The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-28
LITERATURE.
OF NEW HOOKs.

Harper & Brothers. Philadel phia Agents.
Claxton, Remsen q Haffelfnger.
There are no class of persons who are better
Company in private life than members of
the theatrical profession. Their way of life
throws them continually in company with
queer specimens of human nature, and leafs
them into odd adventures which supply them
with limitless fund of anecdotes OF the most
hughable description. We know actors who
are infinitely more entertaining of the stage
than thew are when before the public; and
who. II storytelling was paying art, would
accumulate fortunes with the most gratifying
rapidity, whereas they find it difficult some
times to make a sufficiently favorable impres-
sion on their audiences to earn their daily
bread and butter. Most of the Autobiography
cal works written by actors and actresses are
very amusing reading, and Sol Smiths
"TheatIical Management in the West aud
South, for Thirty Years." is not the least
entertaining book of the kind that we have
seen. In this book is included the substance
of two smaller works published in 1S45 and
1855, and number of anecdotes which origi-
nally appeared in "Burton's Encyclopedia of
Wit and Humor" all of which had con-
siderable popularity In their day.
considerable amount of new matter
has been added, and the present work is a
complete, although somewhat disconnected
and rambling, autobiography. Mr.. Smith does
not make any pretensions to elegance of style,
but he knows how to tell good story, and
has keen appreciation of the humorous side
of life and character, so that he is always
entertaining, if not profound.
We do not remember whether the following
has ever been published before or not, but we
imagine that it will be new to the majority of
our readers, so we give it as specimen
brick:"- .........
In the course OF my management it may be
well supposed that the receipts have on some
occasions been very small, but it has seldom
happened that performance has taken place
without the presence OF dozen or Two who paid
for their admission. 1t will be seen by what
am now about to relate that in instance
performance took place (at least in part before
about the smallest paying audience on record.
-. 1t was very rainy night The play adver-
as the star, after which the celebrated Herr
Cline was to go through vita his wonderful
conclude with the farce of the Rendezvous
Conner was to receive, ana did receive. fifty
to get one clear third of the receipts, and our
nightly expenses were two hundred and fifty
d0ilaTsi m 70 Contrary Cor fsy to my usual r custom did
evening, having 20 part to play In the first
piece S but ts az about o'clock clock wenaed ana seaded
ing upon 1orteSa. Herr Cline, dressed for his
performance, met me as l entered.
"Oh! for Gods sake" said he imploringly,
don't compel me to dance to this handful of
people; the night is so bad, there are not twenty
dollars In the mousse Come let me off; dismiss
the audience. and let them go home"
In this petitien he was joined by all the actors
"This is ali very weii,S said o /, .to asl, me to
dismiss the audience; but you forget that this
rIvy H.,
through the pitiless storm. on the promise held
out in our bills. No. no; if they require the
willing, however, If they are ontifery saOisheu
to peeeiye thet m nS s
you all SO home. Before putting the question
to the audience, however, 1 must look into the
AS passed across the stage to the box. office l
east my eye through hole In the curtata, and
faces, counting bar keepers, dead-heads and
all. found the ticket seller sitting on a high
stool in the office, looking as melancholy as au
undertaken in healthy season.
"What are the recepts?" asked
"Guess" sald he.
Iguessed fifteen dollars.
"You have guessed just fourteen dollars above
the mark ;" said the treasurer, throwing down
two half dollars upon the shelf where The money
"oniy one ticket sold?" gasped 1.
"Only one ticket sold," remarked he, ooolly,
again jIngling the two half dollars upon the
said was entirely true.
"And a five act play has been given to the
that single Ticket" remarked.
Exactly So" said the treasurer "You know
your rule mo postponenlent on account OF
'Stop little" / said; "I'll go and see this
gentleman-he may be bought OFF," and away L
went into the front of the house. 1 soou found
the gentleman, seated exactly in the centre of
the parquette listening very attentively to ian
overture by the orchestra" which formed q
part of the programme upon the bills of the
"Quite rainy night, sir" said, addressing
the attentive listener to the overture. seating
myself at his side. He did not reply except oy
polite inclination of the mead.
"You will, hope, excuse the request l am
about 10 make OF you," said l, as soon as the
overture was finished (another nod from the
gentlemanG "but IT being, as remarked. quite
a rainy night, our efforts mere" (poinung to the
stage) "have not been SO well rewarded as the
attractions offered might seem TO deserve" (an-
other nod. In brler Sir you are the only in
dtVidual in the house VINO has paid for admis-
sion (nodC and we ask it as q favor that you
Will receive back your money, and relieve our
actors from further eXertions TO amuse you this
evening""
Several emphatic mods and one or two shrugs
OF the shoulders were the only responses re-
ceiVed 10 this civil speech. After waiting u
moment for an answer in lOOTdS ventured to
repeat my request that he would receive back
mis- money, at the same time rendering the
Identical half dollars the treasurer had been
Jingllng the whole evening Tue gentleman
stared at the money, aud then at me, as If he
was at loss to understand the meaning of my
words and action. 1t suddenly occurred to me
that the gentleman might be a little hard OF
hearing; so, placing my mouth close to his ear
again requested his acceptance Of the money
and demanded his permission to omit the re-
malnder OF the performance. Thus adjured tor
the third time, the gentleman at length opened
ms mouth set his tongue in motion, and spoke
"Monsleur, Je ne Somprends pas un mot de ce
que Vous dltes; mails Je suppose que vous parleZ
suis daccord avec Vous-c'est saperbei NO.
steur Conner est un jeune acteur cnaEaa ant eft