St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-09
TEMPERANCE IN A THEATER.
Il Change Comes Der the Spirit. of {
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Il Change Comes Der the Spirit of the
Dreams OF ths Theater ConsiqHe.
It was not exactly vaudeville company
which occupied the Theater Comique stage
last night. There is no question about the
talent and aptitude Of the people, but they
most likely have no inclination in that di-
rection. They were the leading spirits Of
the Murphy Reform club. At about O'Clock
the writer's attention was challenged by a
crier standing on Washington avenue,
at the corner of First avenue south,
shouting in deep, euphonious and sonor-
Gus voice, go over to the Theater ComiQue.
The Murphy temperance club is In charge.
1t won't cost you a cent" Being so melted
GLOBE scribe did go over. The stairs had
been thoroughly scrubbed by the Saturday
night hands, and the theater bore sort OF a
holiday appearance. Perhaps it was only the
Sabbath aspect. At all events it
was bright and CHEEKY. The curtain
was up and the entire audience
was joining the company on the stage in a
gospel song. The muldoon quartette are
sweet singers in Israel" but they could
not have sung half so loud. Everybody
looked sympathetic and happy.
A PARsoN.
The Rev. E. S. Williams opened the en-
tertAinment ny stepping to the footlights,
which had illuminated the double skip hop
dance By the charming Misses Smith and
Dale on the previous night. He spoke
briefly, pleasantly and pointedly, stating the
object of the gathering and urged the pledge.
He made apt men ton of the capture of Gen.
Gordon. He said all England is pledged to
either rescue him or to avenge his death, as
the case may be. He felt certain that the
Theater Comique would at future meetings
be thronged by citizens no would eventually
play an active and important role il the
CLUB.
LAWYER.
j. G. Wooley then presented his views in
a concise and logical way. He is not an
orator, but he is mighty good talker when
he thoroughly understands his subject,
and there is no one who will
deny that few there are who
have a more practical knowledge of
the theme of last nights speeches.
J. D. Cottrell told what he knew, reciting
his chequered experiences with the rosywine,
but it was J. H. Bradish, the old-timer, who
aroused the first applause. 1t was spOntan-
eous and merited, too, and he appreciated
and encouraged it with one of his most ex-
pressiVe smiles.
WIT.
He said that he could not make an ortho-
doX temperance speech without uttering a
fragrant falsehood at the outset. The usual
temperance speaker would deprecate the use
Of intoxicants but would say "oh, l don't
know much about it from actual experience.
The first drink / swallowed so disguised me
that l never repeated the dose.' They
are invariably sympathetic. Mr.. Bradish
quoted the woman who said she knew how to
sympathise with a drunkard, she was
strong tea drnker and when she left off
using it, the world was dull and cherries
cloak and life mad lost its charms. He also
told of the man who said he could sympa-
thise with the drinker because he had had a
bowl of cider in the cellar
from which he drank daily draughts
until 1t was gone. Then how he missed it. >"
JOURNALIST.
The style Of Mr.. Bradish's address was
evidently novel and applause followed, but it
was when the popular journalist, c. Harris,
stepped to the footlights that the applause
sweled until it took on the
form or style of an ovation.
Charley is a good talker, philosophical
aud fowery. His arguments had the ele-
ments of conviction, and 1t is thought that
the number who stepped to the front and
signed the pledge was the fruit Of his efforts.
Other speakers followed aud gospel songs
closed the meeting.