The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-05

| nanos OF stock company which profits to
the extent of 25 and 80 per cent, instead of
! single publican who is satisfied with 10 g..
1t Is practically gigantic bar or series of
tiers OF bars, surrounding an auditorium
| where thousands instead of scores can be
| admitted, at merely nominal entrance
| Zee; where stage with speciality perform
| ers supplant the platform, the pianist and
| the volunteer; and where the same classes
| OF more vicious ones, with "Arrys and
| 'Arriets" OF London fill the pit, while every
manner of cad. fast fellows of the.gentrY
and nobility, including good sprinklng OF
| London Bohemia, saunter i'll the promen-
AIDES and fill the boxes and stalls.
GU can bring along your pipe and smoke
| 1t 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 bar
maids, only more Of them, scores of them,
more bewltching and dangerous. The
demi~monde, quiet but alert as falcons, are
| here in hundreds in search of quarry.
! Dozens of gold-laced lackeys and inspectors
| give semblance of refined order and strict
propriety. But all the elements Of mischief
are here. Though the mirrors, decorations
and all appointments are gorgeous, all the
| opportunities for making beast Of ones
| self are provided without stint. You can
| become maudlin and sing the performers
| ballad all your own way. And the whole
audience by midevening, is roaring along
| with the orchestra at the catch-lines cho-
ruses and refrains.
About twenty different acts called turns,
| are done by as many different performers
| in one evening, and each factor" will have
| from one to four turns" for the same even
| ing. each at different halls, to which he
| speeds in every sort Of conveyance, from q
| c0sters donkey cart to brougham. Pro-
| grammes are furnished, on payment and
huge mineral Slidinto the proscenium sides,
corresponding with programme numbers,
| indicate that when the deafening clang of
| the stage managers gong is next heard the
turn Is to be done by the renowned
Signorina Splittavoce. Spaghetti Siren to
| the Italian court, by the Climax of Clog
| gists, by Nell Nellwood, Unapproachabie
| Dalineator of Dukes Dialogues, by the Slug
Brothers, Kings Of knockabouts. or by
Mile. Padshanks. Queen Of Aspiring Heels.
| Applause is ungrudgingly given; and the
| pit, ever insisting upon It's moneys worth
of screeching, wriggling and contortion, al
ways vociferously demands as many Hen
| cores" as the management will tolerate.
These shows with few exceptions in favor
| Of individual performers, are utterly point
| less, mirthless, insane end beastly. There
are perhaps in all this host of London
music hall factors" half dozen who have
| demonstrated that true art may find reward
even in 30 hopeless field. Such are George
beauchamp, comedian; Jenny Hill, imper-
| senator of the oostor girl. "the Judging
| 'ouse missus,n and female characters Of that
| ilk: and Albert Chevaer, whose studies
and representations OF the London coster>
monger 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 tantaliz-
| ing attempt at "freedery" and airiness on
the one side, and fadeless dread and con-
| tempt on the other. The music, hall actor,
pros" or ''prosser" as he rs known in Lon-
| don, is in nearly every instance product
of the lowest London life. AS a rule he is
| q costermonger, waterslde character, stable
boy, boots starveHng frern thestraveling
booth shows, Billlngsgate crate carrier. or
| from somewhere out the East End slums.
If he be as good quality as from the hum
| biest laboring classes he still, as well as ali
other music hall performers, graduates into
| his profession through one unvarylng school
| of low and often vile training-from the
penny gaff,D 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 entertain
ment of the berry and. foul gutter hosts Of
| London. Many of these faEoritescomma
salaries of from El00 to 9l5O per week
| But about all of them reach their af1ueuce,
and often responsibility, out of the same
original depths, and along the same vicis-
6itous road.
The only time when dramatic actors and
"pros' ever met is at the annual Christmas
plays and pantomimes. Then the "pros" is
in demand at the theaters to do specialties.
The lofty scorn and the airy defiance be-
tween actor and pros" is then sometimes
wonderful to behold.
WHATS thatP is the contemptuous query
81 a.SO to nc Ghproc0 10 al
in the stage wings at Christmas time. watt
ing to do his turn" as his act or speciality
is called.
80, it's only thing from the 'alIs the
music halls ~ his companion Will as wither-
ingly answer.
IGOR bli men' retorts the "pros" with an
airy snort, hit cawnt be hits on the sta-ige,"
referring to his prosecutor. They wouldn't
ave sech bloomin' hobiecs in the alsr'
70 describe the haunts of the ''prossers"
would require a description of the entire
lowly of London. But every day many OF
these curious folk may be seen, and between
| IL and O'Clock every Monday from 500 to
| 900 can be found, if the day be pleasant.
| at the intersection of York and Waterloo
roads, just beyond the south approach to
| Waterloo bridge on the Surrey side.
| In language. speech, manner, dress pc
| culiarities aud characteristics it is one of
| the rarest assemblages one can lind in all
| London. They resort here to book ea-
Ragements 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; to exchange greet
| ings, coster oaths and hoice billiugsgate,
| 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 adj
| journ to the parlors of the York hotel for
wine and lunch. This ancient hostelry il
| the real headquarters of the entire Uhrong.
| On Mondays policemen are stationed at its
| front to clear the sidewalks for passers.
! star fevorites drive up to 1t In dog-carts or
| broughamsr managers or agents always
| come in their own carriages with llverled
| footmen; and while the 'prossers" who
! have come on foot are always on the surface
respectful enough TO these superors, their
undertone of comment, epithet and gro
tesque disparagement is the richest and
| most graceless that ever fell from the
| tongues of mon and women.
! The latter are mere in equal numbers with
| the men. Both drink on equal terms at tue
! York's first, second and third class bar COM
| partments. All seem TO feel better for their
| lurid denunciatioBs Of stars, managers and
agents. And all who have money gener-
| otisly share it with those Of their craft who
| have fallen by the wayside, and, bleary-
| eyed crippled and husky-voiced, each