The morning call., 1894-08-01
FEARED A RIOT.
Japanese Driven From a
Chinese Theater.
MOngOIian Merchants Warn the
Playhouse Man to Keep Mikado
Subjects Out.

Japanese who are uncertain as to which
of the two places in the land of the here
after they are entitled to occupy will do
themselves a favor by keeping out of the
Chinese theaters in this city. Their pres
ence either as actors or auditors is unde-
sirable while the conflict across the Pacific
is raging, and their patriotic young men
in the kitchens and at the windows in this
city are breathing out threatenings and
slaughter against the subjects of his ex-
alted Majesty. the Emperor of China.
1t has been said of late that the people
who dwell in Chinatown care nothing
about the quarrel between their ruler and
the Emperor of Japan. They are repre-
sented as sitting in the cool secluson of
their cellars speaking in terms of lofty
contempt of people who go to war. and
giving heed TO nothing so long as the joss
sends them their daily pig -nd throws in a
dried duck for state occasions. Some of
them no doubt have drunk so long of the
petrifying waters of philosophy that all de-
slreS and emotions are dead In their b0-
SONS; but there are others, many of them,
too, to whom a battle is more exciting
than tan game, and who would rather
overcome the Emperor of japan than out
wit the Chinatown squad.
The existence of the latter element in
the population of the Mongolian quarter
was demonstrated last night at the big
theater on Washington street The man-
agement in moment of lndiScretion en-
gagged a troupe Of japanese acrobats to
appear for one night only at popular
prices. They were to come on al the end
of the first act, just after the great king
had cut off the head of his hated rival and
married the widows of the deceased. The
house vas packed to suffOcatlon, and the
Japanese made their way to the crowded
stage with great difficulty. They were
jeered as they passed, but paid no atten-
tion to the demonstration of hostility and
took their places in the little rooms be-
hind the stage.
The first act was produced and the emil
nent artists in the orchestra were playing
'chills and fever" music for the thrilling
performance that was about to be given
when the Japanese appeared On the stage
headed By their leader. There was mo-
meniary hush, and then the audience was
turned into a paDdemOnlum. Il hooted
and yelled and poured a torrent of vocal
filth upon the acrobats. The leader tried
to explain, but his voice was drowned In a
chorus of Devils" "Out with Them"
Ours" and Foreign dogs" The Chinese
appeared to rise as one man from their
seats and the babel turned into men,
dCluS upIUdls
The acrobats turned pale and began to
tremble. They essayed tn begin their per-
formance, hoping that their feats would
have quieting effect. but they were not
permitted TO proceed.
The owner of the theater had been
"seen" by many of his best patrons, and
he told the actors that they would have to
go. The disappearance of the Japs from
the stage was greeted with a howl of de-
light, and on the way to the street they
were threatened with death If they ever
set foot in that tbeater again.
The merchants on Washington street
subsequently, waited upon the management
and informed them that they had nearly
caused riot by bringing in the Japanese.
They admonished them that if they were
ambitious to cater to the tastes of an ap-
preciative public in the future they would
do well to employ no performers who do
not wear pigtails. Nothing so low down
as Japanese acrobat would be tolerated