The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-04
hands OF stock company which profits 70


n single nnblican who il satisfied with ~.
II il practically gigantic bar OF sei'es "
| tiers Of bars, surrounding an anui'oi '"'i
where thousands instead OF scores can NC
admitted at a merely nominal entrance iee'
where stage with specially periorineiS
.uunlant the platform, the pianist ana lne
! yolnnteer. and where the same classes OF
moro vicious ones. with "'Arrys and Ar
r,etsu of London I'll the pit, while every
manner Of cad. fast fellow Of the gentry
and nobility. including a good sprlnkIlng
~ London bohemia. saunter in the prom
enades and Gil the boxes and stalls.
You can bring along your pipe and smoke
Il inst the same as at the other place. Inc
| constant explosion Of scratched matches Is
of the same deathly odor and famiilar
.onnd There are the same sort OF bar
/ maids. only more Of them, scores OF them
moro bewitching and dangerous. Inc
aemtmonde. quiet, but alert as falcons, are
here in hundreds in search OF quarry
dozens of gold laced lackeys and inspect
ors give semblance Of refined order and
strict propriety But all the elements OF
mischief are here.
About twenty different acts caiIeu
"turns" are done by as many different per
formers in one evening, and each actor
will have from one 20 four turns" Tor lhe
same evening. each at different halls 10
which he speeds in every sort OF convey
ance from a coster's donkey cart TO
! brou0ham. Programmes are furnlsheu'
on navment. and huge numerals, STA INTO
! the proscenium sides, corresponding with
nrorrarnme numbers. indicate that wneh
the deafening clang Of the stage manager S
cong il next heard, the turn" is % be
done bv the Renowned Signorlta Splitta-
voce SpaQhetta Siren 10 the Italian Court;
bv the Climax of Cloggists; by Nell Nell
wood. Unapproachable Delineator OF Dukes.
Dialogues; by the Slug Brothers, Kings OF
Kpockabouts. or by Mile Padshanks'
Queen of Aspiring Heels
These shows. with few exceptions in
favor Of individual performers are utterly
pointless mirthless, inane and oeastly'
There ara perhaps in all this host OF Lon
don music hall factors" half dozen VINO
have demonstrated that true art may find
reward even in so hopeless field. such
are George Beauchamp, comedian, Jenny
HIN. impersonatOr Of the coster girl, the
Ipdginp jouse missus" and female charac
ters If that ilk. and Albert Cheyalier,
whose studies and representations Of the
London cOstermonger should give him
rank as a really great actor and man OF
positive genius.
Bnt between all these odd folk and the
London actors Of the dramatic stage there
is endless emulation mingled with tanta-
lizino attempts at "freedery" and airiness
on the one side, and fadeless dread and
contempt on the other. The music hall
actor. pros" or "prosscr" as he IS known
in London. is in nearly every instance a
product Of the lowest London life. As a
rule he is a costcrmonger wateside char
acfer. stable boy, "boots," staryeling from
the travelling booth shows, Billingsgato
crate carrier, OF from somewhere out Of the
East End Sums.
If he be Of as good quality as from the
humblest laboring classes he still, as wei
as all other music hall performers, grad
yates into his profession through one
upvarying school Of low and often vile
training-from the penny gait" the worst
Of all London shows, or from the smoking
concert" den, where he has. as volunteer
sang. danced, contorted or slugged for the
free entertainment Of the beery and foul
gutter hosts OF k.ondon.
The only time when dramatic actor ana
"pros" ever meet is at the annual Christ
mas plays and pantomimes Then the
pros" is in demand at the theaters 10 do
specialties The lofty scorn and the airy
defiance between actor and pros is then
something wonderful 10 behold.
Whats u50t?" IS the contemptuous
query Of one actor % another as pros is
espied in the stage wings at Christmas
time waiting 10 DO his turn" as his act
or speciality is called.
| ooh. its only thing from the 'alls' (the
! music halls, his companion Will as wither-
/ ingly answer.
"Gor bli me-" retorts the "pros, with
an airy snort, "hit cawn't be hits on the
sta-ige, " referring TO his prosecutor. They
wouldn't ave sech bloomin hobiecs in the
| 'allsw
To describe the haunts Of the 'prossers"
would require description of the entire
lowly Of London. But every day many Of
these curious folk may be seem and be-
tween II and O'Clock every Monday from
800 TO 900 can be found, if the day be
pleasant. at the intersection Of York and
Waterloo Roads, just beyond the south APP
proach to Waterloo Bridge. Oh the Surrey
Side
In language, speech, manner. dress pc
culiarities and characteristics it is one OF
the rarcst assembages one can find in all
| London They resort here 10 book" en-
| gagements with dramatic agents who oc-
| cupy all accessible ground apartments for
| nearly square on either angle of each OF
the four corners; to pay TO their agents the
| regularly required 10 per cent commission
on their weekly salaries; toeXchange greet
| ings, c0stcr Oaths and choice Bllllngsgate
and to keep posted as to the movements Of
rivals and city, provincial and American
/ managers.
After these managers have arranged
| their business affairs with the agents b0tl
adjourn to the parlors Of the York hote
for wine and lunch. This ancient hostelry
is the real headquarters OF the entire
throng. On Mondays policemen are sta
toned at It's front 10 clear the sidewalks
for passers. star favorites drive up TO il
in dog carts OF broughams; managers anc
agents always come IN their own carriage
with livered fOOtmen, and while TIA,
"prossers" who have come on foot are al
ways on the surface respectful enough e
these superiors, their undertOne of com
ment, epithet and grotesque disparage
ment is the richest and most graceless thai
ever fell from the tongues of men anC
women.
The latter are here in equal number
with the men. Both drink on equal term