The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-04
ostabli,bod among the people who

vears 400. YOU cannot pass the distance
Of fifty yardsin certain parts oil all large
English cities, without hearing pan.
denonium OF song behind some door
which bears this legend; ,t}
Free Smoking Concert IKithin,
On Saturday afternoons and evenings
every ono OF these places is thronged to
sufFocation with workingmen. With
their ton to afteen "bobs" (shillings) in
their wallet, empty dinner pals in
hand, half Of them unwashed OF the
crime OF bonost labor, by scores Of
thousands, they. stream into this
"smokine concert and to that. There
with their fellow workmen; with the
precious pipe in mouth Or hand s, mug !.
q "bitter" or -four ole" before them !.
perhapsa painted barmatd on one knee
and Rip Van Winkle-like somnolence
as to their families and their needs;
they shout "Hencore y" Elelcore~ to
the volunteer solois;J tho p!mply pianist
or .be puacy little cloGgtst and all the
other ,Heager freaks of their e. ALI oil
doy '4aycn." roarbrayely in choruses;
ar3 at peace with. all the world. aud
without an iota OF yiciousness in all
thoir .ili!nt lives, wholly torgettql.ef
their slavisll lAbor and slayesSwage-
until the Eile Nemesis, "misstis,1 finds
thsm out and wants them and what ia
left OF thci. "bobs" 10 the'home!h oyel;
or thew arc tossed from the closing
,loorg 10 the stones oi tho street Ter The
Enal picking Of London wuitpEes and
nighthawks. = SHy
iho great London Music hall il. sim.
NV larger and moro. ipsidpously;hurt.
fuI tvpo 81 the FREQ smoking conCeFp
room, in tho hands.of stock company
which profits to the exlentots twenty
five and thirtysper cent, instead, a. q
single publican who is satisfied with
ten. It Is practically q gisantts;p4ror
series OF tiers Of bare. SURF an
auditorium where thousands instead OF
scores can be admitted, at a merely
nominal entrance fee; where stage
with specialty performers SUI plant the
platform, tho pianist and, the volunteer,
and where tito same .clnsaes, Or moro
vicious ones, with '"Arrys aud Ar
riets" Of London fill'tho pit, whiIo every
manner OF cad. iast fellow. G.gentrv
and nobility, including dgood sprink-
ling Of London Bohemia, esauntef In
The prom cnudos and ill the boxes and
utaIls. 49,, s5o:y.
You can bring along your pipe and
sn,okcit lust the same 1s at tho other
place. Tho constant explosion iot
scratched matches is, ni tho same death
" odor and familiar sour Iheresare
tho same sort 81 5armGids, only moro OF
them, scores OF thcm, more hewitching
and dangerous. The dentmondc, quiet
but alert falcons; arc here in hundreds
in search OF quarry. Dozens Of. gold
laced lackeys and inspectors give sem
blance OF refined orderand strict.pro-
prietv. But all the elements of mis-
chief are here. Though tho mirrors,
decorations and all appointments are
gorgeous, all the opportunities for maxi
Ing a beast Of ones self arc provided
without stint You can become naudlin
and sing the performers ballad all your
own way. And the Whole audience, by
mid-evening, is roaring along with tho
orchestra at the catch-ltnes, choruses
and refrains.
About twenty different acts called
turns" are done bysas many aerent
performers in ono evening, and each
factor" will have from one to four
turns" for the same evening, each at
different halls. to which he speeds IN
every sort Of conveyance, from acoster's
donkey cart TO brougham. Pro-
grammes arc furnished, on payment,
and huge numeral, slide into the pro-
sceniun sides, corresponding with pro-
gramme numbers. indicate that when
the deafening clang OF the stage mana
gers gong is next heard, tho turn Is to
Be done by the Renowned Signorina
Splittayoce, Spaghetta Siren to the
Italian Court, BY the Climax OF Clog
gists, by Nell Nellwood. Unapproacll-
able Delineator OF Dukes Dialogues, by
| the Slug Brothers, Kings OF Knock
abouts, or Mile Padshanks, Queen OF
Aspiring Heels. Applause is ungrudg-
ingly given; and the pit, ever insisting
upon It's moneys worth OF screeohing,
wrigpIing and contortion, always yocifer-
ousfy demands as many "Hencores" as
the management will tolerate.
These shows, with few exceptions in
favor OF individual performers, are ut
terly pointless, mirthless. inane and
beastly. There arc perhaps in all this
host OF London music-hall actors
hali dozen who have demonstrated that
art may find reward even in so hopeless
a field. Such are George Beauchamp,
comedian; jenny Hill, impersonator Of
tho costor girl, "the luigin2-'ouse mis-
sus," and female character Of that ilk:
and Albert Chevalier, whose studies
mud representations OF the London cos
termonger should give him rank as a
roallv great actor and man OF positive
genius. 4..,,.
But between all thcsn odd folk and
the London actors oithe dramatic stage,
there IL endless emulation mingled with
tantalizing ,a.tempta ats.trcedcry" and
airinesss on Tho ono aldc, and fddcless
dread and contempt on tho other. The
muaic haiti aeLe:, ipros or "psosscr"
as no is knownin London, is in nearly
oyory instance.9 product Of Che lowest
London litc. As a rcln he is coster-
monger, wAtcrside character. stable
boy, "booCs, !" staryeling from thetrnvel-
ing booth rhows, BillineS.G9te crate,
carrier, or from somewlpte outthe Eaat
End slums. rssSgsP
II he be Of as good qtlalltygas from
the Misunderstanding classics he still,
as well rs all other music!hall perform
ers, graduates into his profession through
ono unvaryine school OF low and ofton
yilo training-from tho Lpenny Gatf,"
tho worst OF all London .shows,,o from
tho "smoking.Concert' denwherehe has
as volunteer sang, danced, coEtortcd,
or sluggcd, fortho free entertainment OF
tho bccry and foul gutter hosts OF Lon
don. Many OF these tavorites command