Morning journal and courier., 1892-06-04

it's to the extent of twenty-five and thirty per cent, instead of single publican who is satisfied with ten. It is practically e gigantic bar or series of tiers of bars, | surrounding an auditorium where thou sands instead of scores can be admitted, at merely nominal entrance fee; where stage with speciality performers sup plant the platform, the pianist and the volunteer; and where the same classes, or more vicious ones, with '"Arrys and Ar riets" of London fill the pit, while every manner of cad, fast fellow of the gentry and nobility, including 8 good sprinkling of London Bohemia, saunter in the prom | enades and fill the boxes and stalls. You can bring along your pipe and | smoke it just the same as at the other place. The constant explosion of scratched matches is of the same deathly odor and familiar sound. There are the same sort of barmaids, only more of them, scores of them, more bewitching and danger ous. The demi-monde, quiet but alert as falcons, are here in hundreds in search of quarry. Dozens of gold-laced laokeys and inspectors give semblsnce of refined order and strict propriety. But all the elements of mischief are here. Though the mirrors, decorations and all appoint ments are gorgeous, all the opportunities for making beast of ene's self are pro- vided without stint. You can become maudlin and sing the performers ballad all your own way. And the whole au- dience, by mid-evening, is roaring along | with the orchestra at the catch-lines, choruses and refrsins.
 About twenty different acts called ''turns" are done by as many different performers in one evening, and each ''ac- tor" 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 O coster's donkey cart to a brougham. Programmes are furnished, on payment, and huge numer- al, slid into the proscenium sides, core spending with programme numbers, in- dicate that when the deafening clsng of the 'turn" is to be done by the Re nowned Signorins Splittsvoce, Spsghetta Siren to the Italian Court, by the Cli- max of Cloggists. by Nell Nellwood, Un- approachable Delinestor of Dukes Dis- logues, by the Slug Brothers. Kings of Knockabouts, or by Mile. Padshsnks, Queen of Aspiring Heels Applause is ungrudgingly given; and the pit, ever in- sisting upon its moneys worth of screech- ing, wriggling and contortion, always vo- ciferously demands as many "Hencoresn ds management VIII IOltIate.
 These shows, with few exceptions in favor of individual performers, are utter ly pointless, mirthless, inane and beast ly. There are perhaps in all this host of London music hall ''sctors'' a half dozen who have demonstrated that true art may find reward even in so hopeless 6 field. Such are George Besuchamp, comedian; Jenny Hill. impersonstor of the costor girl, ''the ludging'ouse missus," and fe- male characters of that ilk; and Albert Chevalier, whose studies and representa- tions of the London costermongsr should give him rank as really great actor and man of positive genius.
 But between all these odd folk and the London actors of the dramatic stage there is endless emulation mingled with tantal- izing attempts at ''freedery" and airiness on the one side and & fadeless dread and contempt on the other The music-hall actor, ''pros" or 'tprosser" as he is known in London, is in nearly every instance e product of the lowest London life. As rule he is a costermonger, waterside character, stable boy, 'boots," starveling from the travelling booth shows, Billings gate crate-csrrier, or from somewhere out the East End slums.
 If he be of as good quality as from the humblest lsboring classes he still, as we'll as all other music-hall performers, graduates into his profession through one unvarying school of low and often vile training-from the "penny gaff," 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 London Many of these favorites command sala- ries of from one hundred to one hun dred and fifty pounds per week. But about all of them reach their affiuence, and often responsibility, out of the same original depths, and along the same vii cissitous road.
 The only time when dramatic actor and "pros" ever meet is at the annual Christmas plays and psntomimes. Then the "pros" is in demand at the theaters to do specialties. The lofty scorn and the airy defiance between actor and ''pros" is then something wonderful to behold.
 "What's thati" is the contemptuous query of one actor to another, as a "pros" is espied in the stage wings at Christmas time, waiting to do his turn" as his act or speciality is called.
 ''Oh, it's only thing from the 'alls (the music-halls);" his companion will as | witheringiy answer.
 "Gor bli mel" retorts the "pros" with | an airy snort, Init cawn't be hits on the | sta ige;" referring to his persecutor. They wouldn't lave sech bloomin' hobjecs | in the 'allsl"
 To describe the haunts of the 'pross- | CTS" would require description of the | entire lowly of London. But every day | many of these curious folk may be seen, and between eleven and two o'clock eve " Monday from five hundred to one
 thousand can bs found, ii the day, be Il nt .In s,,tA -e l
 Waterloo roads, just beyond the south
 approach to Waterloo bridge, on the Sur | rey side.
 In language, speech, manner, dress ps-
 culiarities and characteristics it is one of
 the rarest assemblages one can find in all
 London. They resort here to ssbook" en-
 agreements 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 ten per cent com
 mission on their weekly salaries; to eI-
 change greetings. coster oaths and choice
 Billingsgate; 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 both
 adjourn to the psrlors of the York Hotel
 for wine and lunch. This ancient hostelry
 is the real headquarters of the entire
 throng. On Mondays policemen are sta.
 toned at its front to clear the sidewalks
 for passers. Star favorites drive up to |,
 in dog-csrts or broughams; managers and
 agents always come Tn their own carriages
 with liveried footmen; and while tho
 "prossers" who have come on foot are al
 ways on the surface respectful enough tc
 these superiors, their undertone of com
 ment, epithet and grotesque disparagement
 is the richest and most graceless that eyel
 fell from the tongues of men and women
 The latter are here in equal numberl
 with the men. Both drink on equal term
 at the York's first, second and third clas
 bar compartments. All seem to feel bet
 ter for their Iurid denunciations of stars managers and agents. All all who hay, money generously share it with those o their craft who have fallen by the waysid,
 and, bleary-eyed, crippled and husky voiced, each Monday drag themselves t<
 this picturesque corner to humbly "wai for captains" which, in the vernscular, il
 tarrying for drink and alms
 | EDGAp IT..