National Republican., 1883-10-09
FIeas and Theaters.

recent discovery in connection with
theaters Of the cities is most laughable, and
will result in much fun to audiences in the
future, unless some action is taken at once
on the part of managers. 1t seems that
many of the best theaters of the cities have
become infested with tleas to such an ex-
tent that the little pests annoy actors and
actresses terribly. 1t is believed the feas
have been brought to tho theaters on the
pet dogs of actresses, and by the dogs used
in plays, and they have multiplied and re-
plenished the places of amusement until
they are q formidable army, 1t is said that
when theater has not had a performance
for several days tho hcas become hungry,
and when the next company arrives upon
the stage the tieas take possession of the
members too quick. % Suppose Mary
Anderson, while trying to haul Romeo up
to the balcony SO she can see if he has been
chewing cloves, feels flea crawling down
her back. She can clasp her hands behind
her back, and while saying, Wherefore art
thou, Romeo" she can everlastingly dig her
nails into the opening Of her corsets and kill
the flea and the audience would be none the
wiser, while if she backed up against the
railing aud scratched her back on scene, 1t
would be noticed and commented on, to her
discredit as an artist, and besides, she might
push down the scenery. Again, II flea should
appear to be exploring the vicinity of her
liver, while it would not be admissible for
her to create n gesture that would htthe case,
she could, by the poetic license that is granted
all great geniuses, lean against the railing
on the point whore the flea was, and while
giving tatiy to Romeo, she could mako tho
flea think he had got in the wrong pow.
And vet in that scene, il few tleas should
get among her stockings, as is almost certain
to be the case Mary would not have any OK
cuse by act or gesture in the play, TO pay any
attention to the flea, and she would have to
go on with the play and die game. If she is
the marble statue that she is represented to
be, with no feeling, of course flea could
make no more impression on her than n
masher but all the girls on the stage are not
thus fortunate, and they will be injured in
their profession by the tleas. In opera it is
different. The costumes are such that the
hunting of tleas is mere pastime. Especially
| is this the case in the opera of La SOmnam-
bula," whore the sleep walker is attired with
| a candle and a garment that has always been
highly recommended as the proper costume
for the pursuit of heas. 1t is supposed that
actors are impervious to the influence of tleas,
but such is not the case, Booth, Barrett, JEFF
ferson, and Mccullough are nervous as women,
| and we may expect any evening to sec
| Booth, as Hamlet, drop his sword and roll
down his black tights, while the Ghost is
| telling him the old story, and catch flea and
! crush il between his two thumb nails, pull
up his stocking, and tell the Ghost that he
will 90 home and make 1t red hot for his
Mother and the Uncle who poured melted
! sealing wax in the Ghosts ear. This would
be going from tho sublime to the ridiculous
aud the SIN mentions these possibilities tha
managers may sec what is liable TO hap
pen unless they cause insect powder to b.