Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-11-18
IN THH GALLERY,
Saturday Night sccaes at a New Work
Thsntre-street Boy struggles for
Admission.

"a
Hhivsring at the entrance to an East Side |
variety theatre They were studying with |
breathless interest the highy-colored play |
bills Above hung n legend TO which |
their eyes seemed occasionally attracted by
fatal fascination;
Admission to the Gallery, 10 Cents
SCOT any money, Jack ?" whispered
one, nudging his still more ragged neigh
Dor.
''Nq" was the mouraful answer, 'hain't
got O cent"
Suddenly little tatterdemalion rushed
into the crowd. His eyes sparkled with
excitement and his hair stood hsrcely up
through the holes in his hat. Say, fell
lers, lend me cents, I've got Z.
He was greeted by chorus of ''Wot
yer givio' US? Wind ?"
"Tll pay yer to-morrer, honest "soon's
I've sold my papers.
''Sure now"
eyer bet
Here yer are, then" and the three
eoppsrs were counted out into his grimy
hand.
Don't yer forgets." aud as he vanished
into the theatre with wild whoop of
triumph the same voice yelled after him
''Ill knock the stuffin out Of yer, if yer
do"
There was dismal silence as the boys
gazed obviously at the closed door of their
paradise. It was broken by sound of
subdued sniveling "Wots tine matter
wi ser ?" and little fellow hardly S
years old was dragged out from dark
corner I wants ter go to the show" he
Numbered. "rhsy say it's bully OLD
piece. I've spent all my money. I wos
hungry an | couldn't help it.
Yer think we're Wanderbilts, do yer.
Wot yer maxim such a noise about Take
this an stop yer jaw" One cent, two,
three dropped ipto his hands, and his dirty
face began to beam through his tears.
Say, yer1l want this, - he said hesitat
ingly.
30, none NV yer tstfy now. Go it, little
feller," and the door closed behind him,
while the boys beat their broken shoes on
the wet pavement to drive away the chill.
Meanwhile their beneficiary was climbing
steep flight of narrow, dirty stairs
Keener nostrils would have detected a
smell which grew stronger and stronger
IS the gallery was approached.
How'd yer git in ?" greeted him as he
climbed over the seats and wedged him
self into crowd of his companions. But
riveted on the stage. The shaky, dilapi-
dated scenery seemed to him as real as the
beauty of the heroine on whom he gazed
entranoed without thought OF rouge or
pearl powder. The loud. mouthed villain,
evidently suffering from too much beer,
was to him the very embodiment of de-
PRAYED aristocrat The humble laboring
man who posed as hero, clad in a manner
that workingmen would despise, enlisted
the boys earnest sympathies from the
first. The gaudily attired men and
women who smoked cigarettes in the
boxes, with their feet on the chairs, were
to him real live "swells" Throughout
the house every man wore his hat. de
parture from this custom would have beer
considered breach of etiquette. II was
also considered the correct thing" tC
crunch peanuts sudibly and scatter theii
shells to the right and left with an uttel
disregard of consequences.
But the gallery was the feature OF the
house. A tier Of eager faces, massel
closely together, rose from front to rear
behind which lowered the forms Of
Especial officers armed with canes
Packed like sardines in front a row Of
little fellows with excited faces hung ovei
the railing in their shirt sleeves, breath
lessly watching the play now silent a
death, again bowling like little tends Tn
well-dressed villain met with their mani
Tested disapprevGl. Lofty moral anC
heroic sentiments were cheered again ant
again. The funny man" who tumblet
over chairs, sat down in wssh-tubs, an,
was beaten with broom sticks by irat
women, never failed to bring out peals o
laughter. H..
The play grew more thrilling. The vii
lain had eloped with the wife of the up
right laboring man. who was a miner
dressed as miners invariably are, in
spotless white shirt, veIvsteen trousers, an,
elaborate leggings. The villains servan
had kindly dropped letter in the miner
cottage, which informed the injured hus
band that his master would come for a
interview with the wife on seeing ligh
displayed. The stage lights were turne
down. The miner made the signal.
was evident that there was to be 'b-l-lood
A GREATNESS silence reigned in the darl
ness of the gallery. A door opened, an
the villain appeared, while the miner con
cegied himself. The suspense was to
much for one of the gallery gods and h
yelled, Cheese it, Gully, he's layin &c
yees."
Then the villain proposed to tur
the miner out. You'd better not,
replied the latter, patting his bicel
muscle, and this brought down the hous
Punch Lis head shouted the boys. II
miner produced a pistol and the CALLER
went wild. Shoot KIM" Kill him
me amt no good 90 Their sympathi,
were on the side Of suffering virtue.
last miner ard villain confronted eaC
other with pistols. The gallery was ST.
as death. Every eye was strained al
every mouth wag opened But ut Il
fatal instant the heroine rushed in AZ
threw herself around the miners zee
you must shoot through me, she erie
in tragic tonss. a deep gloom seltl
upon tie faces III tie gallery and ii
gusted voice exclaimed; That's Ill
fight, 10 which another rejained, II
stand-cG. The villain remarked sever
times that no had deeply wfouge,
everybody, and proposed To atone By
life of peui.snea. He was listened
with impatient disfavor, AID frequent
requested 70 cheese IT, and 90 hal
himself. ~
But by m.dnigl! every body in the pl
was successfully killed or made hepr
The gallery gods dropped ,heir |,
handouts of peanut shells on the heads
the people below, jumped over tue wood
benches and hustled their way out. Ih
tumbled down stairs, stopped to adj,
one OF two affairs Of honor on the sic
walk, and then disappeared in the da
ness and the rain.
The oldest Priest bead.