The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-19
HARvARDBoYs AS "sUPEs ="
Recollections Of Some Feats in the
Elective theatrical Course.
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AecollectiOns Of Some Feats in the
Elective Iheatrical Course.
From the Kansas City Star.
They were talking about the "highe1
education at Harvard" and the converse.
ton began to drag. 81 took notice at the
banquet given to Col. Eliot" said the old
Harvard man, that Prexy as we call him
made no allusion to the elective theatrical
course which is so popular at the university
You've never heard of the theatrical
coursel Well, that's strange. I thought
that everybody knew that Har
ward turns out the finest dra-
matte supernumeraries in the coun-
try. You see, it was O sort of pride with
us, and we never cut that recitation unless
there was a serious obstacle in the way
And the obstacle was always the important
and officious captain Of the Eupes. When.
ever Mary Anderson, Nelson, Patti or any
of the great dramatic artists played ID
Boston, and the niSe-en-Scepe required I'm.
usual spectacular effects. the boys would
skip over from Cambridge and apply fol
positions as supes. 1t was lots OF fun for
the boys and not bad thing. by the way,
for the theater, for gentleman is much
more adroit and presentable than muckeI
wherever you may put him. But occa-
sionally the high bred coilegian would allow
his temper to get the better Of him, and
that meant trouble.
"Once during Mary Anderson's engage
ment an incident of this kind occurred.
The college contingent was on the stage il
force that night, led by popular football
player and one Of the finest athletes in the
university. The athlete was so cayried
away by the spirit Of his part, which de-
manded a wild wringing of the hands and q
spirited exclamation 'hi! Eip-you see II
was speaking part-that he didn't notice q
jealous mucker who was leaning up against
a scene He accidentally hit the mucker
who turned on him with q suppressed oath
Whether the athlete was dreaming of Yale
and Holmes field, or whether his ire was ex
cited by the insult l can't say, but he
tackled the mucker in fine style, and both
scene and mucker shot into the wings with
a crash, while the audience howled with de-
light Mary wept aud declared that one Of
her finest situations had been ruined, ard
she gave orders that thereafter her retainers
and armies should not be recruited from
Harvard square
ION another occasion fierce stage battle
between English and French armies was
necessary for the dramatic unities. The
Harvard boys comprised the French army
and the muckers the English. The occasion
demanded the rout and humiliation of the
French. 1t was spirited contest, and in
obedience to dramatic exigency the French
were slowly and sullenly retiring from the
field, when an Englishman happened to
punch Frenchman with more than neces>
sary fervor. The excitable son of France
returned the punch with great promptness
and a pretty scrap ensued. The French
army, which had been shoutings hi! hill
as it backed into the wings, became sud
dan1u iaforaafad ratnTped fO fha Aold
got its history and its dramatic lesson, and
III less than two minutes had dumped the
entire English force into pile of paint pots
and brushes in the left lower entrance. The
stage manager swore like pirate, but the
audience was charmed. Aud ten to one il
never knew the difference or realized the
perversion of one Of the most famous his
torical events
when Patti and Scalchi sang in Boston
several years ago, two Harvard boys con
cluded that their talents were necessary to
insure the success of the engagement. One
OF them was a scion of the famous Adams
family of Boston, the other the son of the
banker Belmont. Accordingly, by the judi
elous use Of certain sums Of money, they
bribed the captain of the supers to allow
them to 20 on in 'L'Africalne.
AdamsM was logged out in armor
with "a smashing and martial outside.
out Belmont was obliged to black
his face, and assume the sportive character
81 an ethiopian. As they ranged up in
line, full Of pride and confidence. the eye of
the captain fell upon them. Here, youst
leners, he cried, git out O. de line. In
vain they protested in eloquent whisper
mat they had paid lawful money Of the
government for the privilege Dat don't
make no difference said the mucksr
youOe Iellers is 900 short; 81
gu out. And very sadly they
got OUT Adams Invested him.
set OF his armor and stood ia the wing
awaiting the entrance Of the diva. Pres
+" nat the devil are you doing heref sale
4ompkins. Please, sir, said Adams with
great promDtness, Pm one Of the scene
STllIters.' o, you are, are youp replied
Iompkins: Well, then, get around and
move up that scene for this act Adamt
tUok mold OF the scenes and was showing Il
along when the stage carpenter roared al
Hltn: Here, you - fool; what in -
are you doing with that scene7 That's fol
t tne third act. Now, get out Of here, or III
turow you OUT About this time Adams
concluded that the distinguished Adams
family OF Boston didn't care much about
~ AIricaine' anyhow, so he started for the
dressing rooms in search Of Belmont. HC
5 ~, him weeping burning, scaldiDg tears.
mere was no water In sight, and Belmont'I
lace was as black as a spade hand. But the
oilens among the nuckers were SO unfavor'
aole that he dressed himself in great haste
and a few minutes later the two crushed act
ors were sneaking toward the stage door
Adams passed through in safety, but q
coarse and unfeeling mucker. observing the
Elegantly dressed darby, could not restrain
. well-directed movement Of bis boot, and
ne unhappy son Of IA great banker shot
ITO the night ike a missile from catapuit
N hen young Adams walked into the Parker
house arm IN arm with bis Ethiopian com
hhlch was not diminished as the fact leaked
out But the episode. as you see. was d
lernlng point 40 a critical period Ia Che
history " the Adams and Belmont families