Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-11-03
SELECTING A BABY.
MANAGER III A oUASDAEy

THEATRE MANAGER IN A 0UASDAEY
how the Youngest Member of a Dramatic
Company Was Engaged babies OF
| Every Variety Inspected
Philadelphia Record
Henry Bergman. stage manages of the
Hears Of Oak company, walked
briskly through the entrance to the Wal
nut street theatre stage in Philadelphia.
thirty sucking babies were thrust under
his nose, and before he could escape a
score of baby hands were pulling at his
hair and whiskers aud pair of tiny fists
were thrust into his eyes. "It was the
most curious sensation 1 every expert
enced," said he afterward. 81 felt like u
Mormon returning home after long ab
| sence1'
The trouble was that Mr.. Bergman had
advertised in morning paper for baby
to 60 on the stage as member of the
Hearts of Oak" company. He had
specified that tho yOungster should be
mot over 4 months old, good natured
and accustomed to handling" The
mother was to be guaranteed a handsome
salary and expenses to 90 along and take
care of the infant. My gracious ~ he
exclaimed to a Record reporter who had
been watching from the wings his curious
reception. {" it's like advertising for dog,
| amt it ?" and he caught his breath
quickly as he cOmOed out his tangled
whiskers and prepared to 60 back and
select the best looking and most docile
baby in the lot. He certainly had
| a variety to chose from. the usher
gave the mothers chairs aud they
sat in a row around the stage like
| a company of female minstrels. The man
ager glanced around tho semi-circle and
his eye halted at the chair where a very
young woman sat. '.It's little fat," he
remarked aside-referring to the baby
which the mother held up with its feet on
her lap-and he went over and took it
from the mothers arms. The manager
tossed it up in the air. The mother
screamed. The baby gave vigorous
shrek as it was caught in the managers
arms. He tried to soOthe it, but il was
no 60. The infant set up yell, and, as
if sympathiZing with it, q half-dozeD
other babies began to cry. Such noise,
probably, tho old Walnut never heard be-
fore. The mother finally got hold of her
offspring aud s0othed it in a way which
| only mother can. The manager retreated
and inspected himself dismally. Il don't
want that yOungster," he remarked con
tidentially, as he mopped his face with
handkerchief.
One of two red headed infants next
attracted his attention. He nearly drop
ped it on the floor, and the frightened
mother snatched it from his arms and
said that she didn't propose to have her
baby killed, even for $25 a week. He
thereupOn marched off the stage and
watched the proceedings from al Orches-
ira chair. BY this time several of tho
youngsters were yelling with all their
might and had to BE- sent away. Mr..
Bergman was finally penned in one corner
of the stage by five or six anxious mothers
who insisted that ho should try theirs
next. He fOnlled several Of them
the babies, not the women), and threw
them up il the air. Some Of them
behaved well, others kicked aud
cried some of them were too heavy, others
were too small. One Lad no hair at all,
and ttat wouldn't do. The manager made
no comments, however, to the mothers
When he had gotten through with them
all he dismissed the mothers, requesting
them to return to day at II o'clock, when
lie would make 4 iina! choice When they
had all gone away aEd the puzzled mana
ger and the reporter were about to leave
been hidden in the flies came timidly for
ward. and. holding out as pretty baby as
could be found in u weeks journey, said,
timidly: please, Sir, SEQ if We don't do.'
The manager looked at the baby; then he
glanced at the mother. The inspection
seemed to satisfy him, and he held out his
arms for the baby. ''Dou't hart it, please"
pleaded the mot her as she Teliquished the
precious burden to his arms. The mana
ger sat down on Il chair and tUddled thu
youngster on his knee. 1t crowod good
raturedly and rubbed It's little fist in his
faco. He tossed it UP and it laughed Thea
he gave it Il stick of candy--onc of the
stage tricks-and the baby was delighted,
and, clutchiEg the swc2tmeat in it's fingers,
thrust one end in its mouth aud b!inked
over toward its mother. THAT baby fills
tie biiI," exclaimed the manager. 'sIf it
stands the test Of the stage we will take
IT,"
The mother was sent away with i -
quest to return iu time for the evening
performance, and walked off i'll triumph
with her baby. You see," said the
manaser, " the baby which we now use in
: Hearts Of Oak has grown too large. 1t
has been great success, but it's too big
home SO We must get another"
What's the baby worth to you ?"
Well, it's a pretty big card. We pay
S25 a week to the mother and her expenses
as well as those Of the infant. We made
great hit by introducing tho baby. In
st. Louis, last season, it created q decided .
sensation. Many people said that it was
not real baby because il was SO good, !
and bets to the amount Of $500 were made >
that the kid was stuffed. The gentlemen |
who made these wagers came behind tho |
scene and settled the matter for them
Selves"
Tho new baby was at tho Walnut per-
fOrmance last evening, and behaved |
beautifully" Its debut was pronounced
a success. 1t is boy, and it's name is
John Klinger, Of No. 1887 South Ninth
street |
BETTING IN THE ELECTION. |