Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-05-07
Alfred L. King in the New York Clipper.
THE LEADER OF THE CLAQUE,

SxlKQ one OF the most powerful ana IN
eelligent ciaques that ever applauded or
hIeseo an actor. He was the chief by
the unanimous choice of the Bowery
gallery gods, and SO popular was he
chat when the managers of one Of the
eheaters promoted him to an orchestra
chair not "blackie" or "neWsie"
was Jealous of him.
Ee was in the ''shine" business him
self, owner of a chair at the corner of
enc of the streets that give exit to the
East side from the Bowery, and
steady worker. Deft with his brushes,
skiIlfuI in the mixing of blacking, he
could make a Connecticut cowhide boot
shine like patent leather, and when he
but pleasantly, with his customer, who,
sndeed, was surly fellow if he did not
reply Co Dinny's squiblike sentences
for moso of his speeches attracted atten-
zion, first much as the Kissing of the
Sigt1aed eQuib-tuse does, and suddenly
the idea exploded in his hearers mind,
lust like the powder in squib, and the
customer knew that the bootblack had
said something, to which the reply WAS
as involuntary as the start which follows
aa explosion OF a squlb just behind one.
He was q money-lender in a small
way, helping no one who was not in act
Ssal need. and charging a small rate Of
interest. A neWsboy or a peripatetic
G3oothlack could, by stating his needs,
obtain & small loan from Dinny at any
time, and he helped washerwomen who
were a little behind with their rent, or
Shop girls who could not get through
tall the next payday without out side as
slsfance. Thus he had become power
fi1I in way-not that he would ever
put the screws" to any one who would
not pay, but by reason of his popularity.
He was of a saving turn Of mind, or
a7e could not hive become a capitalist
on IS cent" shines, and he was ex-
eremeIy fond of the theaters. 1t was
agony, though, for him to pay the price
Of admission. He wanted to go, but
the extravaganza Of buying theater
appalling to his economical mind. One
day an idea exploded in his head with
y force that made him drop his brush
and utter an exclamation of East Side
emphatic kind.
Hurt your finger? 20 asked the GUS
Gomer.
<'No, sir; but had quick think, and
Gnebbe l amt ust to 'em, fer that un
Eaade nae jump"
"When he was done with that Gus
Gomer he went straight to the most
recently the only theater there where
the Legitimate" was played in English
and asked for the manager.
"Welt, Dinny, what Is 1t, pass
asked the manager.
Ehet's jest it, sir; a. let me be tellin'
Yer why: There's a game called foller
yer leader. The boys II foller me ebery
slime, an all got tn do is to start clap
pin when dere's anything good on lie
Boards, an they'll all foller.'
81 see,'' said the manager, laughing,
you mean to form a claque."
whats that ?'
After listening to an explanation of the
term, he said:
eyer kin call it any durn French name
yer please, but down here on de Bowery
&c g Just me an de boys"
The interview ended with an agree
snent between Dinny and the manager,
the latter binding himself to admit Din
NY without charge, in consideration of
his leading the boys in applause at the
ssFoper times. In addition to his free
admission, Dinny was allowed very fire.
aguendy to be present at rehearsals on
che occasion Of the production of play
new Co the BOwery. This made him val
eiaoie as blllposter to the management,
Cor he would chat with his customers
the pIav, In such a way as to arouse
their curiosity even more than the most
Efana boyant poster could. For these
services he was paid a small stipend.
finally, and promoted to the orchestra
circle, where a chair was always re-
served for him. However, pride at his
becoming an attche of the theater, did
not interfere with the pursuit of his vo-
cation as bootblack, or lead him to OBJ
IL
ferest on his loans.
never iold Of the bargain between him
and Che manager, and every time he
entered the theater he deposited the
ErIce of the ticket at the window of the
Dox Office, and received it back at the
end of the week. So his applause Or
disapproval Of an actor was supposed to
1e due entirely 10 enthusiasm or an
gaaTanee3 yet be was careful not to ex-
press disap baton by kissing or i'm
uatieut exclamation or by unseemly
nolee; and his silence, when there was
II 0&d break, was credited to his good
uess OF heart.
One Saturday night, when his pres
efGce WIS not required at the theater,
ais work during TIE early part of the
week having insured the success of the
play RAINING there, he was at work
with tae brushes. His cbairs-for he
had two nowhere doing good bust
mess, and be was meditating giving the
boys who helped him a raise" While
he WAS ''thumbing" the uppers of
gent" whose shoes he had shined, he
heard g. child crying behind him. Turn
nag, he exclaimed to barefooted girl:
~Dld you stub yer toe, Kate Reilly ?"
"E-fl-no," b ubbered the girl,
60 Manamy is heart broke"
Cali along of the stuff"
"Yig. Daddy's drihkin', and there's
no money for to buy whites for to-mor-
Ey~ Ar actor woman chated nanny,
aud she wants ter borry dollar. She
paid the rint, and hasn't a clint lift"
Dinnv soon learned the story. An
actress bad got Rates mother 10 do
some washing, and had not paid her.
making excuses about having been
dned, and sick and generally behind,
and saying shecould not pay for a
week
"Who's de actress" asked Dinny.
@Kathryn Eidenger."
*Well. here's yer dollar. an don't be
ExyIn' eny more. An stop that, no pal