Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-12-28
A CHRISTMAS MATINEE.
How Memphis Went Drank 90 a
Matinee, and How the Boys Saw
"Under the Gas Lfghs.'' ritl.

A Christmas matinee at a Memphis
Theater is q thing never equalled In
any other city. On Christmas day Mem.
pbis was hilarious, with a weakness for
Indian war whoops, torpedoes, Ere
crackers and free fights. Last Wednes-
day was no exception to this general
rule. At the Theater matinee Memphis
broke out into open mutiny against the
customs and usages Of theatrical Ell.
quette. Treasurer Short had full
house-full in both senses Of the term
From the rising 10 the falling of the cur
tain the audience yelled, whistled and
stormed. Each visitor had a Christmas
present, received at the door. Hundreds
had to stand up around the dress circle.
Pat Short, having in view the pleasure
of his guests, made regular rounds aud
Strengthened up his visitors against the
wall whenever they gave signs of becom-
ing weak-kDeed and were in danger of
sinking to the floor. Some Of the sinking
wall-howers would look down on Short
aud say maudlinly: IF you were not
Pat Short and small boy, I'd hit you on
the head with this whisky bottle" No
other man on earth could have gone
around propping up these spiritualists
without having score of fights on his
hands in as many minutes. When Miss
Katie Mayhem came on the stage,
shower ofChristmas presents fell around
her-tin trumpets, china dolls, rattles,
rings, jumping jacks and hundreds o.
other things which had just been dis
tributed. The actresses had to pick up
loads of presents and bear them from off
the stage, to the great delight Of the au-
dience. One of the leading actors was
also under the inAuence-too much
Christmas. In the love scene the fud-
died actor was in fix; he spoke words
of love with staggering and thick
tongue, producing most comical
effect. His efforts to walk steady and
be pathetic in voice we're ludicrous in
the extreme. When Laura Courtland,"
Miss OConnor, implored Ray Traf
ford, saying; "Mr. Trsaiord, what is the
matter with your roar broke out
from the jolly audience, which roar was
deafening when one of the wall-howers
answered aloud for Traford," He is
drunk-that's what's the matter with
him" and so the play went on. Again
Laura" inquiringly asked, What
must do with him?" The prompter
in the audience quickly replied, Put
him in his little bed" Fun grew fast
and furious, the appearance of the
tipsy actor always producing fine effect
lie had to be caught when he went
OF" and walked around by his
friends until his cue" came; he
was then prompted and showed out
on the stage. The manager sat be-
hind the scenes in fear and trembling
but the good nature and happy condition
Of the visitors settled everything. Even
the audience felt some anxiety when
Ray Traford" attempted to sink,
lover-like, on his knees at the feet of
Laura CORTLAND. He first tested one |
knee, then the other, as if in doubt that
either would bear the pressure; but be
carefully balanced himself for second
and sank on both knees with jerk. When
he rested on terra frma the audience
screamed with delight and cheered Justify |
when he succeeded in regsining his feet |
with the assistance Of Laura" Pat Short
had distributed small bottles of cologne
as presents, and many of these were
emptied by the tipsy visitors, who be-
lieved it was a short whisky cocktail,
thereby pertaining their stomachs in an
unique manner Take it all in all, the
Christmas matinee was thing never to
be forgotten. II was e carnival of fur, and
VIC venture the assertion that Under the
Gaslight was never received with more
frantic enthusiasm since it left the desk
of the author " Have yos an audience
composed of wild Indians2' said
Proprietor Pspe to Treasurer Pat
Short. The amused Treasurer only
replied: Never mind, old fellow,
Memphis is only celebrating Christmas;
the boys are all right 'Are many of
them aFHnk, Bats asked the astopished
St. LOuisial. Drunk Did you say .
irunkS Why, there amt q sober man '
in the house. And so ended Shorts
great matinee. which, ike Lannigan's
ball, will live in local history as the big t
yesf hlow-ont of tha saaaon