The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-22


and gentlemen formed " theatrical combina-
tion,n and betook themselves to the city of st.
Paul, Minnesota. proposing TO combine the lauds.
BILE objects of putting money in their purses aud
enjoying the vacation in al agreeable locality.
The citizens Of ST. Paul rewarded their enterprise
and labors with gratifying lberality, and ali the
members of the company became favorites with
the kind Minnesotans.
Three or four Of the gentlemen, myself among
the number, were one morning seated In the PAT
Ior of tie hotel, when a. waiter brought to Us
card, upon which was engraved the words:
J. G. P0PHAM
Soda Water Manufacturer,
ST. Pail, hinn
Together with the usual business announcement
that - the trade would be literally dealt wi,h,r
and that strong inducements were held out to
those who would return the empty bottles, besides
many other tempting particulars that DO not at
this moment live in my memory.
Our request that the gentleman should be de-
sired TO walk up being duly complied with, there
entered to US tall. thin person with long hair.
and pale, melancholy face, in whose lineaments
the scutest physiognomst could not detect the
character of his pursuits. The intellectual brow
bore mo impress that the busy brain beneath had
constantly grappled with that class of thoughts
required in the manufacture of soda water. The
dark, speaking eyes had no speculation ofsempty
bottles in them. His careless, almost reckless,
bearing did not impress US as OF one who did 10
customers attend with punctuality and dispatch.
was far, immeasurably far, above his business.
Complying with our request 20 be seated, Mr..
Popham commenced the conversation By asking:
(Which is the president Of the theatrical associa-
tion?'
The effect of the new title to our company was
great but evanesceut. One of the party ex-
planned that communication from him could be
received by the assembled wisdom, and acted on
Immediately. a
Mr.. Pop6am then unfolded to Us that. from an
early period of his recollection, he had been pos
sessed with an uncomfortable desire 10 enacr o
character, but more especially that beautiful en-
bodment OF all poets dreams, one /" Claude Mel
notte." The character is IN q play called the
Lady of Lyons.n " You may perhaps know the
play" said Mr.. POpham, looking at us rather
doubtfully; we all. after pause to refresh our
recollection, murmured that we had dim remem-
brance OF having heard this play spoken of at one
time or another. :" The character Of Claude
Melnotte, gentlemen, is one exactly fitted to my
nature. will not conceal from you that the man
ufacture Of soda water and-and-ginger pop is
very remuneratlve although the latter branch is
not mentioned on my card (ginger pop not being
so fashionable as soda water but have deter
mined TO sell out and go on the stagel "
Now, gentlemen, continued he, % am bust
ness man, and I'll tell you what I'll do. II you
will allow me to play that part ext Monday night,
Ill guarantee TO you the full expenses of the
house, and give you the money in adyaace.r
This was really talking business, and it did not
require many moments for US to see that there
perfected, check lodged in our hands as per
agreement, and Mr.. Popham took his departure.
The editorials in the two or three city papers,
announcing the forthcoming event first began TO
open our eyes TO what we had before as. The al
lusions to highly popular gentleman of the city
who was about TO burst on the theatrical world.
whose genius had been bottled in obscurity, but
who was ThesDian amateur of the first t0dter,
with sarcastic appeals to the vox populi, etc.,
etc.. with aE expression on the face of every one
we met as OF delicious anticipation of some high
enjoyment TO come, caused Us TO feel that they
in the wild desire TO guy Mr.. Popham. might take
it into their heads TO bestow the same honor On
ourseves-for the gentle public is capricious. Il
wss too Fate. however, to withdraw Mr.. Pophsm's
name, which had been announced with many mag
Dihcent hourishes, and the day Of the representa-.
ton arrived.
The seats had all been taken, and tickets had
been selling at a premium. f
IL was on the occasion of the last rehearsal that
we observed in Popham the symptoms OF an in
clination to "funk.o The poor man had his rea.
sons. probably, and his fears concerning his re-
ception were fully shared by rs. Then the, by
this time, aggrayatng Popham, for some in
scrutabie purpose, had his long hair (which was
admirably adapted for the character) cut quite
short, whereupon he insanely remarked that be
was sorry that he bad allowed it TO be dons.''
Other mental alterations betrayed themselves as
the rehearsal proceeded-as, for instance coming
to US and expressing fears that his memory which
had contained the words OF Claude from his
earliest infancy, was deserving him, and asking Us
10 play the fourth act only as he couldn't answer
for any Of the rest of the part coming TO time.
Then horrible thought possessed him as to what
be was able 20 DO with his hands and he sug-
gested that he should defy the rules of the
costume Of the period, and wear an overcoat with
large pockets. by which that embarrassment could
be evaded. Then be limited mysteriously that he
couldn't go further than the fourth act. But the
climax was reached at four o'clock that after
noon, when MIR. Popham was conveyed to, our
hotel in q state of almost speechess intoxcation,
PROMPTED by desire on his part to make
call.n firmly believe that Popham. until that
day, never tasted anything stronger than his own
soda v alter. We saw that matters were despe.
rate, and as but few hours were between us and
the performance, we placed Mr.. Popham under
course of treatment not recognized. perhaps, in
dte-id D'edacd, but OF which spirits Of hartshorn
and cold water formed the principal agents. Our
gentle minstering acted as sufficient soberative
and Popham passed from the state of maudlin
stupor 10 that of loquacious idiocy. We went to
the theater and found the house crammed in every
art.
The play commenced, and in the third scene,
when Claude made his fret appearance, he was
received 20 our surprise. with warm and re-
spectful gree ing. Bis acting showed evidently
that Pophsm had mistaken his vocation; put all
passed Of well, and at the end OF the act we sur
rounded him TO offer our congratulations. He
shook his head gloomily and said: % Ii the fourth
act was ovtr-but am afraid | shan't get any
farther than the fourth act.n
In that memorable scene in the act Named,
where Claude expresses his determination TO be
soldier, the audience began TO show their little
game.n A gentleman in the front of the par
Quette opened q soda water bottle with tremen-
dous popi And as the agonizing partings with
the mother and deceived wife went on, the soda
water bottles went of | have since made cal
cDlaiion that there were in the front seven hun
bred men, and that each man had brought with
him ten SODA water bottles so that the moment
the signal pop! fred there we're not less than
seven thousand bottle opened-and then Mr.. Pop
hsm's coufounded soda water was remarkably
good soda water. and the noise, as the fusiade
became more spirited, was absolutely deafening.
just fancy the effect 10 close atmosphere, Of the
liberated ehervescence OF seven thousand soda
water bottles on the following beautiful language:
Col. Dumas-I will depart this day, II you will
go with me-
Clsude-ItIs favor would have asked thee
If II had dared (pop and seDsation). Place me
wherever foe Is most dreaded (about twenty
terrific pops and increasing sensation), wherever
France most needs a life (rhepops. crescendo).
Then a. be goes to relate that ne twill (pop y
return lpop y better (pop y man (pop pop
pop y than (popD prince" (pop phizz pop y
etc.. etc, ETC., and that "amdst the carnage and
~. a