The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-06-05

ABnKs. s.-Yesterday nearly every family
In the neighboyhood Of Murray Hill re-.
cef7ed an invitation, neatly engraved on
steel. and ptipsed on fine cards, as fol-
lows: e.
AMATEUR OPERA. 2,
PURITASA.
Union League Theatre. Twenty-sixth
street, Thursday Evening, May %.
At 8 o'clock.
Admit Gentleman and Lady.
Tickets, 81.
Full Dress. German Eleven.
Across every ticket was written the
one word. Complimentary. in red lux.
At quarter to 8. carriages began to ar
rive in front of the Union League Thea.
t-e, ireightcd with elegantly dressed la.
dies and gentlemen, in full evening dress.
The gentlemen aiighted from the cur
riages. and looked with astonishmcnt at
the closed doors. Then they called the
janitor. md asked why the doors were
not open. He opened his eyes il umaze-
mcnt, and said that he knew Of no reason
why they should be opened. At length
the gentlemen, in full evening dTcss. be-
coming Indignant, produced the eSnui.
siteiy engraved tickets, and demanded
the meaning of it all. Meanwhile, the
elegantly dressed ladies were shivering
ia their carriages, wondering what had
become of their escort. By S o'clock,
Twensy-sixth street wha crowded with
carriages. ard il front oi the Union
League Theatre stood group Of hand.
somely dresscd gentlemen, nil eagerly
scanning the e1quisiteiy engraved ticket.
each and every one bearing tie favor;te
Legend, Complimentary.
The janitor was caile.l upon SD often,
:hat lie found it necessary to post no.
tice on the door, as :oiiows:
'Ihis theatre bas not been engaged
for an amateur operate performance this
evening, consequently it will remain
closed"
The multitude s.ea.iily Increased. zach
new co;ncr appealing 10 the th-ong
already gathered and asking what i:
meant. \ handsome gentleman arrived
from the Union Club and exhibited
supplementary notice Which he had jns.
received, as fellows:
''OTlng to a misunderstanding about
securing the Union League Theatre, this
evening (tor which the management is
not responsible.( the amateur opera will
| take plnoe at Robinson Hall. Sixteenth
street, between Union Square aud F .fth
avenue, Southern side.
'BY ORDER OF THE COMMITTEE.
Many hurried back into their carriages
and went to Robinson Hail, where they
saw the following notice:
''The Amateur Opera postponed ia
consequence OF the Modoc wax"
There was vast turn out OF the first
families in front Of the Union League
| Theatre: the clubs were deserted and all
the elegant yourg gentlemen in town
were on tho ground. All were dumb
founded. At length, AIr. @. 3. Bishop,
of Waliack's Theutre, chanced TO pass,
just in time to hear gentleman drawl
out: "Egad, Sothern again; let's go
home" 1t was astonishing to see how
quick tho multitude saw the Joke. They
looked at each other, and in silence en-
tered their carriages. "a they departed.
ladies were heard indnlging in immode-
rate laughter, but their escorts were ST.
lent.
At Q o'clock, the Union League Club
OF the theatre, who informed each new
conner that the opera had b,cn post
poned.
At IL o'clock an excited crowd as.
sembed at George T. Brownies chop
house. 024 Broadway, aud insisted that
he should lead them to Walack's 8 Thea
tre in search Of Mr.. Sothern. That
gentleman couil not be found. AK
ious inquiries were made for him at his
hotel and Mt the Ucion Club, bnt he was
not in.
At the clnbs numerous groups dis
cusscd the hoax, and many acknowledged
that they had beon sold. It is estimated
that upward of 1000 persons visited the
Union League Theatre Inst evening.
at l o'clock this morning .S.n re-
porter visited Mr.. Sothern's hotel. On
the door OF his room notice was posted,
as follows: "(Sons TO bed" Hearing the
sound Of piano. tho reporter raped
The door was opened, and Mr.. Sothern
and Mr.. Philip Lee (thc husband OF
Miss Neilson) were seated at the piano
singing. The reporter told Mr.. 'Sothern
that it was rumored in the clubs that he
had pcrpetratcd O stupendons joke on
the residents of Murray Hill. Mr..
Sothcrn looked at Mr.. Leo, they both
looked at the reporter in nstonishment,
and Mr.. Sothern exclaimed: "Impossi-
be! impossible! if there is any one
thing moro than another that 20 abhor,
it is "a practical joke"
Both expressed ignorance Of tho joke,
aud manifested sincere sorrow for the
persons who had bcon hoaxed. Both
had received invitations to attend the
| Amateur OEera buk treyin,)a nnraoa.