The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-18

hands, and he worked hard. The side show
proved u, BIO one Of those plays with a disap,
on the stage through doors. windows. and from
the flies when the curtain went up, and there the
plot ended. II was simply an excuse to assemble
"A number Of specialists, and some of them
proved to be clever.
Waldo whipplc played a Weary Walker +, OF
a character that wasn't much to look at. but
when he found an opportunity to scatter a little
sand on the stage he gave an exhibition q &c
centric wi vi ds rm { that ,n. caused use his audience {, nee
skirt dancers. who followed him. was softened
by the stealthy cracking Of peanut shells:
The second scene was the interior OF a side
show, according TO the bills. and there were in
troduced Bowery girls OF the type to be found
dancers OF many varieties. some OF the spe-
cialists who added TO the gavey OF the perform
ance we're George II. Turner; w; II; Trpsheartt
Laura Ashby, Sadie Spencer, Maud Winston,
and Louise Sanford.
A play had its first New York trial last even
ing at the Harlem Opera House that would have
been more generally pleasing IL IL had been
brought to the other theatre in 125ih
street. 1t was "A Back Number" and
was written by +. f. Kidder. 1t afforded a dual
role for William Collier, its most conspicuous
actor, and in outlining for him two very differ
ent sorts Of characterizations, it nearly divided
its story into two distinct parts. which
NtTo toIu II alttTnhtC lHsthllIntutS. oue VI
these was melodramatic in places: the other
farcical, and carrying q trace OF interpolated
specialties. At the Opera House only the latter
portion proved fully effective; at the Columbus
even the most sombre passages would have been
1t began with Mr.. Collier as a country school,
quoting copybook notices and So sure Of his
own unworthiness, as measured by his severe
standard. that he had not the courage TO press
his love suit. Believing 1t to be hopeless. he
withdrew to the schoOlhouse and put his head
down on his hands disconsolately. appearing in
the Shutter. hiding from View a person
who left the impression OF being al
.ogetheE too melancholy 70, dramatic
pushed back from the inside showing the man
still in his helpless attitude. but, 10 the obeerv-
stage a moment later in his other guise. Then
the fun began and was kept up until such times
as the ramatist had the solemn pedagosue re-
s sSSSs'' scamp. fcSS Of drink. S disiikips
ner OF the typical stage Bowery boy: his elbows
and wrists came I'M for that tough's expressive
and furnished the chiefitem of enter
tainment. Meeting a drummer from the city, he
outdid him in worldly knowledge and gave a
a drink without money and how to strip an
opponent, at poker. Later. In closing an old
fashioned Quadrille, he proved that he knew 4
thing or two about jig dancing. In each OF the
plays three acts he had a spell OF being the
CnOOllchChcT. dlu II cNtTy nsthuCo TIC huul-
ence had reason to regret the change, though in
the last two acts these intervals were filled In
by two pairs of comic lovers and a little OF con-
villainy.
But the greatest relief Of these times came
Edward Clark, a boy who played adirty
second to Mr.. Collier. This pair. and two or
three fairly well-drawn country characters, fur
Back Number" MIR. Golfers audience would
have liked more OF him as the scape,
grace, and liked him so well in that part that
tried hard \ n annTnya ~ him In The nthsE
but the best liked thing the schoolmaster did
To give an imitation, naturally a good one,
Of the goOd-for-nothtng
Some Of the current dramas for the amuse-
ment OF the multitude make heroes OF every
day sort OF men. In " Special Delivery which
produced az the Columbus Theatre last
a letter carrier WAS the most i'm
OF the personages. David NJ.
Scully was the author. He put his post
man through a great deal OF vicissitude before
giving him a special delivery from the persecu-
ton Of the villain. The honest young fellow
fell in love on his route. and not with the house
Of a Harlem bankers house, but with the bank
daughter. She reciprocated. There was a
rival. The carrier was falsely ac-
FUSED OF stealing a valuable letter. That was
A machination of the rival. OF course, and IL was
along at the close OF the play before ex;
the villain had fallen. on a Harlem
bridge and been brayely rescued by the hero.
Special Delivery" was a cheap piece OF work.
but il served 10 smuse and thrill the audience at
he Columbus. The response TO sensatlonalism
Is always quick and noisy at that house.
In the FIR It act the home OF Ned CdrringtOn,
he Dostman and hero. was shown; Ned resented
Al insult. The FIRST scene in the second act
represented l25th street, several familiar build
ngs being shown. The second scene was
he drawing room of Mr.. %tioudrd. tbs
hoked % death by the william OF
lie play. The third and fourth acts had . scene
n the New York Post ONCE and the old Harlem
The banker is supposed To hAy. died OF
leart disease. and IL Is not until the NTH
md last act that a former pal OF the murderer
gave the william away, The latter was an
for the hand OF the bankers daughter
md had been appointed her guardian by her
will. The officers of the law take the
murderer in charge. The coast il clear for the
etter carrier TO claim the daughter. 1t
must he said that the letter carrier
lad escaped from prison Just in time
o take part in the closing scene. The pal OF
he murderer explained that the stolen letter"
vas not stolen BY the hero. The plot is a little
The author was called before the cur
ain. He made a speech thanking the audience
or their applause.