The record-union., 1893-04-08

CueShei-Doys anu heWSDOyS OF great
cities, with special gifts and dauntless
energy, surpass trained business men,
ana at last, with prestige and wealth,
force the barred doors of aristocratic So
clety. Therefore the London actor scorns
the London pros" as he would tramp.
Not only will he have none of him as
| companion, but he will drink no liquor,
eat no food, transact no business, and fire.
quent no haunt or thoroughfare where
the latter Is permitted to come.
1hese observations have marked illus
tratlon in the close lines drawn in the
daily haunts of the two classes. The ac-
tors chiefly retire behind the inviolable
protection of their clubs-like the Gar
rick, the Green-room, Savage, Arundel,
Lyric and Beefsteak Clubs-and their
coy suburban homes, of which they are
Unfortunately fond and proud. Should
they occasionally stroll from one city to
another, they would be found at noted
places Like the Wellington, Darmstatters
and, perhaps, Romano's and Gatti's,
known in local parlance as La Cor
gonzola," but would retire permanently
from the profession" before they would
be seen at Miss Barnes, former bar
maid of the Criterion bar, or at the
Gaiety bar, which is christened Pros
sers' Avenue"
So, for many years, indeed for greater
part of the present century, these ostra-
ally merged their business and social in
tereSt in one large and interesting resort,
known by theatrical people throughout
the world as London Poverty juno
tion." No one knows how long it has
been Poverty Junction" This it now
is and Will ever remain. 1t is outside the
old city borough, and the actors are glad
OF 1t. If you were wandering in the
Strand and came to region, along by
Waterloo Bridge approach, of old book
stores, your haunting of these would
lead you almost to the bridge itself. Then
the Thames and its picturesque scenes
would bring you upon the great struct-
ure, and your vagrant fancy, playing
about the sunny lavender fields of Sur
rey and the hopfields of fruitful Kent,
would lead you southwark to the Surrey
side of London. Should it happen to be of
Monday morning about IL o'clock, you
would have scarcely passed the Surrey
approach to the bridge, when, at the cor
ner of York and Waterloo roads-each
great city street-you will have come
upon as curious a scene and study as may
be found by travel in any land.
In olden times this was region of re-
sort for the ruddy farmers of Surrey and
Kent; of yards where wagons, carts and
divers belongings of the farm were pict-
uresquely bestowed before, during or
after, Covent Garden Market hours: of
liking of the yeomarry, and of quaint old
inns apd public houses, where all the
long day and throughout the night were
the hustle and clatter of incoming and de-
parting coaches, and where still fingers
a perennial flavor of brave drinking,
hearty eating and rough but unctious
good cheer.
But one of these ancient inns remains.
This is the York Tavern. While prim,
new public houses have crowded close,
seeking to lessen its prestige and divert
its patronage, it is still, as of old, the GEN.
ter OF all the busy scene. At both sides
OF each lntersecting street, and reaching
for more than square away, are single
and double rows of hansoms, dog-carts
and broughams. Many of the latter have
liveried coachnen and footmen. They
are the equipageS of rich music-hall man
ayers, bejeweled and foxy ''theatrical''
agents who control the booking of all
music-hall and variety engagements, and
of those favorites among performers,
like Cherwin, Leno, Godfrey, Coburn,
Beauchamp, Chevalier, Bessie Bonehlll
and Jenny Hill, whose speclalties and
popularity command earnings of from
$40 to ESQ per week.
Between these and the street facades,
and quite often extending into the mid
die OF York and Waterloo roads, will be
gathered on any pleasant Monday morn
ing from 1000 to 5000 music-hall and va
riety "prossers." a special detail of DO
lice is always required to keep passage
ways open TO other pedestrians. OF all
this strange medley of folk perhaps not
more than one-half will belong to Lon
don. Among the remainder will be
found every manner of variety performer
and eccentric specialist" from every
land beneath the sun.
hundreds of variety performers, good
and bad, from America are here. Cow
boy and pugilistic actors are here.
Provincial talent, down at the heels but
clipper, CHEEKY and hopeful, is here
seeking engagement. The Strong Man
OF Patagonia meanders past you, arm in
arm with the Boneless Contortionist.
Hlndoo Jugglers are engaged in raillery
with the gentle Eskimo Dwarf who re-
Gently sadly hoodooed the American
religious world. Algerian, Egyptian
and Persian snake-charmers, sword
swallowers, fre-eaters and barefoot glass
breakers consort with Cuban machete-
throwers, wild Western female dead
shots, Devon record breaking jumpers
Greek wrestlers and American genuine
negro Ministries. The renowned Signo-
rina Splittavoce, Spaghetti Siren to the
Italian Court, the Climax Cloggists, the
Nell Nellwoods, Delicious Delineators of
Ducal Dialogues, the Slug Brothers, the
Salacious Sisters, the King knockabouts,
the Miles. Paddishanki, Queens of AS
piring Heels, are all here, along with
all the unnamable human various of
superlatively megatherian freaks, who
scale the dizzy nights of fame in the be-
wildering borderland of the vast amuse-
ment world.
All those of the motley throng having
real business at this weekly Poverty
Junction assemblage, are here for the
purpose of either securing new engage
ments or for paying the dramatic
fhair cfi, lafn Ill
commissions on current engagements.
These agents, some forty in number, oc-
cupy all accessible ground apartments or
fully halt square on either angle of each
of the four corners of York and Waterloo
roads. No "prosser" dare secure an en-
gagement, and no manager dare engage a
''prosser" without the booking is done
by them. They first charge a large book
ing fee, and subsequently receive ten per
cent. of every performers contract mon
ey, which is sent weekly, by mail, or
paid in person every Monday morning.
They are held in deadly hatred, and
treated with pitiable servility, by all
music-hall folk. London, provincial and
all foreign music-hall and variety mana
gers come here in person to secure their
ever-varying attractions. A halo of awe
surrounds them as they pass from one
agency to another, but Billingsgate por-
tiers could not equal the lively remarks
upon their persons and character that
mingle with sturdy calls for bitter and
-four aIe," the moment they have disap-
peared from view.
Secondarily, those here on necessary
business take kindly to this form OF Pow
erty junction weekly reunion or SYM
postum. They are thus enabled to ex-
change gossip and greetings, coster oaths
and choice Billingsgate, and to keep in
formed as to the movements of rivals,
and city, provincial or foreign managers.
All the others comprise great horde of