New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-01
An INTERSECTIONAL EPISODE.

Various reflections are suggested by an occur
renee in n Camden theatre on Thursday even
ing. The distinguished Taylor brothers. Of Ten
nessee. affeciionately known as Bob and
"Alf." the one E recent Governor Of his native
State and the other an ex-Representauve In
Congress- were giving the joint entertainment
wherewith they have begun to divert the prov
inces: n generally amable audience was pres
ent. and the occasion was OF the sort when IS
Familiarity described auspicious. bob was
holding the stage and apparently pleasing inc
company by telling stories singing songs anu
weaving flowers Of rhetoric around the SUM!
South when suddenly dscordant Mss Drohe
IN upon his monologue He stopped. gaZed Tor
n moment at the gallery and then said: "Ihere
lis one fool in this house. / have the greatest
"respect for the brave men who met the South
Gin the clash of arms on the battlefield but
.have tbe most supreme contempt for the per-
"son who iecrs at the South in this day Of good
Twill between the sections. | am sure ne never
"smellpd powder He should be put out Inc
sneaker then left the stage the curtain was
rupc down. an attendant came forward ana
explaluel that the Governor was too much dis
concerted to proceed with the entertainment
and the audience dispersed. 1t should be added,
as an example of good faith anu risld honesty
that an offer to refund their money 10 the us
satisfied was published on the following Day
In considering the ethics OF thls Uahsac'ion
lei Us first take up Governor Boos last ass'r-
tion before leaving the scene--"he shouo Do
mt ont" Should the incrrupter have been put
ont? Undoubtedly, if he was Dois'ero"S ann
apparently intent on provoking disorder Tos-
sihly such was the fact, for though the "o'
ornor is of the opinion that he never smeiieu
rovder # is intimated that he smclled of rum
Pm, supposing that he designed merely TO OK
nross Instrumentation of the PERFORMANCE" when
bo had pald 10 see shall we say that he hah i'SS
right 10 hiss than to applaud: This question
has been much discussed. but never nnally set
uod Our own feeling is that IN this case, as III
r,,,v othors custom is the criterion of propriety
In como countries the right 10 hiss nj Il pubic
.+,;rmont is acknowledged and frequent!
exercised. but in the United States Il conspicuous
demonstration Of disapproval. except Ill eA'i"o'
binary circumstances, is consderu To pe p'u
form and an unWarrantablc altrOhi 10 INC P'i-
son or nprsons at whom Il j. directed our op4h-
ion therefore is that the Camden hissef Trans,
erressed an unvrittcn law of s0cicF ana Hilu
himself omen 10 rcbuke, though Tor Il Single
ofroncc the penalty OF removal from the theatre
might have been too severe
Tho neyf point 10 be considered is the condtc'
of Governor Bob. The implication of what we
have inst said is that he was within his rights
in od lressinc words Of reprolch and censure
>, ,be nerson who had interrupted his discourse,
,u+ Il docs moi fellow that he made the best use
~ his discretion II is mark of genius to con
vor, cmbarrassments into opportunities, and it
socms +, lis that if the Governor had been in full
nossession Of he talents which have added new
lustro TO the ancient fame Of Tennessee he
woud have seized the chance to trans
fix the offender with the gUtiering blade
Of wit. instead of MASKING him with Il
verbal budgeon Had he done this he would
have taken tho rest of III" audience INTO
iovful captivity and carried the entertainment
along 10 triumphant close By choos'I's
70 libcra,e his feelings he produced paihlui
situation out of II trivial incident. ana sent his
hearers home with worse OPINION of hiS incn'"'
and moral resources than they would nave Deeh
glad 10 preserve 1t is surprising that Governor
Bob. having been subjected TO the heat or po-
u,icol controversy. should not have been better
seasoned. If be bad been kindried chahGe
Of climate might have been eXpec'el /" warp
him. but he has long been PROOF against me
worst that Tennessee could do and We don't
understand how he came 10 develop crack III
Camden
As for the Governors supposition shat a feel
ing of enmlty 10 the South inspired the Mss
which grieved and Disconnected him. we do moi
believe for a moment that II is well founded.
That has never been -the Northern way OF treat
ing Southern speakers. and nobody would ever
think Of beginning a bad practice on Governor
Bob. Moreover, we really believe that the eX-
ccllent example which has uniformly been set
in this part Of the country Is producing good
results elsewhere, and that before very long
free speech Will be as common ana as sare IN inc
South as II always has been here.