New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-05
1T VAS COLLEGE NIGHT.
How BOSTON AUDIENCE RESENTED
woMAN's SATIRE

H0W BOSTON AUDIENCE RESENTED
woMAN's SATIRE
The story published In The Tribune recently relative
to the impressions left at Kansas City by the Yale
Glee Club recalls an incident which happened three
or four years ago In Boston, One of the best en-
teralnment bureaus OF that city had engaged Florence
Marryatt the author to give series Of entertain
ments in this country. She first appeared in Boston,
at fremont Temple. Every billboard throughout the
city was ablaze with her portrait and the announce
mcnt of her first appearance In America and down to-
ward the bottom of the b In small and modest letters
the further announcement that she would be
assisted by the Harvard Quartet
Boston people had been treated to taste OF English
Sweetness and light" IN the person OF the famous
English critic, Matthew Arnold, only short time before.
and WERE therefore, all agog with expectancy and
interest as to how this English commodity would be
dispensed by an English woman.
On the evening appointed fremont Temple was
hacked. Every seat was occupied and the alses were
filed with people standing up. The quartet OF Har-
ward boys had been engaged to sandwich I'M between
the numbers on the programme reserved Tor MISS
Marryat. and the manager felt some msgvlngs as TO
whether the boys would be able to hold ther own ana
keep the dgnined pace set by the star Oh te evening
She began the entertainment By reading " Love Let
tersp a composition Of her own Che appeared IN inc
conventional full dress, and posed as leader OF Eng
sh society reading her love-letters ana commenting
pnon the characters Of those who sent them always TO
their disparagement. A.. .
One OF these letters was supposed to be from a
newly graduated oxford man, who had ohereu her III
this letter his heart hand and fortune lie came III
for the lions share OF feminine sarcasm anu rai'ue
md was left In sorry condition when she sot through
with him. She made him out an inane, cohceiteo
puppy-a mere blotch the healthy body OF society
when she had completed the autopsy size bowed her-
self grandly of the stage and swept INTO te sreen
room with the air Of conqueror'
The audience was stupened and dumb presently
II occurred 70 somebody In one corner OF the nan ta1
1t was the proper thing TO applaud LOT 'ne souhu
OF solitary clap broke the awful stiffness WHICH Ioi-
lowed her disappearance from the stage iHo Sp
plausc started from the rear, skipped over the body
Of tho house. found two three sympathzers on tile
other side OF the hall, froze there and dled'
While this was going on out in the audience q lively
scene was being enacted behind the screeh /" Vno
rreen.room. The manager was frantic and scarcely
knew what to shy to Miss Marryat In explanation OF
the cold reception given her. He was angry, TOO
for the whitening powers she had moment Oeioio
displayed on the stage turned on him and made
him beside himself with rage and chagrin lie kept
ND a frenzied dance from her room TO where inc
college boys Stood at the other end OF the han DC
hind the scenes, trying to console tho woman ana
pathetically begging the boys to do their best
"Can YOU hold your own ~ he asked, in a fright
ened voice.
middle OF the audience before We get through, Anu
they soon were They first sang a popular gee nn9
followed 1t up with several college songs winch CuGu
forth "a storm of applause. They came ods uBalh
three times In response TO encores ana startcu 70 ~
spond 10 the fourtl when the manager Deggeu uein
not 10 20 before the audience again. beseechng thcm
10 consider Miss Marryaps feelings. . A. ,.,.
The hurricane out in the audience died afer awhile
and Miss Marryat more appeared 1hls tlfne sne
was cnveoped In flaming red oxford gown ana cap
and stood before the audience as young colIeslan
The house Immediately "caught on" TO inc irony ot
the thing and remained mute with astonlshmchl hot
knowing whether her role as collegan meant peace
or war. - - 49,. - H. -h,ob
spasmodc burst of laughter in the rear IN which
everyone wanted to Join, was, however soon huSIea
and Miss Marryat began her lines the tenor Oh winch
was with q slight difference, much the same as hcr
previous SKETCH and the same cold reception was ac
corded her. ,.,,o.o,-
She left the hall in a towering rage Immediately i,
and the college boys came on TO sing once more.
They were greeted with tremendous applause. MY
owned the house, and every one IN 1t. Inc audience
was demoralizcd and jub:lant Women waved their
handkerchiefs and men clapped their nauus ana
bounded the floor with their sticks and feet. old
whte-haircd college college graduates grlnned ara
looked silly noddng their hoary heads In ume Win
the merry Jingle OF the college songs they used 10 sing
and knew well. - -,
man, with happy look on his face started for the
door leaving hls aged wife to find her woy out as
best she could. he forgot where he was for a
minnie, and tr0lled In quaverlng voice: -
an 60 no more a-rOvlnG with you, fair maid"