superfuous lags the veteran on the stage
The audience was manly composed Of
seceshers, copPerheads, men who have
been turned out Of office, and men who
want Office as well as proper qualifications.
In order to swell the numbers the Oldest
citizens were not spared, and d delegation
Of men who have come down to us from
two or three former generations We're
made TO walk with difficulty to the place.
1t was even said that some of the most
reliable old chaps for an emergency of
this kind had been hauled out Of the
Congressional burying ground and help
ed to swell the ranks.
When the house was well filed and
warmed up, an odor as from old cop
per pervaded the atmosphere, and "a
Young gentleman belonging to one Of the
Departments quoted with fervor from the
"Ancient Mariner
a in a hot and copper sky" &c.
A band of music, composed of ten
pieces, stationed in the Dress Circle.
played the Star S~pangled Banner as Il
prelude, which was received in silence.
A few minutes past twelve o'clock one
of the walking gentlemen entered from
the left wing and said This meeting
comes together when a voice cried
"louderl' He said he had a cold, and
rehearsed the programme of the day, and
read a list of the officers.
The famous comedian, Mr.. Cox, here
entered from the prompter's place, and
was (which the Star ~Spangled Banner was
not greeted with applause. Mr.. c. looked
down upon the stage, and was apparently
disappointed at not seeing any sawdust.
The acting manager now announced a
short ~soliloquy, and the audience, evident
ly ~hungering after ~melodrama, shouted
for Voorhees,. But as no engagement had
been effected with that star performer, he
did not make his appearance.
The Chairman of the late Mcclellan as
ISOLATION now moved that a committee of
fourteen be appointed to bring in the res
olutions printed in the Unconstitutional
and Disunion Office for the entertainment
of the boys in the gallery.
a Mormon gentleman now arose in the
back Of the orchestra, but be not being
recognized as one of the company en-
gagged to appear On the occasion, loud cries
for order were made. He was under
stood in the confusion. to move that the
revolutionary committee be composed OF
n from each State and Territory. As
the resolutions and committee were
already cut and dried, lthe stage manager
Is one who makes hay while the sun
shines the proposition from MormondOm
was quashed.
One of the counsel for Mrs. Surratt now
moved that while the committee were
something next door. Mr.. Cox, the
celebrated comedian, should favor the
audience. Mr.. c. entered from the right
wing, and proceeded to pitch into the gen
tleman from Utah, about polvgamy, etc.
\ profane person in the gallery cried out.
What the hi has that to do with the
Freedmen's Bureau"
The committee entered with the printed
resolutions.
One of the counsel for the Lincoln con-
spirators moved that the resolutions be
The gentleman from Utah arose amid
cries of put him out ~ "Yoorheesl y sc.
He said he would be heard, and was finally
on the stage with the other per
formers. It having been discovered that
he Utah gentleman was Of the copperest
nue., Mr.. c. apologised to him. and they
hook hands before the footlights.
The chorus, behind the scenes, now sang
he following:
Far in the deep, where darkness dwclls,
The land Of horror and despair,
Justice bath built a dismal hell,
And laid her stores OF vengeance there.
Eternal plaques, and heavy chains,
T0rmrnting racks a1d fry Goals.
Aud darts { iuGict immortal pains,
Dy'diu the blood Of damned souls.
There Satan, tn first sinner lies.
And r,ars and bites his iron bands;
In vain tn REBEL strives to rise.
Crush'd with the weight Of both thy hands.
The play went on, and several gentle
men saved aud restored the country mag
liticently. Mr.. Cox appeared several
and then went out to assist at one
f the side shows, where he talked himself
lack in the face. Hid was willing to talk
Intil sunset, if he could thereby restore
he Democracy to power.
The varied performances within and
the theatre, afforded much enter
ainment TO a large number Of people who
.ad become idle for the day.
The following letters and extracts from
correspondence were left by mistake in
h adjoining saloon by a gentleman who
Intended to read them to the meeting:
RON GEN. STERLING PRICE, C.s.A A.
SECESSION RANCHEO
MEXICO, February >, 1865.
. Stage Manager Of CoppeThsaa Festival.
Washington, d. c.:
Say to the company that 1 would be
Apply to Join them on the 22d, but am at
pretty much out of wardrobe. etc.
never cared much about the Union
nee the Buchanan convention in Cincin-
att, where 1 went at the head of d con-
Missouri delegation and got into
lie convention by knockinsdown the the
oOr-keeper. The other delegation was
scognized by the convention, and our
)Uble-fsted party was compelled toleave ,
rom that time l believed the so-called
Mon not worth saving.
You are engaged in a laudable attempt
overthrow the Union party, and it il
that with the help of Thad ,
.evens, you may succeed. I fear, how !
that you will hardly be able to get S
.ntrol of Andrew johnson. He is hard !
lie to manage. t
Give my respects to the company, and {
V to them that when they have accom-
their object, l will return and Join a
EN-. q
With much consideration, q
-r-n w. D. .