The sun., 1872-10-21
or LAUGHING BILL.
Laughing Mt the Bulls and Bears-At Josh
Harfs Thentre-ConvuIsinea n Whole Au-
dience aud Stopping the Playa Police
Oncer shuts on the Great LauRhcr.


Mr.. William Bennett, better known as
Laughing Bill, visited Wall street on Saturday.
His appearance in the Gold Room was the signal
for general suspension OF business and a uni
versal laugh. Mr.. o'Brien took charge Of him,
and after formal Introduction requested
Laughing Bill to favor them with an exhibition
of his wonderful powers Of laughing. But there
was no laugh there. The brokers laughed
at liill, but Bill wouldn't laugh at them. After
leaving the Gold Room Bill visited the stock
room, where he was met by a committee headed
10y the handsome Mo. MITCHELL tho champion
laugher Of Wall street. The room was crowded
aud as soon as II became known that Laughing
Bill among them, throng of brokers
gathered about him and clamored loudly for a
laugh And Bill did laugh. The chaldeiie.s
vibrated like pcndulums, the gold and stock in
dicators refused TO perform their functions, and
many crosses of buttons from coats. vests, and
pantaloous streved the 1oor when the cham
pion laugher had done.
In the evening, in company with some friends,
Laughing Bill visited the Theatre Comque. He
occupied the upper right hand proscenium box,
ard quietly surveyed the immense audience.
The entertainment was uf n pleasing nature, and
consisted Of diversions OF all kinds. There were
the scrIo-comic drama, the performing mules,
the girl who never saw man, clog dances, pa
thotic melodies, and Arrah ma Brogue, all for
NV f-"is Aud there was Laughing Bill, too,
rbc perform,nce began with the new local
drama Empire CITY. The third scene represents
a Ut mic party in Jones's Wood. with the mimi
table John Hart as coOrcd waiter. When
Hart reached the stage lie unc9nscously looked
toward Laughing Bill. The champion laurher
of the world then began. First he ha ha-had,
then followed n litter, "A ChuCkle, Rggle,
shout and q peal Of laughter which lasted Tor
ucurlv ten minutes. The actors became injected,
and then the audience began to smile, simper,
L..
they broke uut In such peal OF laughter "a was
ucver before heard In place OF Smusememt.
Ilut b,ve the din and noise Laughing Blls
loud laugh could 10 heard. ~ was the same
uuceasing: infectious laugh which made every
body rsihle and ludiCrous. AZ length lill Stop
ped, and the manager ordered the play To 20 ON.
but ono whole scene had teen entirely lost.
A. soon as quiet was restored, Nj JOSH hart
sent polite message to Laughing lilll request
ing MIN TO cease laughing. The polite Wcsscn-
ger was ao, umpai,ied 10y two buuncers and three
policemen. liill laughed at them, ahd they re-
tired dis cnmrtel.
Prof. j. J. show els and hlt wonderful perform
ing mules Pete aud Barney next occupied Laugh
Ing Bills attention. He laughed SO hard at The
mules that they became stubborn and refused
to perform. Al this the audience again burst
forth In a peal of laughter. but whether at the
mules or Laughin, Bit was hary to tell. Al any
rate II made No difference 10 lill, for he laughed
just as heartily for about ten minutes. the
audience laughing andc checring him by turns. Al
icr.'h gcutlcWinly-appcarln N"ulh WIN q
red i.-r. - bouquet in his huttonh lie, and hair
parted 100 he centre entered BIZ IS box, and tod
| him n t he must either stop laughing or git
tout.'
| "'ll right" said Mr. Bennett. I'm stop laugh
| ius waen the funny part begins" At this the
| rsd-noscd youth began to laugh, then the othor
ushcrs and the three policemen took II up, and
| finally the whole audience laughing. Bill
was putting In MS lost hchs. His whole body
was laY Ching, and his mouth looked like cash
| In q httf-trLN.
| \ third time Mr. Josh Hart sent him word e.
| stop lIu-hiug. A hig policeman. hraudi shins u
| fierce. looking club. bore the MESA e.. Hil
| stopped a. 81 dd,uiy as he began. at which The
| au.i cr,e Missed. Then Mr.. " Milham West sanl
| the audience In good humor, and made way
| for Frank hcrus and Johnny Queen. the VI .rn
| uc Gloriea. They were funny, So Bill didni
laugh but ~ soon "a they left the stage he CAV,
| the audience his fourth edition of genuine
| ld.gh lie laughed lmmoderAtely. Tie audience
| lay back exhausted, and shouted for some on,
| L L ke the man away. Al this stage of the pro
| cccdiugs N became evident that Josh Hart aut
| Laughing Rill couldn't run opposition shows II
| the same house at the same time. So Josh liar
| summoned all MS ushcrs and few extra police
| men and Clected the famous Laughing bil ! hh
en- blrd the actors TO earn their salaries to the
| satisfaction uf ,he manager and the audience
| and the show went ON.
| Mr. Bennett has shown his ability a. q laugh
| i-t. He made an audience of two thousand pcO
| ple laugh while he laughed, and Keen qule
| when he was quiet, and has, therefore. wei
| earned he title Of Laughing BILL The Champion
| I.au-heT of the World.