Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-08-26
THE BOOTBLAOKS' DRAMA.

and Is known in al the annals OF the Lyric
Stage But it concerns adult and critical
audiences, and its actors are Of the "profes-
sion" Not so the bootblacks' drama. Some
how what is described below reminds one of
Charles Lambs description Of Jem Whites
sausage supper to the sweeps; and there is an
unmistakable and genuine tone Of Juvenile
wit underlying the whole business. In the
New York Sun Of August 18th we find the
following:
The Grand Duke Opera House, Baxter and
Worth streets, opened for the season last
| evening. Pete Conners, the manager, took
the dimes and half-dimes of $50 lads OF the
neighborhood, who pushed their way through
the narrow alley and scrambled down the di-
lapidated area steps into the cellar, Corners
cellar was crowded. Only the smaller boys
could occupy the raised back seats, because
the ceiling is low The stage was separated
from the auditorium by q narrow strip of
wood Two kerosene lamps served as foot
lights. Three others lit the house
Al 8 o'clock the stage bell was rung, and
John Curtis, in place of an orchestra, played
an accordion behind the scenes. The curtain
that Dave Conroy painted represented land
scape, approached by broad steps with marble
balusters. Dave Conroy went from the
Grand Duke stage TO the Olympic Theater in
Brooklyn He helps his old Grand Duke
friends in his off weeks. The stage was car
peted with sawdust Teddy Sullivan, Puck
Sullivan, and Miles OReilly played in the
old-time favorite, q" Pooling with the Wrong
Man. Teddy and Puck Sullivan, as the two
city bloods, wore false moustaches. William
I s.
by" He said: 1t was wrote by a Teller
He thought he'd git gold medal All he
got-he got ten years. Tommy Vim, the
Rubber Boy, IA years of age, twisted and
postured with an originality and ease not ex-
celled by the best salaried men in his line.
Eddy Mulcay, who followed, closely initiates
Ed Harrigan, of the Theater Comique He
writes his own songs. The boys drummed to
the chorus OF 1.-The Irishman's Spitz:'
Wouldn't they he glad
If he msdr
That's all right, ny covcy.
I'll keep him here
For another year,
Til he gifts the hylrophoby
Songs and sketches followed, and then Puck
Sullivan said: g will now introduce three
Senators. This is at the request of several
Aldermen which are concealed in the build |
ing" The Senators danced a statue clog, and |
L
represented Adam and Eve discovering Hous- |
ton street; another showed A jax defying Bran |
nigan Best Brannigan keeps bucket shop |
in Baxter street.
The boisterous sketch, Gone, Two, Three
Bounce, concluded the performance at half |
past o'clock. In the meantime the division !
line between the stage and the auditorium |
was almost lost among the urchins who found .
seats on the floor, and divided their time be- |
tween applauding the players and stufing the |
sawdust down rat holes in the boards. When |
the players washed up, the news came from
Pete Corners that it had been so house.
This material is all Irish Age cannot les
sen the splendid animal spirits nor custom
stale the keen zest for fun of these vagabonds
and street Arabs. Out of this sort of germs
grow the newer schools Of entertainment
George Christy vas no Christy at all, but an
Irish lad with name which vas brought
rom the Emerald Isle; and Barney Williams
earned to double shuttle on a cellar door III
Chatham street. Negro minstrelsy, like Ste
ohon Foster, its song writer and composer
anne from the fun-loving heart of the people;
ound life and expression among the bone
players and banjo,thrummers Of the streets
md alleys and cellars. Here are some lads
Fhom the pretentious refnemonts and con
,eationahties OF cities have not frightened or
giving vent to the native vivacity
md wild life Of EN-, fitting themselves for
rites and actors, scenic artists and showmen, !
nd tronding toward the discovery and de-
elopment of something new and fresh and
iquant in art. :