Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-29

thug up their allotted capers, they separate
into fours and retire to the sides of the
scene Then eight more Alsatians emerge
into view, and come forward in the manner
of their predecessors, except that each holds
barred right arm in front of her face, as
though shielding her eyes from the sudden
glare of the footlights. Thus they dance
forward, with their visages hidden, until
they are now close to the front of the
stage. They are as sprY and as
symmetrical as the eight who have
come before. But when they suddenly
lower their right arm and disclose their
countenances it is seen that good joke has
been played on the assemblage. They are
all women of 80 years or more, with un-
commonly ugly features. It is an old
maxim in the theater business, believe,
that an audience should never be fooled.
But the oddity and success of this trick is
so great that l doubt if there is any resent
ment over it Anyhow, it is Immediately
followed BY an atonement. A third octet OF
danseuses quickly come into view. Their
right arms are before their faces, too. and
as they parter down the stage to the place
lust vacated bv the old women, the specta-
tors wonder how much further they will be
shocked by visual ugliness.
Probably these will turn out to be boys"
was one surmise.
"These will be centenarians," was an
other guess.
1--WE have had the daughters and
mothers, third opined, 'sand now they
will show us the grandmothers.
Down went the arms, and into view came
eight of the youngest and prettiest faces in
the whole ballet
A BROKERS PLEASANT HOBBY.
You may have read a line or two an
nouncing the death of Harvey Kennedy,
and telling you that be was very rich old
Wall street broker. But nothing has been
printed as to the Friday night sight which
his demise will take away from the Metro
politan Opera House Mr.. Kennedy was
Wid0wer He showed no inclination TO re-
marry, YET he was very fond of young la
dies, and his method of getting their society
without paying particular attention to any
single one was ingenious and genial. He
had carriage built to hold eight persons.
1t was cross between fine private coupe
and big public stage. Two big, prancing
horses drew it, and liveried coachman sat
high on the front seat. The other portion
of Mr.. Kennedy's outfit was box for one
night a week at the opera. He hired it
from Cyrus w. Field at $175 night, and
was q sub-tenant at that price all through
last winter and during the present
season until his sudden death. For each
Friday night he invited six young ladies to
go with him to the opera. His guests were
chosen from among all his acquaintance, and
not often was the same girl entertained twice.
For each party he also secured matron as
a chaperone, and he himself made the
eighth person in the party. To every lady
he sent huge bouquet of the costliest roses,
tied with very long and wide satin ribbon
exactly matching her dress, or at least har-
monizing with it in color. To be exact
about this he usually obtained a scrap of
the chief material In each instance, and
these samples were delivered to the florist,
who obtained ribbons for the eight bouquets
to suit.
Every Friday night the Kennedy barouche
would start out from his own quarters-he
had lately lodged in the Union League
Club-with the host alone within it. His
first call would be at the house of the chape-
rome, and thence they would go the round of |
six honored domlciles, finally bringing up |
at the Metropolitan with the always envied |
LOAD. Mr.. Kennedy was a handsome old |
man, large OF stature, with ruddy, beam |
ing face and snow white hair. It was an odd |
spectacle to see him in his box surrounded |
by bevy of vivacious girls, handsomely |
costumed and profuselY bedecked with the |
roses of his providing. After the opera was |
over he always took the party to one or an
other of the most fashionable restaurants, |
where he treated them to magnificent sup
per. The cost of this weekly entertainment |
could not have been less than $500. Mr.. |
Kennedy died of heart disease Now, how
many of nv readers will fail to remark that |
Of course no old widower's heart could stand |
such a complex strain as that?
A NEW AID TO DENTISTRY.
"When a mans afraid,
A beautiful maid
Is q charming sight to see."
That is what you heard the maiden sing /
in ''The Mikadon She was telling ahnnt q |