The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-05

Not one Ounce among the lot,
Not one lesson they forgot;
Polished in a high degree,
AS each froggie ought to bes
Now they sit on other logs
Teaching other little frogs.
SEEING A TRAGEDY.
1t was an exceedingly full night at
the theater, and though We reached the
doors in pretty good time, we We're after
a great many more, and had to go
slowly up the great cOrkscrew staircase,
laughing and pushing their way up.
Twice over felt disposed to give it up;
but thought the child would be so dis
appointed, and ! kept on, taking her
upon my back at last, when the crowding
was worst, and at last getting past the
pay barrier, and hurrying up the endless
steps.
There was regular sea Of heads be-
tore me when stood at last looking for
q favorable spot; and soon finding that
taking seat meant seeing nothing OF
the performance, l continued TO wedge
my way along between two rows of seats
occupied by people loud in their pro-
testations that there was no room, till l
found standing place in front OF one OF
the stout supports of the upper gallery
a pillar that have always thought Of
since as the saving Of my lite.
am not going to discuss whether
theaters are good or bad places, but
know that night the greatest enjoyment
l had was in watching my little girps an
mated countenance as her eyes rested
upon the handsome chandelier, now upon
.h frn Nf
then half dancing with delight at the
strains from the orchestra; while her de-
light bordered almost upon excitement
when the curtain drew up and a snowy
piece was performed.
All at once turned all of cold shiver,
and then the blood seemed to run back
to my heart, while my hands were wet
with perspiration; for quite plainly had
smelt that unmis istakable odor of burning
wood.
''Fancy," I thought to myself; and I
leaned back against my pillar once more,
resting my hands upon my child's shoul-
ders, as we stood there, exactly opposite
the center of the stage, and consequent
ly as far from the doors as possible,
while the recollection OF that tremend-
GUS corkscrew staircase made me shud-
der again; and, fancy or no fancy, took
hold Of the chila's arm, meaning to force
my self through the crowd and get out.
Once nearly started, but hesitated,
thinking how disappointed she would be
to leave when the best part of the per-
formance was to come; twice l was
going, and SO hesitated for about five
long enough to have ena-
bled me to reach the staircase and begin
down. just five minutes; and
then, smelling the fire once more, i
grasped the child's arm, said "Come
along,n and had made two steps, when l
saw that l was too late, and dashed back
to where had stood minute before, by
the pillar.
won't call it presence Of mind, for
fear of being considered vain; but l felt
sure that if wished to save my child's
life, my place was by that pillar in the
center, for knew the people would rush
right and left toward the doors at the
first alarm.
And now, what made me start backp
Why, the sight OF several people hurry
ing toward the door; OF one here and an
other there starting up and looking anx-
iously around, as II aware OF coming
danger; of people whispering together,
and anxious races beginning to show
among those which smiled. Then came
a dead pause; the band ceased playing,
and the musicians were hurrying out
through the door beneath the stage, up
setting their music-stands as they went.
Still, people did not move, but seemed
wondering, till right at the top above the
curtain there was a faint fash of light,
and tiny wreath OF faint, blue smoke,
when shrek, which rang through the
place, was heard-the most horrible, de-
spairing cry l ever heard--a cry which
;Iya oh IN
and unlocked their voices; fOr, before
the eve had seen another flash the whole
audience was afoot, shrieking, yelling
and swaying backward and forward In a
way most horrible, and never to be for
gotten. Box doors crashed as men flung
Them open, and the hurrying crowd in
the passage dashed them to again, max
ing the people shrek more than ever, as
they fancied themselves fastened in.
First one and then another man rushed
from behind the curtain upon the stage,
moving his arms and speaking; but they
might as well have shouted to a storm,
as the cry of "FireW rang through the
house, and people tore toward the doors.
Self, self, self, seemed to be. the only
thought, as men clambered into the up
per gallery, or dropped down Into ours.
scores climbed down into the boxes; hun
dreds dashed frantically along, tramp.
ling others under foot, and even Chamber.
ing over the heads OF the dense, wedged.
in throng, trying to reach the doors; but
all hindering one another.
1t would have been madman's act;
but l wanted to run too, and be one OF
the surging crowd-to be in action at a
time when ones blood ran cold to hear the
horrible groans and shrieks OF the fright.
ened moo, wedged into mass, from
which now and then horrid cry rose
from a poor wretch beaten down and
trampled under toot. closed my eyes
for a moment, but l could see plainly
enough the horrors that were going or
upon that staircase; and yet had ts
fight hard against not only self, but the
mob VINO sWayed backward and forward
past me, some making for one door, some
or the other, perhaps only to return
again shrieking with horror; while more
than one, in climbing over the rails il
front OF the gallery, Tell headlong into tht
pit. =.
AS soon as had been able to collec
myself little had caught hold of my
child, and laid her at full length beneath
the nearest seat; and there she lay, tot
terrified to move, while people leaped
from seat to seat, over and over her, ant
l all the time clung desperately to tina
pillar where had stood all the evening
More than once l was nearly dlagget
away; but it acted as break to the VIC