Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-10
HARVARD MEN AS SUPERS.' .
HOW THEY GO TO OPERA.
The senator from Maine In q Box While
Siis Son Does Duy On the stage.

4 What u hhS pVuy VI supcrDumera
ries," remarked lady to her escor
Friday evening, at the Boston Theatre
during tableau Of the opera - Semira
mide." Why, really believe that
in spite Of his makeup, that is Mr.
-" Naming prominen,
Harvard society-man.) Don't you sec
him? There he is to the left Of Patti.
leaning or a pike, or something of that
kind. Don't shake your head know
| it's he"
And that is Mr.. -. who row.
ed in the University crew last year, I"
she added. What does this mean ?
Have Harvard men gone on the stage, or
is this some new lark?"
"lf you promise not to give it away
III tell you all about it," replied her
companion. "You were right in your
guesses. That young fellow dressed as
a guardsman is Billy -, and almost
all those priests you see TO the right arc
Harvard men. It's strange you never
heard of 'suping.' Why, it's just the
thing whenever the opera comes. You
see it's great fun TO get on the stage
and have good look at Patti and Neil
son and Sembrich, and all the great
singers. Besides, one gets a sight of
society people in the audience, while
not one in hundred ever suspects who
you are. But last year Senator -,
OF Maine, had the very box we are
III this evening. The opera was La
Giaconda.' You remember Nelson
and Sembrich and Fursch-Mahdi were
in it. There were at least dozen Har-
ward men as 'supers that night. Some
were soldiers, and had to march down
to the foot-lights others were boat
men, peasants, and so on. Well, it
happened that Senator IS son was
suping that night, and you can Judge
of his astonishment when looking about
he saw his father, mother, and sisters
at the theatre, when he thought they
were in Portland. lie was the boatman
in the second act, and had the pleasure
of rowing Nelson and Sembrich almost |
under his fathers nose. His makeup
was extremely picturesque. white trous-
ers, striped shirt with sleeves rolled up,
and red bandanna tied about his head.
He was anything but in full dress attire.
Now, his mother is noted for her dig
nifty and sense Of propriety, and to say
that she was shocked at the unexpected
sight is putting it mild.
"There was q time when Harvard
men were tabooed off the stage. 1t
in this way: Sometime ago
think it must be nearly four years
Colonel Mapleson brought out fine
'ast at the Boston or Globe-l've for
,otten which. In the repertoire was
L'Africaine.' No expense was spared
o make the opera a success. Every
letail was attended to. The stage set
ing was perfect, and, to crown all,
twenty-five Harvard men offered them
elves to the Colonel as supers for
he evening. Now, Colonel Mapleson
vas proud of the appearance of these
supers all athletic and of fine ply
ique-and had them at rehearsal, for
hese men to board ship, to be
EPULsED AMID GREAT CARNAGE.
- The effect of the tableau depended
n the realness of the attack. So when |
he night of the opera came around the [
leatre was packed, and everything 5
ent on brilliantly until the time for the
ght. The curtain went up and showed |
large ship with her broadside presented ,
ward the audience. After the pre-
minary singing came the attack, and $
Dw the fun began. For the tables s
ere completely turned. Instead 4,
being vanquished, the Harvard I
en-, blackened and dressed to f
present natives, had merry (
me of it pitching the astonished f
amen overheard. Then they fell
tearing up the ship, and in twinkle n
an eye the stage presented a sorry h
ght of scattered timbers and canvas. e
course the scene was spoiled, and "
c curtain was hastily rung down, not c.
a chorus of exulting seamen, but on G
band of yelling savages. The worst ii
it was the joke on the poor Colonel a
mself, who was obliged to step before Il
e curtain and apologize for the mis- tC
havior of his Harvard supers. So it Il
ppened that Harvard men were not O,
lnted to do heavy opera for the rest h,
that season. n
- On another more recent occasion, Il,
a very impressive part of the scene III
some opera, king was to drive on u,
, stage seated in chariot. Well, as
usual in such affairs, the chariot had
be hauled along by means of ropes y,
pulleyS. A couple of Harvard boys ~
re detailed to 90 this work. Nicolini 10
S the king, and at the proper time ~ =,
* his place in the gilded concern that ~
S intended to represent the chariot in pa
sstiOn. When the signal was given co GO
fellows pulled on the ropes. but '"
ing more attention to the charms
a couple of pretty ballet-girls than >"
the work they were doing, the chariot 81
ght on the edge of the scenery, and WI
olini was pitched in a very uncere- "i
NOUS manner head first Oh the stage. Sal
picked himself up and continued his
in an apparently unconcerned condi- oe
of mind, but when off the stage the a
was blue with heathenish Italian. lo'
On such nights as this applications az
suping are numerous, and it is
b easy and profitable for the stage
rkceper TO make his choice. For