The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-12-03
sARA's FIRST NIGHT.
L Cosby Article About the Attsn-
dants.
A Molly AssembIage OF Patr1cIans and
Plebian8.

AA80mDL0k0
Plebians.
New York Mercury.
It is nearly six months since the deni-
zens of Gotham became inccu1ated with
the germs of the Sara Bernhard fever,
which reached q clothes-rending climax
at Booths theatre last Monday night.
Manager Abbey, cognlZant of the pres
ence of dense throng of richly dressed
ladies and their escorts, which had as
sembled in front of his theatre, eager for
admission, prior to and during the first
act of the performance, wisely provided
a powerful electric light in order to en-
able the disorderly element of the crowd
to brave their endurance with the most
delicate and expensive toilets by i'm
promptu and continuous Gil co-Roman
wrestling bouts. A brilliant moon
cleaned placidly from a clear sky on
this enjoyable, health-promOtIng exer.
else. About two hundred square feet of
of the street in the immediate vicinity
of the theatre and seemed delighted
with the energy and activity displayed
by enterprisiDg masculine holders of adj
mission tickets, who triumphantly ell
bowed their way through surging laba-
rynth of laces, silks and velvets, regard
less of consequences. It was after 8
O'Clock when feminine walls of
THERE GOES MY Bonnet"
became frequent, while several urgent
boys waved shrads of costly lace and Os
trich plumes as trophies of their aero
batic proves. The scene for the next
twenty minutes became so exhileratIng
that spectai ors crowded the stairways of
the elevated station on Twenty-thIrd
street aud seemed overjOyed while gaZ.
ina fher ha1n Ft1l
arrangement and q semblance of red tape
at the main entrance, anxiously nervous
lady visitors and their mangled costumes
were admitted at the rate of nearly four
q minute, SO that the major portion of
the audience was CONSIDERABLY kept out
side until the tedious first act was over.
In addition TO the pleasure already emu
merated, frantic ticket spectators, large
lunged hackmen ard voluable Iibreito
boys yelled their bewildering discords
until the happy posseesor of coupons for
yet untitled seats experienced sensations
similar to those which usually accom-
pany the extraction of q double tooth.
Such was
SARAH BERNHARDT's FIRST NIGHT
in front of Booths theater. Within IT'S
walls the occasion proved to be the most
extraordinary ever witnessed in this city.
It brought out all the usual first-night-
ers, the society people, the theatrical
folk, the newspaper men and the like,
and it also brought out a class of peo-
pie seldom seen at the theater on similar
occasions. These were wealthy shod-
dies anxious to distinguish themselves
by being present at an affair that would
give them chance to exhibit their snob
berry and air their liberal patronage of
the arts. To 90 to Bernhardt's opening
performance attested the possession of
not the uncomfortable price of re-
served seat; therefore they went. not that
they understood 6 word she spoke, nor
appreciated the slight cst point she made,
but Bernhardt being for time the lion
of New York, they must be on hand to
give her the support of their counte-
nance. Besides these people there was 8
sprinkling of amateur ticket Spectators
present, who, being unable TO dispose Of
their seats, were constrained to occupy
them. Blocker street Frenchmen, brim-
ming with enthusiasm, were ridiculous
" conspicuous, made so by the belief
that, in some way or other, they shared
in the actresses triumph. Youths with
high silk hats in one hand and iibrettos
in the other, attempted TO improve their
French by annoying all those in their
immeGiste vicinity with brief advance
rec1tAIlOne OF Inc LSxL. LEES exdSpcfdi-
ing and more amusing were the
Lab DE DAB YOUNG MKN,
in dress suits, with perhaps not . pen
NY in their pockets, who stood in the out
ter corridor, bowling to and leering at
ladies as they passed in, although entire
iy unacauainted with them. These chaps
enlightened their fellow clerks next
morning with extravagant criticisms Of
the female star. The actresses were out
in force Rose Coghian appropriately
clad In robes OF virgin white, wore dia-
mnnds which Freddy Schwsb is alleged
TO have estimated as having cost her
past years salary. With her came Ellie
Wilton and q nice young man from the
Union club. Clara Morris, AaEked on
one side by Mrs. Jennie june CrolY, Snd
on the other by Mr.. Clara Morris, shook
her white ostrich plumes and cardinal
red cloak in earnest approval Agnes
Booth sat quietly by in mute enjoyment,
while Emily Rigl applauded Is vigor-
ously as any one in the house. Col. Jack
Haverfy. Rev Ned Gilmore and Father
Hickey preferred the performance from
the corridor, and Andrew Dam, Jr., and
his wife were the guests of Mrs. Abbey
in the managerial box Mr.. Abbey cute
" remained in the lobby. apparently
Keeping an eye on little Freddy, who
persisted in repeating the Indications
question 10 everybody, well, don't you
think we shall make it success p
Daddy Rullman supervised the hbretto