Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-06-22
romeo at a phiIadeIphIa Theater.

appears to be perfect master of every
passion Of the human soul, and can ex-
hibit at will the most gentle feelings in
the sweetest utterance, or give vent by
one loud outburst of furious passion to
all the stormy feelings of the human
heart. We speak from our own knowl-
edge Of the man, having heard him our
selves"
Soon after appeared the announce
ment that Mr.. Estlin would appear at
the Academy of Music in Shakespeare S
sublime tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, p"
with number of well-known amateurs
in the cast. Having once divulged his
plans to the public, our most wonder
full tragic genius followed it up by tell
ing the people through frequent adver-
tisements who and what this man Shak-
speare was, with choice extracts from
his plays, as a foretaste of the grand
treat in store. Last evening " the most
wonderful tragic genius made his debut,
and the Academy of Music was filed
to overhowing. Nature abhors vacu-
um, and the atmosphere on the occasion
of Mr.. Estlin's "benefit and first appear
ance" penetrated every nook and cor
ner of the building and filled the spa
cious auditorium as full as it was ever
filled with air) before. Indeed, the only
displacement sustained by the air we
breathe was caused by the presence of
about two hundred people, who were
scattered all over the house.
The handbills and advertisements had
promised the audience the overture
and other choice selections from the
opera of Romeo and Juliet" by Sc
lect orchestra The orchestra, how
ever, was non incentus, and Shakespeare $
sublime tragedy" was rendered with
out any dilutions by the strains of Gou-
nod and Bellini. When the tragic
genius made his entree, he was greeted
with hearty round of applause, which,
before the close of the first act, became
so continuous that the genius was
slightly incommoded. He persevered,
nevertheless, and at the close of the act
was called before the curtain by an au-
dience whose enthusiasm made full
amends for its meagerness, and who had
by that time come to see that they were
enjoying about the rarest tragic treat
that had ever been given in the Academy.
During the progress of the second act
the audience was even more uproarious
than during the first, the earnest plau-
dts being mingled with loud cries of
"hi! hill" "go it, old boy" and the
like. At the close of the act the tragic
genius" was again called before the
curtain, and embraced the opportunity
to apologize for the non-appearance of
the promised band. But his first sylla-
bles were drowned by stentorian cries OF
"louder!" and as fast as :" the genius "
lifted up his voice the audience did like
wise, until the climax was capped by a
cry of louder, old puddin' head
ALAS poor Romeo, he is already
dead ~ exclaims (" Mercutio " in one OF
| the earlier scenes, and in sooth such was
fairly his condition by the time he should
have made his entrancein the first scene
of act third to encounter the taunts ol
"Tyba!t." There was a delay OF full
FIVE minutes before " Romeo appeared
after "Tybalt" had exclaimed:
Here comes my man.
Where the ID is your man2
roared a small boy in the third tier.
" Romeo, where art thou2" drawled
out venerable octogenarian opposite,
who had copy of the play in his hand,
and was assiduously following the tragic
genius through his part.
"Here he comes" finally exclaimed
one of the anxious walters, as the
genius rushed upon the stage from the
wrong direction, perfect picture OF
despair.
The audience became ecstatic at this
point, and roared like mad. The inter
est deepened as the play progressed, and
when the scene in "Juliet's chamber
came on, another climax was reached.
Just as the genius" was pouring out his
heart to his mock love, an enthusiastic
youth in the family circle hurled a hand
full of coppers at the enamored Ro-
meo." This slightly Disconnected him,
as did likewise bundle of dry leaves
which followed it, But the indignity
was not eonsummated until, as the
genius" was about stretching his two
hands towards heaven, he was greeted
by an enormous cabbage, which fell at
his feet and smote him ON the toes.
Then the thing became monotonous,
and Romeo" turned upon his persecu-
tors. Wheeling up to the foot-lights, he
exclaimed, pathetically;
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm a sick
mani"
$50 you arer came from one of his
auditors.
"Tm not fit to be here, he continued.
That's sol was the ready response.
Ladies' and gentlemen, | have been
studying this part so hard that | haven I
had time to eat, put in the tragic
genius again.
go take drinkl" shouted a man
in the family circle.
And so the fun progressed until an
other rare point was reached at the
tragic death scene in the last act. "Ahl
ahP' "Ohl ohl" Easy easy
came from all parts of the. house as the
unfortunate lovers were letting them
lives down; and when they were stiff
~ stark on the floor, the enthusiastic
~ .h in the family circle who had
\ ,S"o,v, Uarx the handful Of coppers cried out
Justify: .,n
pnt tbev we're not to be set up again.
Tbev had d, 'ne their duty nobly and
were in at the ,1eath, and that is all that
was required -
nnione entertain lent that could be
u;ven u was made by a sympathetic audi
=, who during Que of the waits,
m ounted the stage, anc commenced'
Ladies and gentlemen, l once knew
a man in lunatic asylum b,
y "FstlinI Estlini Estlin's the mani
,r;.ed n dozen voices in chorus.
.The MarseIIaase in the south.