National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-10
soTHEREs LATEST JOKES.

PERPLExITIES OF A YOUNG ACTRESS.
Washington Correspondence PIttsburg Leader.
Sothern has national reputation as a practical
joker as well as an actor, but never learned to
what an extent does he carry his passion for prac
teal joking until his last weeks engagement at
the National theatre here 1t appears that Joking
is passion with him. HIS daily joke is as neces
sary as the morning appetizer for tho average
man. Upon the stage, even during the incident
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 net, Soth
ern passed her, aud, said In O whisper, "For
heavens sake be careful your skirt is coming of -
The young lady was distracted at the intelligence
and cutchIng at her skirt elung to It convulsveiy
until she had an opportunity Of stepping behind
fat, when she discovered that 1t was only another
one of Sothern'siokes ......
Friday night "Dayid Garrick" was billed, and
Sothern that evening seemed so full of q breezy.
humor that it could only ind vent In some sort OF
practical joke. In the cast OF the play was 9
very beautiful young lady, who is very sensitive
upon the subject OF admirers. Sothern, when he
came on in the second act, noticed q bald
headed old gentleman in the second row
front literally devouring the face Of the young
actress with o double barreled opera-glass Here,
too, was found good chance for o joke. A few
moments after his conceiving the idea o box was
brought behind the scenes by one Of the ushers.
1t was for the young lady mentioned above. 1t
was q beautiful box, and filled with exquisite
french bon-bons. At first she was very much
pleased with the present. but as she read the note
accompanying It her cheeks flushed and she fairly
stamped her feet with Indignation. The note
was as follows:
LOVELY VISION: love you! / adore you!
Look for me, the bald-headed party, second seat
oths right, in front. You will recognize me by
the bald head and my firm Roman nose; my
mothers mean; have it from her by inherit
ance. Be mine. / love You madly. l am
TdOwer with no children but long to be father 7,
so, please drop your handkerchief at the end OF
the scene. YoUR DEv oTED ADMIRER"
This note so discounted the young lady from
the unusual experience of having so vigorous an
admirer and so bold o one during her presence
upon the stage that she missed several OF her
in the succeeding scene. She was going to send
the box and note back to the ald-headed party,
but her friends discouraged her, saying 1t was
better not to notice It at all. Fancy the feelings
of the old man if the box and note had been sent
him.
Toward the close Of the next scene up came an
usher with another note, which was as follows:
"Oh, cruel, cruel one. Why did ever meet
your eWeur you snhIl De mine. Rnl IN Ine DOA
now, SO that can be near you. Behold me, your
me. wP. B"
This was too much, tho young lady thought,
and It was with flushed cheeks and indignant,
swapping eyes, that she went on with her bust
ness. Wonderful coincidence. When the curtain
went up there was the bald-headed party in the
Scat.
Directly up came another note. 1t was as fol-
lows:
1.-THE struggle is over. am going to cut my
throat in five minutes in the box. Cruel, obdu-
rate one, why did ever meet you? No, wont
cut my throat. ! will haunt you for years, and
am on your track, and you can never escape
mew
The young lady now became quite frightened,
as she thought she had an amieable lunstic for an
admirer.
The following conversation explains the sequel
to the above. Time The next evening, a.
ter the curtain had been runG down on the last
act. Sceue-Mr. Sothern bidding farewell to the
members Of the company. He approaches the
young lady:
"GoOd-by," said he, as he takes her by the
hand -. >,
"Good-by," she replied.
"oh, by the way" says Mr.. Sothern.
"Well?'
"Did he cut his throat?"
Sudden light dawnlng.) "oh, Mr.. Sothern
will never forgive your and the little body
walks Indignantly away, only to be overcome
with laughter afterWard at the real excellence Of
the joke.