The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-12-31
a JUVENILE HORDE.
NEW YORK YOUNGSTERS SEE
THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE.

Six Thousand Street Urchins swarm Into
. Metropolitan Playhouse and Make
Away with Everything PorthbIs Within
Reach-A Pandemonium.
Fully 5000 shouting, soream ming, chat
tering, cheering youngsters attended the
performance Of "Ths Scout given for
poor children at Niblo's, and outdid the
Indians as regards noise a nd drowned
the reports of the pistols with their en-
thusiastic yells,
Such % audience has never before
been inside the walls Of O playhouse.
There were boys there with dirty faces,
and boys whose natural color did net
give one an opportunity I'd see if they
were dirty or not. Little girls were
there, too, some white and few black.
and they took as much delight In the
performance and made as much noise
as the boys.
The doors Of tho theater were besieged
as early as 1880 O'Clock, and by $50 there
was tremendous jam about the Broad
way and Crosby street entrances. Once
the doors were opened there was no use
trying to collect tickets. The boys sim
ply swept everything before them. In
an incredibly short time every seat con-
tanned at least two occupants, and every
available place from which the stage
could be seen was OCCUPIED.
The boys hung on the posts like mon
keys, occupied the stairs, stood on the
radiators, and if 1t wasn't for the ten
big policemen who were there TO preserve
order there is no knowing what they
would have done. The Youngsters talked
to each other from all parts Of the house
"Hay, Yaller" shouted one urchin
across the gallery. "Did you see me
brudderf' Nav" came the answer.
"Hully Nor shouted back the first
speaker, me mudder will slaughter
me-" "Hi, Red, shouted another young.
ster, where's Mixer "Qh, he's down
in the parkay eating oats, came the an
swer.
II was 10 o'clock when Congressman
Timothy J. Campbell came before the
curtain and addressed the BOYS. At
least he tried 20 tell the bpys to be good
citizens, but they heard him not, and he
concluded in pantonime.
One little girl wearing a big red hat
occupied chair all by herself in the or.
chestra. Take off your hat, Magl
shouted the little one behind her, but
sho paid no attention, and in an instant
that hat was sailing down the aisle
When she got it back it was in ribbons
and TO quiet her cries policeman lifted
her into box, where she spent most Of
her time sticking her tongue out at the
other girls.
How the boys cheered when the cur
tain went upl They applauded DR.
Carver like mad, and when he threw
the villain in the big tank they yelled
furiously. The comic Irishman aud the
darby pleased them immensely, and they
marvelsd at Dr. Csrver's aim when h.
broke all The bottles in the saloon with
rifle balls. .. .=.#-.-
The actors soon discovered that it wal
useless to talk, as they couldn't be heard
and they went on great part of tht
time in pantomime. Ndvillain was eve
more heartily disliked than Cherokee,
Jake, played by Mr.. Sommerfeld. On,
boy in the gallery threw a half eaten ap
pie at him, and an Indian picked 1t II,
and finished IT, In the fourth act erie
came from all parts Of the house t,
throw Jake into the river There wa
tuluultuous applause when the horse fel
through the bridge, and there was NOR
when the play was oyer. 1t took jus
seven minutes for the house to empty
aud it seemed miracle that no on
was hurt. Had one boy stumbled Will
! coming down the gallery staircase tn
I result would have been appalling.
After the house was emptied Manage
Comstock went in and viewed the wreck
Every other row had d broken seat, an
in one place an entirQ row was demol
I ished. The urchins broke open the oper
glass machines and earted off the glasses
| and in some cases took the machine
= and all.
r well" said Mr. Coinstock, "the
I, had good time, and don't care as Ion
y as they left the four walls and didn't q
j, hurt. New York Herald.