The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-09

i~rioinging element. He 10 believed by th,
xentleman actor and gentleman vocalist Il
90 ever on the alert to reach his station
push into his plaos; secure his honor ont
emoiuments; just rs the bootblncks
bytcher boys and newsboys OF great cities
with special gifts ana dnuntless energy,
surpass trained business men. ind at last
with prestige and wealth, force th,
barred doors of aristoorntic society. There
fore the London actor soorus the Londor
pros" as he would a tramp. Not only will
he hnve lone of him as n companion, but
no will drink no liquor. cat no food, trans
act no business. and frequent no haunt OF
thofouehfa'e where the latter IL permitted
to come.
These observations have marked illustra-
tration in the close lines drawn in the daily
haunts of the " Glasses. Tho actors
chiefly retire behind the inviolable prot,o-
tion of their clubs--like tho Ga-rick. the
Green Room, Savage, Arundel, Lyric and
Beefsteak clubs-and their cosy suburban
homes. OF which they are Unfortunately fond
and proud. Should they occasionally stroll
from one city resort to another, they would
ton, Damstatter's, and perhaps Romano's
and Gatt's known in local parlance as LA
Gorgonzola," but would retire permanently
from the profession" before they would
be seen at Miss Barnes, a former barmaid
OF the Criterion bar. or at the Gaiety bar,
WHlOu Is Sui4Stollcu IlcooStS ohh
So, for many yea 8. indeed for " greater
part of the present century. these ostracised
music hall performers have gradually
merged their business and social interests
in one large and interesting resort, known
BY theatrical peopls throughout the world
as London Poverty Junction" No one
knows nov long it has been "Pove tv
Junction" This it now is and will ever
remain. 1t is outside tho old city borough.
and the actors are glad Of il. 1t You were
wandering in the strand and came to a re-
gion. along by Waterloo bridge approach,
of old bookstores. your haunting of these
would lead you almost to the bridge itself.
Then the Thames and its pictu SOU scenes
would bring You upon the great structures;
and your vaCtant fancy. playing about the
sunny lavender fields of Surrey and the hop
fields of fruitful Kent. would lead you
southwark to the Surrey side OF London.
Should it happen to be of a Monday MON
ing, about eleven O'Clock, you would have
scarcely passed. the Surrey approach to the
bridge when. at the corner OF York and
Waterloo roads-each q great city street
you will have come upon as curious a soans
and study as may be found by travel in any
land.
for the iuddy farmers OF Surrey and Kent;
yards where wagons, cats and divers be
lonGings of the farm were picturesquely be-
slowed before, durlng or after Covent gar
den market hours; OF rough shops which
dealt in goods to the liking of the yeo-
manry; and Of quaint old inns and public
houses, where all the long day and through
out the night were the hustle and CHATTER of
incoming and departing coaches. and whore
still fingers q perennial flavor OF brave
drinking, hea ty eating and rough but
unctuous good cheer.
But ono OF these ancient inn remains.
This ia the York tavern. While prim, new
public houses have crowded close. seeking
to lesson its prestige n divert its patron.
age. it is still. as of old. the center of all the
busy scene. At both sides of each inter
secting street. and reaching for
more more tina than ns, square away, om are
latter have liveried coachmen and footmen.
They are the equipsges of .ich music hal!
beiGweled and foxy "theatricaP'
agents who control the booking of oil
music hall and variety engagements, and of
those .%favorites among performers, like
Chevsiier. Bessie Bonehill and
Jenny Hill. whose specialties and popular
ity command earnings O; from $40 to ESQ
per week.
Between these md the street facades. and
quite often extending into the middle of
Yo'k and Waterloo roads. will be gathered
on any pleasant Monday morning from
l, 600 to 5000 music hall and variety "pros-
A special detail Of police is alwavs
required to keep rassageways open to other
pedestrians. OF all this strange medley of
folk perhaps not moro than one-half will
belong in London. Among the remainder
will be found every manner of variety per-
and eccentric specialist" from
every lard beneath tho sun.
Hundreds of variety performers, good
and bad. from America are here. Cowboy
and pugilistio "actors' are here. Provincial
talent, down at the heels but clipper.
CHEEKY and hopeful, is here seeking engage
ment. The strong man Of Patagonia
meanders past you, arm in arm with the
conto. ZIONIST. Eindoo jugglers
are engaged in ~raillery with the gentle Es-
dwatf who SO recently sadly hoodooed
the American religious world. Algerian.
Egyptian and Persian snake-charm ,rs,
swoid-swallowers, fl e-saters and barefoot
glass-breakers consort with Cuban machete-
throwers, wild western female dead shots.
Devon iecord-breaking jumpers, G eek
wrestlers and American genuine negro
Ministries. The renowned Signorinn split.
tavoce. spaghetti siren to the Italian court,
the climax cloggists. the Noll Nelwoods,
delicious delineauors of ducal dialogues,
the Slug brothers, the Salacious sisters.
the king knockabouts. the Miles. Paddi-
shank, queen OF aspiring heels. are ali
here, along with oil the unnamable ''hu-
man various" of superlatively megatherian
freaks, VINO scale the ulZZy nelghtS OF famS
III the bewildering borderland of. the vast
amusement world.
All those of the motley throng having real
business at this weekly Poverty junction
assemblage, arc here either for the purpose
of securing new engagements or for paying
the dramatic" agents their stipulated
weekly commissions on current engage
ments. These agents. some forty in num-
Der. occupy oil accessible ground apart
ments for fully half a square on either
angle of each of the four corners of York
and Waterloo roads. No ''prosssr'' dare Sc
cure an engagement. and no manager dare
engage q "prosser" without the booking is
done BY them. They first charge q lacpe
booking fee, and subsequently, receive 10
per cent of every performers contract
money, which ia sent weekly, by mail, or
raid in person every Monday morning.
They arc neld in deadly hatred, and treated
with pitiable So Witty. by all music hall
folk. London, provincial and all foreign
music hall and variety managers come here
in person to secure their ever varying at
fractions. A hnlo of awe surrounds them
as thew pass from one agency to another.
but BiillnQsgate o:ters could not equal the
Lively remarks u on their persons and
character that mingle with sturdy calls for
bitter" and sour ale" the momen they
have disappeared from view.