The record-union., 1896-12-25
A SURPRISE PRESENTATION.
How Theatrical Manager Was Sur
prised, and the Speech lie Made.

Just as the performance at the Met
ropolitan was closing last evening
Manager j. II. Todd was summoned TO
the telephone to hear that there was
"a fuss on" up at the Clunie Opera
house.
Mastering with all speed to the op-
era-ho and passing on to the stage
hastily, he found the entire stock COM
pany assembled all in evidence, in
lamentations and protests loud and
deep.
Upon inquiry as to the cause of the
| uproar the manager was informed by
Mr.. Gleason that his (Todd's) conduct
! as a manager was most reprehenSible;
that he was too honest and too just to
hold his position, and that the company
| took exceptions to his fairness and i'm
partiality in management.
For such misdoing they had prepared
a token expressive, though mutely. of
their sentiments in the form of an ele-
CANT cane, with which they presented
him, at the same time wishing him a
merry Christmas and a happy New
Year, and prosperous '97 season, and
hoped that they would again be able
at the same date next year, to renew in
q more substantial manner their pro-
| test IN the form of another testimonial
| of esteem and good wishes.
MI Todd was lost to words He
could lind none in which to voice his
surprise and sense of appreciation. He
| dld manage, however, to stammer his
| thanks to the smiling donors for the
elegant token of good Will and respect
| He managed to summon up sufficient
self-possession to say accompanied
with a sotto voce request to friendly
reporter to ''straighten OUT the
| speech):
Ladies and gentlemen: When the
| phone called me hither from the task
of counting the enormous receipts at
the Metropolitan Theater box office.
with the news that hades had broken
loose up here, 1 was so alarmed and
! dumfounded that l left all that nile
OF gold and silver, and you all know
what mountainous heap of it there
| has been this week at each house and
came up to the opera house on the
dead run. The fact is, the electric
cars We're not in it with me-
| Now, / am here, 1 find I've been
| fooled, and l expect some one has got
away with the rolls of twenties L left
| behind-H they We're not there. they
should have been. Hear! heard Here
| L am, out of breath and good temper.
L expected to meet and grapple with a
calamity. 1 really feared I'd have to
| pull Gdbney out of Hallett's throat, and
assist Gleason in untangling Stock
bridge and Stewart Applause.) had
vague fear that Miss Harrington had
broken into the programme with the
| Lady and the Lion (cheers), and that
| in consequence Miss Yantis had count
cred ON her with an unbilled 'Cinder'
renewed cheering), and that Mrs. Glea-
son had donned blue and buttons once
more, and was endeavoring to remove
| them from the stage under the delusion
| that She was a young man. Oeafening
/ applause)
OF course, | knew that there had
been Confusion going on all the
! week, and had expressed myself to
Gleason that pug dogs and babies in
| a play would play havoc applause. }
Il ind, however, that I am the vic
tim of a plot; that's not surprising in
plays generally, but it is in this case.
1t has been well arranged and admir-
| ably executed however, proving anew
what clever dot of people you are.
| Hear! heard
| But seriously, my friends. I am
deeply sensible of your kindness and
of the full meaning of this beautiful
| testimonial of regard. / don't deserve
| it, of cCurse-if you do not believe me
| | refer you to the Record Union rep
| resentative, who knows how it is him
self. Great applause, mingled with
| cheering)
II don't know what else to say. +
| guess / have said enough Gong-con-
! tinued applause) Ladies, you do not
! indulge (hear, heard, so please excuse
us. Boys come out and have some
| fire" (Cheers)
| And Mr. Todd declining an encore
| they went out-the boys, for the ladies
Went hcme alone. 1t will be evident
| to Manager Todd and his friends of
the stage that his request to straighten
out his speech in good order has been
| faithfully complied with.