The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-06-28
Al. amusing Scene in a Theatre.

He occasion was the benefit night
of Mrs. Philips. That lady was play
ing jane Shore, in Maturin's tragedy
Of that name. The house-and TIE
Front street Theatre Is a large one
wis crowded. In the first Ter, on
one side, IN a front seat of the box
adjoining the proscenium, was con-
spIcuous the burly form of sailor,
with a large, red face. He was well
known to many of the audience as
Captain Hugg, the prosperous owner
and master of an Eastern Shore oyster
schooner. He was watching the play
with intense interest and feeling. as
was manifest from the tears that
coursed down bis weather beaten
cheeks. He also frequently placed
his right hand nervoasly upon his left
breast; but whether this acton had any
connection with his sympathy for the
heroine of the play, or was the rcsul5
of prudent concern for the wallet full
of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad shin
plasters be was known to carry in that
region, the sequel will show.
Ii is proper to state here, although
the date Of these occurrences was long
aft II the money panic of 1887 known
as the shinplaster era') had subsi-
ded, and the banks had fully resumed
specie payments, yet the Baltimore
aud Ohio Railroad Company, by some
financial legerdemain, kept the com
munity flooded with its one and two
dollar bills, which were almost the
only currency used in the smaller
trade transactions of the city. The
play had proceeded to the scene In the
last act, where Shores beautcous wife
Gate the OmnipOtent mistress OF
Edward the Fourth, but now, by
GlOster's cruel edict, an outcast wan
derer in the streets, with none to give
her food or shelter) comes upon the
stage, utters a heart-rending mono
lOgue, and falls, exhausted with star
walton and fatigue, to the ground. AS
the accomplished actress proceeded in
the melting relation of her woes the
audience were so rapt by her beauty
and misfOrtunes that but few of them
observed the demonstrations OF Cap
tain Hugg's passion, That gallant
son of Neptune rose slowly to his feet,
cOnvulsed with the throes of mighty
sympathy, and, with fearful eyes and
bated breath, listened to Jane S ptitul
story. When at length, she dropped
to the ground, seemingly in the last
Captains compassion reached its
climax. He sprang from the box to
the stage, rushed to the actress, bent
over her PROSTATE form, jerked from
his pocket his eapaeiOus wallet, tore it
open with trembling fingers, exposing
to view its piled-up treasure, and ex-
claimed. in a voice choked with sobs
and tremulous with uaIeigned emo
ton
Look up, Mistress Shore, look upl
By Cd, madame, you shan't starve
while I've Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road shinplaster III my pocket book. =
What followed beggars description.
For moment the vast audience re-
manned hushed, as If from involuntary
admiration of the big hearted sailor
generosity and gallantry. Then, as
the ludier0dsness of the scene see med
to flush suddenly upon them arose
such a elamor of stamping feet, clapp
ing hands, pounding of eaues, shout &,
rOars. -yells, shrieks aud sc cams of
laughter as never before or since
shook the walls of any theatre.
In the midst of the suproar manager
Wemyss made his appearance, politely
explained to the Captain that Mistress
Shores wants would be duly minister
ed to. and succeeded in leadlug-him
of the stage.
Several ineffectual attempts were
made to proceed with the tragedy, but
the audiea1ce was too thorough ~
imbued with the mirth occasioned bs
the sailor illusion to settle down to
anything serious. Each attempt OF
Airs. Shore to regain their lost atten-
ton was only greeted with renewed
commissions of laughter and cries for
Captain Hugg. The shrewd manager
only succeeded in restoring a sem
blaaee of order by starting the orches.
ira 10 fall blast and ringing on" the
ballet, after which a roaring farce was
tolerated From SPERRY's ReniniS-
cences Of the Drama, iH Packard
Moathlg for july.