Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-13
NO GOING OUT 'TwIxr ACTS.
A Gentleman at n Washington Theatcr Show
His Dlsapproval of the Plan.


Gentleman at n Washington Theatcr Shows
His DIsapproval Of the Plan.
IT WAS PLAINLY observable that the enjoy.
l. ment which the pop-eyed gentleman in the
fourth row Of the orchestra took in the perform
ance became more intense as the play went on.
Whereas before the curtain rose he had be-
haved with the utmost decorousness, even to
the point of refusing to wink at young lady in
the left-hand proscenium box who kept him
covered persistently with her opera glass. any
one might have noticed that the stiffness of his
demeanor perceptibly relaxed during the prog
ress Of the first act. This was remarked even
by the red-haired person in the seat lmmedi-
ateiy behind, who was enthusiastically using
the pop-eyed mans silk hat as a cuspidor.
The pop-eyed man was conducting a strictly
stag theater party; he was not acting as the
escort OF anything in petticoats. In truth he
was altogether alone. All the same. as has
been implied. his solitude did not interfere
with his happiness. so far as could be perceived.
On the contrary he seemed to grow progress
lively contented. After while the satisfaction
nc felt had progressed SO far that his applausiye
comments upon the stage action went off into
the falsetto register, so somewhat to disturb
two fat old ladies' just in front and a bald
headed individual seated between them. who
was anxious to go to sleep.
FINALLY 1t became apparent that the pop-eyed
gentleman mad become Indifferent regarding
ProPrieties or as to whether school kept or not
With entire disrespect for conyentionalities. lie
proceeded to wrap up ten-cent pieces one at a
time, III bits OF paper torn from his program
and toss them upon the stage. Presumably he
had heard how in some foreign countries il is
the custom to throw money over the footlights
as token OF approval of good acting. At all
events, whenever he found decision for an
plauso he would partly rise from his seat and
ire wad with nothing less than a nickel in it
at the actor or actress who had been SO fortu-
nate as to excite his approval Naturally, this
ELECTED some attention from the audience, and
even Occasioned embarrassment to the perform
ers. Thus it happened that after a while an
usher came down the aisle to interfere.
This usher was probably employed in po-
lower jaw appeared to project about half an
men beyond the upper. and it was with an air
distinctly authoritative that he addressed the
watery-eyed gentleman, saying:
Where did you get your load?''
"The words were uttered quietly however,
SO as not to be audible to the people around,
but upon the pOp-eyed gentleman they pro-
duced an unpleasant effect He paused in the
act OF wrapping up a brightly new dime in the
last piece OF his program remaining and said,
as il annoyed:
''Heyy'
''Naw. it isn't hay" responded the usher with
marked lack of urbanity. but there is gent
IN IN the lobby waitin' to escort you out Of the
gentle smile illumined the countenance of
the man and he said:
Some acquaintance who desires me to drink
-hic-pleasure." So
=; SO the watery-eyed gentleman and the usher
meandered up the aisle arm in arm, and when
the lobby was reached the latter introduced the
former to an excessively fat policeman, who
had mp to this time been engaged in irving to
get glimpse of one corner Of the stage through
an oval hole in green baize door. The man
felt too altogether cheerful to remark the uni
form of the custodian of the peace and thus
found himself few moments later in front of
the bar at police station.
Mine ia Il little whisky, il YOU please. bar
keep he remarked gravely, addressing the
sergeant.
Search him." replied the official, speaking
to the officer.
Whereupon the gentleman's clothes were
turned inside out, nOtwiths standing mild pro-
tests or his part and there we're disclosed GO
cents in silver, a bOne-handled knife, a handker-
chlef three keys and a rectangular box of paste
board. This last was found to contain four
capsules Of the sort used to hold nauseous medi.
clnes, only bigger. 1t appeared originally to
have held dozen such.
II took the -hic-eight at the theater. ~
said the pop-eyed gentleman. won't Won have
one with me? There's whisky in EN-"