Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-21
o,GARRITY's UNCLE.
He Occupies a Number of Seats at One of
Langtry's Performances.

An unusual sort Of a man. whose more
prominent characteristics consisted of an
untamed growth Of vermiliOn chin
whisker weak blue eyes, turn-up nose,
and a head over the shining surface of
which there waved sprays Of claret-cOlOr-
ed hair. drifted down the aisle of the Fifth
Avenue Theatre on Monday night. His
long, dun-cOlOred ulster was up in the
neck his trousers were rolled high from
his galOshes, and a disaranged scarf Of
ethereal blue dangled cOyly from his neck.
a half smile wTeathed his lips.
Slowly he wandered down the aisle,
looking about him with the expression Of
a child made happy by the gift Of a sugar
ed bolivar"
The fashionably-attired audience, which
had come TO greet Mrs. Langtry, became
absorbed in watching the movements Of
the man. There was something about
him as he tioated toward the stage which
impressed people. Presently he arrived
at the orchestra rail, on which he leaned
with both hands while he fixed his gentle
gaze upon the back Of the leaders mead.
At this moment a voice fiOated down from
| the gallery. 1t said
'Why, Freddie, amt you ashamed 20
back"
He turned with the same quiet smile
and began to move toward the door. A
/ few rows back from the stage were two
/ vacant chairs next to the aisle. He look
ed at them kindly, lowered the seats, felt
of the arms, and drifted away. He re-
turned a moment later with a pretty girl
in his wake. She had big eyes, a cart
wheel hat. yellow gloves. a green ribbon
al her throat, and well-plastered bangs.
The indistinct man bowed her with an air
Of high-bred courtesy into one of the va
cant seats, sat down comfortably beside
her, and gently strOked his chin whlsker
with hand on which was a faded white
cotton glove.
'.Git onto dem kids" said the voice.
The man looked UP with a benevolent
| expression toward the gallery. At that
instant the usher arrived followed by the
holders Of the coupons for the seats in
which the unusual man and the girl sat.
They rose and wandered up the aisle. Two
seats little further along attracted his
attention. He examined them critically,
was apparently pleased, and sat down
with his companion.
The curtain rose and the play began.
/ Two late Corners appeared and dispOssess-
ed the unusual man, who wandered up
/ the aisle until he came to another pair Of
| HnOccupied chairs. After he had estab-
| lished the lady he sat down beside her.
| A moment later two ushers came down
| and cOnversed with him in argumentatiVe
| tones. while others were put in posses
] sion OF the CHAIRS Inc UNUSUAL man IE-
| ferred the ushers to the manager. They
/ both rushed out TO the box office. While
! they were gone the man, who had drifted
! down toward the orchestra again, pushed
/ his way serenely by eight or ten persons,
who arose to allow him to pass, and en-
/ sconced himself and his girl once more in
! two vacant seats. The interest in the
| play Jagged, and every one watched the
man.
Seven minutes by the watch elapsed be-
/ fore he was discovered by the ushers, who
were pTowling up and down the aisle in
search of him. Then he was once more
| brought into the aisle and started toward
/ the door. Presently he disappeared in the
/ lobby, and people settled back in their
/ seats and regarded the play.
! Three minutes later it drifted down
/ again, accompanied by It's cOnsOrt, and
with the same gentle smile. Then the
| voice remarked, in a tone of intense con-
vlctiOn:
sit must be Mr.. Langtry."
! Even the actors watched the man this
| time. He soon got another berth, and
| then another, and this was kept up until
| the close of the performance. At the end
/ his serenity was undisturbed, but the
! girl looked tired and sad.
why didn't you throw that freak
| out?" a man asked the usher.
Couldn't. He's got inflOOence."
"WhO is hep
"The uncle ofO'Garrity, the Jersey City
/ bill poster. He's fond Of the play, he is"