The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-04
HARTLEY'S EXPLOITS.
Tho Trials Of PROFESSIONALISM Theater
Incidcnt-Thc Obstinate Subject Other
Experiments In Hentriloauism.

Ineidcnt-The Obstinate Subject Other
Experiments In ventrlloquism.
Special Correspondence of The Tribune.
New York. April S.-Hammerstein'
big Olympia was thronged with a great
human mass one certain evening
chose to witness and hear the famous
Yvette Guilbert. Criticism comes not
within the province of this Indictment,
but. 0 Hammerstein! you are the peer
of our dear departed Barnum.
l watched that complex assemblage
with mingled amusement and surprise.
1t brought to my mind an incident Of
an hour before. had just filled an en-
gagement at an aristocratic sympos-
ium in the vicinity, and had labored
with my auditors for q full half hour
with a zeal that rivaled Mark Twain
in his memorable effort to elicit q re-
sponsive shrug Of approval from q
hearer. who, unknown to him. was
deaf. dumb and blind. talked with
the man on the roof, harangued with
man in the cellar. hailed the charcoal
man, and gave his receding tones a
distance of a mile; gave an inspired
discourse on the phonOgraph; threw
my best effort into the dialogue with
my mannikins: initiated Keene, 1rv-
ing, the Kernels, Harrigan, Richmond
and Glenroy, The Nawns, Stuart Rob-
son and others, and got for my pains
not a nod, scarcely smile. BY way
of diversion l introduced some magic
and as a concluding feature referred
to some Of my exploits published in the
Sunday World and perpetrated some of
my feats upon my cold hearers. Upon
my reference to the Sunday World
there was an instantaneous buzz
among my audience. and caught such
observations as "Oh. he's that fellow
that" 'in the World" "you know"
"the elevated trains" etc. etc. To
my amazement all present broke out
with loud applause and begged for a
repetition Of my act. to which I re-
sponded, and which when given elicit
ed the warmest applause. Well, Os-
car: well, Yvette.
Not a seat was to be had at the Olym-
pia. While awaiting the appearance Of
Yvette amused myself at the expense
of a part Of the audience standing
about me.
Hats off" I shouted as from afar
off.
A hundred hats were doffed.
Everybody sit down." next called
in a voice which, I gathered from the
expressions on the faces Of those near
by, came from the stage. Instantly the
Of human freight. All sat down but
one man who hugged the brass rails
and who doubtless thought that to sur
render his position for a moment meant
a supreme effort to recover 1t.
"The gentleman standing up Will sit
down." I called again.
He moved about uneasily.
"Sit down." / commanded peremp-
torily, while the crowd around urged
him to obey. ....'
He stood his ground.
By this time the commotion had at
tracted the patrons Of the boxes and
the upper tiers.
In a voice loud enough to be heard In
any part of the immense theater
cried:
John, go up in the second tier and
tell that man with the white overcoat
to sit down."
Say, do you hear. up there? If you
don't sit down, I'll go up there and put
you out"
He sat down instantly, amid the
laughter Of the audience. He was an
obstinate subject, but mastered him.
G. A. Hartley.