New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-12
SOthern's Latest Joke,

SOthern has a national reputation as a
! practical joker as well as an actor, but
never have learned to what an extent does
he carry his passion for practical Joking
until MS last weeks engagement at the Ma.
tional Theatre here. IL appears that Joking
Is passion with him. His daily joke is as
necessary as the morning appetizer for the
average man. Upon the stage even during
| the incidents of an act before the audience
he Is continually playing his jokes. Here
Is an example: In one of the acts of :. Our
American COUSIN" young lady who was
playing one OF the prominent parts of the
| play. stood little back during one scene,
| and as she was to come forward during the
| act. Sothern passed her and said in a
| whisper: :" For Heavens sake be careful,
| your skirt is coming Oft" The young lady
was distracted at the intelligence, and
clutching at her skirt, chung to it convul-
slvely unit! she had an opportunity Of step.
ping Dehlnd a hat, when she discovered that
1T was only another one of Sothern's Jokes.
friday night David Garrick" was billed,
and Sothern that evening seemed so full of
breezy h'lmOr that it could only find vent
IN some sort OF practical joke. In the
cast OF the play was very beautiful young
LADY, who was very sensitive upon the SUBJ
lect OF admirers. Sothern, when he came
on in the second act noticed bald-headed
old gentleman in the second row front liter
ally devouring the face of the young actress
with double barreled opera glass. Here
was too good chance for Joke. A few
moments after his conceiving the idea, a
box Was brought behind the scenes by one
OF the ushers. 1t was for the young lady
mentioned above. 1t was beautiful box,
and filled with exquisite French bons .bons.
AT hrst she was very much pleased with the
present, but as she read the note accom-
panying it, her cheeks flushed, and she
fairly stamped her feet with INDIGNATION.
The note was as follows:
LOVELY VISION: l love you. adore Won!
Look for me, the bald headed party, second
seat to the right, in front. You will recog-
nize me by my bald head and my firm
Roman nose, my mOther's-I mean / have |
it from her by inheritance Be mine. l |
love you mady. l am widower with no |
children, but long to be a father. 1 have
S2S,OOO year. Say, will you be mine1 II |
SO, please drop your handkerchief at the |
end of the scene.
YOUR DEVOTED ADMIRER.
This note go discounted the young lady !
from the unusual experience of having SO |
vigorous on admirer, and SO bold one dur
ing her presence upon the stage, that she |
missed several OF her cues in the succeeding
scene. She was going to send tie box and |
note back to the bald-headed party, but her
friends discouraged her, saying it was bet.
ter not to notice it at all. Fancy the feel
ings of the old man if the note and box had
been sent to him.
Toward the close Of the next scene up
came an asher with another note which
was as follows:
''Oh cruel, cruel one! Why did ever
meet you? l swear you shall be mine. ]
am IN the box now SO that l can be nearer
you. Behold me, your fate. Lovely cruel
one, do not think to escape me.
"W. p. B."
THIS Was too much, the young lady
thought, and it was with flushed cheeks
and indignant, swapping eyes that she went
IN with her business. Wonderful coinc-
fence. When the curtain went up there
was the bald headed party in the box.
Directly up came another note. 1t was
rs follows:
The struggle is over. l ana going to cut
NY throat iii five minutes in the box. Cruel |
,bdurate one. why did l ever meet you.
No. won't cut my throat. Beware how
you scOrn me! l am on your track. and
you can never escape me -
The young lady now became quite fright |
med, as she thought she had an amiaole |
uDatlc Tor an admirer.
The following conversation explains the |
eQuel to the above. Time, the next even
ne after the curtain had been rung down
N the last scene. Scene, Mr.. Sothern bid
ling farewell to the members of the com
ANY. He approaches the young lady.
'Good-by,' said he, SIS he takes her by .,
be hand.
"Good-by she replied.
ooh, by the way, says Mr.. SotLern. :
"Well?'
Sudden light dawning) cob, Mr. Soth- !,
IN, | will never forgive" and the little !
ody walks Indignantly away. only to be :
vercome with laughter afterward at the :
cal excellence of the joke Washington e..
correspondent of the Pittsdu,y Leader !