The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-29
LITTLE BERTHE RHEINHART.
THE EIGHT- rEIR-OLD GIRL OF THE
EAST SIDE T.fRIETT SHOWS.
Cruelty Allowed 10 Dance and sting before
Crowds OF Rude Men-FuIi Time, Indecd,
fur the Children's Society TO Interfere.


Cruelty Allowed 10 Dance aud sing before
Crowds OF Rude Men-Fuii Time, Indecd,
ror the Children's Society TO Interfere.
Mabel Leonard, who secured fame In the
show business through the effort Of the Society
for the Prevention Of Cruelty to Children to
keep her of the variety stage IL almost an
adult. She is to perform this week in Boston
The Society has taken In hand another case.
and one MS to which there will be little division
of public sentiment. During tho past winter.
BERTHE Khenhart has sung and danced In sew
oral Of the east side variety theatres. She is
said TO be years old. but. II that figure Is cor
rect. she II az small Of her aae as she Is won
derfully prccocious Her power Of mimcry
IL wonderful In ono SO young and. trained in
a less coarse school. her performances might
be pleasing to refined audiences. She was en-
gagged in the Tivoi Theatre last week, and for
the preceding two weeks had been In the Lon
don. On the first night Of her engagement in
the Tivoli. the manager. Jacob Aberle was mr.
rested on the Society complaint that he had
violated the law against Employing children on
the stage. He was released ON bail. TO await the
consideration Of the case BY the Grand Jury.
Little BERTHE Is n serio-comique." in the par
lance Of the variety shows which means that
she sings songs that are Intend led 10 mix scnti-
ment and burlesque. She first trips on the
stage in u dress that has q long train Her face
is thickly painted In white. red. and black. tho
Inter color being freely used about her eyes.
She toddles to the foolights. kicks ont her trail
wnks ut tho audience. ogles the occupants Of
the boxvs from behind her fan. and begins to
sing some OF the doggere that finds favor In
the variety theatres. Her voice is all that Is
childish about hor. She is perfectly self-pos-
sessed. her gestures are expressive. and she is
remarkably vivaclous The smoking, drink
ing and rude comments Of the men befpr" her
do not disconcert her in tho least. Her first
song wins an encore. and In response sh" sings
about n Irritation that she has mad with an nd
mirer. By way Of illustrating the lines she
picks out II man In one OF the lower boxes; 10y
gestures applies the words TO him. goes ~ him,
churks him under the chin. and in some. cnses
kisses him. The man is much confused rs this
unexpected demonstration. and the audience.
particularly the boys IN the gallery. ARE delight
having Invested herself Of theirained dress ap-
pears in ghis tn give an imitation OF Aimee's
in,crnrds her singing with current slang
phrases. all OF which are vulgar and not lew
This description Of Little Berries perform.
nncc rs II was witnessed recently in the london
Theatre. does not convey full Idea OF the
unfortunate child's ma9ner, nor Of the i'm
prOnrety VI her slang and gestures. A reporter
for The Sun went to the Tivnli on saturday
afternoon; sho was announced In the pro
decided not 20 lot her appear The reporter. on
buying u ticket Tor box. was asked by the
treasurer-l wOman-it he wanted one for the
LETT side. This meant that II he desired. he
could buy an entrance to the green room. which
Is ~ the left OF the stage. He said yes. and was
given bit Of pastebgard that opened his way to
roomy but rather dingy apartment. on level
with the upper boxes. This place Is thu resort
OF young men who are willing 20 buy vine NJ
high prices for the sake Of lounging among the
performers, and Is an lmpOrtlnt source OF
revenue Tor the establishment. The ballet girls
and several singers. nll dressed Ia reuinsss to
10 Oh the stage. were there. A rule Of the thea-
ire requires them 10 De always ready Il not
willing. 10 drink with whoever Is given admits
sion 10 the green room. Lately two singers re-
fused 10 80 into the apartment. and were dis
charged. They sued the manager for their
w!sEes. and got n verdict.
The reporter turned ballet girls fluent talk
in the direction VI Berthe Rhenhprt aud quick
~ learned that she dsapproyed OF the child 5
performances. It's n right down shame she
said, a. put that little thing IN the stage. And
the slang they've Taught hcr-why. sir. II Just
makes mo shudder and she shyered with
her uncovered shoulders. and pulled her gauze
~ though u shock to the moral sensibilities was
like draft Of cold air" TO hear her chan the
boys IN the gallery. But the worst Is 10 let her
come In here -
Does sho come In here's"
On. yes. sir; and che seems quite at home.
too-chats with the gentlemen lust as pert US
can be-
" In whose charge 10 shes"
woman, who says she's her mother, brings
her here. and teaches her the business. pity
the little imp. do"
4 hoy stuck his head In ut the door and shout
ed: Ladies for the ballet" and the girl who
pitied BERTHE went with her companions TO the
stage.