Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-24
AMUSEMENTS.


NJ Hiss or, the Child OF the oierraS,
is from one OF Bret Harte's sketches,
picturing life and times in California
soon after the discovery of gold, and
when the country was wild, the set
tiers heterogeneous, and a miners
career was full of adventure and ex-
element. There are many of the
present generation who wildly re-
member the days when Yuba river,
Suffers fort, Mt. Shasta and the town
of Sacramento were leading topics in
every circle and it is an illustration
of the events and scenes of thirty
years ago hat Harte has woven to-
gether in his skillful and entertaining
way to make up the play of Miss.
The leading role of Annie Pixley is a
vivacious part, full of dash and liveli-
ness, and Miss Pixley acts it in capital
style, supported at the same time by a
very strong company. Seats for the
opening night we're selling this fore
noon at Hollenberg's music store, and
the indications point to good attend
ance during the ensuing week.
MULBERRY SELLERS.
1t is not generally known, bat it is
a veritable fact, that Colonel Mulberry
Sellers is no mythical character.
Sellers lived and had his being, and he
died on the highest point of this bluff,
and in one of the best rooms Of the
once elegant Gayoso hotel during the
fall of 1863. His real name was Isaiah
Sellers, and he for many years ran the
river as pilot and captain. There was
not a better pilot on the river han Capt.
Isaiah Sellers He was appreciated
too, for his services were always sought
on the best steamers and at the high
est wages. He was on the famous and
splendid Eclipse when she made her
celebrated run from New Orleans to
Louisville in four days, nine hours
and odd minutes, the quickest on
record, and he was also for years on
the celebrated Aleck Scott, with
Captain j. G. Swon. Sellers was a
tall, fine looking person, as straight as
an Indian, and carried a distingue air.
He was a man to attract attention
anywhere, and hea also had hispeculiari-
ties and mannerisms. One Of the
latter was passion to sleep, and that
oft-times a little beyond the middle
watch when the other pilot of the
boat was compelled to do more than
his share of duty because Of Sellers
somnolent appetite. Mark Twain,
in those days an apprentice OIL cub
pilot on the same boat, and the oppo-
site watch to Sellers, used to be sent
on repeated errands toarouse the heavy
sleeper. On one occasion It's said
Twain was suddenly struck square on
the nose by a heavy boot, and he
didn't like it much. Some time later
he wrote an irOnical but humorous
sketch describing the steamer Alex.
Scott stripfromC Cairo to New Orleans,
when the river was at a very high
stage, and among other points tod
how the Scott landed eighteen miles
below Cairo to sound the channel, and
at a point where there is water enough
to float a %frigate. 1t was a burlesque,
of course, and poor Sellers never for
gave Mark Twain for it. The sketch
appeared 10 the river column of the n.
0. Crescent along in the fftieS, and it
was Mark Twain's first effort in print.
Many of the characters that figure in
Mark Twain's sketches, especially
those in the "Gilded Age" are names
of river pilots now living, and in active
service. 1t was a little more than
twenty years ago that a younger
brother of Mark Twain's died at the
Odd Fellows hall, in this city, from
injuries received by the explosion O
the steamer st. Nicholas, at a poin.
below here. Mark Twain came, anC
was with the wounded brother to thu
death. This, however, has nothing t
do with the drama of Mulberry Sci
lers," performed at the theater las
night, There was a good audience
and the humorous features Of tn
piece were excellently rendered b.
the company. Sellers was wei
acted by c. w. Butler, and Miss Flor
euce Mitchell, of Louisville, who's
debut as an actress was spoken O
yesterday, performed with spirit an,
accuracy, and her friends all common.
her efforts, The play Of Wolfert'
/. Roost is in course of representa-
ton this afternoon. The thcate
will not be open tonight. TIL
company go from here to Paducal
and it is expected that Mr., Raymon
will be we'll enough to rejoin th
troupe towards the close Of the ensu
ing week.
THE ABBOTT OPERA TROUPE,
This excellent company closes at S
'c Tou;a th;o avaptn0 and gfartq on !