Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-05-31
SOTHERN'S LATEST JOKE
Hoaxins tho FashiOnables Of Murray
Hill.


tFrom the New York San. Of FhdAy.l
Yesterday nearly every family In the
neighborhood Of Murray Hill received an
invltBtion neatly engraved on steel, and
Irinted on fne cards, as followsf-
AMATEUR OPERA,
PURITAN
Union League Theatre, Twenty sixth street,
Thursday evening. Msy Twenty.seeona,
AT Eight O'clock.
Admit Gentleman and Lady.
Tickets -Four Dollars.
Full presa. II German Eleven.
Across every ticket was written the one
word "Compiimentafy" In red Ink. AT
a quarter TO 8 carriages began to arrive
in front Of the Union League Theatre,
frelghted with elegantly-dressed ladies
and gentlemen, in full evening dress.
The gentlemen allghted from the car
rlages and looked in establishment at the
closed dJ0rs. Then they called the jan
nor aud asked why the doors were not
open. lie opened bis eyes in amazement,
and said that he knew Of no reason why
they sh' uld be opened. At length the
gentlemen in full evening dress, becoming
Indignant, produced the exquisltely en-
graved tickets, and demanded the mean
ng of 1t all. Meanwhile the elegantly
dressed ladies were shivering in their
carriages, wondering what had become
Of th'ir escorts,
By O'Clock, Twen.y-sixth street was
crowded with carriages, and In front of
the Union League Theatre stood group
Of handsomely dressed gentlemen, all
eagerly scanning the exquisltely engraved
ticket, each and every one bearing the
favorite legend complimentary"
a..
that he found II necessary to post a
notice on the door as follows;
This theatre has not been engaged for an
amateur operatic performance this evening,
consequently 1t will remain closed
The multitude steadily increased, each
new conner appealing to the throng
already gathered and asking what il
meant. A handsome gentleman arrived
from the Union Club and exhibited a
supplementary notice which he had just
received, as follows
Owing to a misunderstal aiding about Sc
curing the Union League Theatre this
evening flor which the management 10 not
responsibility the Amateur Opera will take
place at Robinson Hail, Sixteenth street,
between Union square and Fifth avenue,
BY order of the Committee.
Many hurried back into their carriages
and went to Robinson Hall, where they
saw the following notice:
The Amateur Opera postponed In conse.
quence Of the Modoe war.
There was vast turn ont of the frsl
families in front of the Union League
Theatre the clubs were deserted, and all
the elegant young gentleman in town
were on the ground. All were dumb
founded AT length Mr.. G. B. Bishop oil
Wallack's Theatre CHANGED to pass, just
10 time TO hear a gentleman drawl out,
"Egad, Sothern again let's 90 home.'
1t was astonishing to see how quick the
multitude saw the Joke. They looked al
each other, and in silence entered theil
carriages. AS they departed ladies wer,
heard lndulging In immoderate laughter
bu. their escorts were silent.
Ate O'Clock the Union League Clul
stationed valet in full uniform in from
= OF the theatre, who informed each new
J conner that the opera had been postponed
At II O'Clock an excited crowd Assem-
bled at Geo. T. Brownies chop house, %
! Broadway, and insisted that he shouli
| lead them to Wallaek's Theatre in searel
} Of Mr.. SOthern. That gentleman couli
. not be found. Anxious inquiries wer
made for him at his hotel and at tn
Union Club, but he was not in.
4 AT the clubs numerous groups dlscusse
/ the hoax, and many acknowledged tba
Q they had been sold. It is estimated tina
= upward Of 1000 persons visited the Unto
| League Theatre last evening.
d AZ O'clock this morning San reporte
visited Mr.. Sothern's hotel. On the doc
Z Of his room notice was posted, as fol
= lows;
: Gone to bed.
= Hearing the sound of piano, the r,
+ pO ter raped. The door was opened
, aud Mr. Sothern and Mr.. Philip Lee 9TH
= husband OF Miss Neilson) were seated o
the piano singing,
. "When we sat by the sea-"
= : The reporter told Mr. sothern that
= was rumored in the clubs that he ha
perpetrated a stupendous Joke on Il
residents of Murray Hill. Mr.. Sother
|, looked at Mr.. Lee, they both looked G
= the reporter in astonishment, and NJ
Sothern exclaimed. impossible In
: possible if there is any one thing mol
= than another that l do abhor, 1t is
!, practical joke"
= Both expressed Ignorance of the jok
and manifested sincere sorrow for q
,' persons who had been hoaxed. Bo
u had received Invitations to attend Il
Amateur Opera, but previous engag
j. ments had prevented their acceptanc
They called for brandy and wat
straight, aud the repsrler retired.