The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-24

Wuot u eOu marry uVot runteu wa suo
play of "Tocdles.n Tbls he determined TO
reproduce in his own thester, with new and
effects.
There was new scenery painted on an old
sheet, with straws from a new broom, py
Bunk ey Burnett: intricate stage mechanism,
Whitfield out with Jack knife, by Bioussy
Si aw; old costumes made to ioog as good as
new, by Tommy Bonnerbump, assisted by
mis- sister in.law, Sally Thresdneedle; newap.
D o,ntmenfs, by Tim Pennyieather; new and
original mueic to be performed on new and
very original instruments by the orchestra,
under the direction of Pat Giovanni, an
Italian from Ireland the whole play to be
produced uncer the supervision Of Harry
Bsteman, sfRge-menagor.
The above stupend0us Dill wound up with
the following:
Tickets purchased of spectators on the
Will be refused at the doorl!'
The stage was erected in the woodshed, and
rsl c. on four saw.hcrte'. The floor con-
skted OF, TWO old barn a ors spliced together.
The dror-curta,n wss fecOnd hand horse.
blanket. The parquet and dress circle were
filed with large sticks OF wood, too tough TO
split, set up on end. These were called chairs.
What the management called galleries were
two window.sills. These were usually occu-
pied by small boys at quarter price. One
rivate box this theater had. for the use Of
the aristocracy. 1t consisted of second.
mounted on wheels. Purchasers of this pri.
vste box were allowed the privilege of hav.
ing it placed in any position they wished
Two "horrid big boys ence demanded
that the private box should be placed In ex-
sctly the middle OF the stage. To this the
whole management objected. The two hor-
ria big toys twitted them with going back
on their word" and triumphantly held up
the msnegements own bill and programme
which rsed in huge letters-PRIVATE BOX
PUT IN ANY POSITION DESIRED. The
management had 10 succumD The whole
company, male ard female, were ordered
out 10 move it. After great difficulty and
several misbaps, it was hoisted into position.
When the play commenced, the company
found that it obstrucled the stage 90 much
that there was not room for them all to per-
fern st one time. So part OF the actors had
to get Gown and play IN the parquet. This
made the attaches of the theater very much
vsTed: but the audience were convulsed
with laughter.
The play was "Toodles," and was received
with great applause. When that wss over,
the company did The 'nigger.m minstrel bus
iness. Harry's face, neck, and hands were
made as black rs black could be with burnt
cork.
Meanwhile Harry confided to the bones
man and the tan joist the plan be had formed
to "get square" with the two occupants OF
the private box. They willingly promised
10 aesist him. The moment the performance
was over, Harry and his partners rushed for
the private box, violently shut the door, fast
ened it with q broom-hendle, and then
kicked the whole concern over. AS it fell,
the two sristocrsts inside gave yell of rage,
and threatened to lick the whole company
like blszes.r when you catch u.s. the
boys shouted. Then they beat retreat,
each going in different direction.
My Harry ran into the cellar, fastened
the eocr, and then crouched down in a
ccrrer.
In few minutes the late occupants OF the
private box arrived at the cellar-door, VOW
ing vengeance. But the door was too stout
to be broken. They gave up all hopes Of
wheedliDg him out on the pretence of friend.
ship, and at last with hammer and nails
they fastened him in. On going way they
bade "by-by," hoped be would have good
time" and furthermore they invited him in
very sarcastic mann er ITO call up and take
dinner with them at four o'clcck-tbat Is, if
lie could get cut"
There was nc escape for poor little Harry,
as they very well knew, until l should get
DC me at six o'clock ar d release him by open
Ing tie inside door which communicated
with the pantry. The windows TO the csllar
were those called bulls eyes, and they were
60 small that Harry, slender as he was,
could not squirm through them. The little
fellow realjz I'd the situation, and accepted it
withouta bit of whining. He lay down
On the top OF two soap-boxes and went to
sleep.
In about two hours be awoke very much
refreshed, but, ss he told me, very hungry.
There Vas plenty of food of various kinds in
the cellar on 8 swinging shelf. but it was too
high for him to reach. So he jumped up and
stocd en- the edge CT q soft-sosp barrel. He
leaned forward and grasped an apple pie.
A he was leaning back, he slipped. and went
souse into the soft soap up to his neck
Their, in founderiDg around end trying 10
get out he tipped himself and the soft-soap
over.
They'both csne out simultaneously. In
struggling 10 get up from the floor, which
YVES very slippery, Harry stumbled agains.
drew mp his foot and gave it smart kick. II
rolled back. and Knocked out the faucet to
barrel of molssfe3. Now followed q grea;
tiood-molassas and soft.soap. in great guam.
titles, mingled togethsr-eDough 10 float the
little City of Ragusa. Bot the best OF
1t, or rather the worst OF 1t, was
that Harry did not know that the molasses
barrel had been preached. It was very dark
in the cellar; ard even If It had not bsen, he
might not 1aye discovered the leaksge, foI
the barrel, which he SO unfortunately kicked
lay close mp to the stream of nolasses which
was running so that harry did lot discover
it, and Ii slid into the softsoap so easily tina.
he didn't hear it running. Tho fact is, the
boys mind was on his new suit of clothes
during all this catastrophe. They were com
pleiely saturated with soft-scap. He was
afraid they would be entirely spoiled, or al
least that the color would come out. il they
were not Immediately rinsed clean.
1t was impossible to get out of the cellar
and there was no water to be had in it. H
lad spoiled three suits OF clothes lately, and
now. at the fourth one, lie vas afraid his
mothers patience would give ont. Wha'
should he do? o, what should he do? a
happy and original thought struck him. This
dear boy showed q real genius. He said: 81
will wesh them out with c,derl" He stri D.
ped naked to the skin, laid his sopy cloth 2:
uuder the cider barrel faucet, and then
turned it. When they we're we'll saturated
he took them, piece at time. in his hands
and rubbed them back and forth over bis