The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-27

wounded and some thirty Others wounded.
many OF whom were manned for life.
The horrors of that misty Midnight scene
will never be forgotten ''wni!e memory
holds a seat on this distracted globe" Yells
of rage, dying groans, and screams Of agony
were strangely commit gled in the semi
darkness. Little processicns carrying of
some friend or relative were seen by TIE
Pickering lamp-light, while excited groups
here and there were discussing the tragedy.
The military in grim silence were guard
ing the opera house. while mounted patrols
were clearing the streets. Nacready had
ESCAPED from the building in the diss uise Of
a military officer, when he took the irst
train for Boston and soon after sailed for
Europe. On his return to his own country
he was honized and feted.
Great excitement prevailed throughout
the city as we'll as all over the COUNTRY
Next day q meeting was called in City Hall
park Of "all citizens opposed to the destruc-
ton OF human life" whereat inflammatorv
speeches were made by Capt Rynders and
others. But the conservative law and order
element in this country always wins in the
end. The military were Kept under arms
for three days and the second day cleared
away a barricade that had been erected IN
Ninth street, near Astor place, and dis
persed the mob without much difficulty.
They had had some experience Of the mill
thTy = OeaLu-ueallOR MISSILES duu Qtu not
dare TO risk another encounter. This fatal
real tragedy in theatrical life was u prolific
theme for the newspaper press all over the
country aud IN England for many days.
AFTER THE TRAGEDY, THE FARCE.
And thus was brought t. close the most
memorable tragic event associated with the
annals of the Stage; which reflected in a
magnified degree the theater Of 100 years
ago 10 London, as pictured by Hogarth-
when iron spikes separated the orchestra
from the pit-a necessary precautiou in
those days of riot and assault, when the
butchers Of Glare market sat in the grim
rows on the night of any expected cabal or
tumult. In these ripper days Of the worlds
civilization such an event as Is here de-
scribed would be impossible.
After tragedy comes the farce, and as
some Offset to our harrowed-up feeling on
reading the first some amusing incidents
may be related Of Macready's engagements
in this country.
This actor had an overweening sense of
his own Importance, and was something OF
a stage martinez withal. He was very ex-
acting with his fellow actors. and had one
particular spot for each actor to occupy. AT
a certain rehearsal he emphasized this by
saying 10 an actor: "Do you see that nail
headl Well, that is the exact spot whore |
wish you to stand" At the next rehearsal
bhAo dStOA was ODootN6u W OC
like top. When Macready asked him what
he meant he exclaimed: ''Why, am look
ing for that-blessed nailhead OF ycurs!"
Ga another occasion, while Macready was
playing an engagement in Milwaukee, an in
dependent American who had been a good
deal annoyed by his exactions. resolved one
evening 10 pay him off. The play WAS
Hamlet" and in the last scene, where most
of the actors are killed off, this actor, who
personated King Ciaudius, when IL came his
turn to die stretched himself deliberately in
the place designed by Macready for himself
Noticing it he said IN a stage whisper "Die
farther up the STAGE" bus the dead Dane
gave no sign. The command was again
repeated, but the defunct "Claudius" was
insensible to hearing if not to sight, At
last MacreadY, losing all patience and
pushing the actor with his foot, exclaimed
in tone distinctly audible to the audience
die farther up the stage" Then "Claudius"
deliberately sat up and said: II believe l
am king here, and I'll take the liborty cf
dying just where | - pleasen
1t is needless to say that this drought
down the house" and the tragedy was 6n-
ished amid the hilarious mirth of the actors
and audience-but that actor got his walk
ing papers.
And thus in real life, as on the stage, do
Tragedy and comedy, pleasure aud pain
Minge together like sunshine and rain,
And the smile and the tear, the song and the
dirge, Ws
| Still follow each other like surge upon surge. q