The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-17

snrites. released from his position 10 Harle-
ouin. Oh came Pantaloon's false nose and chin;
and Clown facetiousy asks Columbiue If she
would not like TO play it all over, just for fun,
''Ladies and gentlemenl"
All stand motionless, for this is the voice Of
the stage manager.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the evening per-
formance begins at half-past seven precisely.
No ten minutes grace"
The ladies and gentlemen shrug their
shoulders at this announcement, and one Of
the ladies' who takes in plain sewing, which
she does between the waits, says to one of the
gentlemen, who belongs to fire company
in the Bowery that she always did despise
these matinee performances, and always
shall.
"spealz well of the bridge that carries you
over" replies the gentleman.
GAS Booth did of his nose till the bridge
of it got broken" says Clown, who will have
his Joke. ..
"a quarter to six, replies somebody else.
"My goodness We never shall have time to
go home and get dinner"
Dinner " echoes Pantaloon, who
is cast for the heavy parts as
general thing, and has a great contempt
for himself in the Christmas pantomime,
where he does little but get knocked down,
and be helped up, and bawl and grimace over
his petty woes. "Dinner You think of
dinner-I of the revenge Ha, ha-a-a-al"
and he strides behind the wings.
"Pd like to revenge myself on good fat
turkey" says Columbine. "What is Christ
mas without a turkey ?"
"Exactly Also, what is home without
mother 2''
Nobody seems inclined to answer these per-
tinent queries, and the Christmas players go
thronging towards the dressing-rooms.
"Oh, say J"
Clown speaks.
"Suppose we send and get something to eat,
and have it in the green room? ?'
"Agreed," +" says voice.
"Agreed," says another voice, in higher
key, 49,,
strain of Hecate, and instantly joining hands
the players form a ring dancing wildly and
sion that which they have often sung for the
diversion of the public.
"Around, around
Around, around
About, about
About, about
All ill keep running,
Running in
All good keep out ~
"stop ~ roars Pantaloon. "By the prcking
of my thumbs, something wicked this way
comes ~
1t proves to be the leading man,
the pOetical Hamlet, about whom all
the Fifth Avenue girls are raving, who
opens the back door and stalks in with an UNI
brella under his arm, overshoes on his feet a
yellow-covered playbook in his hand, and a
cold in his head.
"You're earning your sal easy" says Clown
to him with some reproach.
81 earn it hard enough the rest of the year, -
says Hamlet; cit would be pity if 1 couldn't
nest when the Christmast pantomime is on"
But the Clown does not hear what Hamlet
says, for the words are drowned in another
wild chorus of the circling ring
''Send down Sal
Send down Sal
Send down Sala-ree!'
"Something too much of this,' says the
tragedian with frOwn, "What says the
| king 2"
call boy2 Let's send him out. What shall
it be Oysters ?"
Gay, my good lord? ?''
''Frried oysters, Smirkins'-to the call-boy
! -''and let 'em be hot"
! All adjourn to the green room, except the
call-boy, who disappears into the street.
Smirkins is a boy of twenty-nine or thirty,
who has been in love so many times that his
face is scanned with lines of care, and great
Woe sits ever on his unhappy brow.
Smirkins has been in love with all the
tragedy queens known to fame, and large
number of the ballet girls whom fame has
never deigned to know. In the case of the
tragedy queens Smirkins' love is a thing Of
sighs and glances and unspoken distress. In
the case of the ballet girls Smirkins' love dares
to find voice; but that does not seem to help
the matter greatly.
At present, Smirkins is desperately in love
with Kitty King, of the ballet, who is very
sorry for Smirkins, but does not care rush
for him.
But at present Smlrkins is buried in the
depths of an oyster cellar, in quest of oysters
fried.
"Boo boo how cold it is l' cries Colum.
bine, who has been in her dressing-room and
got shawl. 81 do wonder what people want
to come out to the theatre for in such bitter
weather as this-and on Christmas Day too -
"TO be sure," answers Harlequin
who is of English birth, and who, according
to his own account, has passed the whole o
his life prior to his unfortunate step IL
coming to America in dancing before the Queer
and the rest of the royal family. sin Heng
land no one thinks of going to the theater hor
a Christmas"
fFWhats boxing night f'' asks Clown.
'.The night harfter, to be sure And harm
they jolly crowd then ~
No one seems disposed to answer this ques
ton, for at the moment reenter Smirkins, will
oysters fried, followed by waiter heavil.
laden,
SAN hail, Smirkins !"
Shout unanimous.
"You're very good, Mr.. Smirkins," say
Kitty King, and Smirkins colOrs violently AM
jOyiully.
'The labor we delight in physics pain,
answers the call boy, who is ambitious to b